Obamas' Broadway date: 'Proportionate'

Presume it was the tax payers money to pay for the Dolphin King's trip to New York.

Bush spent literally one-third of his presidency on vacation and flew to Crawford all the time.

Would anyone expect the Obamas to take a taxi to NYC?

3 1/2 years to go and he will be voted out by a landslide. If were not all homeless by then. Oh wait. we can all go stay at the GM plant

Are the rightwing media blowhards going to whine and moan everytime Obama flies somewhere?

It's ludicrous that some seem to think the President and First Lady should be prisoners in D.C. C'mon, give me a break. Expensive security is just a cost of doing business these days. Bush gives a billion or so of nobid contracts to Blackwater, and the right-wing complains about the security of cost of a lousy trip to NYC? Bunch of hypocrites, IMHO.

I can't complain on this one, because taxpayer money is used regardless...either for security or his salary. He's the president of the united states. As long as he doesn't abuse this, I do not care. One thing that this article lacks is that he probably spends more time at work than vacationing. Something Bush did more than work.

While taxpayers are tightening their belts and doing without, the Obamaman & his Missus are kicking up their heels on our tab. Who would have thunk it? Wait, you "ain't seen nothin yet".

This is NOT NEWS! Presidents have been doing this for decades due to security reasons. I used to see Bush even fly Air Force One into the Air Force Base at Portsmouth NH frequently, so he could motorcade up to Kennebunkport to visit mom & dad.

No president ever travels on commercial transportation! And the govt. has always paid.

Sure didn't take long for Mr. Silva to justify Obama's play date by dragging in Bush. That's the answer to every problem with Obama: BUSH DID IT!
How about FDR's train dates in the middle of Georgia or JFK's jaunts to Hollywood or ....? The media's obsession with exonerating Obama by past comparisons is overdue in sounding hollow.

This article and all the photos posted of the trip were clearly captioned to say the Obamas took a "small" plane. I guess they expect us to be gullible enough not to notice the stretch limo blocking the street at the theatre which would require a large plane to transport it to NYC. I disliked Bush but Obama is such a phoney and acts like a little kid with a bin full of toys. Why doesn't he and Michelle pay for their own nights out?

Isn't there a difference between relocating to a ranch, as Bush did and going to a play?

"Going out on a date" and moving your activities to another location really do seem two very different things.

Where is the transparency that the president promised?

Something tells me that the lack of transparency has to do with the huge cost of the trip to NY. With the tanking economy my wife and I have cut back on our entertainment budget and the Obamas should do the same.

Maybe the Wingnuts would have understood it better if Pres Obama and Michelle had taken a two week long trip to a fake ranch in Texas to clear some brush, the way Shrubby Jr did every couple of months...on the tax payers dime.

Can't wait for the Tribune to go under. With the slanted bias that Silva uses, this is more commentary than reporting. Are there any journalists left?

You just had to take a shot at President Bush with that last paragraph. Perhaps you should expand on it and investigate the actual number of trips back and forth and not the number of days. There is a difference. And if President Obama or President Bush chose to take a vacation, no president of the USA if ever really on vacation, they are just in a different location. President Bush had the Western White House, not sure what President Obama will have.

For sure, he will outspend President Bush in terms on White House parties and socializing.

will you people leave obama alone and get a life some of you just sit and have no one to complain to thats why you are always talking on the internet give it a rest and find a hobby

as long as we're splitting hairs about vacation time, let's not forget that 2 months out of that "year in Crawford" were during the traditional August recess when Washington DC turns into a politician's ghost town.

i'm not saying that excuses our erstwhile President; it's just that all his trips were not weekend jaunts.

Could these people BE any more tasteless and offensive? Three planes to take
them out to dinner and a show?

People are now being tossed out of tent cities that have become overcrowded.
Seniors and the disabled have been told there will be no cost of living
adjustment to their social security checks. Families with children are living
in their cars. Thousands die each year from lack of medical care.

Planes, helicopters, limos, security, I bet this cost at least $150,000, so they
could have a good time on our dime. The next book Chavez gives Obama should be
one on The French Revolution, as he's obviously never heard of it.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/23122.html#ixzz0H4q6zVON&A

~~ Suz ~~

(hoping Obama straightens out his act REAL quick-like!)

