A lot of attention has been put on the Obamas and their $4 million 17-day Hawaiian vacation. That’s right! The President and his family are spending $4 million for a vacation when millions of Americans are out of work.
Here’s how the Hawaii Reporter tells the story:
Obama’s trip to the island of Oahu has proved much pricier to state and federal taxpayers.
In a Hawaii Reporter story published last week, the total cost (based on what is known) for a 17-day round trip vacation to Hawaii for the President and his family and staff and security is an estimated $4,113,038.
That includes $3,629,622 for separate travel for the president and his family, $151,200 for housing for security, $72,216 for staff to stay in one of Hawaii’s most luxurious resorts, the Moana Surfrider in Waikiki, and local police protection and ambulance detail for $260,000.
While the president and his family are vacationing with much fanfare, publicity, and controversy, the former Speaker of the House, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, champion of the poor and the disenfranchised, “is once again spending her Christmas at the exotic Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu in Kona on the island of Hawaii.” The cost? $10,000 per day.
In addition to the $10,000 per day cost that she will be spending, her stay will cost Hawaiians some cash: “Pelosi has been escorted by local police during her last two holiday visits to Hawaii Island at a cost of $34,000 to local taxpayers.”
The millions that the Obamas are spending, and the tens of thousands of dollars Pelosi is spending, could go a long way to help the poor and unemployed. It could be invested in new business ventures, job training, home repairs for some unemployed family, or helping to pay someone’s mortgage. No, they will do these things with other people’s money.
