Special Michelle Hawaii Flight Would Cost Thousands
President Obama’s decision to send Michelle and his daughters to Hawaii ahead of him if he is delayed by a fight with Congress could cost taxpayers tens of thousands of extra dollars to fund two separate vacation flights and related costs. The move would also violate the intent of an executive order he issued just last month urging federal employees to cut back on expenses like travel.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday that Obama told Senate Democratic leaders during a White House meeting that he would delay his scheduled December 17 departure for Hawaii to keep Congress in town until it extends the payroll tax holiday. Said Reid:
I’ll paraphrase it, but I’m pretty close. He said, ‘Michelle and the girls are going to have a great time in Hawaii. They don’t need me there.’
But sending his family ahead of him could easily cost taxpayers an added $100,000, and possibly much more.
Last year, when Obama was delayed by Congress, Michelle left early for Hawaii, and the cost of her separate flight alone totaled about $63,000. This did not include related security and staff costs or the money for a cargo plane that may trail the first lady’s jet on such a trip.
Obama joined Michelle a few days after she landed in Hawaii, and they extended their vacation past their scheduled return date to make up for the president’s lost vacation time.
Sending Michelle to Hawaii ahead of him this year would provide the first lady a convenience that Obama himself is trying to deny government workers.
In an executive order issued Nov. 9 titled “promoting efficient spending,” which was touted by the White House as a sign of Obama’s commitment to cut the deficit, Obama instructed agencies to try to avoid unnecessary plane trips.
. . . to ensure efficient travel spending, agencies are encouraged to devise strategic alternatives to Government travel, including local or technological alternatives, such as teleconferencing and video conferencing. Agencies should make all appropriate efforts to conduct business and host or sponsor conferences in space controlled by the Federal Government, wherever practicable and cost effective.
Perhaps a nice “strategic alternative” for the first lady would be to cool her heels at the lovely Camp David, just a short chopper ride from the White House.
- Vacay anyway: Obama’s vacation plans defy own executive order | American Vision News December 8, 2011
{ 83 comments… read them below or add one }
December 8, 2011 at 7:32 am
- Will ANYONE in the WH “press” corps ask/bring this up?
December 8, 2011 at 8:01 am
- No but the last time she did this it was front page on the Daily Mail UK.
Watch that paper they catch lot’s of the Obama’s little naughtiest and
most wasteful ventures. The MSM gives them a pass evert single time.
- She will go ahead of him Congress or not have we all not noticed she could care less and she will always come first!
December 8, 2011 at 7:45 am
- Just another fine example of the hypocrisy of this president and his administration. I agree with LB above….will anyone in the WH press corp press him on this?
December 8, 2011 at 8:38 am
- yes, they see this going on but they cower at the threat of cursing and
shunning by this crude & profane WH… such wimps.. they need to home to mommy and stay there !
December 8, 2011 at 8:28 am
- Why doesn’t the House cut the First family’s travel budget in order to pay for the continuance of the payroll tax cut Obama want’s so much. The FLOTUS’s vacation budget alone would go far.Enough of Michelle Antoinette Obama already. Giver her a stay-cation in Chicago in 2012!You’ll not see President Ron Paul and his lovely wife of 54 years being so frivious with the taxpayer’s money.
December 8, 2011 at 8:40 am
- The left constantly uses the fact that Bush took “X” amount of vacation days during his Presidency, but Bush, unlike these two posers, went home for his vacations costing the taxpayers a whole lot less money.When was the last time the Obama’s spent more than a couple of nights in their Chicago mansion? Why don’t they vacation at home instead?
December 8, 2011 at 9:01 am
- He doesn’t own it. The taxes are paid on the Chicago by three separate individuals some of them lawyers or lobbyists or something. Or perhaps Harrison J. Bounel is there for the holidays. He shares the same Connecticut Social Securtiy number and next of kin (Michelle) as Obama.
December 8, 2011 at 8:30 am
- We “subjects” should just be quiet and let the “Annointed Ones” do as they please. They seem to take great pleasure in spending money that does not belong to them. I guess all this seperate travel makes FLODUS proud of her country for the first time….puke!
December 8, 2011 at 8:31 am
- The Oblame-a’s are the total package — America’s WORST PRESIDENT and the most distasteful, disgraceful First Lady EVER.I can’t wait for this cow and her in-the-closet gay husband to be ousted from the White House in 2012!
December 8, 2011 at 8:31 am
- Yawn. We know. You hate our President. Yawn.
December 8, 2011 at 8:33 am
- Yawn, we know, you’re ignorant, yawn.