President Bush also never condemned companies for "using tax payer money" to take business junkets to Las Vegas

Dan-

Bush vacationed in Crawford every August for 8 years. So 8 months out of that year in Crawford were during the summer recess (not 2 as you state)

Is D.C. too "black" for them? I understand that there are so really nice restaurants in the area. Did they not have a "date night" here in Chicago? Guess D.C. is not there kind of town.

It costs money for the president to go anywhere. Using Wingnut logic, the president should just stay planted in Washington D.C. for the next 7 1/2 years.

Barack and Michelle have both earned a well-deserved night on the town.

The Wingnuts are just jealous. How many times have President Gingrich and Boss Limbaugh been divorced?

Once again the minions of the Obama are reduced to defending their Chosen One by bashing George W. Bush. You can always tell when the Obama is in trouble by how quickly comparisons to Bush are tossed into the mix.

John, You are delusional. That is all.

How exactly did Bush spend one-third of his presidency on vacation?

Silva, who continues to show a complete inability to be an honest reporter, also continues to show complete lack of understanding of the facts, whether accidentally or on purpose.
First of all, I would like to see an accounting of "all the weekends" Bush spent at his Crawford ranch. And I mean just for the weekend, not the three weekends he spent there in August, but where George and Laura flew on a Friday to Texas and back either Sunday or Monday. And I would like to see how often Bush went home in comparison to other presidents.
And what presidents in the past took jaunts out like the Obama's are doing to the play and for dinner in other cities.

But also, Mark, there is no doubt you would be having a hissy fit to the Nth degree if George and Laura did this while the economy is in the dumper.

The real question, though, is whether Mark Silva and the Chicago Tribune even have the capability anymore to be a honest source of news and not a corrupt outlet??

This is a pathetic non-issue.

Anyone who complains about this is either a knee-jerk conservative or a sheep being led around by the media "scandal" du jour.

Presidents and their wives fly all the time. They have leisure time. He's the leader of the friggin' free world. Should he stay in some hidey-hole and wear sack cloth so we can all feel better?

The man's keeping a promise to his wife. That's more than Clinton ever did. They flew to New York ONCE-- a helluva lot less often than Bush took cross country trips to Texas.

Puh-lease.

Ahh yes..always comparing Obama to "well Bush did so and so!" I thought Obama was going to be TRANSPARENT...what a jerk...

if the reporters are asking, with straight faces, about the cost of flying the president around the country, they should be reminded that their bosses are counting the beans associated with transporting, feeding and lodging them as they cover the president.

that aside, bottom line, if you like the guy, you'll find the "date" charming and romantic and will not care about the cost, chalking it up to the cost of protecting a president.

if you dislike him, this is further proof of a profligate nature.

next!

Why is this a story? The President of the United States goes to NYC to take in a show, of course he flies on a private plane. Congressmen and Senators can fly commercial. The leader of the free world flies private where he can be properly protected. The taxpayer expense comes with the territory. This is not even worthy of two paragraphs next to the obits.

So, Gibbs is blaming the Secret Service?

As for the Bush comparison, was Obama conducting business on his date?

Was Obama entertaining visiting heads of state during his date?

How many Lear jets did Bush use to get to Crawford?

I'm not so much defended Bush as exposing a weak argument.

Mark, you can do better than that.

During a time when 600k+ people a month are losing their jobs and we're bleeding trillions of dollars of tax payer money, our President picked an odd time to blow $35-70k (estimated) of tax payer money on "dinner and a show".

When Bush went to Crawford, we were in the midst of 52 month surge of job growth.

Crawford was Bush's home, no one questions Obama taking the rides when he is coming to/from Chicago. It also stinks of hypocrisy since he has been basing corporate jets and wall street excess.

He has a reserved private box at the Kennedy Center in DC was that not good enough? Think of all the CO2 emissions that could've been saved by just taking a 5-10 drive in "The Beast".

In 3 1/2 years he will beginning to start his next term. So its ok for Bush to do it, but when Obama does it, its a problem. WHY??? He's trying his best to fix this country's financial problem, while Bush and the republicans jacked it up and left office like nothing happened. Why can't people open there eyes and see we picked the best man for the job.

