What are they really talking about?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43443532/ns/politics-white_house/
updated 1 hour 26 minutes ago 2011-06-18T22:14:09
Share Print Font: +-WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner put partisanship aside, at least on the golf course, and teamed up to triumph on the final hole Saturday in their long-awaited links outing.
The match pitted the political rivals against Vice President Joe Biden and Ohio's Republican Gov. John Kasich. The match was won on the 18th hole, with the winning partners each pocketing a $2 prize.
The question now is whether a partnership forged on the tees, fairways and greens of a military base course can yield success in the policy arena. Obama and Boehner find themselves on opposite sides of everything from deficit reduction to the military campaign in Libya.
Aides to both men played down the chances of deals being struck on the par-72 East Course at Joint Base Andrews, but acknowledged the outing could improve a relationship that is respectful, but hardly close. Kasich, who is from Boehner's home state, was House Budget Committee chairman in the 1990s when Republicans were negotiating budgets with Democratic President Bill Clinton.
Tee time for the foursome was 9:30 a.m. at Obama's home course at the base outside Washington.
The White House made a rare exception and allowed the press to watch Obama and his playing partners finish the first hole, a par five.
Biden was cool under pressure, sinking a 15- to 20-foot putt.
read more
