OT: President's $50,000/Week Vacation on Martha's Vineyard

An article at MSNBC website ("Poll: Obama loses ground on health care") includes a quote from Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart:

“This is a president who needs a vacation”

Well, it looks like he's going to have a good one.

$20m holiday home at Blue Heron Farm suits Barack Obama to a tee (7/28/09 Times Online UK)

Mr Obama and the First Family are planning to spend their summer break on a $20 million retreat on the wealthy playground island off Cape Cod and even seem undeterred that the property is owned by a Republican.

According to the Vineyard Gazette, the resort island’s journal of record since 1864, the Obamas have chosen Blue Heron Farm, in Chilmark, recorded as America’s most expensive small town in 2007.

The farm features a swimming pool, golf practice facilities — Mr Obama plays regularly — a basketball court, access to a private beach and a rental price tag of up to $50,000 (£30,000) a week.

Here's the article from Vineyard Gazette.

According to the Times Online article, "The Obamas are reported to be determined to pay their way" - a rather convoluted sentence, but it seems to say they at least intend to pay. (The U.S. President's salary has been $400,000 since 2001.)

Some people commenting in the Times article are wondering why he can't vacation at the taxpayer-funded Camp David, like many Presidents before him. One of them remembers President Bush vacationing at his own home, and suggests Obama take a vacation at his Chicago home.

Tweet