December 8, 2011 at 8:41 am
- Yawn, we know you are insignificant, yawn
He’s not our President he’s yours (the Left and the useless) December 8, 2011 at 8:43 am
- Hate is probably not a strong enough word. Despise, disgust, wish he had stayed in Kenya and never stepped foot on American soil. He is a disgrace to the entire United States of America and what we “used” to stand for! I’m voting for a permanent vacation for the Obama’s in 2012.
December 8, 2011 at 8:51 am
- You sound very native American to me, Tonto. You people never say where your ancestors sre from. You clearly are from garbage bin society.
December 8, 2011 at 8:31 am
- I am curious why a cargo plane would follow the First Lady’s jet?(I dare not suggest carrying food, but really, what is it for?)
December 8, 2011 at 8:36 am
- To tansport her garden, gloves, and harvest baskets.
December 8, 2011 at 8:37 am
- Luggage?
- Limos for the entourage, baggage etc.
December 8, 2011 at 8:43 am
- It is to tote her rear end!
December 8, 2011 at 8:31 am
- My kids have to attend school. If my kids missed as much school as the Obama children then would be held back. Again Obama is bending the rules that all of us have to live with. Oh yea, they are above the rules. Please do not let me forget that.
December 8, 2011 at 8:31 am
- The First Frump could care less that it costs extra money, as long as she gets in her 100th vacation since January 2009, that’s all that matters.
December 8, 2011 at 8:31 am
- When it comes to being extravagent, Michelle Obama takes the cake. Taxpayers are obligated to pay for her every want and need.Hog!
December 8, 2011 at 8:32 am
- Do as I say, not as I do.
- Please don’t force Michelle to abandon her lavish vacations, re-elect Obama in 2012. Michelle is counting on you.
December 8, 2011 at 8:32 am
- Nothing surprizes me about this SOB anymore…nothing.Our only hope is that in 2012 he crawls back into the laboratory that created him.
December 8, 2011 at 8:32 am
- “Everyone must sacrifice for the greater good… Everyone must have some skin in the game.”
President Obama 2009 December 8, 2011 at 8:33 am
- Greenest president in the history of the country – or so the media says, yet they burn more jet fuel than anyone I have ever seen.Bottom line is Michelle believes the country owes her and she continues to drain the treasury to fund her lavish lifestyle like a third world dictator.
- What is she gong to do when she doesn’t have the taxpayers to fund her lavish lifestyle?
December 8, 2011 at 8:35 am
- I spent my vacation time (what little I get) for doctors, dentists, and taking my elderly mom to her appointments. These people have no clue about the real world. He even went to the best private schools when he was little. Still would like to know when exactly he lived on food stamps with a single mom. Seems to me there wasn’t much time for that. I am so sick of these slf rightous thugs telling us what to do, what to eat and how to think. Maybe they should focus on the food stamp people and medicaid people. (Not medicare for the elderly). Fodd stamps should be allowed to only buy real food for cooking meals and not a cart full of cakes, pies, chips, pretzels, doritos, soda, ice cream etc. I persaonnal saw someone use the stamps for just that. 2 full carts of junk food and spent $335.79 using food stamps. Time for a seperate voucher and only allow so much junk food. Say $30 a month and when it’s all that’s it. And put them on an HMO so they too have to visit a doctors office before running to the emergency room for colds and other minor sicknesses.
- Obama’s idea of maybe staying in DC until the payroll tax holiday is passed means he will take several extended weekends flying to and from Hawaii costing us that much more. Besides, Moochelle would probably take a separate flight anyway, she evidently doens’t like travleing wroth the Narcissist-in-Chief. Can’t blame her there.
- I find it very amusing how the Left finds it so uncivil for the Right to treat Obutthead the same way they treated President Bush. Makes me laugh
December 8, 2011 at 9:07 am
- Yes, it is amusing. The rules applied to Bush cannot be applied to Obama. The left is a disease.
December 8, 2011 at 8:39 am
- Mr. Obama, makes rules so he can do whatever he wants, the hell with the rest of America that cannot pay their mortgage, cannot buy Christmas gifts for their families and who are out of work. Just as long as Michelle and the girls have a good time at the taxpayers expense the hell with the rest of America. The $535 million on the solar company could have paid off millions of homes for the poor, built schools, created a better way of life for US Citizens. Heck it could have paid every US senior citizen million dollars, done away with Social Security and created a private investment program for those individuals under 50 that are now paying into Social Security. This President and the Democrat’s have wasted billions of dollars to improve their way of life.
