It’s official, President to vacation on Martha’s Vineyard

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President Barack Obama during one of his many golf outings at Island courses on a previous vacation. — Photo by Ruth McGorty

The White House confirmed Wednesday what many people on Martha’s Vineyard have known for weeks. The Obama family will vacation on the Island for the third summer in a row.

“The president does have plans to travel with his family at the end of August to Martha’s Vineyard, as he has in the past,” White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters in his daily briefing.

His answer came in response to a question about whether the White House is concerned about the perception that President Obama plays golf and goes to the beach while the country faces deepening economic troubles.

“I don’t think Americans out there would begrudge that notion that the president would spend some time with his family,” Mr. Carney said.

He told reporters that it will necessarily be a working vacation.

“There’s no such thing as a presidential vaction,” Mr. Carney said. “The presidency travels with you. He will be in constant communications and get regular briefings from his national security team, as well as his economic team. He will of course be fully capable, if necessary, of traveling back if that were required. It’s not very far.”

The first family is to arrive on August 18, and stay at Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark until August 27.