Dream on, " John " !! President Obama will be President for another 7 1/2 years and Vice-President Biden will win the Office, after President Obama does such a good job. You will still have your nay-sayers and bankrupt ideologues of Getrich, Limpbag and Chumpey !! Maybe with that team, you can steal the Dog-Catchers Office, but I doubt it. America knows your lies and your tricks and your incompetence !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

The "ELITES" don't have to live by the same rules as you common folk.The sooner you get that the better.

The difference being -- Bush also conducted White House business when he went to the ranch. The White House business simply moved to Crawford - it was a "working" vacation. (As shown by the number of heads of state he entertained there over the years.)

Even presidents who spent their time at Camp David (Clinton, etc.) weren't truly vacationing, they were just getting a change of scenery while they continued to work most of the time.

POTUS's jaunt to NY this time around was a pricey date night out paid at taxpayers' expense.

YET, in castigating the CEO's of the financial and auto industries a few months ago, President Obama said on Feb. 9 that executives "...can’t take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers’ dime..."

Bit of a double standard, don't you think?

It is not the plane that took the President and his wife to NYC that bothers me, it is the two planes that flew reporters and aides -- the entourage, at our expense. Any necessary aide could have flown on their plane. I also resent Obama saying that he was throwing parties -- lavish to my eyes -- at the WH because it got lonely, there. State dinners we acceptable, big parties, not small dinner gatherings, because he is lonely, is not acceptable in this economy. Yah, I griped about all those trips out of Washington that Bush took, also, but the entire country was not in the toilet when that happned. Obama needs to walk the walk. Edwards tanked over an expensive hair cut, charged not to the taxpayers, but to his campaign -- get a clue.

And Cheney finally admits that there was no connection between Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaida/9-11. So he's admitting that he lied us into the war. But, hey, if you want to go with this big Obama date story, it's your call, Silva. You have to follow your heart.

He's President everywhere he goes. Get over it.

Critics aren't actually implying he's some sort of slacker like Cowboy George was, are they?

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/06/cheney_would_do_exactly_the_sa.html

I always laugh when liberals say Bush was on vacation in Crawford. Some liberal came up with it and the rest just fall in line without thinking.

If Bush flew to NY for dinner, the very same liberals would be going berserk. (I don't know if they are capable of seeing this or not.)

The reality is Presidents don't get much of a break from the job.

The problem with the Obama's is they think they are kings and they seem like they are entitled to all of this. I don't think they know that they are stewards of the office.

But, then again, when Obama was in Indonesian schools, what kind of US history was he taught? The US schools are bad enough.

Frankly, I'm delighted to see a fully functional first family in public housing [the White House] for a change. And I'm delighted that the first couple are demonstrating their healthy relationship in public ways to some extent/to the extent possible for the leader of the free world.
I take my hat off to the President and First Lady, they're a class-act and where better to view such than on The Great White Way?

Get over it. Most people here contribute a very small amount of tax revenue to society, not sure why they have their panties in a twist over how it is spent. The real injustace is our progressive tax system that makes certain people more to support others.

"I know you are but what am I" is an OK response for 8 year olds on a playground.
.
Except it has become the Obama mantra, "Bush did it so can I".
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Most of President Bush's term was prosperous. It is a shame that an entire administration can't see the difference in the times.
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Nixon flew commercialy when he wanted to put his money where his mouth was regarding a tough economy.
.
How much did this trip cost the taxpayers? No one in the administration knows because they don't care.How many American jobs were lost in that one day? No one in the administration knows because they don't care.

Mr. Gibbbs is the clown prince of presidential press secretaries. He makes Ron Nessen seem like Tony Snow.

Fine. You must go out on the town, not like us poor jobless slobs who can't even make ends meet. You have your own personal chef. Why do you have to go out to eat? We should be so lucky. And if you must go out on the town, pay for it yourself. Find out how much it costs to fly you and find out how much your dinner was and, using your OWN money, put it back in the system.

Well, that brush wasn't gonna clear itself....

How much did tax payers spend on Dick Cheney's fishing at exclusive retreats like the Greenbriar? Cheney spent as little time in Washington as he could and who paid for all his "vacations"?

The man is a disgrace to the office. He acts like the rich spoiled kid that has way too many toys. Thank You America for voting this guy into the highest office in the land and the leader of whats left of the free world.

Can you imagine if Obama did not fulfill his promise to Michelle? He had to do it. Did you see the size of her compared to him? He had to do it.

