The Obamas are Living It Up!
By Riptide
@Riptide (2756)
United States
July 25, 2009 4:08pm CST
I just came across an article about the Obamas taking a luxury vacation in the most expensive small town in America!
[i]It's hard to pick the perfect escape when you're the leader of the free world. But word has it that the Obamas have found the hideaway they need: A 28-acre, $20-million property on Martha's Vineyard Island, off the coast of Massachusetts, called Blue Heron Farm. The 10,000-square-foot retreat has everything a president wanting some downtime needs, including a swimming pool, basketball court, and golf tee. And it is even dog-friendly.
The Obama family will pay its own way for a one-week getaway at the end of August, and it's not cheap: Rents reportedly run from $35-$50,000 a week for similar homes. (Not surprisingly, the town of Chilmark, where they're headed, was voted the most expensive small town in America a couple years back. And that was before the First Family said they'd be coming.)[/i]
Read more...
http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92844/?fp=1
Now, I'm not saying they shouldn't go on vacation, so I don't want anybody busting in here claiming I do. But how does the President go on a posh luxury vacation, while so many people here in this country have a hard time putting food on the table, because he is ruining the economy!
Why couldn't he pick a more modest spot, to show that he is willing to make the sacrifices he expects us to make.
One weeks rent at this place cost as much as a middle class family makes a year!
I don't care if it comes out of his pocket, his salary is paid for from OUR tax money and I'm sure he will find a way to make this vacation tax deductible, so it will be paid for with taxpayers money either way.
What did he do to deserve a vacation anyway? So far he has done nothing but run this country into the ground!
This is getting more sickening by the day!
4 people like this
12 responses
@coolcoder (2018)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I agree with you. This is hypocrisy at its worst. And yes, he'll find a way to make ordinary citizens like you and me pay for this little outing, only he'll put it under the guise that we're "being patriotic" and "sacrificing" during these difficult times.
It makes me sick. Only six months into his administration and this happens. I don't know if America will be able to take 3.5 more years of him. I guess we'll see.
2 people like this
@singlemommy (2955)
• United States
26 Jul 09
Most of the time, those who have, don't want to sacrifice. They feel they have no need to sacrifice. Even when they do contribute to a cause or donate to a fundraiser, etc, they want to write it off on their taxes. Well, if you really cared about the cause or fundraiser then you wouldn't be doing it to get a piece of paper that will save you money on your taxes. I'm sorry, but when I make a donation, I NEVER ASK FOR A RECEIPT FOR MY TAXES. I give because I want to give, because it is better to give than to receive. Maybe Obama is paying for his "vacation" but who is paying for his Secret Service, etc while he is on this vacation? Yup, you guessed it, me and you and every other tax paying citizen in this country.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
25 Jul 09
IMO Obama is proving day by day that he could care less about how he appears to the American people. He is so arrogant it does not bother him that he showed his racists tendencies last week and now he is just rubbing the noses of all the out of work American that his motto is not Yes We Can but Yes I Can... do what I damn well please!
1 person likes this
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
25 Jul 09
I ask myself the exact same questions about why President Obama can't at least pretend to be on our level.
And I'm fully aware of EVERY rebuttal out there: "Bush took vacations all the time!" "He's the President and deserves to go on vacation." "What, do you want the President to stay at a Motel 8?" "What's the big deal? Every President has done it!" "Oh, so Obama shouldn't enjoy some luxuries just because a lot of people are suffering?"
Look, the bottom line is really, totally, seriously nonpartisan. Barack Obama, America's President, is the highest-ranking person in our country whose words carry the most weight. He is the one who habitually stands on his podium, reads from his prompter, and preaches to the American people that we're in the worst--maybe even worse!--economic situation since the Great Depression. He is the one who calls for change, a redistribution of wealth, and for a sacrifice and redirection of thought from Americans who may spend and overconsume.
Why, for the love of all things holy, can't the President join the club and maybe holiday at some place less posh and lavish and completely out of reach of the average American?
He presents himself as a man of the people; a man who can empathize with the daily struggles. Yet, every other week, news breaks about Obama living as an elitist.
Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. If you got the money, the time and the means, go for it. But it's like I read here about Sanford (though the situations aren't nearly the same!): Don't claim to be about something if you're not. If makes you a hypocrite.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
25 Jul 09
You are so right! He is a hypocrite on so many different issues. He is a first class elitist.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
26 Jul 09
Maybe to redistribute some of HIS wealth we should all join him there? And ask for a free bed and some food...I'm finding it real difficult to put food on the table here where I am at. Whatcha say? Think he would have us all arrested and sent to FEMA camps for showing up on his doorstep asking for a hand out?
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
26 Jul 09
Before people blast me because it is not my money they are spending, this is my opinion.
He has perhaps the most high stress job in the world at the moment, he deserve a little break away. And to totally get a real holiday is not to be disturb when they are there. He could have ask to build a summer palace but instead reduce to live in a small town. Sure the country is in trouble, which is no fault of his, and if he is using his money, it is doing two thing, putting money back to the US economy and giving the country confidence that better times is coming.
