Barack Obama to buy rare £20,000 gold ring for his wife to say 'thanks for your support'

Michelle Obama is to receive this £20,000 thank you from her husband for her support during the election.

The Harmony ring is made of rhodium - the world's most expensive metal --and encrusted with diamonds. It is being hastily made by Italian designer Giovanni Bosco in time for January's inauguration ceremony.

Only about 25 tons of rhodium are mined each year, mostly in South Africa, and as a result its price is typically around £5,000 an ounce.

www.dailymail.co.uk...

Geez....I guess everyone who donated $5 is paying a penny for the ring...

What happened to the "We are regular people" mantra???

True colors people...True colors...Keep thinking "Things will change..."

Originally posted by swdecord

Michelle Obama is to receive this £20,000 thank you from her husband for her support during the election.

The Harmony ring is made of rhodium - the world's most expensive metal --and encrusted with diamonds. It is being hastily made by Italian designer Giovanni Bosco in time for January's inauguration ceremony.

Only about 25 tons of rhodium are mined each year, mostly in South Africa, and as a result its price is typically around £5,000 an ounce.

www.dailymail.co.uk...

Geez....I guess everyone who donated $5 is paying a penny for the ring...

What happened to the "We are regular people" mantra???

True colors people...True colors...Keep thinking "Things will change..."

What's the big deal? The guy is a millionaire anyway.

(Shakes head sadly).... Perception of the people in a failing economy...

How many families would that ring feed for a month? I sadly remember the thread awhile back about all the children in the U.S. who do not get enough food.

It's his money. He can do what he wants with it.

I just hope that some of the obamatrons see this and wake up to the FACT that this guy is elite and just like every other politician - do as I say and not as I do.

But as I said, it's his money and he can do what he wants with it.

It's probably a PR stunt to draw attention to the ring worldwide and when she is gifted with it on inauguration night she'll announce it will go on auction and the proceeds will go to a charity, which she'll probably found with the money. (It was probably Oprah's idea ).

Lol, I didn't even vote for him, I'm just trying to think like my sister who was a press secretary for a major politician in Texas. They really go all out to get the media's attention and then turn it all around.


[edit on 12/2/2008 by seentoomuch]

This makes total sense. A Socialist/Communist regime's leader is supposed to act like this. I don't know why some are seeing this as surprising. The rules they purport to follow are only for those under them. The Obama White House is going to be one of the most opulent one's in U.S. history, while the Senate with the likes of Barney Frank refute any problems with his cronies burying the country further and further into debt, and socializing all the country's wealth.

Welcome to the U.S.S.A. people.

Drudge is reporting the cost for the ring is $30,000.

His money, not a problem for me, but it does send a message now that he's where he wants to be.

If nothing else, maybe it'll get a smile out of Michelle Obama . . . she looks like she's always PO'd at something....

reply to post by FlyersFan


This is probably the first post of yours in an Obama thread that I have agreed with. Well, minus the Obamatron reference.

Yes he is elite. It is funny to me to see people up in arms about a 30k ring when they were supporting a political party that spent 150k on a fashion show for their candidate.

Yes, I realize that not all people who are upset by this are republicans, but most are.

Originally posted by swdecord
Geez....I guess everyone who donated $5 is paying a penny for the ring...

Um... just so you know, he doesn't need our money to buy his wife a ring. They are wealthy. They have worked very hard for the money they have and should spend it however they want. They pay their taxes and obey the law.

Most of the same people complaining about this are the ones who cry like babies, "I worked hard for my money and should be able to keep it and spend it however I like". Why are the rules different for Obama?

If this story is true (remember the lobster hoax), $30,000 is not a whole lot to spend on a gift for his wife to show his appreciation. It's less expensive than a car, for example.

Well, it's no personal issue to me as I was one of those that were shaking their head in bewilderment at the hysteria over whether Obama was going to have the American people wearing a Mao suit come January.

Buying a $20,000 bauble? Let me know when Obama hands over the means of production to the American people and then anti-socialists can be concerned.

Ultimately, Obama is like most people with money, they like to throw spend it on expensive things. It's true, it's his money he can do what he wants with it. Whether or not it sets a 'good example' particularly given the state of the economy is open to speculation. I'm sure though that some could spin this as being aspirational, which is all part of the American Way - work hard enough and long enough and you too can life the luxurious lifestyle of the elite!

As someone who's been in a relationship of a similar length of time to the Obama's, I'm not sure that I'd ever feel the need to actually show my appreciation of my better-half so ostentatiously. I'm not sure my better-half would be that keen on such a gesture either.

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
If this story is true (remember the lobster hoax),

Ring Story NOT true!

There's just one problem: The story isn't true.

The Obama Press Office told me this:

The story is not true, there is no $30,000.00 ring.

I also contacted the jeweler in the story, Bosco Giovanni. Here's what their spokesman, Enrico Gamba, said via email:...

My husband and I have been married the same time as the Obamas and my husband bought me a house! We're not elite!

I regret to inform you that because of reports so wrong and clearly different from the reality of our statements, we decided to not issue statement on this matter.

what was their original statement?

I dont get this post!

Is this juat a way to jab at him?

I didnt even vote for the guy I voted for the other one but this is lame.

The man has some money he worked hard and earned it so how he spends it is his busines you cant blame a guy for having money!

reply to post by SLAYER69


Slayer I don't care what he buys his wife either, but it does seem a little at odds with his philosophy.


note,

SENATE BILL S. 2433 THE GLOBAL POVERTY ACT
www.worldnetdaily.com...

Maybe he will donate the 20,000.

Or Michelle can't wear the ring till his term is up lol,

[edit on 123131p://bTuesday2008 by Stormdancer777]

Imagine how much this ring would have been if the economy wasn't so crappy!

Is his money, I think he gets pay as anyone else, you do what ever the f*ck you want with your money, it does not necessarily means that is the tax payer's money.

It looks like anyone here is just looking for any stupid little thing to make look like the worst thing ever. please grow up!

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


Once the story broke, Obama handlers frantically scurried to return the ring in exchange for shiny new white gold Cubic Zirconium ring from Kohl's.

[edit on 2-12-2008 by jibeho]

I just usually give the missus a kiss on the cheek. Gosh! I hope she doesn't see this! She'll ask for more!!!!!!

www.dailymail.co.uk...

Here is what this reported,
www.dailymail.co.uk...

I hope he didn't back out, poor Michelle.

A spokesman at Giovanni Bosco said: 'Our American distributor has contacted us and has asked us to provide details on the Harmony ring.'It is our top of the range piece and made from rhodium and encrusted with diamonds.

'Our agent in the United States was asked by Mr Barack Obama about the ring because he wants it as a thank you gift for his wife Michelle for her support the last two years.

'We have a select number of clients both in the United States, Europe, Russia and the Middle East and our prices as a result reflect the wealth of our customers.

'For obvious privacy reasons I cannot reveal the cost of the ring but bearing in mind it is made from rhodium or black gold and encrusted with diamonds you can be sure it will cost thousands of pounds.'
Dan Pfeiffer, communications aide for Obama's transition to the Presidency, flatly denied the story in an email to an American political website.
The report is 'not true,' said Pfeiffer in the message to Politico.

Dear lord, what a tangled web we weave.

He better give her the ring, that's all I have to say!!!!!!!!