Home sweet hotel: Obama family moves into 5-star Hay-Adams for lead-up to inauguration

[RamboLiberal]

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama is moving his family this weekend into the posh five-star Hay-Adams Hotel, featuring fabulous views of the famous house they'll soon call home.

The future First Family, Secret Service agents and aides will take up most of an entire wing of the landmark hotel that overlooks Lafayette Park, directly across from the White House.

The swank accommodations could cost in the ballpark of $20,000 a day to house the large entourage, unless Team Obama got a cut-rate deal.

His transition and inaugural committees, which receive taxpayer funds and private contributions up to $50,000, are expected to pick up the tab, sources said.

For a President-elect and his family to move to Washington nearly three weeks before his inauguration is unprecedented in the modern era.

But the Obamas want their daughters to be at school for the beginning of the term, which starts Monday.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/12/31/2008-12-31_home_sweet_hotel_obama_family_moves_into.html

[cali]

1. That's where I thought they'd move.

Nice hotel.

[Medusa]

14. Very nice.

Terrific views and very posh surroundings.

[avaistheone1]

29. I think it would have been nice if the Obama went to a hotel a little less plush.

Is five stars really necessary? This sends the wrong message to people especially when many families in our the country are seriously suffering right now - wondering how they will keep a roof over their heads, and literally feed their families.

I think the Hawaii vacation at the $9 million dollar villa is also over the top at this time. Are the Obamas deserving of a vacation? I think so. But what kind of a message are they trying to send us when they are spending so extravagantly and living as high on the hog as possible.

[WI_DEM]

32. Yeah, I'm sure FDR cut down on his spending and luxurious life style during the depression

No he didn't and he was still a great president.

[Sensitivity]

33. I wonder who is in charge of these "housekeeping" decisions. Again, suitability for the transition

staffing and process may be the key factor re. the 9m vacation.

[elleng]

47. Hawaii included O's Chicago friends

with whom he's vacationed forever, who keep him anchored; real family bonds there. They're planning to visit him in DC consecutively, so he can maintain himself.

[LisaM]

38. He may not have that many choices

I remember when I was taking a tour in Chicago once, and the tour guide showed which hotels had enough security to house visiting presidents. There weren't that many of them.

Granted, in DC, where world leaders visit all the time, there may be more of a selection, but I'm sure security concerns had a lot to do with it. I don't think the Red Roof Inn, for example, could accommodate those needs.

[demodonkey]

45. The Red Roof in Chinatown or the one in Lanham MD?? (LOL) nt

[Critters2]

52. Where did he stay when he was campaigning in places without "posh" hotels? nt

[gblady]

39. actually....

my friend who lived in Hawaii for many years...
said that that villa was one of the lower priced ones
in that particular area of Oahu...and I do believe it was chosed for security reasons.

[elleng]

43. It has to be convenient; its a FAMILY thing.

The reason they're arriving in DC when they are is to enable the girls to start school Monday; thereafter they go to Blair for the few days before the Inaug. Hay-Adam is right there, and because of its location it has become an expensive, fancy place over the decades.

[elleng]

44. The 'posh surroundings' are DC! SOME is 'posh,'

most is 'regular.' Up the street is Starbucks, around the corner, Burger King.

[PaDUer]

41. $13,000.00/day

How sweet it is...

With White House booked solid Obamas take $13k-a-day hotel

-snip-

So instead the new first family will stay in the £13,000-a-day wing of the historic Hay-Adams hotel overlooking the presidential mansion. The bill will be split between taxpayers and supporters of his transition committee.

-snip-

http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2009/01/02/obama-whitehouse/

[MrGreene]

2. I really can't wait...

I can't wait for Obama to come back and take some control of the media narrative again. It seems like alot of chaos and bad things occur immediately when he goes on vacations.

Time to get things back on message.

[elleng]

3. Interesting that here its described as 'swank,'

with $ provided; NYT, with AP story, calls it 'exclusive,' a b.s. characterization imo. It should be a feature part of the stories that its probably the closest hotel to their next stop, Blair House, which is directly across Pennsylvania Ave. from the WH.

Poor kids! School starts Monday, they've been in Hawaii, and its COLD in DC!

http://nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/01/washington/AP-Obama-Temporary-Home.html

[cali]

7. It is "swank" or "posh" or "exclusive" or whatever

In my book, it's a very nice hotel- not that I've stayed there for many a year.

