Mitt Romney Criticizes Obama’s (Unplanned) Vacation

Mitt Romney has never been shy about his disdain for the President’s penchant for a good game of golf, but now Romney is criticizing the First Family’s Christmas vacation plans.

But there’s a catch: Despite what Romney may be saying, a 17-day Hawaiian vacation for the Obama’s isn’t actually on the books.

While Romney has spent the past few days criticizing the President for his winter vacation plans — appearing to refer to dates for the president’s vacation that were posted on the Drudge Report — no official schedule has been released by the White House.

What’s more, the President’s vacation plans in the past have been altered even after a schedule has been made public.

Additionally, President Obama has said publicly that if Congress isn’t in recess by the Christmas holiday everyone — himself included — will be in Washington, D.C.

“We’re going to keep pushing Congress to make this happen.  Now is not the time to slam the brakes on the recovery… Right now it’s time to step on the gas.  We need to get this done.  And I expect that it’s going to get done before Congress leaves.  Otherwise, Congress may not be leaving, and we can all spend Christmas here together,” said Obama.

But tonight, during a tele-town hall with Iowa voters, Romney criticized the president for his vacation plans: “I have to feel that this president has been a failure. The other day I understand that Chris Christie said that he was a bystander president. That he watches affairs and has not guided affairs. And in some respects, his idea of a ‘hands on’ approach to the economy is getting a grip on the golf club.”

Romney had already commented on the President’s winter vacation plans last Saturday during a campaign stop in Manchester, N.H.: “Seventeen days. Seventeen-day vacation. When you consider all the golf, all the vacations, a new 17-day vacation, I’m thinking of that old song back in the 1960s, remember that, the one that was called ‘My Boyfriend’s Back.’

“And they said in there, ‘my boyfriend’s back, he’s going to give you a permanent vacation,” said Romney, quoting the oldies band The Angels. “That’s what we’re going to give Barack Obama — a permanent vacation.”

As for Romney’s own holiday vacation plans?

Asked about the upcoming vacation season, Romney told reporters last weekend that his family had not put up Christmas lights yet because they aren’t sure where they’ll be later this month.

“We don’t know where we’re going to be for Christmas,” said Romney. “The options are New Hampshire, Iowa or Belmont, Massachusetts. And maybe some I haven’t thought of yet.”

The Romney campaign did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.