Obama's Vineyard Vacation Will Cost Taxpayers Millions

[CG6468]

Obama's Vineyard Vacation Will Cost Taxpayers Millions

By Paul Bedard

Posted: August 11, 2011

At a time when many more cash-strapped Americans are stuck at home instead of vacationing at the beach, President Obama next week will lead an entourage of several dozens to exclusive Martha's Vineyard island at a cost of millions to taxpayers.

While technically he is paying for his estimated $50,000 a week rental of the 28-acre beachfront Blue Heron Farm in woodsy Chilmark, the dozens of U.S. Secret Service agents, communications officials, top aides, drivers, and U.S. Coast Guard personnel with him will be covered by taxpayers as with every other presidential vacation.

His 11-day stay will require the Coast Guard to keep ships floating near Obama's farm, a presidential helicopter and jet at the ready and security agents on 24-hour duty. Armored SUVs dubbed "war wagons" have been flown in to carry the presidential family around the island. It was the same way when former President George H.W. Bush visited Kennebunkport, Maine and Bill Clinton visited Martha's Vineyard during their presidencies.

Typically, say former White House officials, the collection of aides is smaller for a summer vacation than for an official trip. And the motorcade is cut in half, to about 20 cars. What's more, the press corps will be smaller, though they largely pay for themselves.

Obama's vacation comes at an awkward time because of the economic turmoil roiling the nation and Wall Street. Surveys show that a growing number of Americans can't afford even small vacations.

ONLY 20 cars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thrifty Vacation?

[docstew]

How is he technically paying for all these vacations on his salary of $400k?

[DLR Pyro]

How is he technically paying for all these vacations on his salary of $400k?

he is using the same model for his personal expenses that he is using for the Nation's expenses....  Living outside his means.

[Bodadh]

I can kind of give a pass to a president that vacations at their own home that is large enough to handle the security but these Martha's Vineyard vacations are just too much. If I were president you would have got get me out of the White House at gun point. Plenty of food that is better then any thing you would get at a restruant and more then enough things to do ( pool, bowling lane, gym, movie theater, a place to grill....). If I really had to get away Camp David sounds pretty damn good to me. If I had to travel the VIP quarters at any US military base would make me happy.

But I am a man of simple taste. A Papa John's Pizza and coke or a decent beer would make me happy.

[Chris_]

But Barry doesn't have a private home any longer... he sold it after he moved into that fancy gummint house his wife likes so much.

[FreeBorn]

How is he technically paying for all these vacations on his salary of $400k?

Obama's net worth (2009)~

http://governmentgonewild.org/thelist

And yet he still expects US to pay for his vacation (again). I wonder if the dog got its very own jet this time too. 

[Evil_Conservative]

I can barely afford to make it to work right now.  Thank god I have a half a tank of gas still.