Blogs and Stories
The Obamas' New Digs
)
AP Photo
The Daily Beast has learned where the first family will stay this summer: Blue Heron Farm, a lavish $20 million-compound on Martha's Vineyard—paying market rent.
Matt Drudge may well have dreamt it last night, but it also happens to be true: Obama and family are planning to holiday at a Martha’s Vineyard property of the sort that rents for $35,000-$50,000 a week. Negotiations are being finalized for the rental of Blue Heron Farm, a 28.5-acre pile in the town of Chilmark that boasts a swimming pool, a small basketball court, and even a golf tee. There are four dwellings to choose from and more than a half dozen other structures in which to swing a cat. (Chilmark, by the way, was deemed the most expensive small town in all America by Business Week back in 2007. It has since shot up again in value by several hundred million dollars.)
The 28.5-acre pile boasts a swimming pool, a small basketball court, and even a golf tee. There are four dwellings to choose from and more than a half dozen other structures in which to swing a cat.
It’s a lavish choice of holiday home and fine fodder for those taking aim at the recession-era president. However, here are some mitigating factors worth considering. First, they’re not renting the entire farm. As reported in this morning’s Vineyard Gazette, while the details are still being hammered out, it appears that the rental agreement will be split into three leases: one to be held by the Obamas, another by the Secret Service and a third by a White House entourage.
Second, they are paying their own way—according to sources, the Obamas are treating the transaction as a standard summer rental, from payment terms right down to requesting permission to bring the family dog. In contrast, Bill Clinton, the last sitting president on the Vineyard—and a professional schnorrer—shacked up rent-free for six summers of his presidency at the palatial digs of party donors and political pals. The Clintons were put up at the compound of Democratic donor and Boston real-estate developer Richard Friedman and that of the late Robert McNamara, all without forking out a penny.
Third, the rental options for a first family seeking peace and quiet in the post 9/11 world are severely limited. The choice of Blue Heron Farm concludes a thorough, months-long investigation of possible properties by the Secret Service and senior White House aides. The advance team has looked at and rejected more than 20 rentals.
Early research centered on Oak Bluffs, the town where the Obamas have vacationed several times before and have many friends with summer homes, including Valerie Jarrett, Charles Ogletree and Obama’s recently arrested buddy Skip Gates. There are some great deals on weekly rentals to be had in central OB, as a certain sluggishness in the Vineyard housing market has begun to reveal itself. But the potential for rubbernecking traffic in the bustling downtown put those properties out of contention.
The farm is set back from the main road, out of town, and is large enough to accommodate much of the president’s crew. Blue Heron Farm is owned William and Mollie Van Devender. They paid $20.35 million for the property in 2005. The lease will be handled by Sotheby’s International Realty Trust. A partner in the real-estate company confirmed to the Gazette yesterday that it has leased the farm for a block of 60 days and that the company will sublease the property.
Incidentally, it’s unlikely that either of the property’s owners voted for their new tenant: Wife Mollie contributed to Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign. And her timber magnate husband maxed out on contributions to both Thompson and John McCain.
Sam Bungey, a staff reporter and online editor at the Vineyard Gazette, grew up in London, went to university in Dublin and co-founded Mongrel, a monthly magazine about Irish youth culture.
Stars Celebrate the Super Bowl
The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
How Rich People Smoke Pot
Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
The Right's Climate Catastrophe
Sam Bungey, a staff reporter and online editor at the Vineyard Gazette, grew up in London, went to university in Dublin and co-founded Mongrel, a monthly magazine about Irish youth culture.
A Vacation From the Public Eye
Sam Bungey, a staff reporter and online editor at the Vineyard Gazette, grew up in London, went to university in Dublin and co-founded Mongrel, a monthly magazine about Irish youth culture.
