Nearly $500K to send Michelle Obama on vacation to Africa - Daughters listed as "Senior Staff"

Originally posted by TreesusChrist
reply to post by beezzer

 

But Laura Bush did do the same thing, along with pretty much every other presidential family. The source doesn't change the facts.

I'm sure she did. And I'll be willing to wager that plenty of others have as well.
The difference is when you have the White House saying that America is too soft, with unemployment over 9%, with an economic upheaval, . . . .
Perception is everything.

Why are they smiling like its a ride at disney land?

Originally posted by JIMC5499
I have no problem with spending the money to send them to Africa. It is the money spent to bring them BACK I have issues with.

Oh that's so wonderfully wrong.

In my case, I actually don't have an inherent problem with a president or first lady enjoying an elegant vacation, and $500k is almost literally nothing in terms of our national budget. Yes, I WOULD be generous enough to donate the one sixth of a cent to pay for this vacation of theirs. Send pics!

The president and first lady are the closest thing we have to royalty, and besides all the negative things associated with the concept of royalty, in a perfect world there is still something nice about believing our "king and queen" could deserve the occasional getaway. Say a few times a year. Otherwise they're stuck in the house, albeit a really nice house. They can't exactly live normal lives and get out and about.

However, I only think such a vacation is warranted for a president and first lady who are actually working for the people. Have they EARNED a vacation?? Has Obama earned all his many, many tee-times?

There isn't enough sarcasm in the world for me to properly answer that question. So, I leave you simply with.

reply to post by ThaLoccster


Um, they are just as bad as the Obama's. You can't say well HE OR SHE DID IT TOO SO ITS ALRIGHT!~@~!@~

Backwards thinking, seriously

The head of TYCO corporation is in prison for throwing his wife a 2 million dollar birthday party at company shareholder expense.

Yet the head of the American Corporation - known as the USA - has NOTHING happen for a $500K party to Africa at company TAXPAYER expense?

They shoud be prosecuted for misallocation of funds.

I would love to see a comparison on trip expenditures between Bush and Obama. Not that I am defending Obama here, but I find the uproar a little funny because presidents and their families have traveled the world over the years using tax payer money and no one bitched about it.

Did you folks bitch when George Bush attended the Olympics in '08, watching basketball while he was visibly intoxicated? I'm sure that entire experience was on our dime as well. And this was in the midst of his administration's orchestration the first bailout for the banks!

Keep it consistent is all I say. Don't piss and moan about what this guy is doing while you didn't care when the last guy was doing the same thing.

Originally posted by Observer99

However, I only think such a vacation is warranted for a president and first lady who are actually working for the people. Have they EARNED a vacation?? Has Obama earned all his many, many tee-times?

Again, Obama is scum, but do you think that George Bush, or Bill Clinton, both of whom have done irreparable damage to this country, earned a vacation? They took several.

You guys sound petty, and stupid.

Every president and/or his family takes vacations and it costs a lot of money to fly any of the family and staff anywhere. And it is only opinion whether or not he earns his paycheck. But sadly, the blatant racism in this thread, like so many others on ATS and elsewhere in regards to Obama, completely negates any potential for useful discussion about these issues on a mature, objective level. If it were up to me, the members making those posts would be permanently banned and accounts deleted, joking or not.

- Dredge

Originally posted by Dredge
Every president and/or his family takes vacations and it costs a lot of money to fly any of the family and staff anywhere. And it is only opinion whether or not he earns his paycheck. But sadly, the blatant racism in this thread, like so many others on ATS and elsewhere in regards to Obama, completely negates any potential for useful discussion about these issues on a mature, objective level. If it were up to me, the members making those posts would be permanently banned and accounts deleted, joking or not.

- Dredge

I didn't want to bring it up because you have cowards on this site that will say something blatantly racist and then accuse you of pulling the race card when you call them out on it, but you pretty much hit the nail on the head.

AboveStormFront.org

reply to post by beezzer


Don't be so hard on her. At least she did not wear those $42K bracelets on the trip.

I also fairly confident that this trip will be the first step in the total transformation of Africa to become a force in world economics and human rights, but then again each year I'm confident that the Dolphins will win the Superbowl........

Seriously, all of these first lady trips, this trip and those of every administration before it are jokes and should be stopped. There is absolutely no reason for the first lady to be doing foreign travel as some kind of half baked good will envoy. They are all tax payer funded boondoogles.

Here we have an administration who leads the Dalai Lama out of the back door of the White House walking past over flowing dumpsters of trash to get to his car and then send the First Lady to some hell hole to give "respect" to some corrupt African heads of state - some of whom are seriously in the tank for China and Russia. Makes sense.

At least they got to see some cool dancing and listen to some bongos.

Originally posted by illuminatislave
I would love to see a comparison on trip expenditures between Bush and Obama. Not that I am defending Obama here, but I find the uproar a little funny because presidents and their families have traveled the world over the years using tax payer money and no one bitched about it.

Did you folks bitch when George Bush attended the Olympics in '08, watching basketball while he was visibly intoxicated? I'm sure that entire experience was on our dime as well. And this was in the midst of his administration's orchestration the first bailout for the banks!

Keep it consistent is all I say. Don't piss and moan about what this guy is doing while you didn't care when the last guy was doing the same thing.

edit on 5-10-2011 by illuminatislave because: (no reason given)

No comparison. Sure if you want to count days, Bush spent more days away from the WH than Obama, but he was either at Camp David or his ranch in TX. Check out the following:

Barbara Bush Versus Michele Obama Vacations
Marie Antoinette... er, Michelle Obama's Trip to Spain
Obama Family Vacation in HI over $1.4M
Obama Shirks Presidential Tradition to... Go on Vacation
Obama Gulfs More in 2 Years Than Bush in 8
Obama Misses Polish President's Funeral to... Play Golf!
Obama Martha's Vinyard Trip To Cost Tax-payers Millions!
Obama Family Vacations Cost $10M This Year Alone!

