Obama plays a round of golf with Clinton

President Obama headed to Andrews Air Force Base on Saturday for a round of golf with one of the few people who might have some idea of the difficulties the president has been facing: Former President Bill Clinton.

The paring of Clinton and Obama is a symbolic one for the White House, after Clinton critiqued Obama's jobs plan earlier this week by arguing tax increases should wait until after the economy recovers.

"It's okay with me. I'll pay more. But it won't solve the problem," the former president said, arguing that the government shouldn't raise taxes — or pursue spending cuts — "until we get this economy off the ground."

But the former president later told the Associated Press that he thinks Obama has been doing a "good job," and hopes that a book he plans to release in November - in which he will advocate the importance of government spending on infrastructure, technology, and green energy - will help bolster Obama's success.

"I hope I can do things in this book that a president doesn't have time to do and shouldn't be doing," Clinton told the AP.

White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley, who served as Secretary of Commerce under President Clinton, is also joining the pair on the links. Doug Band, and aide to the former president, rounded out the foursome.

After the round was over, the presidents' spokesmen issued this joint statement:

President Clinton and President Obama enjoyed their round of golf at Joint Base Andrews today. Periodically, over the last two and a half years, they've gotten together to discuss the unique honor and extraordinary opportunity to lead this country. They were pleased to have the chance to visit once again today.

This story was updated at 7:00 p.m.

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