This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--Portmanteauconnie47
Read the article before posting on it. They're paying their way themselves.
devilsadvocate
They are required to, just as they are required to pay for all meals at the White House that are unrelated to state functions (i.e. private family dinners, snacks, etc.). Secret Service protection and transportation, however are always provided at taxpayer expense, because it goes with the job of being President, whether on vacation or at the White House.
gloria70
Devilsadvocate et al: you're right that they are required by law to pay for it -- if paying is happening. I like that the article points out that the Clintons, in contrast, took vacations on the dimes of donors. The Bush Family Compounds were already paid for by oil, so they were only subsidized by tax payers indirectly through the cost of the military, tax breaks to oil companies for exploration (why?!!), environment clean up, etcetera.
tommybasil
read the article:
"they are paying their own way-according to sources, the Obamas are treating the transaction as a standard summer rental, from payment terms right down to requesting permission to bring the family dog."
jdx60009
Portmanteau
Re-read the article. Is there something wrong with you?
This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--Portmanteaudevilsadvocate
Perhaps if he'd read the article carefully, he'd know the answer to his legitimate concern. The Obama's are merely doing what is required of them by law. It is not a choice though. They cannot legally have the taxpayer pay for a private family vacation.
pkali77
The point is never to make sense, they are the Taliban remember! they are here to run an insurgency, that is their way back to power. They scream about 49% rasmussen poll and yet they never talk about the 24% republican poll numbers. They lost 96 % of the black vote last time, I would argue its 92% of the hispanic vote the next time. This is down to the Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina party. American history has shown that those states have a history of silly ideas that the country has always rejected
yweston
Portmanteau
You're lying you didn't vote for Obama. You're still "pissed" off because McCain and the "Quitbull" lost.
You say Obama hasn't done one thing since he's been in office. Either you're crazy, which would explain why you voted for Alaska Ebonics speaking Palin or the other explanation for your comment is you can't read, want to see Obama fail or in the case of one example of how hard he's working (You don't want to see all Americans with Healthcare). You would rather whine and makeup stories with your Republican (comrades).
So tell the truth YOU DID NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA!!
MaliciousDisorder
Will he be taking along his racist race baiting black professor friend to protect him from the nasty white cops ? Gee, I can't find the story in the beast.
jerseycape
Portmanteau is a clown expecting us to believe he voted for Obama. He is clearly a devotee of the No Fact Zone: a devoted Republican. Liar, liar, pants on fire.
pricklypear
You on the other hand are about 10 years shy of voting rights.
el8one
Pricklypear, on the other hand, is bitter about being an illegal alien and not having the right to vote.
dantescave
the whole point of the article is that they are PAYING FOR IT THEMSELVES!
why bother to read if you can't understand what you are reading? It's in the first sentence for Pete's sake.
fk4711
I have not heard you argue against any other president before Obama that he should stay in a Holiday Inn. Why just him? Is it because they are black and Holiday Inn is as good as they should be staying? There are tons of people who make a living as public servants, are they all should just stay in the Holiday Inn? Are you working for Holiday Inn? Exam your motive first before you say anything. This site is a "No Spin Zone" so you cannot get away with trash talk or unsubstantiated verbiage.
pricklypear
"............you cannot get away with trash talk or unsubstantiated verbiage. "
Yea, rrright.
yweston
fk4711
Well said. pricklypear and Portmanteau are just angry because McCain and the "Quitbull" lost and their Messiah Reagan died years ago.
They have pathetic leaders (Palin, Sanford, Ensign, Limbaugh, Steele, Jindal) and they know it.
MyVoice
From the time they were able to read, I have always stressed to my children the importance of reading. Careful reading of the article could have prevented you from making that foolish comment. Do you want him to pay the portion of the lease that will be for the secret service and the White House entourage as well? Since you obviously have more free time than the rest of us, maybe you should investigate the 20 other places that were rejected as vacation spots by the secret service. I doubt that there is a Holiday Inn on the list, but maybe you should be blaming the secret service and not the president for the choice? Here's a better idea: Find yourself something to do that doesn't involve expressing your opinions!
yweston
Portmanteau
Believe it or not, the President does have a salary and over a million dollars in personal income he earned from his books.
