It is reported that the Obamas have rented a luxurious beach house for their vacation.Reportedly, it has invited many adverse comments. In view of the many problems the American people are facing--- millions of workers losing their jobs, several hundreds of thousands losing or going to lose their homes, credit card catastrophe looming large ----was it wise on the part of Obama spending vacation in a luxurious home? Mind you, my objection is not on his vacation,he has earned it after a long and strenuous campaign, but on that way of spending.Leaders like Obama should show the way to others, is it not?
[question posted by vjayrao06]
responses and comments:
I can see your point about taking a lil r&r w/o the public on your footheels but to also set a good example. I don't in a way find it a big deal as I'm sure it was his own money he spent on the trip and I'm sure camp David & trips to Martha's vineyard that the presidents usually take aren't exactly roughing it trips out in a tent either. [3SnuggleBunnies]
it probably looks odd because it's not as "dignified" as the other places the presidents are allowed to vacation. Who cares if he took off his shirt!?!? I don't. I'm sure he's got the money to rent a home out there for a week or two. Or even has friends that still live there that they bunked with possibly. [3SnuggleBunnies]
Security is the number one issue with the President Elect and his family and it would be impossible to provide them with acceptable security if they stayed at a Holiday Inn or something similar. They needed to rent a house large enough for the security detail and one that would also give the family some measure of privacy. Just as you do, the Obama's have the right to spend their money as they see fit and, because their lives will soon change so drastically, I think getting away for a family vacation was a good thing to do. [spalladino]
Exactly, should i feel bad because i can afford the ps3. I mean is that rude to buy what i can afford? i guess in America yes, cause i can imagine people sneering and thinking to rob me while im walking out a store with one. [vellibiz]
Since he is not officially the President yet, he and his wife are probably using their own money for their vacation, so I don't see anything wrong with it. [howard96h]
Well we will see what happens when he officially takes office. No where does it say in the original post that he and his wife are using tax payers money, we don't know that and since he is from Hawaii he is entitled to go on vacation like many other people do. I have faith that there will be positive changes when he takes office. [howard96h]
This is what I have been telling folks all along Obama is a human just like us. He will want to partake of the life that the prestige come with. Do you think that he will see the suffering of the Nation and not talk his vacation in luxury. He and his family want the life that previous President enjoyed. I see my good friend spall pointing out Security. He could have his vacation at home seeing that the Nation is in Recession. How can some one who says that he is for the suffering in his Country and seeing all what is happening still go on Vacation. Who is paying for this Vacation I assume it is the taxpayers. Persons was here saying that Obama is the change. The change has come to earth 2000 years ago. If we continue to put our faith in man then we will only be facing disappointment upon disappointment. Happy New Year [kerriannc]
Kerriann, think about it from the perspective of a parent for a minute. You're children are about to go through a drastic change and will be surrounded by security for the next four years at the minimum. They have family in Hawaii...the weather is nice and the kids would benefit greatly from being able to relax and have some fun before they have to say goodbye to their friends and familiar places. They've probably started packing up some things from the house in Chicago in preparation for the move to D.C. I don't agree that it's a crime for folks who can afford to take a vacation to take one. If that were the case we'd be really hurting down here in Florida since this is our tourist season and we depend on the Snow Birds. It doesn't mean that those who can afford to don't care about those who can't. You have a Happy New Year, too. happy [spalladino]
The Obama's 1.6 million dollar mansion has 6-1/2 bathrooms so they have scaled down in the 9 million dollar vacation rental which only has five bathrooms. President George W. Bush and the first lady private home I believe is Camp David where they most often spend their time when away from the White house,they are rich and famous but in my opinion have not flaunted it with frequent expensive vacations,they have always seems like regular people to me and I like a president that is not in the in crowd of Hollywood and all of that star studded fake world. President and Mrs Bush have earned their retirement and the Obama's are about to set out for the first time actually to work in the line of the govenment for the United States of American,the new position has no place to mark a present vote and the red phone is on duty twenty-four seven. I'm happy that the Obama's have the means to pamper themselves on this latest family vacation,very soon they will learn what working hard really mean and I certainly do not envy them. [kennyrose]
Crawford Property purchased in 1999 for $1.3 million by the Bushes with part of the $14 million profits from the sale of the baseball team. Then they built the 4,000 square foot house, added the pool and pool house. In todays terms the property is likely valued at closer to $2 million. The Bushes recently purchased another $2 million property in Highland Park, an exclusive gated community in Dallas. Why aren't you b!tching about the Bushes? [lvaldean]
The Obama family were not poor people when President Elect Obama got elected. He has just as much right to spend his earnings as anyone else. If he were to vacation in a less expensive place or not vacation at all, it would not help the American people at all. Unless he personally (and insanily) cut each person a check it doesn't matter a hill of beans what kind of vacation he takes or how much is in his bank account. Now Bush is another story altogether. I wouldn't mind a bit to see him dig into his bank accounts and cut the American public a few checks and spend a few nights at a Sleep Inn. [cjrwells]