And when Cheney was around, it was for a ceremonial occasion and Lynn Cheney always made sure the granddaughters were in tow - to watch the space shuttle take off, to light the National Christmas Tree, etc etc. How many tax dollars were spent over eight years facilitating all those special Cheney Family moments???

Am I the only one who thinks that two people who are married ought to go out once in a while?

I am pleased to have a president who makes time for his wife.

Give me a break..............

Holy cow.....

I sort of figured this little item would draw lots of comments.

Barack has to keep reminding himself that he is supposed to exemplify change and departure from the likes of the Bush Dynasty.

So it is irrelevant that "Bush did it too".

Or even that "Bush did it a lot more often".

O, and Nancy Reagan's advice that Michelle should have "lots and lots of State Dinners"......

Well, that's like that old lady in the Disney classic offering Snow White an apple.

Just revisit that Weegee photo of the matrons in diamonds and furs arriving at the Metropolitan Opera to see what I mean.

White tie and tails---OK for Fred and Ginger in the 30's but not for Franklin and Eleanor.

Vacationing and partying like the Bush clan, after the Crash of 2008: not a good idea.

He and His wife are so fawned upon by the Progressives that he thinks the rest of us feel similarly, I for one do not.
He has been treated to "go to the front of the line status" since high school and hasn't done anything of importance, he will not reveal a legitimate birth certificate-if he had one why not show it-,the NYT lies about his legal achievements and no one questions the lies, he is alienating Israel by falling into the trap of terrorists, he has taken $50,000,000,000 for GM and now it goes into bankruptcy, after wasting our $50,000,000,000, he smokes and wants us to believe he doesn't and that he is healthy but other smokers are not, he wants us to believe he is a great speaker when all he does is read a teleprompter, he wants us to believe he can debate but when Alan Keyes challenged him to a debate he fled,
he wants us to believe "oh, how important I am I can fly to a broadway show and everyone thinks it is "cute", well, Mr Cute , you are wasting our money and falling into disrepute.
Here is what FDR's Sec. of Treasury had to say after 8 years of a similar catastrophe in 1932-40
"Henry Morgenthau, Jr., the secretary of treasury and one of the most powerful men in America, had a startling confession to make before influential Democrats who ran the House Ways and Means Committee, in 1939.
"We have tried spending money . WE are spending more than we have ever spent before and IT DOES NOT WORK.
...I want to see this country prosperous. I want to see people get a job.I want to see people get enough to eat. WE HAVE NEVER MADE GOOD ON OUR PROMISES...I say after 8 years of this Administration we have just as much unemployment as when we started...and an enormous debt to boot." In these words Morgenthau summarized a decade of disaster, especially in the years Roosevelt was in power. "
Some day the media will report on this after he has failed us and stolen from nation and children with his profligate spending.

Keep your eye on the ball everybody this is stupid. This story is like twitter for the blogs. Why in the world is this even a story? Get your head out of your blank or get a mitt and git into the game. Next we will blog about what time Obama gets out of bed or What he eats for dinner. When People complain about these little things they lose credibility.

Of course he can not fly commercial, he is the president of the United States. Security measures need to be taken.

Plus, it would be a waste if he did not get to use the half a million dollar flight path over Manhattan they plotted out for him a month ago. At least this time the plane will have people in it instead of "posing" for a picture modern software could have created for 1/1000th the cost and less battered nerves.

Bottom Line: the President can go wherever he wants, whenever he wants. If you don't like it, don't vote for him in the next election.

I love the way they make it justified - " oh well he did it so why should not I?" - it is amazing how that can make anything sound ok. Daley is robbing chicago and Obama is robbing the whole country and guess what they are both from IL where the aldermens and city big shots are all thieves.

Ah, good old Don Fitzgerald finally speaks up about the Obama administrations increasing the US troop count in Afghanistan by 21,000.

You tell 'em Don! bring them home now! safe and sound!

Oh? you really aren't screaming at president Obama about the innocent US troops being sent to their deaths over a useless war on terrorism?

Oh? you really are a hypocrite Don!

What??? The Messiah spending a few measly buck to go to N.Y. After all he just created the largest deficit IN HISTORY. This is some real cause to celebrate.

