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The government must also pay the Secret Service for protection and overtime for local police. These are just a few of the costs that come with protecting the world's most powerful human being.
Some of the cost estimates presented by the newspaper include the early trip to Hawaii for Mrs. Obama (who flew out before the president), at $63,000. There is President Obama's round trip, estimated to cost $1 million. Local police need an extra quarter million for overtime costs and there is the $134,000 estimated cost of housing the president's staff.
While $1.4 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the multi-trillion dollar economic problems of our nation, there are surely going to be critics who give the president a hard time for how much he spends on his vacation. The good thing for President Obama, however, is that the Republicans can't give him too much trouble in light of the fact that they worked overtime to obtain multi-billion dollar tax cuts for the wealthy this past month. After pulling a stunt for the rich at the expense of the working class of America, the Republicans' ability to provide credible commentary about the economic state of our nation has been sorely diminished.
I'm sure President Obama is happy to be on vacation. He's spending time with his family and now has the opportunity to get away from all the stress factors in Washington. Part of me wonders if he ever regrets taking this job. Only a few times in American history has it been this difficult to be President of the United States (the Civil War, the Great Depression and World War II might be examples). But one thing's for sure: no president has ever had to deal with the Herculean task of being the first black man in the Oval Office. In a country with a racist history like America, that is a challenge like no other.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (151)
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By: blackbear72 on 12/31/2010 1:13PM
Why couldn't he have spent Christmas at home, in D.C., at a cost of $0? I think most people spend Christmas at home, especially with the money problems most are having. He can have a vacation after his presidency is over, some sacrifices come with being the most important human on the earth. A vacation at a cost of 1.4mill to the tax payers is not a sacrifice. Sometimes it really seems he doesn't think at all. Lastly, why did they put up a Christmas tree in the WH?
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By: Justice on 12/31/2010 1:19PM
No he could not.
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By: Evelyn on 12/31/2010 1:47PM
Why do so many people have a problem with what this President does? Nothing is ever said about the presidents who have taken vacations, traveled, etc. What makes President Obama so different? How do you know he didn't use some of his money? After all, he and Michele were already millionaires!
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By: bdeyes on 12/31/2010 1:49PM
How dare he go on vacation, this is horrible OMG! no other President would dare take a vacation and spend that kind of money...and a Christmas Tree??? he put up a Christmas Tree?? in the White House, is this man out of his mind!...please stop the madness,lol!!
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By: hattie on 12/31/2010 2:57PM
Le them pay for it themselves, we don't get that kind of money for vacation when we go on vacation. Michelle, and Barack know the game.
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By: blackbear72 on 12/31/2010 4:52PM
Bdayes, I really don't care what others presidents did or didn't do, he is the president now. 1.4 million is ridicules for a Christmas vacation with the shape of the economy. Other recent Presidents didnt have this horrible economy, he does. The point about the Christmas tree was, why have one if you are not going to be home? Why cant he relax at the WH? By the way he is out of his mind? If you know that taking 2 flights instead of one will cost $68,000 more, why would anyone in there right mind still take 2 flights? If he spends money on a vacations so thoughtlessly, do you believe he will spend any tax money thoughtfully? It is not his money it is OURS! What could you do with 1.4 million? I bet it wouldn't be spend a week in Hawaii.
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By: mspricelessp on 12/31/2010 5:54PM
OMG He and The 1st lady are millionaires in their own right and I think the last place you want to be on a holiday like christmas is around the madness of DC. Relax people Bush had us in this mess before Obama got into office and took way more vactions.
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By: atouchofjas on 12/31/2010 6:32PM
Wow! People really kill me! No matter what President Obama does there will be criticism! Get a life....when Bush did whatever he pleased no one complained about it! I'm so sick of the negative comments get over it! He is OUR president! THE PEOPLE CHOSE!
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By: New Year Same Old Drama! on 12/31/2010 7:33PM
Some days I just wish he would give America this headache back, become a private citizen again and make the billions he is sure to earn as an author, lecturer and business leader. But, unlike Palin, he actually finishes what he has started and is actually dedicated to making the world a better for his kids and ours. This is just so ridiculous. This is not the first time a president has traveled during hard economic times and regardless of where he spends his holiday, America will have to pay as it did with all 43 of those white men that did the exact same thing. The way America spends money on ridiculous things and have driven themselves into economic ruin, you would think this would be nothing for them pay. I am over it.
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By: rh on 12/31/2010 10:06PM
You wouldn't be satisfied if the Obama's took a covered wagon pulled by mules for travel on their vacation.You are making Obama a scapegoat for your personal life and the ills of this country.
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