Title: Obamas under fire from the left for never ending, sizzling ultra-luxury vacations Source:
FoxNews Politics URL Source:http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201 ... ng-ultra-luxury-vacations.html Published:Jul 1, 2017 Author:Christopher Wallace Post Date:2017-07-01 15:10:41 by cranky Keywords:None Views:4887 Comments:25
Former President Barack Obama (2nd L), his wife Michelle (3rd L) along with his daughters Sasha (C) and Malia (2nd R) go rafting while on holiday in Bongkasa Village, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia June 26, 2017 in this photo taken by Antara Foto.
The Democratic base is growing increasingly frustrated with former President Barack Obamas actions after leaving office, including a seemingly endless tour of millionaire and billionaire luxury retreats, according to Democrats and activists contacted by Fox News.
Ex-presidents, understandably and un-controversially, go on vacations immediately after leaving office. But the level of luxury the Obamas enjoy on their vacations is unprecedented for a modern-day president, say travel experts.
Since leaving office in late January, Obama has visited late actor Marlon Brandos private island; the Four Seasons in Bali -- where rooms cost upward of $2,000 per night; a Palm Springs estate; Sir Richard Bransons Necker Island; the exclusive Mid Pacific Country Club in Oahu; the 13th-century Borgo Finocchieto in Tuscany; and the Rising Sun, Hollywood studio mogul David Geffens private yacht.
"These are some of the most luxurious travel destinations in the world. Many of our clients spend tens of thousands of dollars or more to stay at these resorts, which cater to the most discriminating and demanding guests, said Kendra Thornton, travel expert and owner of luxury travel agency Royal Travel. For example, Necker Island has a nightly price tag of $80,000. Anyone who stays at these properties does so because they want the best of the best."
Fox News contacted the Borgo Finocchieto hotel. Its actually not really a hotel, at least of the kind ordinary travelers come to expect. Its a restored medieval hamlet with five villas and 22 bedrooms that can only be rented for a three-day minimum, in its entirety. Obama touched down at a nearby airport in a private jet escorted by six Eurofighter jets from the Italian Air Force. Presumably, the former president scored a deal on the stay since the Borgo Finocchieto is owned by one of his appointees, the former Italy Ambassador John Phillips.
These trips are like the lifestyles of the rich and famous, said Democratic strategist Pat Caddell. The former adviser to ex-President Jimmy Carter believes that President Obamas vacations are unprecedented, and a far cry from how Carter spent his first few months out of office.
I think the Bernie Sanders wing of the party, when they see President Obama, whom they instinctively want to defend being the corporatist president, I think it makes the base uneasy, said Caddell.
Left-wing activists told Fox News they are troubled by what they see as a trend by Obama to distance himself from the base of the party. Its not just vacations. The president also has enjoyed hefty fees for speeches to prominent Wall Street firms. Its all part of a trend, they say, of Obama trying to join the fabled 1 percent.
Obama is not as wealthy or as conservative as Trump, George W. Bush, or George H.W. Bush, but he enjoys what used to be called the lifestyle of the rich and famous, said Dr. David Michael Smith of the Houston Socialist Movement. I am not surprised by Obamas several recent foreign vacations. As president, he disappointed millions of supporters who hoped he would be a strong advocate for working-class people.
The left-wing media is also worried about Obamas luxury vacations.
Ill tell you who should kick back a little less, said HBO host John Oliver in an interview with Seth Meyers on Late Night Monday. This might be controversial Im a little sick of seeing photos of President Obama on vacation with Richard Branson. Just tone it down with the kite-surfing pictures. Im glad hes having a nice time America is on fire.
Oliver then pointed out that President Obama was accused of being out of touch with the American people during his presidency.
Im not sure hes ever been more out of touch than he is right now, Oliver said.
Those comments were made in February. So Olivers advice apparently didnt slow down the Obama vacation schedule. Hes in Bali this week.
The presidents press team didnt want to go on the record since Obama is a private citizen and it doesnt comment on his personal schedule or private outings with his family.
But a former Obama White House official did tell Fox News that the president dedicated his entire career to working to level the playing field and provide ladders of opportunity for those hardest hit by the economy.
One of the first actions after leaving office was to mentor young men from Chicago's south side who are in a job training program called CRED, led by former Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The president also donated $2 million recently to help young people in Chicago get apprenticeships and summer jobs. The president is an avid supporter of the My Brothers Keeper initiative that aims to improve life outcomes for young men of color.
The Obama team also told Fox News that the president most recently released a Facebook post about the current debate in Washington around the future of health care.
