First Family Time: How The Obamas Spent Their Summer (PHOTOS)

The Obama family got plenty of quality time together this summer. They traveled from Yellowstone and Martha's Vineyard to Paris and Moscow. They held a luau, celebrated the Fourth of July, listened to jazz and country music, and even did their share of community service. There was also some eating involved, including ice cream, seafood, and maybe some candy. Still waiting for your "Wish You Were Here!" postcard? Peruse our Obama summer photo album in the meantime:

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June 5, 2009

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Michelle Obama visits the Eiffel tower with Sasha and Malia in Paris. (MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images)

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Comments

[marysandra]

This topic is so old, but maybe it will never go away..Firstly, I do not think Pres. Obama is unethical, or dishonest, but I sometimes think he or maybe it's really his wife, is a little tone deaf.. Lots of people are..I work for a non profit by choice, but still friends will call and say, "why don't you take up golf?" for example..hmm..golf balls or meat balls..let me think..
But the President was voted in by a huge number of whites,granted it may have been a bit uncomfortable for some, given our national and disgraceful history of racial issues, but they did it with great expectations..Please stop thinking white is another word for bigot..That is just plain unfair, and may I say a bit racist? I'm sure many "whites" have taught and doctored both you and your children. Just as many of them died and suffered and marched in the cause of Civil Rights. Criticizing our politicians, and expecting a lot from them has gone on for years, maybe you just didn't notice or care before, because it wasn't one of your own..
Yes being the Pres. has perks, but in these terrible times ANY pres. would be wise to keep his use of perks toned down a bit...

[Gretel1or2]

I'm not sure what you mean by "tone deaf" You need to explain that. The Obama's are not using perks any more than anyone else...the media just happens to be more focused on them and what they are doing and where they are going. FDR did not "tone down" his use of perks during the great depression, nor did GWB during the beginning of this current recession.

No one is saying that it's always racism that drives the criticism of our President, but what leads some people to suspect racism is the apparent double standard that exists, where people seem to be critical, if not hostile that the current president is doing certain things with his family, when they were oblvious to the same things that previous presidents were doing.

[ElsaIndy]

It works both ways. Those who criticize the president and MO for legitimate reasons are smeared as racists.

Common sense must prevail. If I dislike MO's style of dress because I feel it is inappropriate it does not automatically follow that I love Mrs.Palin.

If I criticize Obama for what I see as his lack of leadership it does not follow that I voted for W.

The problem is that politics are ugly and has always been ugly. The Obamas are not treated any worse than the Clintons. Hillary was castigated about her hair, her clothing her meddling and even accused of murdering her friend and lawyer!

Obama's suppporters need to stop worrying about criticism so much. Obama is in the big leagues where he has always wanted to be, and he will have to deal with criticism and then analysis of his presidential leadership for the rest of his life.

[DickyTrik]

Thanks for the pictures, it's good to see them push the "RESET" button! It's also great that they have the mother-in-law living in the White House, family is SO important.

[LoveGuv]

Obama travels with his family and goes on vacation . . . like every president has since George Washington. Yet, this drives folks like Amazon over the edge! Now, she's even saying it's grounds for impeachment. Man, that's a whole 'nother kind of nutbag right there!

I LOVE IT!!

I hope the president's next vacation is to the moon and he takes every relative and in-law he has with him! That'll really make the h@ters fume!!

[PoliticalAmazon]

It's not just in the Obamas' lavish, taxpayer-funded trips and partying that POTUS shows lack of consideration for Americans suffering because of our economy. It's also in his actions as president.

While no one expected miracles in the first year, as president he has shown that his concern for Americans and our future are secondary to his concerns for corporations and their leadership:

***He didn't fight for making illegal any financial bailout funds to be paid to CEOs and other executives, many of whom were the reason the stock market failed. Subsequently we found that CEOs and other executives plundered the funds meant to stabilize financial institutions.

***He didn't specify that no bailout or economic stimulus funds could be used to pay foreign workers, either in America or abroad, nor could it pay for any corporation services done in a country other than America.

***He didn't specify that no bailout funds or economic funds would be paid to any corporation with "offshore banking" schemes to avoid paying taxes.

***He didn't specify that the cars qualifying for purchase in the "cash-for-clunkers" program must be American, made in America, by Americans.

That's exactly why Obama's approval ratings have plummeted with whites, especially white women and white Democrats. He's putting what's best for the corporations before what he not only promised in his campaign but what is best for Americans.

Without American jobs being created in America and STAYING in America, we'll continue our slide to third-world-country status.

