'The Obamas treat Air Force One like an Uber ride': Chief of spending watchdog says president's Christmas Hawaii trip is too expensive to justify

[superbeets]

'The Obamas treat Air Force One like an Uber ride': Chief of spending watchdog says president's Christmas Hawaii trip is too expensive to justify

• Head of Judicial Watch criticized cost of trip, which will spiral into millions
• Air Force One costs $206,000 an hour to fly, and is one expense of many
• Secret Service, local police and ambulance and other security also needed
• Obama family are off on eighth annual Hawaii trip from this Friday
• The First Family are due to stay away from the White House until January 4
• For more of the latest on the Obamas visit www.dailymail.co.uk/obama

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Barack Obama has been savaged by a top spending campaigner for taking the First Family on an eighth consecutive Christmas vacation to Hawaii, at huge expense to the American taxpayer.
The President was accused of treating Air Force One, which costs $206,000/hour to run, 'like an Uber ride' ahead of his next jaunt to his home state.
Fly-time alone will set taxpayers back somewhere in the region of $3.5million as Obama, the First Lady, Sasha and Malia and their two dogs jet off for around two weeks.

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Let the chill begin: Barack Obama has come under fire again for the cost of his Christmas vacation. The Commander-in-Chief is pictured above enjoying a shaved ice with Malia Obama at the end of last year's holiday

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Getting work out of the way: The President is pictured above giving a briefing on ISIS Monday. His vacation starts on Friday

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Aloha: Sasha and Malia Obama join the President as he is greeted by Admiral Samuel Locklear III, head of the U.S Pacific Command, during his 2014 trip to Hawaii





They have traditionally rented a luxury villa in the upscale Kailua area on Oahu, the main island, and head out for hikes, rounds of golf and restaurant meals with their friends.
Tom Fitton, the head of the Judicial Watch pressure group, said Obama's holiday habit proves that he is out of touch - and has to stop.

He told AL.com: 'The Obamas' travel is out of control. They are treating the Air Force One like an Uber ride.
'And President Obama seems oblivious to the burden he is placing on Americans with his continuous vacations, getaways, and political junkets at taxpayer expense.'
During the trips, the Obamas are accompanied by a substantial Secret Service detail, who costs thousands of dollars a day to accommodate in the idyllic vacation spot.
Local police also work overtime and an ambulance trails the Presidential party at all times in case of disaster - all of which will push the total further into the millions.
Obama and family go hiking in Hawaiian island of Oahu


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[superbeets]

Although some expenses - including the rent - are paid for privately, the emergency personnel and daily expenses of Obama's security detail are all publicly-funded.
Exact figures for the trip - outside of Air Force One - are hard to obtain. According to a Watchdog.com report on the 2014 trip, there is also an Air Force cargo plane to bring Obama's helicopter and limo, which costs more than $150,000 to get to Hawaii and back.
A second plane brings a Marine Corps contingent at similar cost.
The Honolulu Police Department also spends in the region of $275,000 a year in overtime for its officers, while the ambulance from the local Emergency Management Services costs $15,890 to keep on call.

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Happy golfer: President Obama generally spends his time on the golf course (pictured at Mid-Pacific Country Club in Kailua, Hawaii) or working out at a local Marine Corps base






Secret Service agents - of whom there are said to be 'dozens' each year - are reportedly housed at a cost of around $200 per person per night, while material for other security measures would also be met from White House funds.
It is not yet clear precisely where the Obamas will stay, though they have traditionally favored somewhere near Kailua.
During their year-end trips to the Hawaiian islands the Obamas typically lounge around their rental home, venturing out only on occasion for shaved ice and dinner with their friends.
Since 2013, the Obama family have gone on scenic Christmas hikes, tried out snorkeling in Hanauma Bay and dined at the gourmet Alan Wong's Restaurant.
President Obama generally spends his time on the golf course or working out at a local Marine Corps base.

