Presidential vacations: How does Obama compare?

(CBS News) 

Following his three-day bus tour to promote his economic agenda -- and not to mention the debt limit rancor in Washington before that -- President Obama is finally getting some rest and relaxation.

On Thursday, he and his family are heading off to Martha's Vineyard, the island off of Massachusetts. They'll be staying at a 28-acre retreat called Blue Heron Farm for about 10 days.

Raw Video: Obama's Martha's Vinyard retreat

There has been criticism of the president's vacation at this time. But how does the number of vacation days the president has spent compare to his predecessors? CBS Radio's Mark Knoller has kept track of presidential vacations for years and supplied the data.

So far, President Obama has taken 61 vacation days after 31 months in office. At this point in their presidencies, George W. Bush had spent 180 days at his ranch where his staff often joined him for meetings. And Ronald Reagan had taken 112 vacation days at his ranch.

Among recent presidents, Bill Clinton took the least time off -- 28 days.

To be fair, a presidential vacation away from the White House is not the same as a vacation for the average person. The president is still in contact with his advisers and on call for any emergency.

Mark Knoller: When presidents go on "vacation," controversy follows

[RobAla]

There are vacations, and then there are vacations. Going to a ranch that a President owns is not like spending $4 million on a trip to Hawaii. We live in tough economic times. President Obama could have gone back home to Chicago, but the Obama's decided to blow a wad of tax payer money on a trip to Hawaii. If it had been his own money, I would not have a problem with it. During tough economic times, a different Democrat President (Carter) turned the heat down in the Whitehouse and wore a sweater. The Obama's have trips to Europe and Hawaii.

[tsprague52]

The vast majority of the trips to Europe were Head of State visits. They were not vacations. He was representing our Government to other Governments. Which is part of his job.

Most the comments that I see about this are petty, unreasonable and non-factual.

[Aleviner]

To be fair this article made itself moot.

"To be fair, a presidential vacation away from the White House is not the same as a vacation for the average person. The president is still in contact with his advisers and on call for any emergency."

So, how many days a President spends on "vacation" isn't really relevant? They're still capable of work should the need arise...a better charting would be how much each President had spent in tax payer money to be on "vacation" and not how many days they racked up.

[ChicagoJohn]

I've always wanted to know, if someone can answer me:
Is it considered a vacation when the president visits Chicago on weekends?
'Cause he does that a lot.

[truthlover57]

Funny how conservatives keep talking about how republicans vacationed at homes they owned - that doesn't even go into figuring cost of the presidential vacations because the family pays the lodging costs anyway - so it doesn't matter if Obama stays in a room that costs $50 a night or $5000 a night - he is personally responsible for the lodging and food costs while on vacation - taxpayer cost does not change!

[TBoneND]

Personnally I would prefer Obama and all of congress and most agencies (except for the military)spend only 120 days every two years in Washington D.C.
We only need a part time legislature. We will have more freedom as a result.
Remember one thing, it's your's and my money first!

[sweetlips-washington]

So, how does a "community activist" afford the cost of these vacations that only a rock star could pay for? He's another Chicago crook.

[senexxx]

When yer out running around you don't have to do your job.

[AnJoy713]

If you look at the days away taken by the previous presidents, the other presidents spent most of their time away at their Ranch's.. Not flying around in two seperate jets going the same way nor ... did ANY of them spend HALF as much time Flying around the world like a king on a mission... It is so sad that so many people prefer to close their eyes to the FACTS... like 14 TRILLION added to the debt.. over seven ALREADY.. even Bush didn't spend that in his whole eight years... SEE THE FACTS... Then talk

[marti21866]

Yes, I agree with everything you've said. I disagree with the way the author used only a certain amount of days for comparison. He should have compared Obama's total amount of vacations and taxpayer expensives incurred for 3 years, the time he has been in office. We are not stupid, we know that he has taken many more vacations than any other president and has spent the most money.

[hypnotoad72]

marti21866 - you propose more work be made to show a fair and balanced article?

Apart from FOX, cite some sources backing up your claim.

[daffy64]

I don't think a black guy should be able to go on an expensive vacation when I can't.

[Megapril]

I understand that this post is several months old, but I have also read more recent comments of yours and I must say that you are a simple minded racist moron...

[soddydaisy55]

The vacations by previous Presidents have not come near the cost that is paid for O'Bama to vacation!

[retiredgustav]

According to who?

[tbogert]

Hey soddy show me in today's dollars that Obama's vacations are somehow more expensive than any other President. That is a bogus claim and probably a pre fabricated lie.

[cktirumalai]

Some Republican presidents like physically active vacations (Teddy Roosevelt liked vigorous activity outdoors, Reagan worked on his ranch, George W. Bush cleared scrub). Bill Clintonn and Barack Obama like the Vineyard, golf, reading, and relaxation. Clinton, however, was once forced to "vacation" in Wyoming, canoeing and camping.
Candadai Tirumalai

[Heathergreeneyes]

And the defense of his vacations by liberals is amusing, because they would be attacking if we were discussing a Republican president, if that person did the exact same thing!

Look at Obama and golfing. Liberals and the media attacked Bush for golfing, but they defend Obama for golfing!

How do you attack and then defend the exact same behavior? Golfing is OK if the president is a liberal, but it is not OK if the president is a conservative? A liberal president needs to relax, but a conservative president doesn't?

Come liberals! Your funny!

[KayJay503]

You miss the point -- intentionally? We attack you Republicans for hypocritically ignoring that two of your Republican presidents took TWICE as much vacation as President Obama has a the same point in time of their presidency.

What's worse, Ronald Reagan campaigned for a 2nd term knowing/suspecting he was in the throes of early symptoms of Alzheimers. He was well into the moderate symptoms of the disease by the time he retired from public life (don't argue with me; I have cared for an Alzheimers patient for 12 years and I know very well every stage of the disease).

(P.S. Why is it EVERY so-called conservative is so sadly lacking in grammar, spelling?)

[kowboy335]

KayJay - Was that a typo or are you leaning toward the right?