Politics | President Obama As Presidential 'Bubble' Closes, Obama Pokes Back President-elect ditches the reporter pool to take daughters to a water park By Nick McMaster Posted Dec 28, 2008 6:29 PM CST Copied Hawaiian Police and Secret Service guard the beachfront near President-elect Barack Obama's beach house in Kailua, Hawaii, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson) There's a growing gaggle of press and Secret Service standing between Barack Obama and the outside world—not to mention the corner hotdog stand—and the president-elect is showing signs that the presidential "bubble" is wearing on him, Politico reports. Obama ditched the pool of reporters assigned to follow him on Friday, taking his daughters to a nearby water park unannounced. When the reporters caught up, Obama appeared mildly cranky, informing a Washington Post reporter that he “didn’t really need” to document his lunch order (tuna melt on 12-grain bread, duly noted). Bill Clinton famously chafed against the restrictions of the office, but Obama’s meteoric rise has meant that his family has had to adjust that much quicker: “You don't have a lot of privacy," Obama told a group of grade-school kids. Read These Next In the early morning hours in East Hollywood, chaos. CEO resigns after appearance on Kiss Cam. This is why you don't wear metal in MRI rooms. The latest in the generation wars: the 'Gen Z stare.' Report an error