Report: Obamas to spend holidays in Hawaii at $4 million cost to taxpayers

The Daily Caller ^ | November 29, 2012

[NYer]

The first family will be vacationing in Hawaii for the Christmas holidays at a cost of at least $4 million to taxpayers, according to a report from the Hawaii Reporter.

The Hawaiian paper reports that residents living near the beachfront homes at Kailuana Place, where the President Obama and first family have visited annually since 2008, were notified Monday that there will be restrictions on their movements in place for 20 days, from Dec. 17 through Jan. 6.

The Hawaii Reporter calculated the $4 million cost to taxpayers based in part on the price of a round trip flight to the island on Air Force One, the transport of the president’s support equipment, housing of security and staff and the cost of police to local taxpayers.

The first family pays for their own rental on the beach, according to the paper.

The White House Dossier notes that the White House has yet to officially announce the vacation or the president’s travel plans and notes Obama could be in Hawaii on the day the country goes off the “fiscal cliff” if no deal is reached in time.

The Dossier adds that the vacation could help to add “subtle pressure” the president to reach a deal.

Author Robert Keith Gray estimated in his book “Presidential Perks Gone Royal“ that last year taxpayers spent $1.4 billion on the first family, compared to the $57.8 million British taxpayers spent on the royal family, The Daily Caller reported in September.

Last year the Hawaii Reporter estimated the president’s 17-day holiday vacation in Hawaii was more than $4 million as well.

[NYer]

last year taxpayers spent $1.4 billion on the first family, compared to the $57.8 million British taxpayers spent on the royal family

[rawcatslyentist]

[FroggyTheGremlim]

I bet those folks in New York and New Jersey, victims of Sandy, are really happy for the Obamas.

[ClearCase_guy]

The first family pays for their own rental on the beach, according to the paper.

See? They're just like regular people!

[PizzaDriver]

If we hit the cliff while he is away, Air Force One should be grounded. He should have to find his own way back to DC

[FlingWingFlyer]

Or as the Obamas would sing, Mele Kalikimaka Suckers!

[MrB]

They come from a culture in which the reason for achieving elected office is to “live large” on someone else’s dime.

[GailA]

while we worry about putting food on the table, fuel in the car and Christmas for our kids.

OBAMA HOVER DEPRESSION...stop calling it a recession, it ceased to be that 2 years ago.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/11/04/obama-economic-record-hoover/

[Marathoner]

One of the (many) things that pisses me off to no end about this is that so many Secret Service and other support staff will (again) have to be away from their families at Christmas because of this.

Contrast this with Bush, who I believe didn't leave town until the day after Christmas so they could at least spend part of Christmas with their families.

Of course with the Kenyan it's all himself all the time.

[Tigerized]

We “little people” have no say in the matter.

Except to pick the tab.

With none of the enjoyment.

I’m sure this is what our founders had in mind.

Exactly.

[ClearCase_guy]

He should have to find his own way back to DC

My neighbor assures me that Obama would be able to walk home from this vacation, if he had to.

[SMARTY]

What? Not going to the Jersey Shore to get his hands dirty?

[angcat]

They voted for him anyway I don't care anymore let the country go to hell in a hand basket.

[GreaterSwiss]

by what basis in the constitution can u restrict movement?

[GailA]

NO WORDS NEED, sign says it all

[hattend]

red x

[RedMDer]

Less than $2.4k to go!!
240 FReepers with $10 or 24 FReepers with a $100 and we are over the top.
How about it FReepers. Any takers?

[Empireoftheatom48]

The Big Party continues!

[PLD]

People not able to even have enough money for Christmas dinner and these greedy hogs spend that much money that we do not have to go on vacation..and to think the people of NY and New Jersey put this free loader over the top and he got elected..along with the fraud he committed at the voting booth..