[LoveGuv]

Obama's approval rating with Democrats in the latest CNN poll was 90%. But keep telling yourself that.

Obama is the president. He's going to roll like presidents roll, that includes taking AF1 whenever and wherever he gets good and ready! LOL!

[PoliticalAmazon]

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-politics7-2009sep07,0,7305762.story

Obama is fast losing white voters' support

His approval ratings with the crucial bloc have plunged since April. Strategists say the healthcare debate is largely to blame, but that's not the only reason.

By Peter Wallsten

September 7, 2009

Reporting from Washington

New surveys show steep declines in Obama's approval ratings among whites -- including Democrats and independents -- who were crucial elements of the diverse coalition that helped elect the country's first black president.

Among white Democrats, Obama’s job approval rating has dropped 11 points since his 100-days mark in April, according to surveys by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. It has dropped by 9 points among white independents and whites over 50, and by 12 points among white women -- all groups that will be targeted by both parties in next year's midterm elections.

"While Obama has a lock on African Americans, his support among white voters seems to be almost in a free fall," said veteran Republican pollster Neil Newhouse.....

[Barbara Schuckers]

I'm not sure about all the Obamas, but the President sure didn"t spend the summer working on the economy !!!!!!!!! What's the unemployment rate ? Still working on the bill, that isn't written, that the people do not want. Way to spend the last 8 months. Can't wait to see the next 8 months.

[PoliticalAmazon]

You know, Barbara, the way he's sold common Americans down the river in order to benefit corporate America, we may look back on this and say, "Thank GOD Obama was too busy playing rock star to work on the economy!"

At this point I wish he'd never started working on health-care reform, either. He's done nothing but ensure that big Pharma and insurance corporations continue to make unopposed profts, and that Americans continue to pay the highest $$$ for the worst health care in any developed country in the world.

He's indicated he will accept their demands for NO negotiations over drug prices, and NO public option, when during his campaign he said he was in favor of a single-payer health-care system.

He's turning out to be a bigger corporate toady than even Bus Jr was--and that is quite an achievement.

[LoveGuv]

Obama is president and that's how he rolls! It's wonderful!

[LoveGuv]

June 2008, Bush went to France for the 60th Anniversary of the Marshall Plan. Laura came later on a separate plane. No one complained about "taxpayer money."

June 2009, Obama went to the Middle East to meet with foreign leaders. He then traveled to France for the D-Day celebration. Michelle traveled on a separate plane with other WWII dignitaries including Bob Dole, Gen Shenseki, Uncle Charlie. H@ters whining about the "taxpayer money."

[PoliticalAmazon]

Bush Jr may have been an intellectual dwarf, but he was considerate enough to not take his family and their taggers-on on lavish jet-setter trips after the reality of our economic situation was public.

It is dishonest to try to compare the public reaction to travel between Bush Jr BEFORE the economy nearly failed and Obama AFTER it nearly failed and in a time when we have the greatest unemployment since the Great Depression.

The Obamas have acted more like wannabe rock-stars than the president and first family who is concerned about what Americans are suffering. Their selfishness and inconsideration is indicative of a lack of class and empathy that Americans need in a president and first family.

Their attitude is "We got ours, who cares about you!!" It is insulting to Americans who are suffering, and embarssing to have such a selfish and clueless group in the WH.

[LoveGuv]

Obama is the president. He's going to roll like the president. So you'll have plenty to be upset about for the next 7 years . . . and you won't be able to do a thing about it!

[pepper47]

Many of the previos posts are truly unbeleivable ! The Obama first family is 100% red, white, and blue
American. They are what every American family wants to be. Any criticism of the dog, Grandma, the luau, a family vacation, can only be a result of deep emotional resentments.

Many rightious people have been persacuted by fundamental churches before. Because of their hard hearts, and hatred, God gives them over to their own devices. Which is why we see so many of the
"deeds of the flesh" coming out. They are ... enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions.

[PoliticalAmazon]

GIve it up.

The Obamasare as bad as the Palins were when Sarah Palin was named the GOP VP candidate.

Livin' large on other people's money...greedily grabbing as much as they could no matter how much it badly impacted McCain's campaign and his chances as president.

Will that be the Obamas' legacy? Copying the Palins?

[LoveGuv]

Obama is the president. He can take AF1 out whenever he wants wherever he wants and he can take anybody he wants with him.

That's how he rolls!! I LOVE IT!!

[youvegot2bkidding]

The Palins? You really had to reach for that one. Utterly pathetic...

