Obama's Vacation Spot: Hawaii or Key West?

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I understand that all Presidents vacation. No new news there. Ok, so they all do it. NO one expects them to hide like hermits. But Obama is the one that campaigned on CHANGE. Oh, and the media stressing and pushing how frugal his wife was. How they grew up on the south side of Chicago remarks, THere is nothing frugal about this President and his wife. It has been Martha's Vineyard, with this one-2 Hawaiian vacations, New York date nights, Paris , Camp David, and God only knows the count of how many out of the country trips. Plus a State Dinner,50 quests for THanksgiving with 2 kinds of stuffing and 6 kinds of pies( or at least that is what I read) and the mid week Family nights. Plus I read 28 dinners and parties at the WHite House of the holidy season. Now if all this is accurate, how can you still say this is frugal?I just wished everyone would own up to all this. Quit playing dumb and ignoring all this as if no one in the country is smart enough to see extavagance when they see it. And everytime someone brings it up that someone has to say, well, Bush did it. WEll, fine. He did it. But then you are admitting that the country did not get the CHANGE they voted for and that the President is just another Bush. I think I would CHANGE how I would respond to that. But come on, the campaign is over. Many AMericans are tired of being campaigned to. Frankly I just wanna know when elected officials are going to return to the historical premise that elected officals were servants of the people? THis high living at tax payer expense is only making the AMerican people who are finacially suffering to be angry and dishearted. Even if this President and his wife can live like this, whether we pay the bill or he pays the bill, should he? Should he not be setting the example? I mean, he told him to tighten our belts. Well then, he should of been the first one to do it.
That is just my opinion. BUT what this poor american sees from politican excessive lifestyles is very hurtful when you are considered poverty and you are working so hard every day just to exist. NOT to offend anyone and no disrespect to our President but I am just plain tired of the same 'ole. I was so hoping that this president would bring the cahnge that I could believe in and feel was in the best interests of my country. SINCE Jan 20 I feel like I have witnessed nothing turmoil. IT HAS been one issue right after another. I have Obama fatigue. And he said he would be my President too. I am stil hoping but as each day goes by, that I will feel connected tothis President for I want too so badly but as each day goes by, I feel he is taking our country into things that I cannot support him or agree to. Not that I feel like he cares. I do not feel like he cares about me.How many more Americans feel this waa? Please, Mr President, if you truly care about all the people, try living like us for a while. I would respect you for that. THank you.

Darlene of NC 2:20AM December 24, 2009

While owned by the State of Florida we receive no state finances. Admission fees and museum store sales pay operational expenses. The $1 million restoration came from a few competetive grants and a lot of caring individual Americans that ponied up $10 or $100 at a time. The Little White House is a public museum that teaches about the American presidency and has had six presidents use it to date...Taft in 1912, Truman 1946-1952 , Eisenhower in 1955-56, Kennedy in 1961 and 1962, and past Presidents Carter in 1996 and Clinton in 2005. Secretary of State Colin Powell used it for peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijian in 2001. The Carter and Clinton visits were privately paid -the only government expense was Secret Service. George W. Bush tried to use the site for trade talks, but the restoration was in progress and the site lacked air conditioning. We invite all presidents current and past to use it and like the Washington White House we are bi-partisan.

Bob Wolz, Executive Director of FL 11:04AM May 25, 2009

So nobody's curious whether that $1 million renovation was done at taxpayer expense, or whether the $300,000 AC upgrade is included or in addition? Just keep the President out of California--the cash-strapped UC system has to shell out a reported $300-500,000 for Michelle's entourage when she gives the UC Merced's graduation address.

Jill of CA 6:52PM May 15, 2009

Bush was rightfully 'CRUCIFIED'.
Bush had taken 418 days of vacation in his first 6.7 years in office.
That works out to 62.4 vacation days a year — a little more than 12 work weeks!
...and vacationed after Katrina.

dan of DC 5:43PM May 11, 2009

Maybe a hurricane could get him but the Kenya trip sounds nice for the whole family

kl of CA 4:01PM May 11, 2009

How about Berghof?

Don of NY 2:30PM May 11, 2009

OMG! I hope the press doesn't crucify him for taking a vacation. How many times did they CRUCIFY President Bush for doing the same thing?

georgio of IL 1:23PM May 11, 2009

The first sentence of this article is incorrect. The man didn't spend his childhood in Hawaii, he went to school and grew up in INDONESIA.
That's where he should vacation. In INDONESIA he will be able to visit friends and relatives. For that matter, while he's at it he should visit the famous "hut" in Kenya. While visiting that brother, he could also check on the other brother who's sick.
Family vacation, great idea!

Tom of NJ 8:27PM May 09, 2009

It is my opinion that President Obama should go to Key West for his vacation. After all, it is time for CHANGE. Key West is my home town, both of my parents were born and raised there, I was raised in Key West, born in Germany due to my dad being in the Army. My sister and brother were also both born and raised in Key West. I'm not trying to take anything from Hawaii, but Key West is beautiful and everyone should experience the warmth of the wonderful Key West, Florida.
You won't see a more beautiful sunset than the one at Mallory Square. The best conch fritters are found on Julia Street. My aunt use to prepare them, since she has passed on to be with our Lord and Savior her daughter Vanda has taken on the role of preparing her mother's famous conch fritters. Check out the comments posted in March on TripAdvisor: Key West Forum: Conch Fritters.
My vote is for President Obama and family to vacation in my home town of Key West, Florida. As a matter of fact, my mother and I who now live in Temple Hills, MD are planning on visiting Key West this summer to visit family.

Pauletta Clarke of MD 7:59PM May 09, 2009