The Senate bill, unveiled today, is not a health care bill, Obama wrote. Its a massive transfer of wealth from middle-class and poor families to the richest people in America.
Caddell, the Democratic strategist for former President Carter, said thats not enough.
I think every time Obama opens his mouth, the fair question is: Which billionaires paradise island did he do it from? When is he going to do anything to help people other than enrich himself? Caddell said. How can he possibly be doing things? How do you do things from Marlon Brandos island? Its in stark contrast to Carter.
And to former President George W. Bush. Asked how the 43rd president spent his first year after office, a person close to President Bush told Fox News: He spent the first month in Crawford, Texas, where he started writing Decision Points.
Then, once their house in Dallas was ready, the Bushes settled there and started fundraising for the Bush Center and setting up policy programs of the Bush Institute. President Bush went on some speaking engagements handled by the Washington Speakers Bureau. And he and Laura vacationed with their family in Kennebunkport, Maine, and at the ranch in Crawford.
Obama has a right to do whatever he wants, Caddell said. But these trips really are a little bit rich.
Who cares about this 0bama shit, when America requires strong leadersip towards our individual rights, liberties and freedoms; this includes dignity. Even this soft peddling TRUMP dude is a POS. You voted for TRUMP, too. You voted for the wrong guy.
Has anyone any proof that 0bama is shelling out his own money for these vacations?
My first guess is that he gets complimentary vacations in these places, just so the resorts can lay claim to his fame as a "customer". I picture this as his scheduler calling up to tell a resort manager that 0bama is considering booking a vacation there and then wheedling until they offer it to him for free.
I always thought Xlinton got the same kind of deals when he traveled.
There's a payoff for the namedropping social climbers though.
They go to the Cannes film festival or summer at Capri or the Riviera where they can namedrop their recent time spent with Bill & Hill or with Barack & Michelle.
I think they'd care a lot more about getting those big-name celebs in their resort for bragging rights than they care about whether they actually pay for their rooms.
My first guess is that he gets complimentary vacations in these places, just so the resorts can lay claim to his fame as a "customer". I picture this as his scheduler calling up to tell a resort manager that 0bama is considering booking a vacation there and then wheedling until they offer it to him for free.
When he can get paid $1,000,000 for giving a 1 hour speech, asking whose money it is becomes a blurred question.
When he can get paid $1,000,000 for giving a 1 hour speech, asking whose money it is becomes a blurred question.
Giving him and his SS detail free $2000-a-night rooms for a week and free grub would be a lot cheaper than paying for that speech. He doesn't have to give that speech or spend money or take criticism for it back home, they still have bragging rights at Monte Carlo and Cannes and the salons of London and Paris and Berlin.
As you suggest, much of this is fungible.
The EUro elites love any American prez who does their bidding and kowtows to them as though they are actually important. They eat it up and their tycoons are willing to pay big to get their pictures taken with the Xlinton or 0bama crowds. You see, for instance, a lot of minor American film stars go on their hate-America tours of Europe, replete with anti-American remarks on BBC and other EUrotrash news outlets, all to get the goodies they offer. The best hotels, restaurants, hobnobbing with aristocrats and "the good people", unlike their barbaric American fans.
So if even minor American celebs get so much attention in the provinces (Europe), then how much is a popular former prez worth to them? Plenty.
For example, Necker Island has a nightly price tag of $80,000. Anyone who stays at these properties does so because they want the best of the best."
I think you're naive if you think 0bama paid a red cent for him or his SS detail to go there. I'd bet that Branson sent a private jet to pick up him up too.
And Branson laughs all the way to the bank. His resort just got a lot of free cheap advertising from 0bama's stay there with Branson himself in many cuddly skin shots with 0dinga.
Never Pick A Fight With An Old Man He Will Just Shoot You He Can't Afford To Get Hurt
I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within." -- General Douglas MacArthur
Finocchieto is more interesting. Finocchio is Italian for fennel. It is also Italian slang for homosexual, but more in the derogatory sense, to equate with queer. I recall it was used in one of the Godfather movies.
Giving him and his SS detail free $2000-a-night rooms for a week and free grub would be a lot cheaper than paying for that speech.
Hey, it could have been a barter arrangement.
If Obama yapping his head off for an hour is worth $1,000,000, then if my calcs are correct, if every day at breakfast he gets up and yaps about something for 4 minutes and 48 seconds, maybe about how how his mom made better pancakes than that joint makes, it would pay for each nights stay.