Michelle Obama Leaving for Christmas Hawaii Vacation without Barack, Her Separate Flight Could Cost Taxpayers an Extra $100,000
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on December 16, 2011
Honolulu has a sunny and warm forecast for today and tomorrow — a predicted high of 82 degrees F. No wonder the First Lady wants to ditch the cold of DC and is leaving without POTUS on the family vacation in Hawaii.
So what if the separate flight and FLOTUS entourage will cost taxpayers an extra hundred grand or so?
It’s HAWAII, you peasants…
Has any other first lady ever gone so often on vacation (who can forget her lavish trip to Spain with 40 of her best friends, or her skiing trip to Vail, or on safari to South Africa), without her POTUS hubby?
I can’t imagine Nancy Reagan ditching The Gipper to frolic outside the beltway on sandy beaches without him because presidential duty called — Hillary, maybe, but never Nancy. And not Laura, either.
Mele Kalikimaka.
From Washington Post, President Obama to stay in D.C. while Michelle Obama, daughters head to Hawaii:
First lady Michelle Obama and first daughters Sasha and Malia are headed to Honolulu on Friday for a 17-day vacation — without the president.
At least for now.
With the White House and Congress embroiled in a standoff over a spending bill and payroll tax cut proposal that could lead to a government shutdown Saturday, Obama appears ready to make good on his promise to stay in Washington until the issues are resolved.
The White House announced Wednesday that the rest of the first family would leave Washington Friday evening after delivering toys and gifts to the Marines Corps’ Toys for Tots program. As of now, the president will not be on the plane with them, unless an agreement is reached in the next 36 hours.
From White House Dossier, Michelle’s Solo Hawaii Trip Likely to Exceed $100,000:
First lady Michelle Obama’s separate voyage to Hawaii promises to cost taxpayers tens of thousand in extra dollars, as her separate entourage and hefty flying costs pile on the costs.
The military jet flight alone is priced at more than $60,000, according to government estimates. But that’s only the beginning. The additional cargo flight that often accompanies the first lady on such a trip must also be paid for, as well as the limos and other accoutrements it will contain.
As she will be separated from the presidential security bubble, Michelle will require her own entourage of Secret Service protection, in addition to the staffers who will be leaving early to go to Hawaii with her.
The total tab will certainly be in excess of $100,000, and possibly quite a bit more.
From June 2011: FLOTUS Michelle Obama, daughters Malia & Sasha (with South African flag wrapped around her) and Michelle's mother Marian Robinson arrived in South Africa - without Barack
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Oh holy heck. Not again! Will this woman never get over herself?