Spender in chief: On first family's lavish lifestyle, president spares no expense

With the busy lives most families lead, a vacation is a much-anticipated relief from the stresses of daily life.

It just hasn't been as easy to take one for many people in middle America these days.

When you are worried about keeping your job -- or dealing with losing one or are stressed out about being unable to find one -- the last thing you are planning is your next foray to Disney World.

But not so for the commander in chief.

Faced with a sequester and continuing budget concerns, President Barack Obama found good reason to cancel tours of the White House over spring break because of the extra costs assessed to the Secret Service, but had no concern about scheduling a golf outing -- and several other excursions.

Now this is not the first time that the president's vacation schedule has come under fire. There are many who raised their eyebrows over his Christmas trip to Hawaii and other forays into the world at a time when budgets are tight and the citizenry is struggling to make ends meet.

And, if you go a bit further back, you will remember his "date" with his wife in New York on their anniversary. If you have been to Washington, you know there are more than a few nice places to take your wife out to dinner without dropping a small fortune on Secret Service and jet fuel.

For someone who was quick to point out fat cat lifestyles of the rich and famous -- well, at least those who are Republicans -- the Obamas are sending a message that perhaps they don't quite understand the meaning of "service."

No one expects the Obamas to live like hermits, but there does come a point when you are spending other people's money, when you have to think twice about your spending.

Bottom line is that the White House is a tough job, but it is not exactly a horrible way to spend four years. It comes with perks, connections and opportunities not afforded the general populace.

So, it is not a sacrifice to be there.

We do not owe any president's family a normal life that we pay for. If you want to be president, these are the caveats -- you give up some freedom over the time you serve. If you don't want the notoriety or the scrutiny -- or you want your children to have a normal life with trips and fun -- pay for it yourself or don't run for a second term.

The Obamas spend too much. That is just how it is.

They preach austerity to those who -- like them -- are successful. Yet, when they have a chance to set an example, they don't.

They say they are for the people and of the people, yet they behave in a manner that is closer to the lifestyles of the rich and famous than the ordinary people they claim to be.

And there is no one to point out the hypocrisy. Remember all the criticism when President George W. Bush took a trip to his ranch?

The bottom line is that a fat cat is a fat cat no matter what his or her political persuasion.

And if it meows like a cat and has a silver spoon and no sense of a budget, it is, inevitably, a fat cat.

Published in Editorials on April 1, 2013 10:34 AM