Obama Vacation Extravagance

Images from Martha's Vineyard showing Obama on vacation and playing golf contrast sharply with images of Americans struggling to find work and suffering in the wake of the Obama economy.

The White House is doing its best to spin that Obama is hard at work, releasing this photo of him NOT frolicking with the rich and famous.


President Barack Obama receives a national security briefing from John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism, in Martha's Vineyard, Mass., Aug. 19, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This is lame political theater. The last impression the White House wants to portray is a president enjoying a life of leisure and privilege on the Vineyard.

Barack Obama began the first full day of his Martha's Vineyard vacation on Friday by taking his daughters book shopping, then hitting the golf links at a private course.

The White House was at pains to point out he also was briefed by aides on national and international issues.

...The 10-day stay on Martha's Vineyard is Obama's third straight summer on the island off Cape Cod, and his visit to the Bunch of Grapes was a reprise of how he started last year's vacation. Once again, it was a father-and-daughters outing, with first lady Michelle Obama elsewhere on the island.

Inside the bookstore, once Malia and Sasha had picked out books, Obama went to the cashier to pay but was heard disagreeing with the $32 price he was quoted, which seemed low for the size of his stack. He later paid by credit card, telling the cashiers that he uses it only about three times a year.

...Later, Obama and the first lady had dinner at the Beach Plum Inn overlooking Menemsha Harbor, eating as the sun set over the lobster boats and motor yachts. They spent an hour and a half at the inn before returning to Blue Heron Farm. The Obamas dined with friends at the restaurant last year. This year it was just the two of them.

The White House defends Obama's desire for time to recharge and spend time with his family before the new school year begins. Officials also say the president is never really on vacation.

It's true that the U.S. president is never really on vacation, although the liberal media certainly didn't highlight that fact when President Bush spent time at his ranch in Crawford, Texas to "recharge."

One thing is certain: The Obamas didn't have to eat their peas. The Beach Plum Inn doesn't have peas on the menu.

It seems wrong at this time for Obama to not share in the sacrifice. These disastrous economic times call for Obama to partake in the misery, spread the peas around.

Obama is not feeling our pain while he frolics at the Blue Heron Farm.

President Obama and the first family left on Thursday for a 10-day vacation on Martha's Vineyard.

For the third consecutive year, the Obamas will head back to the Blue Heron Farm, an expansive $20 million estate in the Chilmark section of the island.

The 28.5 acre secluded waterfront property comes complete with horse paddocks, a boat house and an apple orchard.

According to Tom Wallace, of Wallace and Co. Sotheby's International Realty, the property contains a five-bedroom main house, a Cape Cod guest house, a swimming pool, a golf practice tee, and a half-court basketball court -- a big seller for Obama, a huge fan.

"It's the type of place that once you get there, it's not something you want to leave," Wallace told ABC News. "It's very tranquil, a great place for a family vacation. The kids will absolutely have a ball, as I'm sure [Obama family dog] Bo will also."

Let's be honest. Obama is not feeling our pain. He can't relate.

The extravagance of the Obama lifestyle was on display even before the family arrived at the grand estate.

Before it had even started in earnest, the much-maligned vacation became a PR nightmare, after it emerged this morning that he and his wife took separate government jets to Martha's Vineyard just hours apart.

Michelle Obama was revealed to have arrived at the Massachusetts retreat, only 500 miles from Washington, four hours before her husband yesterday.
She was accompanied by their daughters and landed at around 2pm - four hours earlier than the President.

The extra transport to get the the First Lady to the island for only a few more hours of vacation time will have cost taxpayers thousands in additional expenses.

The costs related to Mrs Obama’s solo trip mainly include the flight on the specially designed military aircraft she took instead of Air Force One, as well as any extra staff and Secret Service that had to be enlisted to go with her.

She would also have had her own motorcade from the airport to her vacation residence.
The President had already drawn scorn for using two helicopters and Air Force One to get to Martha's Vineyard.

He yesterday left the White House aboard Marine One on his way to Andrews Air Force base to hitch a lift aboard Air Force One - along with First Dog Bo.
After landing at Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station, he then took a final helicopter to his holiday destination to complete the remarkable 500-mile journey.

The Obamas certainly aren't cutting any corners or being careful with how they spend the tax dollars of Americans.

Couldn't they have at least coordinated their transportation to the playground of the rich and famous?

Maybe it never crossed their minds.

Besides the cost of the two jets, the Obamas' travel plans weren't very green.

No chance of Martha's Vineyard liberals caring about that.

Hypocrites.

Video.