The difference between golf and government is that in golf you can't improve your lie.

-- Former California Gov. George Deukmejian

In the spirit of non-partisanship, we gave this issue our best shot but just couldn’t find a good reason for President Obama to be hitting the little white ball around the golf course as opposed to paying his respects to the country and family of one of his Nation’s most committed allies. Sure, some websites and conservative radio show hosts get their hands on a story like this and hit you in the face with it until you are ready to scream (not say) “uncle.” But, the fact remains that Obama’s decision was clear, and it should still baffle us all. If we were Polish citizens, we would use a few choice words other than “baffle”….

Let’s call a spade a spade here. President Obama found a way not only to skip the services or construct his own form of reverence (e.g., visit Poland’s Embassy, hold a moment of silence, etc.), he chose to play 18!  We’re aware that President Kaczynski’s death came at an inopportune time for President Obama’s nuclear summit, but couldn’t he have departed early from the futile conference to go to Poland or find another way of showing veneration for his ally? Many would argue that the progress at the summit was too important to step away from, but we’ll believe that when we see it. Sure, several world leaders endorsed Obama's call for securing all nuclear materials within four years to keep them out of the grasp of terrorists, but they offered few specifics for achieving that goal. We are betting that his early departure would have been just as productive as his presence at the summit.

The President simply made a bad decision that unfortunately only reinforces the belief of Obama’s non-supporters – if you are one of America's staunchest allies, expect a slap in the face (see Poland [twice now]), but if you are one of its notorious enemies, expect concessions and maybe a bow…(see Russia/Iran/China). 

Background:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/18/obama-skips-polish-funeral-heads-to-golf-course/

-The Philadelphians