The spill in the Gulf has gone on now for almost 50 days. Since it began in April, President Obama has had plenty of time to do a great number of things.
Just last night, for example, he attended his second "music party" in less than a week. He was at the Ford's Theatre's "Spirit of America" celebration in Washington. -- The gala event will be broadcast ABC on July 2. He also hosted Paul McCartney on Wednesday. The former Beatle serenaded the president's "Michelle" after receiving the Gershwin Prize from the Library of Congress on Wednesday.
Yet just this past weekend BP's CEO Tony Hayward told the BBC that the two men haven't spoken directly since the rig exploded on April 20.
Now according to the president, BP and the administration are working "hand-in-hand" to resolve the spill. But even a small business owner like me has to wonder, how can two enormous entities like BP and the government of the United States be genuinely engaged and working together to solve the problem, if one of the two men in question (who seems to have time for just about every other possible thing) won't pick up the phone and speak to the other?"
Senators in the president's own party are making the case that the president needs to at least appear to be doing more. They are making their case in the midst of a campaign season when run-offs, primary challenges, and jobs (er "voluntary unpaid positions) for getting out of political races already seem to be hurting his party's chances in November.
Let me speak directly to our commander in chief:
A little lesson in crisis management is in order Mr. President--because you seem to be clueless at the helm of this disaster.
Mr. President, ecologists and marine biologists are now telling us that the eco-life of the Gulf is spurring migratory patterns never before seen in species living in those waters. The reason they are leaving is because of the toxicity levels and poisons that are saturating their living spaces.
Mr. President, why did you deny the requests made by Louisiana and other Gulf states permission to build the sand barrier/islands that would have prevented much of this toxic substance from hitting the sensitive marshlands?
Mr. President, these realities are coming about, and yet you haven't found the time to speak to the man you are most dependent upon to get this problem fixed?
Because of my relationship with some of the people involved in the negotiations I can tell you that BP has expressed frustrations that mirror those expressed by some of the state leaders in the Gulf. Lots of suggestions and solutions are being put forward but as of last week the president had only approved funding for roughly one-sixth of the approved solutions.
As the crisis in the Gulf continues, I'm all for hearing the normal responses from folks, like "presidents have to be allowed to multi-task." But whaddya say we insist that President Obama begins by having, at a minimum, one conversation with the man that seems to be doing the work?
Do you think the president might be able to work in a phone call?
Hey, I'd even let him use my conference call line if it'd save the tax-payer a buck or two.
I also really, genuinely hope the burden of all this doesn't impact President Obama's goal of not three putting this week. You know how unforgiving those angled greens are...
Kevin McCullough is the nationally syndicated host of "'Baldwin/McCullough Radio" now heard on 213 stations and columnist based in New York. He blogs at www.muscleheadrevolution.com. His second book "The Kind Of MAN Every Man SHOULD Be is in stores now. He is also host of "The Kevin McCullough Show" weekdays from 7 a.m.-9 a.m. ET on Sirius 161/XM 227.
Fox Forum is on Twitter. Follow us @fxnopinion.
Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week.