Obamas Take Two Planes to Martha's Vineyard, Needlessly Wasting Many Thousands in Tax Money

August 19th, 2011 12:00 PM

Keith Koffler of White House Dossier this morning noted that the Obamas could have saved taxpayers some money by taking one jet instead of two to fly up to Martha's Vineyard for vacation:

Mrs. Obama and her daughters arrived just before 2 pm Thursday 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.

[...]

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.

Thus far it appears the mainstream media have not criticized the extra costs of flying two jets, running two motorcades, etc.