After all he is working so hard. Flying to Denver to raise money for his party AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL AMERICANS. This is as fair as unions collecting dues from all member ONLY to spend the money on Democrats.

He is supporting his mother-in-law on the the back of the taxpayers. His aunt is sitting in Boston receiving benefits from the state and is ILLEGAL.

Welcome to the third world... Where the elite prance and posture, while the working stiff gets it in the neck.

Just look at how the Soviet Union was run. The Government aparatchicks had ALL of the perks and the people has squat.

You cannot defend Obama for this date night out on taxpayer’s expense.

He is the first one who blasted the auto firms for flying to Washington in Corporate Jets.

He criticized the banks for having events after receiving the bailouts.

He criticized Wall Street Execs for their bonuses.

He too needs to hold back on his spending. He has parties every night at taxpayer’s expense. He has hosted far more than any other president does. He has 33 events in the first five weeks at the White House. This is a rate of one per night.

At that average, in four years he will have 1260 events. He is OVERSPENDING for unnecessary events.

He needs to cutback as he tells everyone else!

If he can tell the atomakers, Wallstreet, and bnacks to cut back, we can tell him. Cutback on spending!

Listen, you miserable and annoying democrats. Bush's trips to Crawford might have included some work, and not just clearing brush. The point here is, there are countless fabulous restaurants and plays in DC or Virginia. To go on this "date night" in NY is just another illustration of O's amazing and unprecedented arrogance.

I'm glad the Obamas are attending to their marriage by having a romantic date now and then. In order to have a healthy family and be good parents, they need to take care of each other. Obama has the hardest job in the world, made that much (much) harder by the incompetence of his brush-clearing predecessor. We don't need a president with trouble on the home front. We need one with the wisdom to seek balance and show love to those closest to him. We need him as healthy and happy and supported by his family as he can be in such a difficult place as the White House.

They are a beautiful first couple and they really love each other and respect each other. It's about time.

Oh please----leave them alone!
They deserve a relaxing night out!

The cost to taxpayers for date night in NYC is pegged at $75,000+. The cost of using Air Force One for the wasteful photo-op fake flyover of the 9/11 Ground Zero was estimated at $323,000 PER HOUR. The cost of Obama's coronation was over $50 Million to taxpayers. Obama justs prints more money whenever he needs it, while unemployment hits a record high. So if Obama wants to compare himself to Bush, he can point out that during the Bush administration unemployment was at a record low (lower than the 70's, 80's and 90's) and GDP grew a whopping 19%. We only have 3 1/2 more years to endure the greatest rape of the American taxpayer and the most corrupt administration in history.

It's funny to see the people who took every opportunity to bash Bush now crying foul when Obama gets bashed. People there is no difference between the parties. They are all in it for themselves. It's an egomaniacs business, and they only throw a bone to the voters to keep us quiet.

Let's recap what took place last week.

Government Motors continues to slide downward, even with billions of taxpayer money. North Korea went wild. Barry O. played golf and went to NY for dinner and theater.

While Rome burned, Nero fiddled. Barry is way over his head here.

Wow...I do believe there are plenty of people in Chicago that find it in their tightened budget to still attend plays. I know I do -- I just have to save a bit longer to be able to do it...no big deal. We just happen to live right down the street from it so the travel costs are minimal. The closest location for this level of entertainment for the Obamas is NY. As a few have stated already, there has never been a time when it would have been "ok" that a US president would have taken public transportation -- the security risks are too high. Can you even imagine the pressure it takes to be the presidential family (Bush, Obama, Carter, I don't care which)? A night away from it all is needed, healthy, and --most importantly-- what each and every American has the right to do.

Bush went to Texas... so it is alright for Obama to on a date in NYC? Wow, there is some thin logic. Maybe if Bush had flown to Texas for the day to see a Rangers game it would be the same thing. I love the idea that Bush was on "vacation" because he wasn't in the White House. Time to grow up people, neither Bush nor Obama take vacations while they are President... period. Wherever they are, they are working.

As for "date night" this was just another dumb move by the Obama White House... like the Air Force One incident, the Reset Button and countless others... don't ask American's to tight their belts when you are living the high life... it is just bad politics.

No matter how you feel about this trip, I dont think anyone can deny that it was poor judgment based on the public response. Another in an ever-expanding string of "act/speak before you think" mistakes. This shiny new penny is tarnishing quickly.

