Nov 4, 2009 5:20 pm US/Central
Axelrod: Obamas Regret Not Visiting Chicago More
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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U.S. President Barack Obama returns to the White House with his daughter Sasha, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughter Malia on August 17, 2009. Top aide David Axelrod says the president regrets not being able to go back home to Chicago more often.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
It was exactly one year ago tonight that a smiling Obama family took the stage in Grant Park and declared victory in the 2008 presidential election. Since winning the White House, President Barack Obama has returned just three times to his old hometown; only once with his wife and children.
Senior presidential advisor David Axelrod said the president regrets that.
"You know, that's a source of sadness to them, but it's been a logistical problem as much as anything else," Axelrod said. "Their girls are now in soccer games and programs that take place on the weekend and they don't want to deprive them of their opportunity to participate in those. And there's enormous logistical headaches associated with moving the presidential entourage. So, on many weekends they'll find themselves at Camp David, where they can get privacy."
"I never appreciated how important Camp David was," Axelrod added, "until I realized, now, how, what a bubble the president lives in. … You know, the president said to me, 'I'd like to take a walk on the lawn of the White House, but when I do, they move everybody away from the fence.' At Camp David, you don't have those considerations. You have privacy. You have freedom of movement. You have a more normal existence."
Do the girls like Camp David? Axelrod said, "I think they do. It's a great place for kids."
Axelrod said they've also had some Chicago friends to visit at the White House and Camp David.
Since the inauguration, the First Family has returned only once to their South Side mansion, over the Valentine's Day weekend in February.
"He misses Chicago," Axelrod said. "I'm sure they will be back and he keeps a close eye on Chicago. We get the Chicago papers at the White House."
We asked if Obama's Chicago ties have become a problem for the administration, with some right-wing talk show hosts claiming to see a "Chicago Mob" style of government.
"We're proud of Chicago, we don't care," Axelrod said. "Look, our opponents are gonna be our opponents. And they have a penchant for finding negative in everything. But this is a great town and we'll always be proud of it."
Is there a Chicago-style of politics and government?
Laughing, Axelrod replied, "When David Wilhelm, who was a Chicagoan, returned after being ousted as chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1994, he said to some reporters, 'I'm going back to Chicago, where at least they stab you in the front.'"
So how is D.C. different? Axelrod said, "D.C. is a town where you always have to watch your back."
Sometimes you have to watch your back in Chicago, too.
The First Lady's spokeswoman said the Obamas consider Chicago home, but 11-year old Malia and 8-year old Sasha are growing up as the ultimate Washington kids.
It's unlikely they'll come back to Chicago during school breaks. They go to Camp David whenever they can. The Presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains is surrounded by forest and every inch of the perimeter is patrolled by Marine Corps guards, so the First Family can enjoy at least the illusion of solitude.
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