"Aloha Obama Family"
President hopes for slow news cycle during his vacation on the Vineyard
By NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON
Updated 8:04 AM EDT, Mon, Aug 24, 2009
Oak Bluffs, MA — President Barack Obama and family arrived at their sprawling vacation home Sunday afternoon, kicking off a week in Martha's Vineyard.
After a four-hour delay in Washington to avoid Hurricane Bill, the Obamas landed just after 3 p.m., and the motorcade then drove slowly for 10 minutes to their vacation home, passing dozens of waving and cheering supporters, some with signs that read "Aloha Obama Family" and "Hope, Obama."
Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, who owns a house on the island, traveled with the first family, as did his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng.
Also with the Obamas is first dog, Bo, who made an unscheduled appearance in the press cabin aboard Air Force One before being retrieved by Malia Obama.
Obama, through spokesman Bill Burton, said there are no plans to visit ailing Sen. Ted Kennedy and dismissed rumblings that the president might golf with Tiger Woods as a "bad rumor." Burton also said the president asked that the press "respect the privacy of the girls while they are out here on vacation."
Burton also delivered "specific instructions from the president for the press corps" in a gaggle aboard Air Force One:
"He wants you to relax," Mr. Burton said. "Have a good time, take some walks on the beaches. Nobody's looking to make any news."
Obama is expected, however, to keep in touch with key lawmakers as they work to hammer out the details of a health plan.
Copyright Politico
First Published: Aug 23, 2009 5:31 PM EDT
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