Were you worried about the "taxpayer" dollars every time Bush went on vacation?
This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--Portmanteaudinobob
because that's where heads of state generally go.. perhaps they could go to the motel six off I 95..
jdx60009
Where they can welcome International heads of state. You are nothing short
of a genius. Your choice to continue to embarrass yourself. As I've read on
this site somewhere, it's too bad ignorance isn't painful.
moochiesmamma
AMEN, jdx60009
connie47
Why, because they're black?
This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--Portmanteauconnie47
Portmanteau,
(1) The Obama family has every right to spend their own money on the vacation of their choice, not yours.
(2) Your vision of their vacation is the Secret Service's worst nightmare. Or maybe you don't want them protected either.
exploora
Obama is also a best selling author and a multi millionaire.
It sounds that this place is big enough for Bo to enjoy.
yweston
Portmanteau
The "QUITBULL" lost so get over it!!!
She's on her way to make "millions" giving speeches and writing he book of "FICTION". Oops, excuse me, paying someone to write her book of "FICTION".
She quit to make money and I don't blame her. But she needs to tell the truth about it and stop whining about how people "picked on her". She's going to be an even "bigger" disappointment to you by next year. When you figure out her game
Dibs101
"Clip clop, clip clop, who's that walking over my bridge?"
"Oh hello Mr Troll! Anything relevant to say today? No? Well carry on with your petulant grumbling then."
gloria70
Right on.
AmiBlue
I've never understood why people feed them.
econobox1
Did you eat paint chips as a child?
el8one
Portmanteau,
So what you're saying is that you're against citizens using their own money to vacation where they please?
No one here really expects you to understand the principles of American democracy and free market capitalism. Here in America people have the choice to spend their money on themselves as they please.
I can understand that the lack of opportunity afforded to you in that trailer growing up has limited your exposure to the world, but if you get out more you'll learn that the Holiday Inn isn't that big fancy five star hotel you seem to think it is. It's actually a rather trashy hotel chain that could never be suitable to the president of the United States. Trust me, it just seems real fancy to you since you've never seen anything better.
This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--Portmanteaujdx60009
Portmanteau
You are not very honest. Rasmussen is an outlier in the polling world and a
favorite Rush Limbaugh go-to when he wants to substantiate some outrageous
claim. You can't convince anyone if you don't respect them beyond a sixth
grade level. Would appreciate some honesty in the future.
This user is no longer registered.
n--Y--Portmanteaujerseycape
Gore won.
spinozareader
Portmanteau
If "polls are never accurate"--why bother to cite them in your "arguments," you moron?
pricklypear
Only one poll counts.
SHut up, charles.
yweston
Rasmussen is a conservative Polling organization. Their numbers and the Gallup Poll were the two polls with the "worst" polling record for the general election. Their numbers were higher than all the other polls and they were both "way off"
538.com is the most accurate.
Your "Quitbull" lost so get over it!!
quick2no
You republicans whine all the time. Why don't you come up with a plan. Ah, never mind. As long as yall are whining, you can't be planning another comeback where you trash our country again...
yweston
Who cares, he's President until 2012. You act like he'll be out tomorrow based on the emotional ups and downs of the polls.
Guess what last week the stock market was at 8200 this week it's over 9000.
Palin's approval ratings suck and you "love her"
MaliciousDisorder
I found it. what a shocker
jdx60009
Well put it back in your cranial cavity.
joymars
You found what? Pictures? Link Please.
intelliwave
People like Portmanteau have no shame. One would think that after you posted your first unintelligent comment you would not have said anything else. Shame can be a good teacher. Please go sit in a corner and think about what you've done.
spinozareader
I'm certain that "devilsadvocate" will come to his defense.
That should make for entertaining reading.
aperturemad
Vineyar-paying market rent.
