Let us not forget how much the media enjoyed making fun of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney for comments he made about traveling with his dog on the roof of his car. The story dragged on for weeks as pundits debated the ethical implications of such a heinous practice. Sigh…
Apparently the American media couldn’t care less, however, that President Obama chose to fly his Portuguese Water Dog, Bo, to Martha’s Vineyard on a MV-22 Osprey. The helicopter/airplane hybrid costs a cool $11,000/hour to operate. It should be noted this is the first time a MV-22 Osprey has been used for a presidential vacation.
While the story is absent from any U.S. media outlet, the U.K. press has the story well covered. According The Telegraph’s Nick Allen:
Rooms have to be found for dozens of Secret Service agents, someone has to carry a selection of presidential basketballs, and of course the family dog needs his own state-of-the-art aircraft.
Arriving in the idyllic coastal retreat of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, Mr Obama left behind him in Washington DC high profile debates over the budget, government surveillance and his health care reforms. Instead, he will spend the next eight days playing golf, going to the beach, and buying books from the Bunch of Grapes bookstore.
In the air he swapped his suit and tie for khakis and a blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves, while Mrs. Obama wore a yellow-and-white summer dress.
Bo, the president's Portuguese Water Dog, arrived separately on one of two MV-22 Ospreys, a hybrid aircraft which takes off like a helicopter but flies like a plane.
It was the first time the Ospreys have been taken on holiday by a US president.
“To take a military jet in a time when people can't make ends meet and he's going to his $7 million mansion,” Glenn said disgusted. “He has flown the First Dog in a private jet so the First Dog can join them because apparently, you know, the president's wife doesn't have a handbag that will fit the dog. But maybe she's got one of her very fancy designers working on that and it's just not finished.”