Will Obama take a salary of $1 per year?

Originally posted by blowfishdl
reply to post by GoalPoster

 

Obama doesn't deserve a salary of $1 per year. He's not a C.E.O. of these corrupt banks whom he is referring to.

Obama deserves whatever the going salary is for a junior Senator.

Goalposter, the question was already asked. Are you willing to give up your salary? Are any of us willing to give up our earned money?

The answer is NO

Obama was talking about BONUSES, so your question in itself has no real back up.

That's all.

Originally posted by PammyK
He deserves his pay! What other job is 24/7? Being the leader of the free world, handling all the troubles of this country, no sleep, constant stress, ect. Any person who is president deserves his pay. I don't understand how anyone would even want the job! The majority of this country elected him, they do not pick the CEO's of big companies.

You got that right. No one in their right mind would want to be president.

Save a picture of him taken today. Then compare it to one after four years. Obama will look like his grandfather in that amount of time.

Originally posted by jerico65
Somehow, I don't see him having the presidential limo driver pulling over to a gas station and Obama digging thru his pockets looking for gas money.

A Presidential Salary FAQ

Does the president pay for his own personal expenses?

Yes. If the president asks for doughnuts in the private quarters, he's supposed to pick up the tab as he is for his dry cleaning and other personal needs.

I don't know exactly what expenses he pays, but he has two daughters and all his family's clothes, food and services. He gets some allowances, but I was surprised to learn that he doesn't have everything given to him.

There is no comparison between Obama, the President Elect making roughly 400k a year, and a CEO that gets a salary in the hundreds of thousands, then on top of that get bonuses in the millions pretty much guaranteed, then on top of that if they fail in their job as CEO and get canned, they get a bonus in the millions on their way out the door pretty much guaranteed , lets ask your question another way, should Bush get a bonus, since the comparison between a CEO of a large company is being made in the thread, on his way out since he was president of this great corporation the last eight years and if graded would possibly be a failing grade? that wouldn't keep him from a bonus would it?

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic

Does the president pay for his own personal expenses?

Yes. If the president asks for doughnuts in the private quarters, he's supposed to pick up the tab as he is for his dry cleaning and other personal needs.

That's purely a CYA move to protect the American people in this overly litigious society we live in. Imagine the lawsuit if the president was to, oh say choke on a pretzel purchased by the American people, pass out, and bust his head on a table in his office. By making the president purchase his own treats, the onus of consumable safety is squarely upon his own shoulders.

Originally posted by scriptz
Goalposter, the question was already asked. Are you willing to give up your salary? Are any of us willing to give up our earned money?

The answer is NO

Obama was talking about BONUSES, so your question in itself has no real back up.

That's all.

If I were independently wealthy, the CEO of a large corporation, President of the United States or some other free country and I have gone on record as saying . . . .

That if you're placed in a position of power, then you've got responsibilities to your workers. You've got a responsibility to your community. Your share holders. That if -- there's got to be a point where you say, 'You know what, I have enough, and now I'm in this position of responsibility, let me make sure that I'm doing right by people, and, and acting in a way that is responsible.' And that's true, by the way, for members of Congress, that's true for the president, that's true for Cabinet members, that's true for parents. I want all of us to start thinking a little bit more, not just about what's good for me, but let's start thinking about what's good for our children, what's good for our country. The more we do that, the better off we're going to be.

. . . then I would back up what I said with some form of action otherwise it simply smacks of looking for that cool sound bite for the media.

No, President Elect Obama did not suggest or otherwise intimate that he would forgo his annual salary. It was my question based on what President Elect Obama said, 'Would you take your salary down to $1 per year'. To me, that is fair to ask.

I guess it should have been asked . . . So Mr. Obama, it would appear that you have enough, and now you're in a position of responsibility, since you've suggested executives and CEOs forgo their bonuses, how are you going to make sure that you' re doing right by people, and, and acting in a way that is responsible?

Unfortunately, I am not in a position of power, nor am I in a financial position to take a salary cut to $1 per year, nor am I leading a corporation of workers, or a Superpower or any other free country for that matter so asking me is outside of the context of what Obama said.

Originally posted by burdman30ott6

Originally posted by blowfishdl
reply to post by GoalPoster

 

Obama doesn't deserve a salary of $1 per year. He's not a C.E.O. of these corrupt banks whom he is referring to.

Obama deserves whatever the going salary is for a junior Senator.

...why would you say that? He's not a junior Senator - he's the president of the USA!

I WILL TAKE THE JOB FOR $1!!!!!

Considering the taxpayers are going to pay for everything while I am in office anyway....

So really it would not matter if he made $1 or $1 Billion per year.

Originally posted by blowfishdl

...why would you say that? He's not a junior Senator - he's the president of the USA!

Is he? He has until Jan 2009 to claim that title and the cash that goes along with it.

Unless the "Office of the President-elect" has a paycheck.

reply to post by GoalPoster


I hear you. However, the point of view they are taking is that the AUTO EXECS are coming to HIM (US) for money, not the other way around. If the government had to go to someone like Exxon and ask for billions of dollars then I would expect Exxon to say "Yeah, but since YOU screwed everything up you are going to take a pay cut to $1 a year."

This is a classic example of apples to oranges. Not a case of put your money where your mouth is.

At first I was thinking that maybe it would be a good idea. But then I thought about who is coming to who begging for money and I changed my mind. He will work hard for what he gets. Period.