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Vacations gone by: Obama shakes hands with the crowd gathered at the 18th green after playing a round at the Mid Pacific Country Club in Kailua, Hawaii on December 29, 2008 a month-and-a-half after being elected president






He and the First Lady usually make a special trip to the base to to wish the troops stationed there a Merry Christmas and to thank them for their service.
On the island, it appears preparations are already under way for the presidents' arrival.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed there are temporary flight restrictions in the area from December 19 to January 4.
An islander also told Honolulu TV station KHON2 he had seen Secret Service in the area and had been given a flyer about security in Kailua Bay.
The Hawaii trips are not the only examples of extravagance which have been seized on by critics.
In March it emerged that the White House dropped at least $1million flying the President and the First Lady to Los Angeles and back on two separate planes inside a single day so they could be on TV.
Barack Obama sat down with Jimmy Kimmel to appear on his NBC show, while Michelle grabbed the change to be interviewed by Ellen DeGeneres.
Despite the two shows being filmed just miles apart, the White House insisted the journeys were 'not in sync' so required separate planes.
As well as the Christmas vacation, the Obamas typically take a summer retreat to Martha's Vineyard off the Massachusetts coast, allowing the President to tot up some more hours on the golf course.


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[superbeets]

"ALL presidents should be restricted to vacationing at Camp David; it was provided as a retreat. If they want to vacation elsewhere, fine, but ALL expenses are on them. presidents are not kings, nor should they be treated as such. They receive plenty of perks as it is; spending millions of dollars that are not theirs, should not be one of them. when was the last time YOUR employer paid for YOUR vacation?"

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"Amity - God given requirement to pay for it? He gets a salary. We have to pay him that, but he hasn't earned a penny of it yet."



"We never had this problem before.... Shame BO does not respect the office or the responsibility that comes with it. Yet another example of his disdain for this country."


Nothing unusual. Liberals love to spend somebody elses money. Amazing this man has done nothing."
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"Come on, the generous democrats will give someone the shirt off your back!".


"His only two achievements are 1) spending a record amount of taxpayer's money (don't forget supporting the mom-in-law) and 2) flushing our country down the toilet."

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"The last 7 years have been nothing but a field trip for him and his big spending wife. Back to work we go now to pay for this debacle."



"But but what about all the poor people that $3.5+ million could buy food for??? Stupid liberals"


"^Unless they're homeless veterans, then he couldn't care less about them.".


"^ Poor people are for votes, the more the better for him.".

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[Willie99]

it's what he calls "shared sacrifice"

he also has a problem with Americans "consuming too much"

the least prepared man in the room, a pathological liar, a pussy, an idiot and now a well documented extreme hypocrite, that's Obama and that's just scratching the surface

 

[vitterd]

Wait....so he wants to go home with his family for Christmas? And use Air Force one?? Outrageous. Why not stay at a hotel and use uber? Isn't that what all our past presidents have done?

 

[NFLTrends]

Wait....so he wants to go home with his family for Christmas? And use Air Force one?? Outrageous. Why not stay at a hotel and use uber? Isn't that what all our past presidents have done?

Amazing how the Christmas Trips to Hawaii became his thing since he got free travel on Air force One right before the oath in 2008.

Before that, he spent them stateside, at his home, in Chicago.

Must be nice to have taxpayers foot the bill for vacations you wouldnt pay for yourself, like Christmas's before Air Force One....

Oh... and Huffington Post even verified he started taking Christmas Vacations to Hawaii in 2008 when he was President Elect, and not before http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obama-hawaii-vacation-2015_566b45d1e4b011b83a6b5344

So, why did he never take Hawaii Christmas Vacations before he got Elected?

 

[Willie99]

Reagan and the Bushs would never vacation around the holidays, they didn't want to inconvenience their staff, they wanted as many people as possible to spend the holidays with their families. Obama doesn't give a fuck about people, and when he talks about shared sacrifice, he sacrifices nothing. He actually wastes whatever he can of other peoples' money.

