The decision by First Lady Michelle Obama to leave on schedule for her two-week Hawaii vacation and not wait a few days for her delayed husband will probably cost taxpayers more than $63,000 – and possibly well in excess of $100,000 – in additional expenses, according to a White House Dossier analysis.
President Obama was supposed to depart for Hawaii Saturday, but decided to stay in Washington until Congress finishes its work for the year. He departs this evening. But Mrs. Obama chose to leave without him Saturday, taking their two children and the dog along with her.
Mrs. Obama’s decision to go without the president forced her to take a separate plane, meaning two flights instead of one were needed to ferry the First Family to their vacation destination. Unless for some reason her plane was headed to Hawaii anyway, her trip involves substantial additional costs.
Mrs. Obama jetted out to Hawaii on an Air Force C-40B Special Mission Aircraft. The Defense Department bills other agencies $6,330 per flight hour for use the plane.
Assuming a flight time from Washington DC to Hawaii of about ten hours, the cost to taxpayers for the flight alone would be about $63,000.
But Mrs. Obama’s determination to get her full two weeks of Hawaiian rest and relaxation probably cost a good deal more. By leaving early, she forced a large logistical support operation – including a retinue of Secret Service agents – to get itself up and running.
This is in addition to the support that will be needed to bring President Obama to Hawaii via Air Force One. Since the cost of moving the entire family together on Air Force One would not likely have been much different than that of taking just the president, the first lady’s trip is an add-on.
Also, as several readers have pointed out, the aircraft will likely have to be returned empty to Washington, potentially doubling the cost to about $126,000 for the plane use alone.
What’s more, Mrs. Obama has decided to make a size 14 carbon footprint by commandeering her own jet to take her to Hawaii.
The first lady has previously garnered criticism for her vacation travel, particularly a four-night luxury excursion to Spain last August.
Mrs. Obama’s Hawaii transportation is a modestly sized plane based on the commercial Boeing 737 and seating up to 32 passengers. Here is the Air Force description of it:
The cabin area is equipped with a crew rest area, distinguished visitor compartment with sleep accommodations, two galleys and business class seating with worktables.
The C-40B is designed to be an “office in the sky” for senior military and government leaders. Communications are paramount aboard the C-40B which provides broadband data/video transmit and receive capability as well as clear and secure voice and data communication. It gives combatant commanders the ability to conduct business anywhere around the world using on-board Internet and local area network connections, improved telephones, satellites, television monitors, and facsimile and copy machines.
Despite the president’s delayed departure, the most recent information is that the entire Obama clan will return to Washington as scheduled January 1.
The first lady’s press office did not respond to requests for comment.
511 thoughts on “Mrs. Obama’s Separate Hawaii Travel Likely Costs at Least $63,000”
Did she have to pay more to check bags or was that included
What a stinking pig.
“No matter how cynical you become, it’s never enough to keep up.” ~ Lily Tomlin
http://911essentials.com
Do you have any idea how many Americans today despise and loathe this Obama. She is irrevelant. But he is the greatest disaster to hit this nation since the Vietnam War.
Get the FRAUD Obama (and his wife) out of office — Wake up America! Read: “OBAMA – INELIGIBLE TO SERVE – LIES, CRIMES AND DEADLY AMBITION” for the absolute PROVEN TRUTH about where Obama was really born and know the lies perpetrated on America by Obama to usurp the office of the President. Get the LEGAL FACTS that will ultimately remove Obama from the Presidency under the U.S. Constitution!
Since when do the taxpayers get to pickup vaction expenses for the POTUS family?
democRAT,
Since when have we the people not paid the price?
YOU DARE QUESTIONS THE ACTIONS OF THE QUEEN!!!!
OFF WITH YOUR HEADS, PEONS!!!
Besides, her carbon footprint is the GOOD kind of carbon….
We (the taxpayers) owe Queen Marie Antoinette Obama this vacation, and it is our sovereign duty to pay for it in her viewpoint.
Well, Michelle-you are wrong. We will not only send you the bill for your little private luxury junket, but we will also send you home to Moscow in 2012!
