How does Obama get away with spending $1.4 billion of our tax money on himself and his family in 2012?

"How does Obama get away with spending $1.4 billion of our tax money on himself and his family in 2012?"

In a way, the obamas remind me of many welfare queens when it comes to their wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on themselves. Putting obama in the white house is a little taste of what its like to give the keys to the federal treasury to those with a welfare entitlement mentality.

Crocoduck writes: " The US has a population of 300 million, so if your claim without a source is correct, the cost of all this comes to about $4 per US citizen. Not that much in taxes."

Actually, only half the population pays taxes, so it comes to $8 per taxpayer.

Well, what are the alternatives?

He could fly commercial, and Air Force One could fly alongside with the remote command center and the Secret Service, and the telecommunications, and the support staff. Because all of those things must be where the President is, in the event of a nuclear exchange.

But that would cost more. The President is a small amount of mass, compared to a 747.

He could not travel, but then the costs at the White House and Camp David would go up to fill in the gap.

We could ask the rest of the world to throw away nukes, so the President need not have Air Force one always nearby, but that's unlikely to be too successful.

I guess I'm stuck.

He gets away with it, because we the American people are not DOING anything about it. He isn't the only one take a look at Congress, The Senate ( Republican or Democrat) any politician in office today. I think that if the budget were to have to be made public, we would all be amazed at where our money is being spent and how frivolously it is being spent by BOTH parties. The president should be leading the nation and should be making the cuts on himself and his family without someone to tell him to. After all he is supposed to be the Commander and Chief, right? But if our leaders are too self indulgent to limit themselves then first they should not be leading and Second the American people should unite and voice our displeasure. We started out a group that left another country because of exactly what is now happening here!! So looks like it is up to us again. No one is going to take care of us, we have to take care of ourselves. Do you think when our system collapses, will Mexico, any Middle East countries, Brazil, any of the dozens of countries to which our money is currently flowing, will come to our rescue? Really? I'll bet the well will be dry and we will be weak, broken, defenseless and very vulnerable to those same countries to do what they wish. And who will suffer, not those fat cat politicians, or lobbyist whose pockets are lined and have their money safely overseas. So What are we going to do to take our country back before its too late. Appeal to the ones in office in mass numbers and if it falls on deaf ears, then we will have to do more than appeal. The government has a good thing going (for them , anyway) I don't see them changing it willingly!

Barack and Michelle Obama are the jet set First Family.

I believe they have used Air Force One and the associated support organizations more than any other First Family in our history.

Remember when Michelle took something like eight entire lavish vacations back to back over one summer?

Then the extravagant amount of travel during the famous Global Warming summit debacle, when they both flew back and forth between the USA and Europe several times in one week, with each of them taking separate planes with the requisite staff and support services. Mind boggling.

For persons with supposedly humble beginnings in life, the Obamas have the most extravagant habits I've ever seen.

Assuming this is even valid, which is questionable considering you didn't post a source, that figure for "staffing" includes the people who actually run the various branches of government. It's not as if Obama is actually spending all that money on himself or his own personal luxury.

The US has a population of 300 million, so if your claim without a source is correct, the cost of all this comes to about $4 per US citizen. Not that much in taxes. There are biggest issues to be concerned with. This is just a stupid talking point.

IF it were a Republican president, no one would be talking.

Bush White House 2008: $1.6 billion... which btw... adjusted for inflation comes to 1.7 billion in 2012 dollars.

Given that the US president is arguably the most powerful man in the world - it costs allot of money to make he and his staff can travel securely... that goes for any president.

Reality: the U.S. Gave away over $200 BILLION in meals help final yr. Fact: There are over 10 million homeless guys and ladies correct here in the U.S.. Where would YOU instead see US tax greenbacks spent?

Let's face it. A lot of that has to do with the extra security he needs because....(takes a deep breath) he's black. There, I said it. Barack Obama is BLACK (SURPRISE!!!); there are a lot of people who can't tolerate people of color... I mean think about the birther movement and the tea party. There have been so many people who threatened his life on facebook/twitter... Do you remember the guy who was caught and arrested with the sniper rifle near the white house?? I do..

His middle name being Hussein doesn't help...this nation is still Islamophobic and even though he's Christian, the name "hussein" doesn't sit well with a lot of people... Bush didn't face the same issues...he was a rich old man...just like every other president pretty much...

A ME generation has vote for a ME narcissist president. Leaders in democracies reflect the majority of people in them.

That is ridiculous. Obama is no worse than any other president but he's certainly no better.