White House Press Secretary Jay Carney dodged a question about President Obama's scheduled trip to Asia, referring the press to the Department of Defense and Secret Service as to how Obama could go there with a lean crew and the looming crisis in Washington.
Carney reflected Obama's passive approach to the situation by saying Obama was "not resigned" and "hopeful" that there would not be a government shutdown. The Washington Times reports the flying time alone on Air Force One to Asia will cost millions of dollars, at a time when the government could be temporarily out of money:
Q: But again, how will the president plan to go to Asia if there is a schedule -- skeleton crew and lean operation here and then also how -- (inaudible) --
CARNEY: Again, the president said today not long ago that he is not resigned to the idea that the government will shut down. He remains hopeful that the House will come to the reasonable decision that it is appropriate to simply extend funding of the government further for several weeks in order to allow for the kind of negotiations that they claim they want about our budget priorities. So he remains hopeful, at least not resigned, to the fact of a shutdown.
And when it comes to the mechanics of the trip and the people and equipment that gets positioned abroad for a trip like this, I just would have to refer you to OMB or to the agencies involved -- Department of Defense, Secret Service.