wisconsin recall

Obama Explains He Was Too Busy to Campaign in Wisconsin Recall

CAMP DAVID, MD - MAY 18: U.S. President Barack Obama waits to greet G8 leaders in front of Laurel Lodge at Camp David during the 2012 G8 Summit on Friday, May 18, 2012 in Camp David, Maryland. Leaders of eight of the worlds largest economies meet over the weekend in an effort to keep the lingering European debt crisis from spinning out of control. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/ The New York Times-Pool/Getty Images)
It isn’t all weekends at Camp David. Photo: Pool/2012 Getty Images

President Obama has been taking flak from some Democrats who say he should have campaigned with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in Wisconsin’s recall election, rather than just sending out an encouraging tweet. In an interview today with WBAY, an ABC TV affiliate in Green Bay, Obama explains that he’s too busy to get involved every time some state tries to oust its governor:

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The truth of the matter is that as President of the United States, I’ve got a lot of responsibilities. I was supportive of Tom and have been supportive of Tom. Obviously, I would have loved to see a different result.

While some say the recall vote signals that Obama might be in for a harder fight in November than he’d anticipated, he disagrees, saying, “I don’t think so. I think probably you’ve got specific circumstances in Wisconsin.” (Though he’ll be “fighting very hard in Wisconsin, just like we have in the past.”) The president argues that if anyone should consider the attempted recall of Governor Scott Walker a warning, it’s other governors:

Keep in mind, it is a bit unusual when a governor gets this much attention in the middle of his term. My suspicion is all across this country, governors who are dealing with tough budgets have to make tough decisions. But one of the lessons learned is that it is better to make them with people than against people.

In addition to WBAY, several other local TV station were at the White House today to question President Obama, and many had hard-hitting questions of their own. WJXT of Jacksonville, Florida, took the opportunity to ask if Obama’s recent crooning means he’s looking for a spot on American Idol or America’s Got Talent. His reply:

Plus, getting in enough rehearsal time to meet J.Lo’s exacting standards might interfere with his presidential responsibilities.

Obama Was Too Busy to Campaign in Wisconsin