Does the president and his wife get it? It’s all about their pleasure trips and all.
Whew. I feel so much better now, I thought this was going to be another expensive trip for the queen that the commoners were going to have to pay for. I wish I could print money so I could take a nice vacation.
Of course it cost more. The king and queen of fools don’t mind spending our money… they have never had to earn any money on their own, so like all welfare-addicted folks, have absolutely no concept on what it takes to actually earn a dollar. Also note that the cap and trade promoters that insist that American’s gluttony for energy and our carbon footprint DO NOT MIND AT ALL using more energy on one single trip than 100 Americans use in a year. Is there no limit to their hypocricy??? Next year they will both continue with their agenda to take over this country and create an “ideal, communist” country which is the change they have always talked about! Pol Pot, Mao, Chavez, Putin, and Castro are loving the change… are you???
It’s good to be Queen.
Pingback: Everyone Must Sacrifice… Michelle Obama’s Special Hawaii Trip Will Cost Taxpayers $63,000 | The Gateway Pundit
Hypocrisy knows no bounds if you are a Democrat! Golly gee, both Barry and Moochelle are so green and environmentally conscious that their carbon footprint is 1,000,000 times greater than the average citizen’s carbon footprint.
Where are those “green jobs” Barry?
Trust me, this had to cost far more than $63,000. Just a private business jet charter from DC to Hawaii would be at least $20,000. This baby is a 737. Merry Christmas, Muchelle!
these people dont care about money – its not their’s !!
Why do you write about something we have no control over? Obviously….TO NAUSEATE US. Congratulations! You succeeded!!
They are BOTH such wasteful disgraces to this once great country. 2012 can’t come soon enough to get these posers out of the Whitehouse and start to restore some respect to it!
NFH
additional trip expenses should come out of their own pockets.
I see the WAIST of MY hard earned money by these people meen absolutly NOTHING to them.
Im eating the “cake’ while they splurge.
Pee Wee Herman can get my vote before OBAMA gets it!!!
WHAT A DISGRACEingly dissapointment these THUGS have turned out to be!!!!!
HAWAII, MICHELLE OBAMA
Good reporting….Now what? Make them pay back every dime this trip costs the taxpayers?
I mean after all this Obama fellow, if paid as an excutive with responsibilities as CEO of USA, compared to one of our largest corporations could certaintly demand a salary of say around Sixty-Million a year..easily. .Don’t you think?
However, many right wingers will pick up this information and will become apopletic over the “holidays” and you will be commended as a fine American.
You ignored one important point: Obama is supposed to be a “Public Servant”. The office is not supposed to be for profit or any gain whatsoever. Again: “Public Service”. Get it?
Hey dude, sixty million dollars??? The guy is an affirmative action community organizer. What company would hire this guy as a CEO? In the dreaded private sector you actually have to have intelligence, serious skills and experience. Compared to big company CEO’s he s lacking everywhere.
huge difference between a CEO and a civil servant, a CEO uses private money the pres is using our tax money. Remember he is serving us, not us serving him.
Remember how the big three CEO’s were forced by the government to drive to Washington because there company’s were in the red. But your logic the country is a company, trillions in debt it’s ok to jet around wherever???
Just more raping of our country by these insensitive cretins. I certainly hope MOOshelle is proud of our country now, given the way she’s profiteered from her “role”.
The Obama’s are totally out of control, money is no problem and Michelle sets an hell of an example with her stupiity and lack of consideration for the
Americans that foot her bill. We have 24 months of them and they will be history. How many Vacations have they been on already this year…….???
The lovely royal couple. Threw away tons of money for barry’s coronation. Been spending money cuz’ they are royalty and this is sure better than chicken livers and onions. You have to understand that millions of Americans love this freakshow and his family and think their shenanigans are just great. Hey, if you voted for him, you love the guy, too. Enjoy internet control by the government and a doomed to fail healthcare system. He’s nobody’s man but yours. So what if we are turning into camel dung as a country?