@Riptide (2756)
• United States
26 Jul 09
Try telling that to people who can't keep a roof over their heads or feed their children.
Who do you think is paying for the 20 security agents? That is coming out of OUR pockets!
And I am sure he could have found something cheaper than $50k a week! It's about him leading by example and not living the posh life while his people are struggling!
Dictators do that!
1 person likes this
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
27 Jul 09
As the president, wherever he goes, the security would be there. So that have already been spent. And yes the tax payers are paying for that.
First I think the amount might very over hyped. I do not believed it is that high.
Now subjectively you need the people to spent on your economy for the economy to recover.
next like I said it is a president would not able to choose a simple vacation, any other place he might have to bring another 20 to 40 guards.
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
28 Jul 09
Wait a minute sndcain36,
Destroying a united states was the doing of bush, while I do not think that Obama was the best man for the job, Americans have chosen. You cannot expect fairy tale ending fairy tale can you. Give him time to do his chores. While be might be the most power man in the world he cannot make all the decision on his own. He still need the congress to approve. That is what making the task so hard.
I wonder why the americans are not complaining, when statesman take holiday oversea spending about this same amount? At least his is putting money back into the US, isn't he?
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
25 Jul 09
Hi Riptide, we had the same thing in the UK with Blair popping off to his vacation spot of Italy all the time - I think that was freebies provided by friends but there must have been some payback to said friend in political favour. Not to mention the expense to the tax payer of paying for all the additional security involved. He didn't even have the decency to holiday in England and put his money back into his own economy. They've all been at it for years.
@alindahaw (1219)
• Philippines
26 Jul 09
I read this story in Yahoo! a while ago and it was kind of shock at the price tag too. I mean, 35,000-50,000 A WEEK is a lot of money. Even if he paid the rent from his own pocket, the thing is, the whole vacation is very, very expensive. Yes, he deserves a vacation but does it have to be this expensive? The Obama admistration complained about those Wall Street CEOs getting bonuses but they endorse lavish spending by the President. The President keep asking the people to sacrifice but it seems he is doing the opposite thing in this case. Isn't that double standard?
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
26 Jul 09
Hey there's a thought...maybe those CEO's are paying for all the help they got with the bailout? You know...gee thanks Mr. Obama for saving my butt and giving me a bonus for failing? Let me send you to Martha's Vineyard and we'll catch a round of golf while you're there?
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
26 Jul 09
It is hard to explain spending so much money for a vacation when the economy is in such shambles. Maybe a little less vacations, parties and family globe hopping and a little more of fixing the mess our country is in.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
27 Jul 09
Riptide,
The Obamas were very wealthy before they entered the White House. They do support all sorts of charities and initiatives to help those less fortunate. Considering the enormous stress of their lives, they deserve to get away in style. Most of us would, if we could.
@abenitez (501)
• United States
26 Jul 09
If you have the money and the most stressful job in the nation, why not take a break. That family had money before he was the president anyways, both he and his wife are well educated and he has written books and that kind of stuff. If you can afford it why not. I dont hear people complaining about celebrities buying $200,000 cars and taking the same type of vacations. And the country was being run to the ground way before he took office, so the whole economic situation is not even entirely his fault.
@Riptide (2756)
• United States
27 Jul 09
But celebrities don't hold speeches and tell people that they have to make sacrifices. They are not the ones running the economy into the ground. They don't get paid by OUR tax dollars and we don't have to pay for their security with our tax dollars.
He expects the little man to cough up more money in taxes which results in less spending money, while he goes off to a posh vacation spot. He is NOT leading a good example.
@abenitez (501)
• United States
27 Jul 09
The economy was being run to the ground far before he took office, and like I said if you can afford why not. Its not like he is the only poliotician in America working. Give the guy a break he has only been in office 7 months. I dont stop taking my vacations because other people cant afford them it is just reality the guy is not going to work for 4 years non stop. His security is paid with tax payers money that is fine, he is going to have that security whether he is on vacation or not. The economy was being run to the ground by Bush while he was out working on his golf swing.
@Riptide (2756)
• United States
28 Jul 09
He is going on a luxury vacation, while some people can't even afford to put food on the table! He is only 6 months into his term, how does he need a vacation already? Most jobs you have to wait a fukking year just to get a week off!
Like I said, he is not making the sacrifices he expects us to make! Some people just don't get it. 
@phildozer (284)
• United States
28 Jul 09
What about people who win the lottery? they dont even work to earn their money, they just get it and live like fat cats, while I stuggle to pay for college.
you know what? how DARE all those people who made millions playing the stock market or becoming doctors, or building up their buisnesses into large companies, spend their money on nice houses or cars, while I have to eat ramen!
I say we just become communist so that we all suffer when the country suffers!
that way we can truly complain when our president takes a break from his overly-stressful 24/7 job wheres hes constantly tested and prodded and heckled.
