It’s incredible how the office of president has become such a home court advantage. The president makes a big showy campaign appearance at the Daytona 500, and my tax dollars paid for his motorcade to drive a few laps and for Air Force One to make a fly-over. I don’t recall checking a box on my taxes to support the Republican party.
I wish someone could tell me how much it cost to do this, then refund taxpayers. Unfortunately, the actual cost of running the presidential fleet is classified, according to CNN. Gee, that makes it awfully convenient — the government is supposed to be reimbursed for political trips, but if they won’t tell how much it costs, how can they?
Of course, all you have to do is declare that it’s an official visit, and then you can campaign all you want, for free.
It cost’s about as much as it did when Clinton did the same thing at the Indy 500, or when he did it at the World Series (twice) or the NCAA Men’s B-Ball finals when U. of Arkansas won the dance…. I could go on for a while.
The point being, every president does this sort of thing. I saw his interview and there wasn’t anything political about it. Once again I’m compelled to say that GW is the first person to ever make me NOT vote Repbulican in an election- but as far as this ‘stunt’ goes, it’s pretty harmless.