B.O. asks "When was the last time somebody used a travel agent?"

[Host Mike]

"Travel Agents' most visible association, the perhaps thin-skinned ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents), quickly reacted to President Obama’s recent implied statement that agents are no longer needed. What Obama said during a town hall meeting in Atkinson, Illinois:

“One of the challenges in terms of rebuilding our economy is businesses have gotten so efficient that—when was the last time somebody went to a bank teller instead of using the ATM, or used a travel agent instead of just going online? A lot of jobs that used to be out there requiring people now have become automated.”

“Travel agents flipped their lids,” according to one newspaper account.

Source: TravelMole.com Aug 22, 2011

[f-mattox]

The man is completely insensitive; he can't open his mouth without pissing somebody off.

[Two Tumbleweeds]

We have a super Travel Agent, who has an immense amount of knowledge about the business, which would take us a lifetime to accumulate. In the process of obtaining us reservations for cruises or air travel, she has saved us a lot of money by knowing all of the latest information. Most of this information may not be found on the internet, thus our commissar in D.C. doesn't have the vaguest idea what he's talking about. Travel Agents save a lot of time and money and should be held in high regard by all who travel.

[RichC]

He should have said when was the last time somebody ( LIKE MYSELF) went to a bank teller instead of using the ATM, or used a travel agent instead of just going online? He's in a position to have someone make his arrangements for his family and not do any of the legwork. 

[nabs14]

I very much agree with Tumbleweeds statement.  We have had the same terrific travel agent for the last 17 years who is very knowlegable & does keep up on all of what is new in the cruise travel industry.  He has also kept us up with all the info...