President Obama is barnstorming the heartland to boost US jobs in a taxpayer-financed luxury bus the government had custom built — in Canada, The Post has learned.
The $1.1 million vehicle, one of two that Quebec-based Prevost sold the government, has been tricked out by the Secret Service with state-of-the-art security features and creature comforts.
It’s a VIP H3-45 model, the company’s top of the line, and is used by major traveling rock bands.
“That’s the more luxurious model,” Christine Garant of Prevost told The Post.
Obama’s new ride is equipped to carry all the baggage a president needs — including the “football” that allows him to remotely control US nuclear weapons.
There’s electronic equipment allowing Obama to communicate and teleconference worldwide.
Like his GM-built limousine, nicknamed “The Beast,” the bus has armored doors.
The president also has large flat-screen TV sets and comfortable couches.
There’s a bathroom, but unlike on Air Force One, no sleeping area.
The bus was ordered by the Secret Service in July 2010 and delivered two months ago.
The feds bought the two coaches for $2.2 million from Hemphill Brothers Coach, based in Tennessee. It installed custom interior upgrades into the Prevost shell, which accounted for about half the cost.
The contract lists the country of origin as Canada and place of manufacture as “outside U.S. – Trade Agreements,” a possible reference to the North American Free Trade Agreement.
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7 Responses
Since I sweated my guts out at work to pay for this (taxpayers money) I will demand rides in it. Woe to the one who will refuse me.
Where is Bill Starr or other cracker jack American lawyers to make what seems to be an easy case, that our President is unAmerican. It shows in his policies, his treatment to allies, his concern for enemies, and in all other areas where he always does the wrong thing. Obama should be impeached for what he has done back to his first y ear in office.
at least its not made in china
You’re right, this is completely un-American. I bet all the computers in the White House were also made in China!
Seriously? It’s a one-time purchase of an expensive bus. Who cares which company manufactured it? We’re not talking about a billion-dollar deal with Saudi nationals.
to #4 it is a big deal which country built it and the attitude of a one time purchase is why American’s are in trouble.
It is about Jobs and prestige, first off if an American company got the contract, Americans would have had work to build it, even temporarily, Second the company that gets to make the bus get the bragging rights and the prestige that they make such a good bus the president of the US will ride in one.
SO YES THE LITTLE THINGS DO MATTER IT IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE BILLION DOLLAR CONTRACTS.
Well, thank you Mr. President. We Canadians can certainly use the money.
# 1 : Why arent you demanding to live in the white house, ride in “the Beast”, eat from the white house chef, and receive the best body guards and security in the world? just add it to the list of things we pay for and dont receive the credit for.