Obamas Head to Martha's Vineyard for 10-day Holiday
THE TELEGRAPH: Barack Obama and his family are about to set off on a 10-day holiday in Martha's Vineyard, an island hideaway favoured by the rich and well-connected, before returning to a busy autumn election season.

As they did this time last year, Mr Obama, his wife Michelle and their daughters Malia, 12, and Sasha, nine, are leaving Washington for the coast of Massachusetts.

"The president is definitely going to spend a little time recharging his batteries," said Bill Burton, the deputy White House press secretary.

No public events are planned and like last year, Mr Obama will work to perfect his swing at one of the island's golf courses, Mr Burton said.

"There will be some hiking, some time at the beach, some time at the ice cream store - all the sort of things you do when you're at Martha's Vineyard. You enjoy the people and the good food," he said. >>> | Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The Dark Side of Martha's Vineyard
THE TELEGRAPH: Beneath its idyllic exterior, Martha's Vineyard – beloved holiday destination of America's well-heeled – is rife with depression, alcoholism, drug abuse and domestic violence.

President Barack Obama enjoying a bike ride with his family and friends while on vacation on Martha's Vineyard. Photo: The Telegraph
America's First Family will wave goodbye to Martha's Vineyard tomorrow after a week's holiday on an island whose name is rarely uttered without the epithet "idyllic".

As President Obama flies his family back home to Washington, they will rapidly be followed by an armada of private jets from the tiny local airport. After next weekend's Labour Day holiday, the exodus of billionaire businessmen, media tycoons and Hollywood stars who summer on the island will be complete. From Oprah Winfrey and Beyonce to Valerie Jarrett and the Clintons, they'll all be gone. In a matter of days, the island's population withers from 100,000 to just 15,000.

More than a few of the quitters must feel a twinge of jealousy for those lucky few left behind on the 23-mile island. They shouldn't. The reality of out-of-season – and that in holiday-starved America means any month outside July and August – is anything but a paradise for most of those left behind.

Martha's Vineyard's dark little secret is one of desperately high levels of depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence and even suicide attempts among a population that struggles to make ends meet in a billionaire's playground when the billionaires have all left.

The last time the island's social problems were publicly totted up – in 2005 - the number of cases of patients treated each year in hospital for alcohol or drug abuse had soared from almost 200 in 2002 to just over 750 three years later. The caseload of patients struggling with depression had grown from 40 in 2002 to 92 in 2005. Suicide attempts climbed almost tenfold, from three in 2002 to 29 in 2005.

Some local experts believe the situation has not got any better. "It's the shadow side of Martha's Vineyard – all the things you don't expect to exist on a luxury island," said Dr Gail Gordon, its former community services senior psychologist. "And it's the seasonal nature of the island that makes our social problems worse. Everyone works so hard over the summer and then there's this let down when all the others go." >>> Tom Leonard | Friday, August 28, 2009

Obama: Les congés qui dérangent
leJDD.fr: Une partie de l’opinion américaine reproche à son président de s’offrir, en pleine crise économique, des vacances luxueuses sur l’île huppée de Martha’s Vineyard (Massachussetts).

La famille Obama a emmené la polémique en vacances. Crédits photo: leJDD.fr
En ce moment, rien n’est épargné à Barack Obama. Confronté à une recrudescence des violences en Afghanistan et en Irak, contesté sur son projet de réforme du système de santé américain - évalué à 1000 milliards de dollars - et accusant une chute sensible dans les sondages (49% de ses compatriotes lui font confiance contre 60% au moment de son investiture), le résident de la Maison blanche se voit aujourd’hui tancé sur le coût de ses vacances. Parti dimanche faire un break d’une semaine en famille sur la très chic île de Martha’s Vineyard (Massachussetts), le président des Etats-Unis est accusé, en ces temps de crise économique, de donner le mauvais exemple.

Sur l’influent site internet Huffington Post, classé à gauche, l’universitaire Robert Guttman déplore le choix présidentiel. "Le peuple américain vous regarde, M. le Président, il suit votre voie, attaque le directeur du centre de politique et de relations internationales à l’université John Hopkins. "Pourquoi ne pas les conduire aux endroits qui ont le plus besoin de votre aide, plutôt que dans une île déjà financièrement stable et prospère? Le cœur de l’Amérique vous appelle, M. le Président, pourquoi ne lui répondriez-vous pas?". Autant de questions posées à juste titre pensent beaucoup, au regard notamment du coût de la location hebdomadaire de la villa "Blue Heron Farm", où séjournera le leader américain, estimée à 25 000 dollars (17500 euros). >>> N.M (avec Reuters), leJDD.fr | Lundi 24 Août 2009