Focusing on Ebola, Obama again cancels political events
WASHINGTON — President Obama has canceled his political travels for the second straight day as the White House continues to focus its attention on the Ebola crisis.
Obama postponed campaign events in New Jersey and Connecticut on Wednesday, instead calling a Cabinet meeting to coordinate the federal response to the Ebola outbreak. It was a rare departure from schedule for Obama, who continued political fundraising and vacation over the summer even as crises mounted in Ukraine, Gaza and Syria.
"What we have always indicated is that the president of the United States is president wherever he goes, and that's true 24/7," press secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday. "But what's also true is if the president determines that it's necessary for him to return to the White House to fulfill his responsibilities as the leader of the country and as the commander in chief, then he'll alter his schedule accordingly."
Thursday, Obama had planned a trip to Rhode Island to talk about the economy and to Long Island, N.Y., or a Democratic National Committee event. Those events were canceled late Wednesday night. Instead, the official White House schedule said, "The president will remain at the White House to follow up on today's Cabinet meeting on the government's Ebola response."
Obama will meet in the Oval Office with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Thursday morning.
No further details on the president's Thursday schedule had been released.
Vice President Biden, however, appears to be sticking to his schedule. He'll visit Philadelphia Thursday, appearing with Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., to talk about infrastructure spending. Then he'll travel to Maple Shade Township, N.J., to raise money for Democratic congressional candidate Aimee Belgard.
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