DO WE HAVE ROYALTY? - AT 5:08 P.M. ET:  Look, I don't want to be small time about this.  The president and his family are entitled to some time off, and we do understand that there will be some bills charged to us during vacations and travel.  But I do think the Obamas may be abusing the privilege.  Several weeks ago the president took Michelle on a date to New York...because he'd promised to.  There were plenty of places to go in Washington, but it had to be New York.  Cost to taxpayers:  $26,000 for the night.

Now we find that Michelle Obama and the two delightful daughters did not accompany Mr. Obama on his recent trip to the Mideast and Europe, but traveled separately.  Traditionally, when the president travels and the first lady is to be with him, the first lady travels on Air Force One, with the president.

So Michelle and the kids went to Europe, then stayed on after the president went back to Washington.  Michelle traveled around Paris, and is now seeing London.  The New York Daily News reports:

An aide to the First Lady called the travel in London "purely vacation" and told the Daily News that the Obamas are "paying for that themselves."

It was unclear Monday exactly what portion of the entire trip would be paid for by the Obama family. No price tag was available, either.

"The First Lady's office is following all the relevant rules and regulations regarding the reimbursement for travel expenses, as previous administrations have done," the aide said. "It's a military flight."

COMMENT:   What does, "It's a military flight" mean?  Does that mean the Air Force considers this a training mission for the crew of the big Boeing that is taking the first lady around?  What about the expenses for the plane?  And what about all the security, and the hotel and travel expenses for the Secret Service detail?

I think, in the midst of this deep recession, that we're entitled to an accounting.  Again, not to be small, but the White House is supposed to set an example.  It has provided no figures.  This is not the transparency we were promised.

June 9, 2009