Obama's Vacation a breech of American Trust

He has money from elsewhere, he did not use taxpayer money for that retreat. Also one of these places are bound to give him one hell of a discount. This guy deserves a vacation more than any of us I believe, he works tons, has SO MUCH responsibility, I cannot think of anyone who has more responsibility in the world. He is NOT spending tax payer money, so he has not cheated us. Obama has made about 2 million in Royalties, his wife makes 320k a year and Obama makes 200k for being a president. Keep in mind that as a president, almost all expenses are paid for as you are constantly traveling, meeting people etc... so he does not spend all that much. When you think about it, when he is spending his money he is stimulating the economy, so he is actually even helping a bad situation! You have been misinformed and therefore based your argument on false facts, making it false.

He has every right to use the money hes accrued through his life. He himself has said that its not tax payer money hes using, its his money. The man works a 24/7 job, and his wife and kids barely see him. Presidents have escaped to fancy retreats since the beginning of our country. Being angry at this is like being angry at Bill gates spending his money to go to a seaside resort somewhere. its doesnt make sense.

Big jobs come with big benefits. I am not going to begrudge a guy a vacation he is entitled to take, like every other executive in the country. and he had plenty of money already when he got in to office, I am not going to fault a guy for making money. He certainly isn't the firt president to take a vacation in hard economic times, he won't be the last. Lets give the guy and his family a break on this one. We have much bigger issues with this administration to deal with and pull apart.

So what you are actually implying is that the president and his family should remain prisoners of their home? After all how much does it cost for the the girls to go to school with the private drivers and body guards. What about the day they go out shopping for some clothes? How much does that cost. This is getting rediculous. You have no issue with him taking his family on vacation as long as it is where you think he should be going right. No matter how you put it it would be a multi million dollar vacation for him. Or should he just have to go to your local motel 8?

I read the responses and I think some people are missing the bigger point. President Obama, by his own actions, time and again, is about symbolism. The American President is a symbol of America. I have no problem with the President vacationing wherever he deems fit, but at the same time, he's preaching to the American people, at least 4 times a week, that we're in big financial trouble -- we need to change our ways. I don't really see this as a big deal. But at the same time, it would be nice if our President wasn't throwing money around, you know. I know for a fact that a whole lot of Obama supporters feel he is truly superior to ordinary men. I know that a lot feel anything he does is worthy of support, since he's on that loney hilltop of infallible morality. But it wouldn't hurt anything for the President to vacation somewhere a little less lavish, a little less expensive. Barack Obama being connected to the people and being able to be America's savior isn't a standard I hold him up to. It's a standard he holds himself up to. Outside of his circle of supporters, which is still rather encompassing, I think his spending habits reflect poorly on the man. At a time when, by his own repetitive words, America is suffering, he has managed to spend more money than anyone else on the face of the planet. What a great gesture it would be to tamp down his personal spending. If he doesn't, oh well. It's no world-changing event. However, the way he chooses to present himself in those town hall meetings and those press conferences kind of dodos out when he's ready to toast the town. It becomes another example of his actions not matching his rhetoric. And, no matter how you slice it, that's disconcerting.

I'm a bit confused by this. If I recall correctly, the Republicans want to cut taxes on the richest people, and ensure that those taxes stay low. This, they claim, will allow the rich to spend their money, and that money will "trickle down" to the less fortunate, making everyone richer. You're wrong about the taxpayers paying for this, but I think people have let you know this by now. You're wrong about him not living within his means; I suspect you know that too, now. It helps to get your fact straight before you start making accusations, because those are pretty big things to get wrong. But aren't you going against conservative theory entirely when you say that the Obamas should save their money? Aren't they SUPPOSED to spend it, so that the wealth can trickle down to the less fortunate? Isn't that the heart and soul of trickle-down economics in the first place? Are you saying Reagan was wrong and his policies were "cheating" us? If it's true for Obama, it must be true for the Republicans who originated this theory. Right?

When government officials, including the President take vacation this is a good thing. We, America can fix our own problem, we do not need governments help. Let the man and his family take as much time off as possible. Same goes for Congress as little time up in Washington D.C is a good thing. They cannot fix anything, it is not governments role to do so in the first place. Remember Federally elected officials are elected only to protect the Constitution from foreign and domestic enemies, not to protect the economy from recession.

I have heard that he is not using taxpayer money so I really, really don't care where he goes for his vacation. What he does with his own money is not our business. It really isn't. If it were in fact the taxpayers money then I could see the issue. It is not our business to decide if he is or is not living within his means. He's running our country....let's hope he can balance his own personal budget. I don't feel cheated by him.

Presidents go on vaction, or two of our last three went on vacation far more than any others. Specificly George H.W. Bush who spent over a year on vacation (note that he was president for only 1 term so he spent more than 25% of his time in office on vacation). It doesn't bother me one bit that he is taking a vacation, if congress isn't in session it isn't like he can do anything to change anything during this time. As you recall, our last president spent alot of time on vacation as well, even though he spent time at his house, it was the amount of time he spent there that upset many (especially before 9/11).

I think its kind of crazy, but every time that they take a trip on air force its like a million dollars to go and come back.But every president that has been president has done this kind of thing. why point out that Obama is doing it too. Its known across the land the allowances that the presidents use to do things on there own time.