FIRST OF ALL... NOT ONE person b!tchin about Obama is even from the US so what do you care??? I've noticed EVERYONE from the US just doesn't care about their time in Hawaii!!! SECONDLY... The Obamas went to Hawaii to attend his Grandmother's funeral (that they couldn't have during the election...nor was he allowed to grieve). While there, they're making a vacation out of it. Barrack, Michelle & both their lovely daughters are getting ready to devote their life to this country for at least the next 4 years. I don't blame them for staying in a nice place. The crazies were trying to kill them here. I'm sure if they stayed at the local Holiday Inn, I would be hearing some azz saying what....can't they stay at a decent place??? NOT ONE freakin dime of taxpayers money was spent on their time in Hawaii. His HOME is in Hawaii. Bush spent a minimum of 6 months out of the first year at his home in Crawford, Texas. No, he didn't just go & stay for 6 months. He flew back & forth (at taxpayer's expense) during the whole time!!! Mr Obama asked for permission from Bush to be able to use the Blair House during this time so his daughters could get settled in school...Bush denied his request until the day he takes office. Camp David is a retreat bought & paid for by OUR tax dollar. EVERY President has had Camp David available to them since 1942. It was built during World War II on top of a mountain so the Secret Service can see anything happening on ALL sides within 3 miles of the place. There our President is completely protected from the nutz. Only being the President elect, Mr Obama does not have access to Camp David. I'm confident that the Obamas will spend a lot of time at Camp David once he officially becomes our President. My feeling is....if you don't live here, you don't vote here, you don't pay taxes here....just do NOT badmouth our President!!! I have a lot of hope that once he goes into office, he will be strong enough to shut up the whiners!!! [LadyMarissa]
Lets see..... Obama is currently a private citizen, President Elect, yes. But private citizen nonetheless. He is also a private citizen with money that he and his spouse earned. They earned it! Get it? They didn't inherit it. They didn't have it handed to them by their mommies and daddies. They earned it. So now, before Barack Obama steps into his role as the President of the United States he and his wife and children are taking a vacation. They are spending their money to do so. They have opted to make it easy for the employees of the government to protect them while doing so by renting a private residence rather than staying in a hotel. So what. It is not the fault of the President Elect that the economy is failing. It is not the fault of the President Elect that Americans are losing their jobs. It is not the fault of the President Elect that our jobs have been outsourced to other countries and our work has been handed over to H1B holders on extended stay visas who are willing to work for half the salary and none of the benefits Americans fought for. It is not the fault of the President Elect that this country has the problems it does today, no it is simply the issues he will walk into when he becomes the President. On the day that he becomes the President his life, the life of his wife, and the lives of his daughters will change forever. So if they want to take a vacation and spend money they have earned through their own efforts....good for them. [lvaldean]
Kennyrose you really must get ahold of yourself. You continue to dredge old news as if by pulling it back through it will matter more. It doesn't. In fact President Bush has been investigated for a number of his misdealings. He has made a number of very bad business decisions over the years. He has been arrested for DUI. He has been investigated for going AWOL. He has been investigated for possession of controlled substances. He has had all his Texas criminal records sealed. So what, water under the bridge at this point. As for Barack Obama and his childhood, are you kidding? Living overseas is not indicative of a privledged childhood. I lived overseas as a child and I certainly was not priviledged except in the fact that I was exposed to ther cultures and thus my mind was not narrow and myopic. He was firmly middle class, nothing wrong with that. His wife was not, nothing wrong with that either. No one has ever said he was from poverty simply stated that he was not from extreme wealth either. The fact is that both he and his wife have earned their wealth. The second fact is that both he and his wife have the right to spend their wealth as they see fit, it isn't my business or your business. The third fact is that those financial issues that are our business, in relation to the Presidency and in relation to his public service have been made public. Those items that are not directly related to his public service and are not our business have been closed. He has the right to privacy! Just like you do. Just like I do. Surpisingly, the President of the United States remains a private citizen despite his public service and despite your belief to the contrary he actually has the right to some privacy. Unless how his education was paid for poses a national threat, it isn't your business! I can't imagine why you think it is. As for how Camp David entered the discussion, you brought it up. For someone who enters into political discussions with such vigor when it comes to bashing the President Elect, your lack of knowledge is stunning. [lvaldean]
I am very sure the Obama paid for their own vacation, some peopl need to give this thing a rest, there is nothing wrong with Obama and his family taking a vacation, look at it this way, when he is in office he is going to do the same thing, he is going to be working hard for this country, and he is going to deserve a vaction, so what is the big deal I just don't get it with some people, trying to make a mountian out of a mole hill.happy [notlistening2]
No... WRONG! Leaders becomes leaders by working hard. You cannot ask them to live like poor people to make everyone else feel good about their lack of achievements. It is not Obama's fault if we did not study to make something of ourself. It is not Obama's fault if we did over spend on our credit card. People have to learn to take responsabilities for their own life... and stop blaming everyone else for their misery. Our life is our own fault. Nobody else. If someone did screw us... it is because we allowed him/her to do it. [Aussies2007]
It's not a big deal to me. Presidents have Camp David and other government-owned retreats to go to. Obama will be working very hard once he gets in office, so it makes sense to have a relaxing place to get away to now. And considering the tight security that there needs to be around a president-elect and his family, a high-priced luxury resort may be the type of place best suited to provide high security, since they probably have other high-profile guests with similar needs for privacy and security. If a president stays at a Motel 6, that's not going to help my financial situation any! [Idlewild]
hogwash, they can spend their money any way they want. This knit picking is silly, he is where his FAMILY is. People are gonna always have something to complain about and especially reporters because their just try to get another hook for another story and another one to follow the last one. I applause those Americans who can see over it. [revellanotvanella]
If I could afford to go on a vacation like that I would do it. Spalladino mentioned the security and that is very true. When Clinton was president and he would go to Hot Springs he would rent out the floor of a hotel instead of staying at his mother's home. Probably for the security. The Obamas give a lot of their money to charity so I think it is fine if they enjoy some of what they earned too. [Ruthep]
Like you said, I feel that he earned the vacation, I know I would need one after what he has been through. I don't think that he is out spending millions of dollars on this vacation, we don't even know if he is paying to rent the house. I think he could have stayed a more expensive places, and rubbed it in the faces of all Americans. But, that isn't his style. I am sure that some people will attack him for his vacation, but these same people will attack him for waking up in the morning. [thegreatdebater]