The king’s cheese is half wasted in parings; but no matter, ’tis made of the people’s milk.
-Ben Franklin
The woman needs to be arrested, tried, convicted and then hung in public.
In the bigger scheme of things, it probably doesn’t matter that much. However, it just shows what Obama really thinks of the American people: He doesn’t give a tinker’s dam what we think, what the polls say, what public opinion is, he’ll just continue to fiddle while America burns…
That woman is so arrogant – just like Pelosi. That family has cost the US a bundle. They spend our $ like water. Can’t wait until these freeloaders are out of office
Did you all keep track how much money was spent when “Daddy and Baby” Bush were in office?
Dear Santa,
Barbra Bush had 4 people attending to her needs. Muchelle has 30.
Bush vacationed on his own ranch. Obama has not been given one yet.
You do the math.
This is beyond belief, we do not have a president, they have crowned them selfes as KING & QUEEN. What selfish pigs considering that for the second year in a row the Seniors on Social Security go with out any addition help and they throw this kind of crap in our face, what 10 times this year. Horrible!!!!!
See http://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/barack-obama-is-a-lame-duck-president-who-will-not-be-reelected/#comment-1172
Keep up the good work! :-)
63K is wot MACYs pays for electricity every month. Its about double wot FUEL cost to fly cross the usa. 100 times this is lost and gained on wall street in 15 minutes. Snickers sells 63K in candy bars in less than a day. Americans pay double that amount in one square mile of parking tickets in a major urban city. time = money. so WOT??
Don’t forget to double that 63K. The aircraft has to make the return trip back to DC as a “dead head” no passenger flight. So now it costs the tax payers and extra 126K for the flight.
Once again our “Queen” says screw the peons, $63,000 or … is nothing in the scheme of things. And besides she deserves it!!
What a bitch!!
Are we supposed to give a crap that the woman goes on vacation?
Cost, timing, and arrogance notwithstanding, has anyone else in this country EVER been allowed to bring their dog to Hawaii without a quaranteen period? Apparently it’s just another state regulation usurped by our queen. Maybe with all the extra time in Hawaii our royal hine-ass can find the missing birth certificate.
The “First Dog” is the guy who’s coming later. You meant Bo, who I personally wish would assume the Presidency. He can’t be worse than what we’ve got.
Our government has NO conscience when it come to themselves. They feel they are owed and entitled to every comfort. Folks are struggling and yet they feel like they can indulge in lavish living and demand that others give what they have EARNED and worked for to sacrifice for big government. Both parties are guilty of this but somehow the Democrats with sickening liberal agendas that lower self values and work ethic persist in the ruination of our country.
Well, the First Frump does it again. Spend, spend, spend. It’s not her money so she could care less. She’s a disgrace.
Your comment is an insult to pigs everywhere.
To me… “Change we can believe in” would be for Our Leader to reimburse the US taxpayer for this extra trip! Everybody could have stayed Washington until Congress adjourned. If needs exercise he shovel snow like the rest of middle America on the East Coast. This guy is a true empty suit!
Moochelle Obama.
She could care less how much of you tax dollars she spends.
Probably gets off on it.
The president’s dog gets to go on vacation to Hawaii? Did the first dog get an exemption from the usually required quarantine in order to travel to Hawaii? Did a VET certify that this dog wasn’t bringing in any diseases that might infest the island? Anyone else would have to provide that kind of certainty? Is the president’s dog above the law? I bet the president’s dog’s papers don’t even exist. Sound familiar?
The president’s dog gets to go on vacation to Hawaii? Did the first dog get an exemption from the usually required quarantine in order to travel to Hawaii? Did a VET certify that this dog wasn’t bringing in any diseases that might infest the island? Anyone else would have to provide that kind of certainty. Is the president’s dog above the law? I bet the president’s dog’s papers don’t even exist. Sound familiar?
The writer states that mrs. Obama’s flight from Washington, d.c. to Hawaii cost $63,000. That may be true but the cost to taxpayers is twice that: the cost to taxpayers is $126,000.