-m

I'm a conservative in just about every sense of the word, but just WHAT do you expect this man to do? He took the smaller jet. That is about the only way he can economize! He has an entourage bigger than the Verizon network team, that HAVE to follow him everywhere - WE THE PEOPLE, EXPECT IT! The man is already on-call 24x7x365. He wants to take his wife to dinner and a show. What loving husband doesn't, with reasonable frequency. I would argue, to keep sane and have a good marriage - he NEEDS to! Who needs a Prez w/ his personal life falling apart? Can you imagine [some may ask, "do you remember?"] what that would be like?

Give the man a break. Every day G.W. was on the ranch, he had SOME gov't work to do every day. The man with the 'football' was almost never out of his sight. Look at the before/after pictures of every president that has ever had office. Tell me they don't need to do something to get away from the stress... I didn't vote for him, but I need him to make good decisions now. He needs to de-stress, yet stay 'in touch'. Give him a break, it is indeed, a non-issue.

Perhaps other Presidents spent taxpayer money such as this, but these are different economic times and the Obama's are far from frugal. In fact, is he giving up his presidential salaray like Bush? Most likely not.

Funny how liberals are justifying Obama's actions on what GWB did...when just a short time ago they were calling GWB's actions illegal and outrageous. Guess this means that GWB wasn't all that bad to liberals after all.

I don't care what those mean people say about our wonderful president. Just reading about him and his wife gives me such a warm fuzzy feeling that the thought of how much this costs us never crosses my mind.
Some day soon the whole world will realize this and we will all live in peace and happiness.

I already am and I hope you all are also.

I don't care what those mean people say about our wonderful president. Just reading about him and his wife gives me such a warm fuzzy feeling that the thought of how much this costs us never crosses my mind.
Some day soon the whole world will realize this and we will all live in peace and happiness.

I already am and I hope you all are also.

Why does the date night need defending. They work hard for this nation. Congratulations, they had a night off.

..POTUS is never on vacation. It's 24/7, 365 day "job".

The Obama shows his compassion for the GM people losing their jobs through his mandates by flying to New York to take in a Broadway show with Mrs. The Obama.

What a caring, big hearted guy this Obama is..

PLEASE! I guess everyone who is complaining has forgotten how many trips "W" took to the Crawford Ranch and daddy's place in Maine. Who do they think paid for those? I bet if we checked into it, we would find that the taxpayers paid for Jenna's wedding and the trips she and her mom took publicizing their book! President Obama has paid for other meals on his own credit card. I bet he paid for the dinner and the show tickets!

During such a difficult economic time for our country this was too extravagant. There have got to be some really, really nice restaurants in the Washington DC area that could have worked for their date night.

This was no date. A date would be OK (obviously) with the secret service in tow. This was yet another campaign style event. Planes full of reporters, closed streets in NY city, look at us!
This is a little offensive, coming on the heels of the recent Vegas-Hollywood trip. Oh, that promised date took place in Chicago in February. Hmmm - wasn't Christmas in Hawaii? I expect Michelle to be in Paris on her birthday.

I really don't have a problem with the President and his Mrs. going out for a date. I do wonder how many of us have jumped on a plane let's say from Chicago and did New York for a play and dinner. Now add the extra expense we have to go through for the Obama's for security etc. is this a good example fromt the country's #1 family on how to watch dollars during this economic downturn?

It really hurts seeing so many out of work, losing their homes, not able to put food on the table and many smart children not getting the opportunity to move forward with their educations. I bet this night out cost well over $250,000.00 for the "date night". Not a smart thing to do ever, not a smart thing to do especially today.

But Pres. and Ms. Obama did not take Air Force One, IIRC. They took a smaller jet from Foggy Bottom to the Big Apple. If Mr. and Mrs. Bush and Mr. and Mrs. Cheney did the same, they'd have taken both AF1 and AF2 and a third plane for friendly press operatives.

The Obamas should have gone on a date in DC instead. Wait, they did and everyone complained about that too. The Obamas paid for the dinner and play themself. The sole part taxpayers pay for is security, which is only needed because of his job. Y'all would have him hitching a ride to NYC if you had your way. Filter the garbage you are fed thru the brain.

