The chief economic culprit of President Obama’s press conference Jun 292011 was undoubtedly “corporate jets.” He mentioned them on at least six occasions, each time offering their owners as an example of a group that should be paying more in taxes. “I think it’s only fair to ask an oil company or a corporate jet owner that has done so well,” the president stated at one point, “to give up that tax break that no other business enjoys.” But the corporate jet tax break to which Obama was referring – called “accelerated depreciation,” and a popular Democratic foil of late – was reauthorized by his own stimulus package.
Liberal Moguls and Corporate Jets
Marta’s Vineyard, as good as it gets.
They mingle with Barack
And plan their next attack.
The Stimulus paid for their corporate jets.
Michelle Obama and President Obama traveled to Martha’s Vineyard just hours apart, costing taxpayers thousands in additional expenses so she could have just a bit of extra vacation time.
Michelle Obama and her daughters arrived just before 2 pm Aug 19, 2011 on a U.S. government jet, according to the Martha’s Vineyard Times, which got its information from the local airport. The first lady’s office has been silent on her travel. President Obama arrived in the evening along with the family dog Bo.
The extra costs related to Mrs. Obama’s solo trip mainly include the flight on a specially designed military aircraft she took instead of Air Force One, as well as any extra staff and Secret Service that had to be enlisted to go with her. She would also have had her own motorcade from the airport to her vacation residence.
Mrs. Obama’s separate jet travel sends the wrong message on a host of issues, from global warming to the budget deficit to the economy – in which currently so many people can’t afford to take a vacation at all.
This is not the first time Michelle has gone on vacation ahead of the president on the taxpayers’ tab. Last December, she racked up what was likely more than $100,000 in expenses leaving early for their Hawaii vacation.
It was the 20th of July 1969 and my wife and I had been in the U.S. for a little over a year. We were sitting in the living room watching the moon landing and saw real live feed from the moon. President Nixon said in for him an unusally excited voice “This is the greatest week in the history of the world since the Creation.” Well, those were the days:
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 