- GREAT IDEA. Too bad the loons in the White House didn’t think of that. Also, the $800 billion stimulous could have given every working person a million dollars and had plenty left in the government account. That would have stimulated the economy more than any other program which is only designed to take control of everything.
December 8, 2011 at 8:39 am
- Seriously? Let’s hear Chuck Todd spin this one…
December 8, 2011 at 8:39 am
- This guy is a tool, wasting taxpayer money he should pay for his many vacations out of his own pocket the taxpayer should only be responsible for expenses relater to officaial business
- Nope, leftist only like spending other peoples money–not their own.
December 8, 2011 at 8:41 am
- No one is surprised at this. The big surprise would be if The Mooch and the girls waited for O. And MeMa, too.
- I spent my vacation time (what little I get) for doctors, dentists, and taking my elderly mom to her appointments. These people have no clue about the real world. He even went to the best private schools when he was little. Still would like to know when exactly he lived on food stamps with a single mom. Seems to me there wasn’t much time for that. I am so sick of these self rightous thugs telling us what to do, what to eat and how to think. Maybe they should focus on the food stamp people and medicaid people. (Not medicare for the elderly). Food stamps should be allowed to only buy real food for cooking meals and not a cart full of cakes, pies, chips, pretzels, doritos, soda, ice cream etc. I personally saw someone use the stamps for just that. 2 full carts of junk food and spent $335.79 using food stamps. Time for a seperate voucher and only allow so much junk food. Say $30 a month and when it’s all that’s it. And put them on an HMO so they too have to visit a doctors office before running to the emergency room for colds and other minor sicknesses.Reply
December 8, 2011 at 8:43 am
- What do you expect from a family of its the first of the month, ain’t my money I spendin’, moon crickets. Just more entitlement mentality minority waste. You can see this way of thinking every time an EBT card is swiped.
December 8, 2011 at 8:45 am
- Sure is nice to see that Michelle O continues on a non-stop basis to abuse her priveleges as First Lady. Whether it’s an insanely expensive wardrobe, or endless banquets that outdo Saudi Arabian princes, or nonstop vacations to exotic locales that require personal jets, a small army of Secret Service men and women, or buying up entire floors of five star hotels……and this is only the tip of the iceberg……just the things the liberal media allows us to hear about. With their undying devotion to all things obama, the press is always striving in their UNbiased way to show off the obamas in the purest light possible, while at the same time doing the exact opposite for any and all things conservative. And let us never forget that king obama “fiddles” around on the golf course incessantly at the most inappropriate times while America burns. He is always easy to locate whenever the country is at a crisis point and badly needs a show of leadership — either playing golf or basketball. What comfort it provides knowing that whenever the going gets tough, the messiah is busy either repairing his divots or retying his shoe laces.
December 8, 2011 at 8:45 am
- Obama is hell bent on brining America to it’s knees. OBAMAS want and do punish the American taxpayers.
December 8, 2011 at 8:45 am
- Damn that Bush, wasting taxpayer money on needless, lengthy vacations for his family. It’s an outrage that Bush is, oh wait, it’s Obama. Oh, nevermind. In other news…
December 8, 2011 at 8:45 am
- Here we go again … total disregard for the poor people who are suffering. What a disgrace this sorry President is. He should be ashamed … but he is not.
December 8, 2011 at 8:46 am
- This has been their plan all along. They always take 2 very large planes wherever they go. We never did get a story from the press on why they took seperate planes to Martha’s Vineyard this summer arriving within 4 hours of each other. The Obama’s pomp and arrogance turns my stomach.
December 8, 2011 at 8:46 am
- Those executive orders he issues are to control us plebians. The Obama’s are the patricians — the noble class. The rules don’t apply to them.
- Re: Disgusted with Libs post. Saw that exact thing the other day at a well known discount, bag-your own-groceries store. First, imagine oversized shopping carts stuffed full..and I mean a good foot and a half over the top edges of the carts with mostly junk. I counted on one cart at least 6 bags of chips, Fritos, Pringles, cakes, Ding Dongs, you name it..along with cases of soft drinks. Then, out came the food stamps..or whatever they’re called these days. And sadly, every single person associated with that cart was grossly obese..including the children. The stamps should apply only to non-junk food items..or let’s say at least when using the stamps, you are LIMITED to how many junk items you can have in the cart.
December 8, 2011 at 8:50 am
- I was in line behind a woman, last year, who was in line with (I assume) her husband and children. She was redeeming I don’t know HOW many WIC formula vouchers. It was kinda weird. She was the only one who spoke English and she had more gold, a much fancier purse, and more expensive clothes than I.
