Obama a skeet shooter? Not so much

When President Obama was said “we do skeet shooting all the time,” there was skepticism across the board from just about everyone. Why won’t the Executive Branch just suck it up, come out and let the American public know Obama tried it once and did not like it?

There would be nothing wrong with that. There are a bunch of things I’ve tried – including trap shooting – and I did not enjoy it, but this president is so skittish he has to go and embellish a story to fit a political narrative. From his interview with New Republic.

FF: Have you ever fired a gun?

Yes, in fact, up at Camp David, we do skeet shooting all the time.

FF: The whole family?

Not the girls, but oftentimes guests of mine go up there. And I have a profound respect for the traditions of hunting that trace back in this country for generations. And I think those who dismiss that out of hand make a big mistake.

Part of being able to move this forward is understanding the reality of guns in urban areas are very different from the realities of guns in rural areas. And if you grew up and your dad gave you a hunting rifle when you were ten, and you went out and spent the day with him and your uncles, and that became part of your family’s traditions, you can see why you’d be pretty protective of that.

So it’s trying to bridge those gaps that I think is going to be part of the biggest task over the next several months. And that means that advocates of gun control have to do a little more listening than they do sometimes.

He left the direct impression that when he visits Camp David, skeet shooting is part of the normal routine for himself and guests. And of course since skeet is associated with bird hunting, Obama’s connection to the firearms enthusiasts is exclusive to hunting.

Of course, the 2nd Amendment has nothing to do with hunting. But did the president ever go skeet shooting at Camp David? Jana Winter at Fox News found a source.

This has only happened with the president at Camp David, at most, a couple of times, according to a source who says he has been to the retreat on a half-dozen visits with Obama.

“The only time he shot skeet was for President’s Cup,” said the source, referring to a shooting competition tradition involving the presidential Marine guards. “I was there. He stayed for about five minutes, and couldn’t leave fast enough.”

Skeet shooting “is very hard,” said the source. “Especially for someone not used to guns … He couldn’t have been more uncomfortable.”

It should be noted the president does not travel to Camp David as frequently as previous office holders.

HELENE COOPER, NEW YORK TIMES WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Alright, for something totally superficial, I have figured out why President Obama does not like Camp David.

CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: He doesn’t like it?

COOPER: He hates it. We were up there for the G-8 last weekend and I’ve never been able to understand why, you know, Obama, President Obama doesn’t like going there. It’s beautiful. I mean, the cabins are…

MATTHEWS: Did you get to see it?

COOPER: Yes, I finally got to see it. I got to see the presidential cabin.

MATTHEWS: Everybody loved it.

COOPER: It was fantastic. And so everybody’s going, “Why doesn’t he spend more time up there?” No golf.

MATTHEWS: No golf.

COOPER: It’s all about the golf.

There is some golf at Camp David, but this president is more of a city guy and that’s OK. Of course, he can’t be up-front about his preferences since he’s a politician, through and through.