Might want to run a spell check! :)
bcaldwell
BFD so the Pres is going on vacation and paying market rent for it...sucker.
Mhussein
I don't know what he big deal is...they go there almost every year...
Vineyard during the summer...Hawaii in the winter.
Move along...
joymars
The "sociaist" accusers will be out of work.
However, his other detractors will be out in force.
sophia5
People need to give Obama a break.
He needs some quality time off with the family after spending
so much energy attempting to quadruple the
countries debt in only six months in office,
and the constant campaigning on the road as if we didn't
have an election yet, and the daily interviews, and press conferences.
When does the guy find the time to be President?
Before you humorless flaming far left wackos start foaming
at the mouth, yes, George W. Bush was an incompetent fool.
Now you can start foaming at the mouth.
el8one
Sophia5,
Just to let you know, August is a month of congressional recess and EVERY president takes their vacation at the same time the rest of congress does. So your attempt at wittiness with your "He needs some quality time off" was couched in ignorance, typical for types like yourself that cry and moan about national debt without a clue in the world that Obama had INHERITED the worst recession since the great depression and that any economist left or right can tell you that the prescription of dealing with severe recessions is GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
Fortunately, those that pursued higher education do recognize your naive ignorance on the subject.
hfb1053
Despite all the previous posts grumbling about where the Obama's will vacation, I think they deserve a nice place and they can afford it and will be paying, so, what's the beef? I just wish I could join them for brunch.
spinozareader
Sign me up!
I've been to Martha's Vineyard. I'd recommend it as a place to retreat for some R&R. And our President and his family have every right to some first-class R&R.
QueridaSara
I'm completely perplexed @ Portmanteau's silliness. The man is the President of the United States, with a family. He has a responsibility to his children to keep them safe (from whatever) and to his country to keep himself ALIVE. He is using his SALARY to pay for HIS part of the home, but his security and other essentials are paid by the taxpayers because he is their leader. If you disagree with him so far, fine, but I mean, you can't turn a country around in 6 months. He has to have a location large, safe, and free from traffic. He's setting a great example to families to spend time together, locally, in their own country.
Besides, how in the heck is the secret service going to protect him at a Holiday Inn-esque location for two months. Further, when you break down the per nightly (hotel) room rate plus taxes, plus the costs for more than two people a room, plus the fact you need one for the SMALL ARMY that follow the president, plus parking costs, and eating costs (I'm assuming this rental has kitchens) - he may not necessarily be saving THAT much more going to a hotel.
Enjoy your hate-orade, Portmanteau.
lsquare
As noted in the article, the safety of our President, especially since he is the first POTUS of color, trying to bring forth so much much needed change, and is therefore hated by the lunatic fringe, I am thankful the President will be in the relative safety of an island while he's on vacation.
marcyhdg
here's a question that i want to put out: it is my understanding that pollsters can only call land lines (def: no cell phones) during daylight hours and only residences. If this is true, how can any of these polls be accurate?
So here are my questions:
1. Have you ever been called by a pollster since the election?
2. Do you know anyone who has? anyone?
As part of my work, I speak with people from all over the US and have yet to find one who was polled- after 11.4.
Youwot
yeah
I was polled after 11.4 - but I got so bored with all of the questions that half way I started giving them phoney answers.
cregis
How many trips to Crawford did the taxpayers pay for? I used to wonder if we were paying the secret service agents to cut brush. I believe the Bushies said they were volunteers. The taxpayers paid for W to land on that ship with "Mission Accomplished" banner. I hate that the taxpayers have to pay anything for pols vacations. I hate that the taxpayers have to pay for Cheney's extended secret service protection. Didn't he make enought war profits to pay for his own guards? Hopefully the Obamas are paying their part.
Barbara416
Portmanteau, I question whether you comprehend the simple concept of what you read in the above article. Obviously when you voted the Bush/Cheney ticket you didn't get that either.
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.