[glowing]

8. I believe that the reference is remarking on the detail on expense and

"elite" hotel status. If any white old dude president was staying in the hotel, details about price and how much room the security detail takes up is never discussed. Where ever Bush goes, he stays at the swankiest hotels and has to have 3 floors rented out for his security because of his popularity. I know because when they stay in Tampa, some of the reserve security and personnel would stay at his hotel, while Bush stayed across the st at the Hyatt... and had the top 3 floors for himself.

Also, this is the second time the press has taken the time to explain how expensive his accommodations.. Guess its their discreet way of saying he's "uppity".

[Liquorice]

54. Every time Obama is criticized, it isn't

racial. You need to get over that kind of thinking. The press attacked Bill Clinton relentlessly about everything. It goes with the job--at least if you're a democrat. No one is calling Obama uppity. They are criticizing him for staying at a very expensive hotel and having taxpayers pick up some of the tab.

[Maeve]

15. I love that term "exclusive"--it used to be code for 'your kind isn't wanted'

With 'your kind' being a fluid term...

Irish-American George Cohan once was turned down for a hotel reservation with the reply to "Mr Cohen" "We do not accept members of your religious faith". He responded "You thought I Jewish, I thought you were a gentleman. We were both wrong"

[mucifer]

24. um the kids have lived their lives in Chicago. They are used to cold.

[AnnieBW]

37. Our cold is NOTHING

compared to Chicago cold! Although wait until they're here in August. They'll be begging to go back to Chicago then!

[elleng]

50. Yes, but they'll have a POOL!

(and puppy!)

[monmouth]

4. Maybe they'll run into Laura Bush there. That's her home away from home..LOL....n/t

[grannie4peace]

9. she probably sneaks in & out!!!!

[peaches2003]

18. I wish someone on 'the in' would speak the truth on this

Surely an anonymous employee, one who has left working there, or someone who really knows what is going on or did go on could give us the scoop on Laura/George/hotel.

[dhill926]

5. Elitist......!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Undercurrent]

6. Cool.

From the hotel, the girls will be able to practically look right into their future bedrooms - the East and West bedrooms.

To bad the Bushites wouldn't move their stupid staff parties out of Blair House so the Obama family could move in now. They now have to move twice.

[katmondoo]

10. Bush should pay for this

He refused to let them stay in Blair House when they could have. I wonder if they will go to Blair House on the 15th or stay at the hotel until the 20th.

[emilyg]

21. Blair House tradionally turned over

on 1-15.

[slackmaster]

35. According to the Blair House's Web site, GWB and his family stayed there January 17-20, 2001

http://www.blairhouse.org/s_guestbook.html

[DFW]

11. It's step up from a Holiday Inn, that's for sure!

The Hay-Adams is definitely NOT the low-rent district!!

On the upside he can chat informally with Helen Thomas, who often takes breakfast there.

[DevonRex]

12. And now maybe folks will realize why Obama asked to move into Blair

House early. It wasn't only to save the family from an extra move, but to save the taxpayers that tab. Probably won't see the ones who criticized Obama for even asking to move into Blair House take back their words, though.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

17. who is still in Blair House?

[peaches2003]

23. It is being used for Bush's staff's goodbye receptions

and good riddance to them, too. There are no official dignataries staying there or anything like that, at least from what the Bushies said when they said Obama couldn't stay there until the 15th.

[Critters2]

28. Those receptions could just as easily have been held in the meeting rooms and suites

at this hotel, saving the Obama's one more move. Or surely there was some other government-owned site that could've been used for those receptions. Having once been a kid who lived in a, well, motel in our case, while waiting for a house to be readied during a move, I can attest that life would be easier if those kids could get into a real, permanent home ASAP.

But the Winneconne Motel wasn't the Hay-Adams.

[AZ Criminal JD]

19. Don't get too bent out of shape

Security costs would be exactly the same at Blair. The Secret Service is very used to the Hay because a lot of high profile presidential visitors stay there.

[Beacool]

58. If he wanted to move to DC before the established protocol date,

then HE should pay the hotel tab, not the taxpayers.

:shrug:

[Clio the Leo]

13. Here's their view of the White House.....

.... I doubt even the Blair house offers something so nice.

http://www.hayadams.com/washington-dc-hotel-gallery.php

[whistler162]

16. Almost as good as the Willard.....

I wonder if they have rooms over looking the White House?

[elleng]

49. Willard too far; 'overlooks' Treasury.

.

[backscatter712]

20. Hey, he's the next POTUS. I think he's earned a little luxury.

Of course, the media's gonna be crapping on him for it. They can suck it.

[rug]

22. Private contributions up to $50,000 go towards a two week stay at a five star hotel?

How much was Blago grifting?

