Obama's Asian Trip Postponed - Connie Lawn

Obama's Asian Trip Postponed - Connie Lawn, March 19, 2010

It was another bright, sunny day in the White House Rose Garden. But the announcement spokesman Robert Gibbs made was not good news for Australia, Indonesia, and Guam. President Obama postponed his visit again - now he hopes to make it in June.

The reason is his continued fight to pass the health care reform bill - American Presidents have tried to reform health care for over fifty years! This postponement is reminiscent of Secretary Hillary Clinton's postponement of her trip to New Zealand, because of the earthquake in Haiti.

An enormous amount of advance planning goes into these trips on all sides, and it is a great disappointment when they fall through. There is also a loss of money - often there is some fee involved for the cancellation of charter plane reservations (for the press) and hotels.

There may be some positive sides. For the Administration, they will be pleased if health care passes, although there will be legal challenges to it. If the trip does take place in June, perhaps the President can be persuaded to visit New Zealand? And, this time, he can take Mrs. Obama and the two girls, since school will be out for the summer (here).

But, June is far away, and there are many challenges before then. In the meantime, here is the statement from the White House Press Secretary:

“The President is pleased that the House has posted the health
care legislation on the Internet and that a final vote is coming.
But since the House rules rightly provide for a 72-hour public
review period, it is clear that a final vote on health insurance
reform cannot take place before Sunday afternoon.

As a result, the President telephoned the leaders of Indonesia
and Australia and told them that he must postpone his planned
visits there for a later date so he can remain in Washington for
this critical vote. The President now expects to visit Indonesia
and Australia in June.

The President greatly regrets the delay. Our international
alliances are critical to America´s security and economic
progress. But passage of health insurance reform is of
paramount importance, and the President is determined to see
this battle through.”

ENDS

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