YOU are the one who needs to give it up. Your numerous rants reveal one thing--that you are incredibly jealous and resentful of what the Obamas have, and that they are evil for "lording" it over you.

I recall you were insane enough to reveal that you can't stand that they can afford housekeeping and be able to move in their in-laws. Pretend all you want that they were welfare cases pre-presidency--it's not like Michelle was making money, that Barack has made millions off his books, & that he pulls down a $400K salary. They were just penniless grifters, right?

You feel they must hide away in the WH and exist on gruel and water so that you won't feel so bad about your pathetic lot in life. NOT. You can't dictate to them or control what they do (ESPECIALLY the First Lady), and it's absolutely killing you. If only...

They'll continue to live as they should, and you will hopefully stroke out and thus spare the sane people from your psychotic, lying rants.

[youvegot2bkidding]

The Palins? You really had to reach for that one...

YOU are the one who needs to give it up. Your numerous rants reveal one thing--that you are incredibly jealous and resentful of what the Obamas have, and feel that they are evil for "lording" it over you.

I recall you were insane enough to reveal that you can't stand that they can afford housekeeping and be able to move in their in-laws. Pretend all you want that they were welfare cases pre-presid­ency--it's not like Michelle was making money, that Barack has made millions off his books, & that he pulls down a $400K salary. They're just penniless grifters, right?

You feel they must hide away in the WH and exist on gruel and water so that you won't feel so bad about your pathetic lot in life. NOT. You can't dictate to them or control what they do (ESPECIALLY the First Lady), and it's absolutely killing you.

They'll continue to live as they should, and you will hopefully stroke out and thus spare the sane people from your psychotic, lying rants.

[fauxmccoy]

the beauty of this family never ceases to bring tears to my eyes. bless you all, first family!

[myjs]

So where was the t r o l l s criticism of Laura Bush taking trips to go shopping and to have lunch
In Spring of 2002 -
Just before leaving for Europe, Mrs. Bush traveled up to New Haven, Conn., to help Barbara move out of her dorm room. Mother and daughter then spent a weekend in New York City, shopping and walking unnoticed through Central Park.
This wasn't the only time

[LoveGuv]

Laura and her girlfriends visited the National Parks for vacation (without the president) twice. We paid.

Laura went to Texas regularly via private plane (without the president) and we paid.

Hillary traveled to foreign countries on her own plane with her mother and her daughter. We paid.

Hillary & Chelsea in Israel http://www.dailypress.com/ny-hillary-overtheyears-pg,0,2359445.photogallery?index=ny- 0jue88as20080109124414

Hillary & Chelsea in Bosnia http://www.oliverwillis.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/clintonkosovocherylcrow.jpg

Hillary & Chelsea in Eritrea http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/10/25/amd_hil4.jpg

Other first ladies traveled all around the world by private plane at taxpayer expense . . . without the president. Nobody complained about the cost.

The Obamas travel WITH the president when he's on business and people whine.

[fauxmccoy]

pathetic, isn't it? makes me ashamed to share a country with some.

[Kuuba]

Great links, thank you.

[PoliticalAmazon]

There's a big difference here...our economy is in shreds and Americans are suffering.

It take a bunch of pretty selfish classless trash to squander taxpayer money at a time when we have the highest unemployment since the Great Depression.

Their lack of consideration for suffering Americans is really astounding.

[hellostats]

Adorable.

[story1]

President Obama, please listen to this plea:
In the last 3 years, 12 million dollars spent by the Bureau of Land Management to hire private contractors to remove American wild horses from our beautiful land. The contractor was indicted by a federal grand jury and plead guilty, yet he is hired again and again to brutally remove the horses from our land.
8 million head of cattle, less than 38,000 wild horses. Who is damaging our environment?
What is happening with taxpayer's money? Please go to: http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/index.php/component/content/article/136-tune-in-to-the-today-show-sept-4-2009
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCloudFoundation
As the next season of Cloud is scheduled for air on PBS, entire herds are round up, put up for sale, and end up as pet food or sold abroad for meat.

[carmen63]

This is something worth reading and fighting for but none of the MO's belts' fans will ever say anything about it. If BO & MO were Asian-Americans there wouldn't be so much fuss about any comment here trying to question why some things are going on in the White House. This is America, right?, the land of free speech?? Hello?

The Obamas can do no wrong and there is so much hate coming from those who defend them. The thing is that it appears that they can do no wrong because they are black which is hypocritical because Obama would have not been in the WH only with the vote of blacks. So give the white and non-black population in the U.S.A. a break.