If he doesn't then the people need to push someone else into office. Then again, all third party people will get zero coverage again and we will be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils once again.

Surely it's a privilege to be President, not remunerative employment ?

Shouldn't all incumbents simply claim reasonable expenses incurred rather than collect a paycheck ?

Forget them taking a dollar salary lets see them take minimum wage and see how they survive without any type of bonuses.

The problem is most CEO's are already rich and can survive very well without there salaries.

What is Obama's net worth and how does it compare to the typical fortune 500 CEO if its the same then he should take a dollar salary if its below he should not take a dollar salary.

Most CEO's that take a dollar salary are only doing it for show and they have money to live on which is usually past 50 million or they own a lot of stock in the company which can be converted to cash.

I say unless he has a net worth of over 10 million he deserves his salary above that and we can vote on it.

In truth 400,000 doesnt get you much unless you live in the middle of no where. Living in any major city or an area surrounding a major city a good house starts at a million and houses in the ghetto cost like 350,000.


lets see in the city of new york 500,000 might get you a very very small condo in Mahattan, Brooklyn, Queens. The further for Mahattan the cheap the prices go but then you have to account for the cost of transportation etc.

In DC houses in the bad areas cost 500,000 plus a condo downtown about 500,000 small as hell a large home in DC at least a million

rent

NYC $2000 for a bad apartment good one like $ 10-15,000
DC $ 1000 for a bad apartment good one line $ 2000

Chicago dont know the prices anyone feel free to say the prices.



Then almost no one buys a home out right in this country, because they cant afford to anymore.

[edit on 26-11-2008 by kvaniu]

Originally posted by kvaniu
Forget them taking a dollar salary lets see them take minimum wage and see how they survive without any type of bonuses.

In DC houses in the bad areas cost 500,000 plus a condo downtown about 500,000 small as hell a large home in DC at least a million

rent

NYC $2000 for a bad apartment good one like $ 10-15,000
DC $ 1000 for a bad apartment good one line $ 2000


[edit on 26-11-2008 by kvaniu]

I would not take the job at minimum wage without having some type of other compensation. Like having the taxpayers pay for everything I wanted while in office.

3 years ago when I was in DC a ONE bedroom apt was 1000, 2 beds and more cost 2000. For the real bad areas.

Houses were up there in the Millions.

Thats why everyone commuted for the most part. But I tell you my taxes sure did not change!!! I paid out the butt in taxes...

Originally posted by jerico65

Originally posted by blowfishdl

...why would you say that? He's not a junior Senator - he's the president of the USA!

Is he? He has until Jan 2009 to claim that title and the cash that goes along with it.

Unless the "Office of the President-elect" has a paycheck.

Is it not a job in itself to appoint individuals to the white house and fill over 1500 jobs?

Upon receiving the seat of President of the United States, would you take that salary? It's not an easy job you know, and Obama states that he plans to work day in- day out. I believe we should be paying him for his work.

The guy's obsessed with budget cuts.

Why not start at the top?

Originally posted by herojoe
The guy's obsessed with budget cuts.

Why not start at the top?

He's talking about the multi-million dollar a year C.E.O.'s that receive this money through very evil loans and human manipulation.

Originally posted by blowfishdl
Upon receiving the seat of President of the United States, would you take that salary? It's not an easy job you know, and Obama states that he plans to work day in- day out. I believe we should be paying him for his work.

He was paid in advance for his work when some of the people of this nation voted him into the office. Him being elected was his pay. Now the question is "Did the voters elect a lemon?" If the answer turns out to be "No, he did a good job." then sure, pay him his $400,000 a year. If, however, that answer is "Yep, sure did elect a lemon." then he should walk out of Washington in 4 (or 8) years without a single dime of taxpayer dollars in his pockets.

This is one of many things wrong with America right now. Essentially the man & his family's needs are taken care of while he is occupying the White House. If there's a personal budget shortfall, nothing I've seen anywhere states that it is against the law for Michelle to get out and take a job. We shouldn't be paying up front for a product we haven't yet seen. Do you purchase a car without driving it? Have you ever bought a house sight unseen? Do you ever just walk into a shoe store, randomly grab a box with your size written on it and purchase the shoes without first trying them on? No, you do not. Of all positions on a career ladder, Leader of the Free World (Oh how quickly we're watching that title become a misnomer!) should have a clause dictating merit & result based pay.

And as far as house prices go, I believe the rule of thumb is to purchase a house which costs 5X your annual salary. Based on that, the claim that $400,000 a year is insufficient is easily among the dumbest comments I have ever seen. Anyone who cannot find a suitable home in which they would be happy to reside for under $2 million dollars in any market is clearly an ass who doesn't deserve a roof over their head, let alone $400 K a year.

reply to post by burdman30ott6


Yes good sir, however 400,000 is mere pocket change. It's not worth the presidential cycle, nor the time in the Senate if you are merely looking for this small amount of money.

The risk of assassination is too great. He could make just as much (or more) being a lawyer.

Originally posted by blowfishdl

Originally posted by herojoe
The guy's obsessed with budget cuts.

Why not start at the top?

He's talking about the multi-million dollar a year C.E.O.'s that receive this money through very evil loans and human manipulation.

Very evil loans and manipulation you say? Kind of like the very evil loans and manipulation both main preisdential candidates voted in favor of when they supported the bailout using our taxpayer dollars? Seems like a mixed message of sorts. "I voted for giving them the money before I railed publically against it."