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 That juxtaposition of events on Wednesday drew Obama a fair amount
of criticism as he tries to juggle the U.S. response to rapidly
unfolding world crises while taking some time to relax during a
two-week August vacation that has been frequently interrupted.
"Bam's Golf War," blared the cover of the New York Daily News,
showing a picture of the smiling president behind the wheel of a
golf cart, while Foley's parents grieved over their son in a smaller
photo lower on the page.
Criticism of Obama was not universal but emerged on both sides of
the political spectrum, with former Vice President Dick Cheney
attacking the president and left-leaning blogger Ezra Klein saying
in a tweet that it was in bad taste.
 Presidential aides defended Obama, saying he takes time for golf to
clear his mind and ease the stress of his pressure-packed job.
"I will say that, generally, I think that, you know, sports and
leisure activities are a good way for release and clearing of the
mind for a lot of us," White House spokesman Eric Schultz told
reporters on Friday.
Obama has played eight rounds of golf while on a two-week vacation
on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard. Beyond the Islamic
State challenge in Iraq and Syria, he has grappled with racial
unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, the Ukraine crisis, the Gaza crisis
and any number of other problems.
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"It's important for us to understand, and I think that's been
evident, is that the issues the country is facing, both on the
international stage and back here at home, have absolutely captured
the president's attention while we've been here," Schultz said.
Obama returns to Washington on Sunday.
(Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Bernard Orr)
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