Daily Mail [UK]
1st January 2011
- Return trip on Air Force One costs up to £1million
- $63,000 to fly Michelle and daughters to Hawaii
- $134,000 for 24 White House staff to stay at home
President Obama provoked fresh outrage today after taking a 20-man motorcade to visit a childhood friend during his lavish Christmas holiday in Hawaii.
The 10-vehicle convoy drove the president and wife Michelle from his rental property in Kailua, across highways cleared of traffic and through a military community to reach Bobby Titcomb’s beachfront house.
Mr Obama, who spent eight years at Punahou School in Hawaii before graduating in 1979, has splashed out $1.5m on his trip – a decision that will not endear him to the millions of Americans facing economic hardship in the New Year.
Motorcade: President Obama visited a school friend while on holiday in Hawaii - and had a convoy of 20 vehicles
Click on the images for larger views.
Riding: First Lady Michelle Obama and President Obama ride in their SUV as they leave their Kailua residence on their way to Bobby Titcomb's beach house
…A spokesman said the president’s holiday expenses are in line with those of previous presidents.
But the Hawaii Reporter claimed: ‘They could have chosen a less expensive and more secure place to stay such as a beachfront home on the Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station – just a two-minute drive away from the Kailuana Place property where they are now.
‘The president visits the military base daily to workout, bowl with his kids or enjoy the more private beach there. ‘He also could have stayed at a home 15 minutes away on the beach fronting Bellows Air Force Base as President Bill Clinton did.’…
The article continues, with additional photos, at the Daily Mail.