December 8, 2011 at 8:47 am
- Check my skin color.You owe it to me and I’m takin’ it.I only have another 13 months to ride free, and Chelley and I are gon’ be frequent flyers!Get used to it.FORE!!!
December 8, 2011 at 8:49 am
- This is their way of showing how “GREEN” they are.What were their vacation habits before they did most of their travel on the taxpayers dime?Why does she (who is not an elected official) travel at our expense just so her vacation time is not affected by the Nations business?
December 8, 2011 at 8:49 am
- This job just gets in the way of everything!
December 8, 2011 at 8:50 am
- I am so sick of this woman who acts like the queen! If only she put this much effort into being a first lady and doing some things worthwhile- not planting toxic gardens at the white house! She needs to pay America back.
December 8, 2011 at 8:50 am
- An extra $100,000? As Max Bialystock said in the movie “The Producers”, “a mere trifle, think nothing of it.”
December 8, 2011 at 8:51 am
- Doesn’t matter. The One lives by different rules than the rest of us little people. It would be one thing if only he believed this, but what amazes me is the fact that a fairly solid 45% of the American public believe it too! Happy in their role as one of Obama’s little people.
December 8, 2011 at 8:55 am
- So what ? Bush took an astonishing 879 days in the two terms he was in office. This criticism of Obama is petty and offered by those who flat out hate the guy for what ever reason. Even Reagan was well ahead of the pace that Obama has currently. If your’e going to complain, do it about this do nothing congress who average 561 .00 for an 8 hour day ( two hours) of which they actually spend in the halls of congress. Talk about vacation ! None of us gets our money’s worth from our elected politicians who spend more time fundraising than legislating ! Let’s complain about that !
December 8, 2011 at 9:03 am
- Did you mean Bush’s trips to his home ranch in Texas? Did you mean Reagan’s trips to his home ranch in California? I don’t recall either of these guys taking an entire entourage to Spain, Hawaii or any other place like the Obama’s do. I also don’t recall Laura Bush or Nancy Reagan taking airliners all on their own to wherever they wished. Do you? Face it, sycophant of Obama, these people are inexcusable in their flaunting of wealth (the taxpayer’s) or in the elitist manners and other behaviors they perform so well. Go back to bed.
December 8, 2011 at 8:55 am
- Guess they didn’t want to lose their deposit on that beach front condo ….. The King will have his new clothes as the Queen bakes cakes for the rabble.
December 8, 2011 at 8:56 am
- when else would obama get to spend time at the dirty low down club?this was a ready made family. to debunk that theory, all you have to do is show me one picture of obama holding one of his daughters as a newborne.
JUST ONE PICTURE. - I don’t know where to begin. Obama saying that he is not needed is an understatement beyond words. Well, did anyone really expect Moms Mabley to not take her private airliner to Hawaii? If Marie Antoinette had access to a huge airliner don’t you think she would have flown around to the known world? Why should we expect any less from this incredibly detached, elitist bunch of dopes? 2012 … Anyone but Obama (or Hillary either).
December 8, 2011 at 8:58 am
- Great, you two . . . keep wasting taxpayers’ money as fast as you can. 11 more months . . . . .
December 8, 2011 at 8:58 am
- This man get’s more vacation than anyone I know of. I had to work for my company 5 years before I got 2 weeks of vacation! He has been there 3 years and i can’ keep up with his vacation time!
December 8, 2011 at 8:58 am
- Maybe Mrs Sotero/Obama can keep her black a$$ at home for a while with those two little hoes (ebonic for female). As a matter of fact, just like his family could do fine without him, so could the USA. Send him back to indonesia or africa, or anywhere, never to be heard from again.
December 8, 2011 at 8:59 am
- THEY ARE ON A CONTINUAL VACATION. OHH THEY ARE THE UPPER 1%
December 8, 2011 at 9:00 am
- Heavens forbid, we can’t keep the “Queen Bee” waiting.
December 8, 2011 at 9:01 am
- Remove King Louis and Michelle Antoinette in 2012.
December 8, 2011 at 9:02 am
- If the First Family less the anointed one were really for the people like they claim they would hop on a public plane & go through the scanner like the rest of us.How many vacations does one family need?I am disgusted with all these politicians (on both sides of the isle) being so wasteful with my tax dollars.
December 8, 2011 at 9:04 am
- “all this for a damned flag”-0bama – Vile-
- The First Frump, a.k.a. the First Derriere, said that and Obozo agreed with her (at a 911 ceremony this year).
