There's absolutely no way that the Obama date night cost a mere $70,000.
The romantic jaunt is estimated to have cost the taxpayer more than £45,000 in transport and security costs - because the date was in New York.The President used three planes, one to carry the couple and two to ferry aides and reporters all the way from Washington.
The cost of each flight was thought to be nearly £15,000.
The bill was pushed even higher with the use of two helicopters, one to take the Obamas to catch their plane in Washington and another to zip the party into Manhattan from JFK airport.
Police also shut down New York streets for the motorcade to pass through so they could get to their date on time.
The £45,000/$70,000 number doesn't include the standard expenses the President incurs every time he leaves the White House: additional Secret Service agents, the motorcade itself (plus getting it to NYC), additional communication needs, and lots more.
The $70,000 must just be above and beyond what it would have cost him to go see a show in Washington, DC. In actuality, it costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars every time the President goes out rather than staying at the White House. There's no doubt that some excursions are necessary for the good of the country, but if Obama were really serious about shared sacrifice he would stay home with a DVD instead of going out for non-business reasons.
(HT: Gateway Pundit.)