Once Mrs. Obama walked off the jet in Hawaii, the plane was required to depart Hawaii and return to Washington, d.c. WITH NO ONE ON BOARD. Of course, this return trip cost another $63, 000. The total cost to taxpayers is $126,000.
Originally, the obamas were scheduled to fly together on air force one. A round trip from Washington, d.c. to Hawaii on air force one is $200,000 for round trip. Now, with Mrs. Obama’s decision to take a separate flight, the total obama vacation transportation for their 2010 hawaiian trip will cost taxpayers $326,000.
This is just plain silly and stupid. So are you suggesting that the first wife be shackled to her husband and cut time with her kids on holiday because her husband needs/ wants to work a few more days? Laura Bush left to go to Texas numerous times during W’s 8 years and the Left Steam media as far as I can recall never even blinked about the cost of this. The First Lady is a civilian who is allowed to go where she wants and when she wants, and the secret service is obliged to protect her and work around her schedule. Are you all suggesting she fly commercial and pay for it herself? I mean come on be realistic she is the first lady of the most powerful country in the world, you are being ridiculous when you complain about this…
This is just airfare, not to mention all the other logistics involved.
No one says she has to be shackled, but many of us are not taking vacations. She wanted to serve, how about an inch of sacrifice?
Exactly.
Jeremy
Its easy to overlook the obvious when you are in love with the man and get a free Obama phone and food stamps. When you actually have to work and earn the money yourself the world looks much different.
Another way of looking at it is: if the Republicans had not delayed Congress from finishing its work, the President would not have had to take a later flight. So the Republicans are responsible for the increased cost.
Yeah, let’s give the Democrats everything they want because Michelle needs to start her vacation. Are you for real?
Our government has NO conscience when it comes to themselves. They feel they are owed and entitled to every comfort. Folks are struggling and yet they feel like they can indulge in lavish living and demand that others give what they have EARNED and worked for to sacrifice for big government. Both parties are guilty of this but somehow the Democrats with sickening liberal agendas that lower self values and work ethic persists in the ruination of our country.
This is the crap I’m talking about. And this is why as a black man i hate the Whorebama’s. Like what the hell was so important that she couldn’t wait and save the tax payers some dollars, the insensitive twit.
They had to borrow money to keep this fraudulent FOREIGN CORPORATION open until Mar 2011, again at the taxpayer’s expense. We need to secede from this foreign corporation that has been bankrupt since 1933, has considered us ENEMIES since 1933, has been dissolved by the Gold Abrogation Clause since 1933 or thereabouts, and has been in a state of emergency since 1933, thereby superseding/nullifying the authority of the Constitution.
This FOREIGN CORP is on paper only- ya’ll need to check it out, cause our soldiers are fighting and dying for a foreign corp that considers them expendable enemies. We are indentured servants paying off the U.S. Inc’s War debt to England.
This is why this Congress and the ones before us took liberties to destroy our freedoms, overstep their boundaries, and subjugate us, putting on their Pomp & Circumstance Pageants and theatrics, all for THEIR enjoyment s they watch us run around voting this one out, and this one in, like it will really change things.
Michelle is a terminally angry anti-American bovine who was lucky enough to latch onto a ruthless, unethical sea urchin.
http://www.amazon.com/BLACK-MAN-HATES-OBAMA-Conservative/dp/1450730000/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293051927&sr=8-1
http://www.youtube.com/user/blkmanhatesobama01?feature=mhum
I think it’s time for reform in the White House budget. I appreciate their sacrifice for serving (whether I agree with them or not), but when taxpayers cut back, I think that should be reflected at all levels – including those at the Executive level, and the Congressional level.
Not to worry, the rest of us are “giving skin” so Lady Day can have her vacation. How selfish of her.
We have to all quit eating sugar to Michelle can continue her high-falootin life style and continue soaking taxpayers for everything she can. I think Obama is a foreign term of “liar.” They’ve done nothing but lie since they took office. She should worry about children getting fat — she’s the country’s biggest fat cat. Enjoy it, Michelle, it’ll all come to an end in 2012.
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