Asked about corporate spending and the federal bailout, the president said: "You can't get corporate jets, you can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer's dime."

Later, the White House tried to clarify the statement, saying the president encouraged travel, except for companies accepting government bailout money.

Northern Trust Corp. became an example of excess when it hosted clients and employees at a golf tournament at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades in February after accepting $1.6 billion in taxpayer assistance. Afterward, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced legislation barring such expenditures for companies receiving taxpayer dollars.

Marcia Wienert, the governor's tourism liaison, said Hawaii's tourism industry has been hurt by companies that have not accepted government money but canceled trips for fear of a negative perception.

"Those are the residual effects that were unintended but are having huge impacts on our economy," she said.

Hawaii, suffering tourism drop, appeals to President Obama - Los Angeles Times 

Apparently Obama is pissing off his native people in Hawaii, and honestly there has been a lot of double talk from the White House regarding the actions of Obama. I think its clear to see that when the native state of Obama starts asking for help because of things Obama said there is a problem. Another problem is that he took back what he said and the house make the claim that "Now" people should keep spending.


White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama was not discouraging travel when he said last month that businesses receiving federal bailout money should not be taking junkets.

The president believes its important to have a strong tourism industry and that its important that, as the president said earlier... that we shouldn't retrench, Gibbs said.
He would encourage people to travel.

Top Stories & Trends - White House Says President Encourages Business Travel

We should not let Obama's lack of experence and ignorance bring down our moral. We can fix all of this in just three and a half short years.


-- Edited by SELLC on Thursday 9th of April 2009 02:13:57 PM