Newspaper: Thorns to Obama for petty move to cancel White House tours

From the editorial page of The Pottstown Mercury:

THORNS to President Obama for announcing this week that he is closing the White House to public tours because of the sequestration. This is a petty and thinly-veiled strategy by Obama to put pressure on members of Congress, who arrange the popular tours of the White House for their constituents. Obama didn't get what he wanted in negotiations with Congress over spending cuts and tax hikes, so he's resorted to punishing school children and other tourists visiting Washington, D.C., in the coming months. "Due to staffing reductions resulting from the sequester, we regret to inform you that White House tours are canceled effective Saturday, March 9, until further notice," the administration informed House and Senate offices. "We very much regret having to take this action, particularly during the popular spring touring season." There's plenty of government spending to be cut in Washington, but shuttering the doors of the White House to the American people should not be on that list. Reports that the tours are run by volunteers and the cost of having extra security is minimal reinforce suspicion that Obama canceled the tours out of spite. It's another example of Obama's unpresidential behavior when he doesn't get his way.

Roses to Albert Boscov, a retailing and community legend