Posted on 09/12/2009 4:54:22 AM PDT by kingattax
Just over three months after the fact, there's finally a price tag for at least part of the first couple's May date night in New York.
According to documents obtained by the group Judicial Watch, President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama's May 30 trip to New York for dinner and a Broadway show incurred $11,648.17 in extra security costs documented by the U.S. Secret Service.
"No wonder the Obama White House tried to keep secret the costs of this excursion. On his next 'date night,' President Obama might want to be more sensitive to the costs of his partying to taxpayers," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement Friday.
The release from Fitton's group noted that the Defense Department and Air Force had not yet replied to requests for information about transit and other additional costs for the first couple's excursion.
In June, when the White House was first pressed for information about the expensive outing, spokesman Robert Gibbs said the president and first lady's trip was a nonissue.
"I would say that the costs are proportionate with travel for presidents," Gibbs said. "And I would encourage you to look up previous coverage on travel costs because they're analogous."
They’re not worth $11,000, so they’re certainly not worth a trip to London to treat the girls to fish and chips, a political junket to Montana where fresh lobsters were flown in, a vacation at Murtha’s Vineyard and all the other expenses incurred that allow them to live like royalty!
This is probably one of the things that conservatives could care least about. The Bushes incurred similar bills. I’d much sooner have Obama be on holiday than back at the “ranch” doing his signature mischief.
It’s good to be king.
They are royalty.
And besides they took a short break from their endless
giving of American taxpayers’ (and their childrens’ and
greatgrandchildrens’) money to bankers and terrorists.
Agreed.
As president you probably can't take the kids to McD's for less than a few thousand in security.
I don’t recall President Bush and Laura taking a ‘date night’ or dragging the kids all over the country for vacations. Yes, there is always costs involved in travel, but there is a distinct difference in unemployment levels from even one year ago to today.
you know who’s more of clown than anyone else ? Gibbs......he’s so fekkin’ entertaining!
I’m pretty sure they kept it low key, coordinating with important political visits that Mr. Bush had to make. The Obamas have made the gaffe of flaunting it, as though they expect to be seen as royalty.
If it costs us $12K each time he’s away from the Oval office where he has the ability to give away another $1 billion of our money, maybe it’s worth is.
Additionally, didn’t they take this trip the same time that the unemployment numbers came out that surpassed government estimates in a bad way? Kind of leading to the “Nero fiddled” analogy.
Sorry but when Mickey D’s is a treat that I can’t afford, why should they think it’s ok for us to pay for their “date night”?
While he’s away, his czars are hard at work figuring out how to spend more money.
Total cost about 25 bucks
“Let them eat cake!”
(reminder: 1 trillion = 1000 billions = 1 million millions = 1 health insurance reform bill = 1 carbon cap and trade = we're screwed)
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