Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Just how much did Obama's golf trip cost US?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2280855/Obama-pictured-leaving-1m-golfing-weekend-Tiger-Woods-imposed-controversial-photo-black-out.html

President finally shows his face after $1m golfing weekend with Tiger Woods that White House didn't want world to see

  • Obama played at exclusive Florida course on Sunday with Tiger Woods
  • President refused to say if he had been beaten by the champion golfer
  • Cost of Air Force One trips to and from Florida, along with hotel rooms, greens fees and exclusive golf lessons comes to $989,207
  • Tried to mend fraught relationship with traveling press corps by 'hanging out' with them for 10 minutes on the flight back
By Meghan Keneally and Louise Boyle
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Pictures finally appeared of President Obama on Monday evening as he headed home to Washington after a relaxing golf weekend which was kept heavily under wraps.
The President was on the course on Monday for the third and final day of a Florida vacation with departing US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, the president's Chicago pal Eric Whitaker and White House aide Marvin Nicholson.
The President had enjoyed a round of golf with Tiger Woods on Sunday - a fact that only emerged by chance after media were banned from attending the event. The traveling pool of journalists who follow the President's every move were reportedly furious after being shut out of his round of golf and not being allowed on to the club grounds.Back in the swing of things: President Obama waves in the doorway of Air Force One as he departs from Palm Beach International Airport on Monday
Back in the swing of things: President Obama waves in the doorway of Air Force One as he departs from Palm Beach International Airport on Monday
Back to business: Obama jogs up the stairs of Air Force One upon his departure from Florida heading for D.C.
Extra baggage: A White House aide carries the golf bag of Eric Whitaker, Obama's long-time friend, aboard the plane after their boys' weekend at a luxury golf resort
Back to business: Obama jogs up the stairs of Air Force One upon his departure from Florida heading for D.C. (left) as an aide carries on the golf back of Obama's friend Eric Whitaker

Bags of fun: An aide heaves several golf bags up the stairs of Air Force One after weekend on the course with friends
Bags of fun: An aide heaves several golf bags up the stairs of Air Force One after weekend on the course with friends

It has long been a White House tradition that pool reporters cover the President's rounds of golf and even have the opportunity for a few questions on the course.
The President waved as he jogged up the steps of Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport on Monday evening while a White House aide heaved golf clubs and large bags on board.
When he landed back in Washington and walked across the White House lawn, several frustrated reporters collectively shouted to the President to ask if he had beaten Tiger Woods.
Despite appearing to have heard the question, the Daily Caller reported, Obama did not answer and just smiled.
Home again: President Barack Obama waves to members of the media as walks across the South Lawn of the White House following his arrival on Marine One helicopter on Monday night
Home again: President Barack Obama waves to members of the media as walks across the South Lawn of the White House following his arrival on Marine One helicopter on Monday night
The President was relaxing on a trip to the Floridian, an exclusive club along Florida's Treasure Coast. Obama arrived in Florida late on Friday and returned to Washington on Monday night
The club's owner is Jim Crane, a Houston businessman who also owns baseball's Houston Astros. Crane also has given money to Obama's political campaigns.
The White House had barred media coverage of the president's golf holiday but released the names of his partners.
The Huffington Post reports that the President tried to make amends with the traveling press by spending a quick 10 to 15 minutes with them in the back of Air Force One as they headed back to D.C.

Proving that he was not dropping the secrecy act anytime soon, all of the reporters involved had to agree that the conversation was off the record, meaning that they could not officially report anything that he said and had to keep their reflections of the conversation in extremely vague terms.

'He didn't come back because he had to tell us something. He came back to hang out,' reporter Scott Wilson from The Washington Post, who was serving as the pool reporter on Monday.
The weekend is the latest in a string of incidents that have prompted press backlash against the self-titled 'transparent' President, with Politico reporting today that withholding access is just one of the ways in which his administration works to avoid the tough questions and promote their brand.
The outrage over the lack of transparency comes as much of the bill for the pricey trip will be paid for by tax payers, yet President Obama did not feel it appropriate to even release one photo of his time out on the course.
The President played with the notorious philanderer on Sunday after getting a private lesson from Woods' former coach the day before.

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