...And I just heard the highlights of President Obama's latest radio address: We have to cut back. We have to sacrifice for our children. We have to take it on the chin for future generations. Who is the "We"? Apparently it's not the President and his wife. What a great opportunity our President missed to show some leadership to the rest of us who have to cut back. It would have shown me a lot more about his convictions if he had made a point of saying they had considered a date night in NY, but decided against it to save the taxpayers money. No one is saying they can't leave the Whitehouse, but don't throw it in our faces.

Oh shut up people. Everyone always wants something to complain about. Live your damn lives and worry about what is going on in your home. Who cares if the President went on a damn date. Please everyone, tell me which one of you ALWAYS practices what you preach. Liar!

I can not believe some of these posts. Whenever a President goes anywhere, it must include the Secret Service. They determine how he travels. It goes with the office. If you had done your research the President paid for the dinner and the play from his funds, albeit they were taxpayer dollars that pay his salary. That's the nature of the position. If you think the President should only go somewhere when he is meeting with heads of state and other business acquaintances, you need to get a life and get real. Have any of you ever gone to the theater or out to dinner in another state, in New York? I have and if I were President, I would have to take the Secret Service and the planes.

wasnt this the same clown condeming ceos' for lavish trips? do not pay attention to what the uhhhbamas say...pay attention to what they do. they are liars.

We went from a country that hates their President to a President that hates his country.

Nero fiddles while Rome burns.

I want my country back!

Pleeeese... The economic problems of the US only affect the private sector workers, not government employees, so quit complaining and pay up, so they can live the lifestyle they deserve!

Instead of the Obama's going to NYC for dinner & a play, perhaps they should have brought the whole play to the White House...oh wait, that would have again cost the taxpayers more money!!

Or, maybe a better choice would have been to come home to Chicago...they can still enjoy dinner & a play, and even go back to their own home and sleep in their own beds!

Gees, give 'em a break...don't they deserve to go out and eat and enjoy sometime...

To borrow from Michelle, 'since January 20, 2009 I have been truly embarrassed to be a citizen of the United States.' Just like a replay of Germany in the 1930's when they all thought that they had voted for THEIR messiah. Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it. God (and I DON'T mean Allah) Help Us.

I am sure every President has made extensive use of secure aircraft for personal and business trips, but it is my impression that “catching a dinner & a play” in NYC or some similar date type activity were either coordinated with a longer trip or done in the DC area.

This example of a conspicuous, jet set mentality is a prime example of what our country does not need from its elected leadership.

I am not whining. We have all been asked to make sacrifices and to continue to live within our means; consequently it should start at the top.

This may be proportionate for some royalty, oil sheiks, African dictators and other such characters, but not the President of the US.

Not long ago leaders of America's auto industry were castigated for flying in corporate jets to testify in front of Congress. Some called it "corporate excess". Was this "presidential excess"?

Some of you people are just ridiculous - do you really think that Bush was on vacation when he went to Texas? Give me a break - He probably could think much better getting some fresh air and away from the windbags of DC.
Now, Obama tells the American public that these are tough times and to tighten our belt - shouldn't he do the same? I can't wait until he campaigns on transparency again, it should be interesting!! He is catching all this heat because he made promises that other presidents haven't made and they were just all lies to get the vote.

The "Obamas in The White House" remind me of the episode of Seinfeld that had Jerry's parents staying at The Plaza and "living it up".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doodle_(Seinfeld_episode)

Nancy, I think the reason he spent so much time on the "ranch" was to sequester him from the public.

As David Letterman has proven so many times, Bush does not have the most compelling public persona.

To put it mildly.

I suggest we separate the government policies Obama is pursuing from his commitment to his wife as a husband. Although I many times disagree with his policies, I believe the man is sincere. I'm sure Obama was willing to pay for the whole trip. As president, he does not need to. I'm more than willing to pay for him to get to Manhattan fir a date with his wife. If more men did this, we might have less divorce in the US. I believe both Obama and his wife have done an outstanding job of balancing family, personal and work. BTW: I voted for McCain and would do so again.

Just some actual facts for those of you throwing stones.

Your tax dollars paid for Bush to take over 400 "vacation" days and over 75 trips home and they continue to pay for him now....

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/98-249.pdf

Keep 'em coming folks - we did and are doing the right thing!!