Obamas 2013 Travel Expenses Top $7.4 Million For Airfare Alone

Barack and Michele Obama's motto should be - do as I say, not as I do. While asking the American people to make sacrifices and tighten our belts, it turns out that we the taxpayers funded three unofficial Obama trips in 2013 for a  whopping $7.4 million. And that was just air fare costs alone.

This information has just been released thanks to a lawsuit by Judicial Watch which was filed in August 2013.

The trips included:

1. The Obama Christmas holiday in Hawaii- 12/21/12 through 1/5/13.
2. A trek to California in August, 2013 to hobnob with DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg (for a private fundraiser), and an oh-so important appearance on the Jay Leno Show.
3. And some fun times for the whole family in Martha's Vineyard, MA during the latter part of August, 2013.

According to Judicial Watch:

* The outbound flight to Honolulu for the Obamas’ 2012-13 Christmas vacation cost taxpayers $2, 214, 393.60. The return flight to Washington cost $1,871,961.60. Flight expenditures alone came to $4,086,355.20.

* The outbound flight to California in August, 2013 for Obama to dine with Katzenberg and appear on the “The Tonight Show” cost taxpayers $1,209,926.40. The return flight to Washington cost $935,980.80. Flight expenditures alone came to $2,145,907.20.

* The outbound flight to Martha’s Vineyard for the Obama family’s August vacation cost taxpayers $890,323.20. The return flight to Washington cost $273,945.60. Flight expenditures alone came to $1,164,268.80.

* The grand total of $7,396,531.20, Judicial Watch pointed out, only accounted for flight expenses for the three trips.

“The fact is, the Obamas are abusing the public trust and the taxpayers with unnecessary luxurious vacations and travel,” Judicial Watch said in its report. “These staggering costs show why these documents were covered-up and we had to sue in federal court to get them. Another transparency fail for the Obama gang, but thanks to our federal lawsuit it is another accountability win for the American taxpayer.”

Source: BizPacReview

Obama Family Costs U.S. Taxpayers $1.4 Billion Per Year

What is wrong with this picture?

If the book by Robert Keith Gray, "Presidential Perks Gone Royal", can be believed, Barack Obama, Michelle and their two kids cost the American taxpayer far more than what the British taxpayer is paying to maintain the British Royal Family.  And there are many more of them to take care of than Obamas in the White House. Brit Royalty cost just under $60 million per year, whereas the Obama family costs approximately $1.4 billion every year to maintain.  Yes, that includes their $4million vacations in Hawaii, their 54 Christmas trees , and their 2012 Hawaii Christmas holiday that will probably cost more than $4 million, since they are staying there longer.

Granted, much of that $1.4 billion is security and necessary staff, but that security wouldn't be so costly if our president took shorter vacations.

Gray's book (the full title: Presidential Perks Gone Royal: Your Taxes Are Being Used For Obama's Re-election) - a tad useless since he won re-election - was obviously geared towards trying to persuade voters why it wouldn't be a good idea to give him another four years.

Although security is necessary for a president, Gray lists some not so necessary expenses that the taxpayer is saddled with:

When the President travels around the country on campaign, he is obliged to take Air Force One.

His party reimburses the taxpayer with the cost of a first-class air ticket per passenger - but this is far from the full cost to taxpayers.

It also provides a President running for re-election with a national transport network which is unavailable to his challenger.

Moreover, much of the money spent on Mr Obama's family goes to perks such as entertainment and household expenses.

For example, the White House contains a movie theatre which is manned by projectionists 24 hours a day in case one of the family feels like a trip to the cinema.

And even the Obamas' dog Bo costs the taxpayer thousands of dollars - his handler is reportedly paid over $100,000 a year.

Another huge presidential outgoing, according to Mr Gray, comes in the form of staff members who can be appointed by the commander-in-chief at his own personal discretion.

226 members of Mr Obama's staff are apparently paid over $100,000 - and the President can increase their salaries at any time.

For a man who is supposedly so concerned about the poor and middle-class, one would think he would be far more conscientious about how he spends the taxpayer's money. A projectionist 24 hours a day? $100,000 for a dog handler?

Shameful.

H/T Glenn Beck

54 Christmas Trees For The Obama White House

The country is on the brink, people are suffering, and Barack and Michelle Obama decided to deck their halls with not one, not two, but 54 Christmas trees! How out of touch can one be?  Had a Republican president decorated the White House with the same amount of trees, can you just imagine the hollering that the liberal media would be doing in response to such extravagance and excess?  What's wrong with one nice, large  presidential tree?  Okay, so maybe two. But some in this country won't even be able to afford a small scrawny one.  Since Obama loves to share, why didn't he think of redistributing those 53 other trees to needy families or organizations?

Michelle was apparently ecstatic about that indoor forest of trees:

"We have 54 trees in the White House," an excited Michelle Obama proudly told visitors the other day. "54! That’s a lot of trees."

You think, Michelle?  You're damn tooting that's a lot of trees. And why aren't the environmentalists' panties in a twist over all those conifers that were cut down simply to grace the Obamas temporary residence for a month or so?

According to Investor's Business Daily, the Obama's almost doubled their Christmas tree stash this year, and it seems Bo, their dog is featured prominently in their Christmas tree ornaments.

In addition to 54 Christmas trees, Michelle Obama has overseen the placement of thousands of ornaments in public rooms. Many of the ornaments celebrate the Obama family dog, Bo, who seems to have become the First Family's favorite symbol of Christmas. Other decorations, including on the more prominent trees, were made by children in schools on U.S. military bases.

There's several hundred yards of garlands and wreaths all over the hallways and rooms. And, of course, a traditional gingerbread house that has working chandeliers and weighs about 300 pounds.

And the Obama family won't even be there to enjoy all that Christmas cheer because they'll be having a blast in Hawaii from December 17 through January 6th on the taxpayer's dime- or much of that vacation, will be courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer. If you recall, last year's Hawaiian vacation cost over $4 million, and this year they are spending a little longer there.

I can't wait to find out how much this year's holiday will cost us.

So much for "tightening our belts", Michelle. You enjoy your 54 Christmas trees and your trip to Hawaii, while the rest of us suffer.