[HypocriticalSpamazon]

I don't defend the Obamas because they don't need defending. He's the president. Being able to take AF1 wherever he wants, whenever he wants and bring whoever he wants comes with the job.

Don't like it? Get Congress to pass a law to change the practice. Until then, that's how he rolls!

[PoliticalAmazon]

The old saying goes, "You only get one chance to make a first impression," and the Obamas, including President Obama, have blown it.

He is destroying his own legacy, and making himself a one-term president....if he doesn't get impeached before then.

In today's LATimes, working off a Pew poll, an article stated that Obama's approval ratings from whites have plummetted, especially from white women and white Democrats.

His A-A approval ratings remain high.

Obama won't get reelected with just the A-A vote...that's IF he can even manage to retain that demographic group as supporters.

[hapiday]

Not many years ago my great grandmother use to work for a white family. She washed clothes, cooked, cleaned and took care of their unruly children. If my Great grand made a causal statement about her family (I'll call her ) the "Mrs" would brush it off as nonsense. One day my Great grand mother received a new coat from my Great grandfather for her birthday. My great grand wore it to work and the "Mrs." went cra zy. She stated she was upset because she was paying my Great grand too much money if she could afford a new coat. She then threatened to lower her pay, she didn't. After that experience my Great grandmother never wore anything new to the place she worked. When my great grandparents purchased their first car and it was a used car. They couldn't pull up in front of the "Mrs" house. They had to park around the corner from the house so my Great grandmother could walk the block up to the house.

This hysteria over the Obamas is the same old stuff that happened in the 1950's with my Great grand I hope the Obamas enjoy the four years they will have in the White house. They are doing no more than any other family that lived in the White house. But, with "some" white people anything a black person has is too much.

[LoveGuv]

You're right about that! Even the white "liberals" are fuming simply because Obama has the exact same perks as every other president. They claim it's because we're on hard times. That's a lie. It's because the black man is living too high on the hog!

In 2008, security budget for Bush was $700 million! That's one year's security for the president! THAT is the kind of budget that's set aside for the president. So the notion that Obama is costing us money is absurd.

Living expenses, travel and security are all part of the WH budget. If Obama never leaves the WH, taxpayers won't get a dime back. It costs us the same whether Obama stays locked up in the WH 24/7 or not.

[janehenry]

Please explain what "white" liberals you are referring to. Also give links to prove that "white" liberals are complaining over the President being treated with the respect he deserves. Apparently you do not go to many of the threads on this site.

[7granny]

So when Obama goes somewhere on AF One & Michelle & the girls go to the same place on a different AF plane it is not costing us any extra money??? What section of Mars did you come from? Why do you always have to bring up Bush to offset any negative remarks about Obama? Does Obama's action not stand on their own merit?

[Pema]

why would we fume? he is half anglo half black. how do you think his anglo family feels? they were the ones that raised him. he is bi racial . no race can "claim" him he is his own person. you always are on a hair trigger over race. anger is no good. it kills your soul and gives ya wrinkles.

[Pema]

Its heartbreaing to hear about your grandparents. i wish they could have seen barac become president. but i have to put this in, my family was run out of town. actually they escaped, and not because they were black, but christians. it was convert or die. so they fled. after 9/11 i was told i should be put in an interment camp with my whole family, cracks about my mother and a camel. you have no idea the verbal abuse that came my way. to the point i was concerned for my saftey. but today is today. your dividing races, calling some "white" people. let me tell you the person who told me my family should be impirsioned in an internment camp inc me who was born here and half anglo was a black man. i was shocked i thought if anyone i worked would understand it would be him but not to be. he was sullen and petty towards me and did pretty much everything to make me uncomfortable. and the bosses didnt really care i was in everyones mind connected to the terrorists in some way i was an A-RAB. in the politcal chatroom i used to go into, the worst offender of racial remarks was black . we cant be afro americans or arab americans we have to be americans. we have to let it all go, forgive and not hold onto the anger. we are all one people. on one big blue marble.

[shorelive]

Thanks for explaining your supposed justification for harboring resentment and hatred toward all people of color because of what just one did to you. You're pathetic, really.

[PoliticalAmazon]

That is an inflammatory and completely dishonest comparison.

The more desperate OBamaBots here continue to try to make this into a race issue, which makes them r@cists.

Any president who flew hither and yon, dragging his family, relatives and taggers-on, all on the taxpayer dime, when there are so many problems facing our country, our economy is in shambles, the new president had just basically started another middle-eastern war, and our country is suffering the highest unemployment since the Great Depression, would be loudly criticized.

