Secret Service protection, motorcades and helicopter transports not included
As President Barack Obama flies Monday to Chicago for a midday speech on health-care reform, the round trip on Air Force One will run about $236,000, according to government estimates of the operating costs for one of the top symbols, and perks, of the presidency.
But that does not include such expenses as Secret Service protection, motorcades and helicopter transports.
After landing at O'Hare International Airport, Obama is scheduled to spend about 2 1/2 hours here. To avoid snarling traffic on the Kennedy Expressway, he likely will be taken from the airport by helicopter to a location near the Hyatt Regency Chicago.
A Government Accounting Office report in 2000 showed Air Force One cost $54,100 to operate each flight hour, or almost $67,000 in today's dollars. It is a tough number to estimate, however, because of so many variables and fixed costs that could be included in or excluded from the calculation.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-air-force-one-15-jun15,0,2483578.story
Comments (12)
Why should he care, it's our money he is pissing off?
Yeh! Why can't all presidents save money by driving Chevy's back and forth to work, like we have to do?
What is this guy, special or something?
And how much did those flights to cost to and from Texas for all those vacation days that Bush took?
Whatever it takes to protect the president is ok by me, there are too many wingnuts out there wishing harm upon him.
There is an obligation inherent to the Presidency that allows security personnel a reasonable amount of control over the planning of a Presidents travel.
Often enough when a President doesn't allow his security team that control, the bodyguards are the ones who suffer the consequences and have to "take one" for the President.
And while in Chicago he was ,,OMG, hearing boos
http://www.rr.com/news/politics/article/9008/8063239/Analysis_Doctors_boos_show_Obamas_tough_road
Do as I say, not as I do. He wants you to share your wealth and he will decide how to spend it.
I am okay with Mr. Obama using Air Force One for legitimate business. However, Mr. Obama use of Air Force One for his "Date Night" was abuse of Office. In poor economic times like these, Mr. Obama should have set an example and kept costs down by having his "Date Night" in Washington D.C. Lead by positive examples Mr. Obama.
Photosrme, no more than Bush going back and forth to his ranch in Texas was legitimate business.
I can see it now.
The Prez is on a United Airlines passenger jet when suddenly;
the enemy attacks and the Pres has to give permission for a reply and oops! Gotta return to the white house, had to leave the button there with the other ten thousand pounds of stuff that they couldn't fit on a United Airlines flight.
or
one of the other passengers attempts to assassinate the Prez and oops had to leave the secret service behind......
or any of a million other scenarios.
0bama is nothing but an empty suit. He has lied and reneged on virtually ALL of his campaign promises, but what should we have expected from his ilk.
To all you lousy liberals who elected him to office, you are fools!
I am actually fine with the President getting a few perks and with every effort made to maximize his productivity. I just wish we had a better man sitting in the hot seat.