Obama, Second Job: Assistant Basketball Coach

Obama is focused like a laser on creating jobs and putting people to work.

He vows to Americans that he "will not rest" until he solves a myriad of problems, including the economy, health care, and the environment.

Oops! It looks like he's doing some resting.



There's no question that Obama's laser-like focus is inadequate. He is failing at getting Americans working again.

Nonetheless, according to the Associated Press, Obama has taken on a second job.

US President Barack Obama said Saturday ahead of Father's Day that he has taken on a second job: as assistant coach for his daughter Sasha's basketball team.

"On Sundays, we'd get the team together to practice, and a couple of times, I'd help coach the games," Obama noted for the first time, in his weekly radio and Internet address which this week marked Father's Day.

"It was a lot of fun -- even if Sasha rolled her eyes when her dad voiced his displeasure with the (referees)," Obama said.

"I was hopeful that in the years to come, she'd look back on experiences like these as the ones that helped define her as a person -- and as a parent herself."

Of course, being an assistant basketball coach is a volunteer thing. It's not a "second job."

And it's good for a father to be involved in his children's lives; but this claim of Obama having an "assistant basketball coach" gig is a joke.

He's making the important point that fathers play a critical role in raising their kids. It's good for Obama to use his weekly address to highlight the significance of fathers.

But let's not pretend that Obama is really an assistant basketball coach, unless "assistant" means nothing more than being a volunteer helper now and then.

Here's the transcript of Obama's "second job" remarks:

[M]y administration has offered men who want to be good fathers a little extra support. We’ve boosted community and faith-based groups focused on fatherhood, partnered with businesses to offer opportunities for fathers to spend time with their kids at the bowling alley or ballpark, and worked with military chaplains to help deployed dads connect with their children.

We’re doing this because we all have a stake in forging stronger bonds between fathers and their children. And you can find out more about some of what we’re doing at Fatherhood.gov.

But we also know that every father has a personal responsibility to do right by our kids as well. All of us can encourage our children to turn off the video games and pick up a book. All of us can pack a healthy lunch for our son, or go outside and play ball with our daughter. And all of us can teach our children the difference between right and wrong, and show them through our own example the value in treating one another as we wish to be treated.

Our kids are pretty smart. They understand that life won’t always be perfect, that sometimes, the road gets rough, that even great parents don’t get everything right.

But more than anything, they just want us to be a part of their lives.

So recently, I took on a second job: assistant coach for Sasha’s basketball team. On Sundays, we’d get the team together to practice, and a couple of times, I’d help coach the games. It was a lot of fun – even if Sasha rolled her eyes when her dad voiced his displeasure with the refs.

But I was so proud watching her run up and down the court, seeing her learn and improve and gain confidence. And I was hopeful that in the years to come, she’d look back on experiences like these as the ones that helped define her as a person – and as a parent herself.

Obama admits he helped coach "a couple of times."

Note to the Associated Press and Obama: That's not a "second job."

(If Obama wanted to see his kids more, maybe he should golf with them. He's chalked up hundreds of hours on golf courses since he became president.)

It's a poor choice of words, "second job," with so many parents unemployed or underemployed in this mess of an economy.

Moreover, parents who really do volunteer to coach sports devote countless hours to their kids' teams. It's a tremendous commitment of time and effort. As rewarding as it is, it can also be a tremendous headache.

Thank you to the dads, and moms, willing to take on the often thankless role of coaching sports or being Scout leaders.

They aren't "honorary" or "temporary" leaders. They're in the trenches helping kids for the long haul, not just "a couple of times."

Bottom line: First, I don't expect Obama to serve as a real coach. He's the president. He couldn't possibly have the time it requires. I wish he wouldn't claim to have that "second job."

Second, It's good for Obama to encourage fathers to be actively involved with their children's activities.

Third, it would be most helpful if Obama could put in place policies that would give fathers the opportunity to work and provide for their children. A strong economy should be Obama's goal if he wants to have a positive impact on families across the country.


Video of Obama's address: