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The Democratic base is growing increasingly frustrated with former President Barack Obama’s 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 Brando’s private island; the Four Seasons in Bali -- where rooms cost upward of $2,000 per night; a Palm Springs estate; Sir Richard Branson’s 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 Geffen’s 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. It’s actually not really a hotel, at least of the kind ordinary travelers come to expect. It’s 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.
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. It’s not just vacations. The president also has enjoyed hefty fees for speeches to prominent Wall Street firms. It’s all part of a trend, they say, of Obama trying to join the fabled 1 percent.
I hope he and Michelle enjoy every day. Each one well deserved.
Lordy, this is veritable multi-plex of projection.
Links to the Freebeacon, Business Insider, The Blaze, Daily Fail...
Somebody is outraged, but it sure isn't the left.
You obviously didn't read the link in the OP.....
....Democratic strategist Pat Caddell, HBO host John Oliver, and Dr. David Michael Smith of the Houston Socialist Movement certainly aren't on the right.
I have no beef with Obama. I hope he continues to do it, and that such progressives continue to be upset by his travel/style of travel.
So Fox News says liberals are upset that Obama, who served two terms and left with very high approval ratings, is taking vacations that are not government funded? Ridiculous and desperate attempt by right wing news. If anyone has earned a vacation, it's Obama and his family, a truly good guy.
You obviously didn't read the link from the original post either.
The link includes direct quotes from people on the left themselves (in addition to text written by the Fox News rep) who aren't thrilled.
Talk about Fake News, LMAO! Obama is a private citizen. He doesn't answer to the DNC. We're supposed to believe democrats are unhappy that he's living his life? Such B.S. if anything, it's the republicans who are argry that he's happy and doing as he pleases. A life well lived is the best revenge. Personally I hope Michelle and Barack continue having all the travel, relaxation and luxury they could ever imagine. They deserve it
Why do people always bring-up flying as an example of hypocrisy when it comes to climate change? On a per-passenger mile, air travel is far and away the most efficient and greenest form of long distance transportation currently available. Well, maybe electric trains powered by non-carbon fuels, but you ain't taking one of those to the South Pacific.
It is only more cost effective when you board a plane with over 100 strangers going to the same destination you are going to. Not when you use a private jet for one person that costs the same to fly as it would for over 100 people. This is where it becomes hypocritical.
Not sure what the big deal is here...Obama was doing this same thing about 240 days out of the calendar year during his Presidency. But to add insult to injury, he was sticking the taxpayer with the bill.
These days, Obama is doing at least some of this travel with his own money. Most of the time, of course, he's using somebody else's money for much of the cost of this travel and lodging, but at least the gullible marks being bilked in each of these travel scams know they're being scammed, and are consenting to it by footing the bill.
If the taxpayer is off the hook for Obama's vacations, it hardly matters where he goes or what he does while he's there.
But yeah...all this expensive travel does make Obama look like a mere tool of his immeasurably wealthy patrons. But that's Obama's problem.
But he still gets secret service protection, doesn't he? Who is paying for the SS agents to stay at these posh resorts?
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