First Family Heads to Hawaii on Thursday
Lynn Sweet
Correspondent
Posted:
12/22/09
With the Senate moving the Thursday Christmas Eve vote on the health care bill from the evening to 8 a.m., the White House announced Tuesday night that the First Family will depart for Honolulu on Thursday morning. President Obama had told radio host Tom Joyner on Monday that he did not want to leave Washington before the health care vote.
Obama, answering Joyner's question about the Hawaii trip, said, "You know, it depends on how soon the Senate can make that last vote on health care. It may end up being Christmas Eve. But we are on the brink of something historic here, and I want to make sure that I'm here to solve any last-minute problems, let's put it that way."
The announcement Tuesday of the earlier Senate vote cleared the way for the White House to announce a departure date.
The Obama family traditionally spends the holidays in Obama's native state.
Obama, answering Joyner's question about the Hawaii trip, said, "You know, it depends on how soon the Senate can make that last vote on health care. It may end up being Christmas Eve. But we are on the brink of something historic here, and I want to make sure that I'm here to solve any last-minute problems, let's put it that way."
The announcement Tuesday of the earlier Senate vote cleared the way for the White House to announce a departure date.
The Obama family traditionally spends the holidays in Obama's native state.