Stop trying to make this into an echo of the filth that occurred in the past. To use a term my mother used, the Obamas are "lording it over" suffering Americans, and they are getting the criticism they deserve and have earned.

[LoveGuv]

Obama is the president. He has the same perks every president before him had and he's gonna use them, regardless of your emotional breakdown about it.

Half the fun of watching the president and first family on the world stage is seeing how it drives you to drink!

[Pema]

hi policticalamazon..apparently the two have hogged up all the relpy space in order to rant. i had to sneak over to this post to connect to you.
pema is my first name of my "dharma" or buddhist name given to me by my lama when i converted..pema is not an uncommon name to tibetan buddhist practioners of the sect to which i belong, it means lotus. my real name is sanskrit so i am a total patchwork. american-syrian buddhist...lol. thank you for your awareness of what has and is still happening in tibet, there is no relief, the chinese just shut down any info coming from there. what they have done to the tibetan people is horrible.
well ill leave to to fend off the sycophants ;)
nice to have connected with you....
bows

[7granny]

I just do not understand what President Obama needed a vacation from. Maybe that Valentines Day date night in Chicago, or maybe the basketball game he played before hopping on AF One to go back to DC or it could have been the date night in New York, maybe the trip to visit the pyramids or taking in the sights of Paris. Every time George Bush went to his ranch in TX the media was screaming their heads off about why wasn't he in DC taking care of business. Why did Mrs. Obama & the daughters have to take a separate plane to France instead of the whole family going on AF One? Why did Mrs. Obama have to take a separate plane back to the states when she went to Europe with the Prez. & then he went on to a Middle East tour? Oh, I know why he needed a vacation, it wore him out bowing to the Saudi king. These people are using our tax dollars to travel the world & the media goes gaga over their vacation. Obama spends less time in the WH than any President I can remember. When does he get any work done? Nero is playing the fiddle while Rome burns & all his puppets dance blindly.

[janehenry]

If your comments are an indication of your loving generous nature I pity your grandchildren.

Please provide proof that you equally criticized the previous administration for him many vacations. If unable to then you need to hush as your dark side is showing.

[7granny]

janehenry, why are my comments a reason to pity my grandchildren. Just because I asked why the man sitting in the WH spends so much time & tax payer money on a constant vacation? What I pity is what this man's policies is doing to the futures of my grandchildren.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Jane, IMO you go to far on this one.

7g is wrong in saying that the media screamed about Bush Jr on his vacations--the fact is, they MSM was woefully compliant to the Bush Jr demands about what was published about him. It wasn't until the end of his presidency that they decided it was safe enough to start printing the truth.

The MSM has been very compliant with Obama, too.

But the rest of it--I agree with the overall tone and context.

And I'll add that the Obamas must think we are complete idiots if they think we are fooled for one minute in their "We're visiting national parks to promote them to Americans!" being anything other than an excuse for American taxpayers, yet again, to pay for another lavish jet-setting vacation for the Obamas, their relatives, and their groupies.

[bluesman49]

you obviously don't recognize a hard worker when you see one

[7granny]

bluesman49, let me tell you about a hard worker. My husband is 71 years old. When he was young boy he helped his family by picking cotton, grapes & what ever was growing in the fields at that season. When he was 12 years old he got a job delivering newspapers before going to school. This helped his family plus bought him school clothes. When he was 17 he joined the Army & spent 4 years in Europe. After being reclassified as reservist he work in timber in OR, a prison guard in KY & construction worker. He was recalled into service during the Bay of Pigs. After he was finally discharged he worked in a concrete company, iron mill, built airplanes & drove an 18 wheeler over the road. He did whatever he had to do to make an honest living to take care of his family. He tried to retire but had to go back to work driving a truck due to the increase in cost of living. His skin was the wrong color for affirmative action. In 1983 he was laid off from aircraft plant so that a black man with 10 years less experience could have his job. He never had the opportunity to go to big fancy colleges or sit behind a desk & make fancy speeches. So don't you dare compare what Obama does to what my husband who actually does work hard. As far as a vacation is concerned, what is that???

[jean22]

She recognizes it. She just thinks a hard worker with Black skin should be a slave not the POTUS.

[Mygirl]

Number 17 is my favorite photo.

[Sadie1976]

All this resentment any time the Obama's take a trip or spend some family time...such angry emotions from the folks who were supposed to be all about "family values"! It obviously just depends on WHO the family IS!