[FarLeftRage]

25. It's haunted too...

Looky here:

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1358051,CST-NWS-obama01.article

The national landmark has 145 rooms with ornamental fireplaces, carved plaster ceilings, marble bathrooms, and Bose CD systems -- along with Clover Adams' ghost.

Staff members say the fourth floor is her favorite place, the National Trust for Historic Preservation reports.

"Examples of staff experiences include unexplained opening and closing of locked doors of unoccupied rooms; clock radios mysteriously turning off and on; the sounds of a woman crying softly in a room or a stairwell; or a voice of a woman asking a housekeeper, 'What do you want?' " the Trust reports.

[Blarch]

26. Nice place.

[AtomicKitten]

27. The MSM barely mentioned * refusing to let them move into Blair House early.

I would imagine the Secret Service had some input on where they stay in the interim.

[AZBlue]

34. Yeah, I noticed that too. And Hay Adams is the next choice on the SS list.

They've got the place all set up to protect anyone.

Plus, if anyone really things HA is charging them $20K a night, they're insane. HA makes a sweet deal with them in exchange for the excellent publicity.

[Jennicut]

30. Its right near the White House and Blair House

I have nothing wrong with the price of staying at the hotel, I think he chose it because the girls will get used to living in the area where they will be in for the next 4 years (hopefully 8).

[Cha]

31. Cool! One has to make do if

the Blair House is unavailable.

[AnnieBW]

36. Where are they supposed to live?

The Econo-Lodge on New York Avenue? For Chrissakes, this is the FUTURE FIRST FAMILY! Chucklenutz refused to accomodate their request for Blair House, so that the girls could start school at the beginning of the new term (no child left behind, indeed). They should be staying at Blair House.

Can you imagine if Clinton had done this to Bush before he took office? Or if any Dem President had refused to let their Republican replacement into Blair House early? The howls from the RW media would be heard from here to Pluto!

[FrenchieCat]

40. So the girls have to get adjusted to a new school.....

and also move 3 times in one month, from Chicago to this hotel, then to the Blair House, then to the White House. Oh Goody!

How come who is using the Blair house being kept as a secret? Isn't it owned by Taxpayers? :shrug:

[kiva]

48. Why will they be moving into Blair House?

Why not straight from the hotel to the White House?

[FrenchieCat]

51. Cause Hotel living is expensive and doesn't feel like a house, perhaps.....?

[Hieronymus]

53. No one is staying at Blair House. The White House staff is using it for

little wine n cheese parties.

[Beacool]

59. Blair House is traditionally at the disposal of the PE on Jan. 15th.

If the Obama's want to move to DC sooner, then Obama should pay for the accommodations and not the taxpayers.

:shrug:

[LisaM]

42. Why is everyone so fussed that the Obamas can't move into the Blair House?

Remember all those goons yelling at Gore to move out of "Cheney's" house - while he was still vice president?

I think Bush is an illegitimate president and by that logic doesn't have the right to use Blair House, but aside from that, I see absolutely nothing wrong with sticking to planned events there.

[Beacool]

60. Because it's the Obama's,

if it had been another PE no one here would give a rat's ass.

:eyes:

[Fearless]

46. To those who say he shouldn't be so extragavant...

We have to remember that security reasons are taken into account as well. Likely this hotel is one of the safest places that he can be put.

NTF

[TahitiNut]

55. Suite Floor Plans ...

The Federal Suite ...



The Presidential Suite ...

[firedupdem]

56. It's amazing on a democratic board people squawk at the future

first family and where they will stay and what vacation they took. They didn't buy the 9 million dollar villa in hawaii and why in the hell shouldn't they stay at a "swank" hotel? What the fuck? It's the President and first family. People forget they didn't come from the gutter in the first place. Let them stay wherever the hell they need to.

[Spectral Music]

57. He should enjoy this time.

It's going to be hell after the inauguration. Let's just hope his popularity holds long enough to get some important things through.

[EraOfResponsibility]

61. You know what makes no sense?

That they're going to be in the Hay Adams until Jan. 15 and THEN move to Blair House. Why do all that moving? Especially if Blair House is near Hay Adams, they'd might as well just stay in the Hay Adams until Jan. 20.

Nevertheless Michelle and the girls are here in DC already and Obama's coming tomorrow WHOOO I CAN'T WAIT!!!! THEY'RE HERE, THEY'RE HERE!

[fed_up_mother]

62. Because it's "tradition"

"Why do all that moving?"

It's called "tradition." :)

The president elect and his family moves into Blair House on January 15.

[ThatsMyBarack]

63. I got to stay at the Hay-Adams in 1992....

When my dad took me to DC on his business trip/my vacation. True American classiness!B-)