Obama Choppers Six Miles For Economy Comments - Political Hotsheet
President Obama Friday flew Marine One from the White House less than six miles to Northwest D.C.
He choppered to Gelberg Signs, the Washington, D.C.-based company where he’ll deliver remarks on the economy and July employment numbers. According to Google maps, the drive would have taken about 20 minutes from the White House.
By CBS News’ Mark Knoller’s count, this is the president’s 300th flight on Marine One.
As to why the president choppered to a company in D.C., spokesman Bill Burton said, “Probably because it’s an easier than a motorcade through the city in the middle of the day.”
Another outrageous outrage for Drudge, who is naturally headlining this non-story. In fact, the chopper flight is probably a lot cheaper than driving. Marine One usually flies unescorted over DC. Elsewhere, there are normally two Cobra gunships and a Secret Service chopper along. The flight would have taken no more than five minutes. My guess it that the real cost would be in the neighborhood of five hundred dollars, maybe less.
On the other hand, even a short motorcade is a big production, especially on city streets. Dozens of police, secret service agents, and municipal workers take part. Hours of planning are required, not to mention the disruption to normal traffic. The cost would be in the thousands for police overtime alone ($120/hour or thereabouts for each cop.)