The press used to rip Bush about vacations, and he usually went to Camp David, Kennebunkport ME and Crawford TX. He went to his homes, or places where additional security was minimum and the inconvenience to others was minimized. It speaks to a man's character, and it's yet another flaw Obama has.

 

[vitterd]

It's amazing what you guys will complain about. Bush and Reagan spent half their terms at the ranch playing Cowboys and Indians......hell Reagan had to be dragged off that ranch and back to DC during crisis but let's attack Obama going to where his family lives over Christmas.

Typical.

 

[superbeets]

It's amazing what you guys will complain about. Bush and Reagan spent half their terms at the ranch playing Cowboys and Indians......hell Reagan had to be dragged off that ranch and back to DC during crisis but let's attack Obama going to where his family lives over Christmas.

Typical.

I thought his family was in Africa. Also in Ireland.

 

[SheriffJoe]

Reagan and the Bushs would never vacation around the holidays, they didn't want to inconvenience their staff, they wanted as many people as possible to spend the holidays with their families. Obama doesn't give a fuck about people, and when he talks about shared sacrifice, he sacrifices nothing. He actually wastes whatever he can of other peoples' money.

The press used to rip Bush about vacations, and he usually went to Camp David, Kennebunkport ME and Crawford TX. He went to his homes, or places where additional security was minimum and the inconvenience to others was minimized. It speaks to a man's character, and it's yet another flaw Obama has.

Liberals are incredibly selfish, entitled and narcissistic people.

They just pretend to be generous with other people's money.

What about "climate change"? Shouldn't he be cutting back his travels doing his part to save the planet?

Hypocritical POS! :>(

 

[Dave007inVegas]

I don’t get the Hawaii thing. Some say Virginia Beach is the place to go. They say it’s lovely this time of the year.

 

[SheriffJoe]

"The kids love the long drives!"

 

[vitterd]

Watching two lonely old dummies talk about others with families.....is one of my favorite things here. Dear007 has no contact with outside world and Joe on dating sites in purple lilacs. Too funny.

 

[MantisToboggan]

I don’t get the Hawaii thing. Some say Virginia Beach is the place to go. They say it’s lovely this time of the year.

Damn, Dave, you're picking up your game lately. That's pretty funny.

 

[NFLTrends]

So... why didnt he take the Hawaii Christmas vacations before he got elected?

 

[vitterd]

So... why didnt he take the Hawaii Christmas vacations before he got elected?

Ummmmm.....I just read that he visited Hawaii more when he wasn't president. With family and friends still there, that's where his family goes.

You should really know the answer to a question like that before asking it.

Also, W spent more time and money on vacations while using Air Force one in history of the country. I suggest moving onto another topic.

 

[vitterd]

Damn, Dave, you're picking up your game lately. That's pretty funny.

Thats the 5th Virginia beach reference this week. And it's still funny......from a guy that doesn't leave his house?

 

[SheriffJoe]

Thats the 5th Virginia beach reference this week. And it's still funny......from a guy that doesn't leave his house?

Truth hurts, don't it?

"I'm a poker millionaire but we go to Virginia beach coz the kids love the long drives!"

Loser!@#0

 

[MantisToboggan]

Thats the 5th Virginia beach reference this week. And it's still funny......from a guy that doesn't leave his house?

Ya, that was well played by Dave. Can't speak on the other references this week, don't recall those. Probably didn't find those funny.

Don't worry, Vit, you're still the closest thing we have to Seinfeld down here. Just keep rolling out those hilarious comments about Dave and Joe being outcasts with no family who don't leave the house. So funny I almost pissed myself.

 

[vitterd]

Truth hurts, don't it?

"I'm a poker millionaire but we go to Virginia beach coz the kids love the long drives!"

Loser!@#0

Truth of what. We will be taking the 17 hour drive to Florida again in 2016. Kids can't wait!!!

Doesnt hurt that you have to beg for companionship online to strangers? You are always alone and it will always be that way. You gotta pay for company. You should hook up with Dave