Obamas score a house on the Vineyard: $35k per week?

Even as President Obama speaks about the need to navigate our way out of a financial disaster, he's also planning an uber-luxurious vacation for his family.

The DailyBeast reports that "Obama and family are planning to holiday at a Martha's Vineyard property of the sort that rents for $35-50,000 a week. Negotiations are being finalized for the rental of Blue Heron Farm, a 28-and-a-half acre pile in the town of Chilmark that boasts a swimming pool, a small basketball court, and even a golf tee."

To Obama's credit, he's reportedly paying the bill himself -- so this isn't offensive in the way that the taxpayer-funded AIG junkets are.

But at the same time, it's puzzling. In a time when so many Americans are struggling, couldn't Obama send a better message by enjoying a so-called staycation -- donating the $35k per week to charity (or perhaps his health care plan)?

Regardless of who's paying for it, a $35,000 per week Martha's Vineyard vacation seems out of touch for a president in this economy -- especially one who made $4.2 million in 2007 and has been calling for increased taxed on top income earners.