I could keep going for hours. And before someone brings up the number of days spent vacationing compared to Bush, let's first recognize that Bush was either a.) at Camp David WORKING and relaxing or b.) at his ranch in Crawford, TX WORKING and relaxing.

I'm not defending Bush as I thought he was a mediocre President at best. But the Obama's are HYPOCRITES! Don't give a speech about "Shared sacrifice" and a need to "Have skin in the game" and then vacation at a $50,000 a week villa!

Originally posted by Dredge
Every president and/or his family takes vacations and it costs a lot of money to fly any of the family and staff anywhere. And it is only opinion whether or not he earns his paycheck. But sadly, the blatant racism in this thread, like so many others on ATS and elsewhere in regards to Obama, completely negates any potential for useful discussion about these issues on a mature, objective level. If it were up to me, the members making those posts would be permanently banned and accounts deleted, joking or not.

- Dredge

Where is the "blatant racism" you are referring to??? It appears that your imagination has impeded your ability to launch into "Useful discussions on a mature, objective level" since you have subjectively applied the very juvenile "Race" card on the matter.

reply to post by Dredge


The President and his family deserve vacations. It is unfortunate but it is very expensive for them to travel due to security, communications and technology requirements, etc. I'm certainly not arguing about that. I used to live about a mile from where Obama and his family take vacation in Kailua, HI every year and have been there on several occasions when he was there and found the administration and execution of his visits fantastic. Sensitivity to traffic issues, security very present but low-key at the same time. The Obama's really trying to have a normal vacation experience despite all of the BS that he has to deal with. In other words, well done.

The issue at hand is not the tax payer footing the bill for vacations (at least I don't think so) it is about these lavish, psuedo diplomatic boondoggles that the First Family goes on that are planned and executed under the guise of "State Business". I don't care who the President is, these trips are unnecessary and wasteful. It is particularily offensive when the "guests" include A list celebrities. Clearly Mrs. Obama was on a tax payer funded junket (as was Mrs. Bush when she took her girls to Africa).

There is no racism in the above nor in any of the posts in this thread. Now, unfortunately we happen to be in dire economic times, seeking to save whatever money we have and are confronted with citizens with serious economic hardship. That is the reality of the times we live in and unfortunately for Mr. Obama those are the times of his Presidency. In such times, more restraint and sensitivity are required. Required to show empathy and required to demonstrate leadership. It is exactly the same issue in a thread I authored about Mrs. Obama's wearing $40+K worth of diamonds the other night. It is simply in poor taste.

This administration seems to be incapable of understanding some of the most basic tenets of leadership and empathy is one of them. Having your family go on a lavish trip with absolutely no reason other than to parade about in these economic times is in poor taste - at least it is in my opinion. Its also foolish politics.

Had he wanted to expose his kids to something enlightening he would have gotten far more bang for his buck by having them spend the day in a soup kitchen feeding folks who have been stripped of their economic independence by his incompetent handling of the economy.

reply to post by dolphinfan


I have no problem with them taking a vacation and I understand the need for security, but, how many vacations DO THEY NEED?

Originally posted by illuminatislave
Again, Obama is scum, but do you think that George Bush, or Bill Clinton, both of whom have done irreparable damage to this country, earned a vacation? They took several.

You guys sound petty, and stupid.

edit on 5-10-2011 by illuminatislave because: (no reason given)

What's petty and stupid is using crimes of previous criminals to excuse the crimes of the current criminals. This is part of the plan, and you're being a willing part of it right now. No matter how bad the crimes of Obama, he gets a pass by libs because "that evil Bush did the same / was worse" / "at least he's not a republican."

Don't you see what is happening? The elite get away with murder, and you allow them to hide behind the protective shield of partisan loyalty.

While trying to find out how much money the former First Ladies spent compared to Michelle Obama, I came across this article titled First Lady Now Requires 26 servants

Apparently Laura Bush had 15 personal assistants which cost approximately $1,083,700.00 compared to Michelle's $1,750,000.00. That's about $666,300.00 more than what Laura Bush spent. Earlier First Ladies paid these expenses out of their own pocket unlike the more recent First Ladies who's attendants come out of tax payer money.

The annual cost to taxpayers for such unprecedented attention is approximately $1,750,000 without taking into account the expense of the lavish benefit packages afforded to every attendant.

$172,2000 - Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
$140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)
$113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary)
$102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
$102,000 - Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
$90,000 - Medina, David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
$84,000 - Lelyveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
$75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
$70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
$65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
$65,000 - Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
$62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)
$60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
$60,000 - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
$52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)
$50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)
$45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)
$45,000 - Tubman, Samantha (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
$40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
$36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
$36,000 - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
$36,000 - Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)

I honestly will never understand how some of you here are so polarized... you get caught up in left vs right when thats not the game , it's You/Me (Commoners) vs Them (Elites) Bush, Obama , Etc... understand something (YOU'RE ROOTING FOR THE WRONG TEAM!!!) When you add the fact that 2/3 of our congress and senate are millionaires you should be able to understand with 100% clarity that these folks aren't on your team.

If you can't see it yet, here's another clue

TOP CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS

BUSH 2004

1) Morgan Stanley $557,272
2) Merrill Lynch $520,204
5) Lehman Brothers $353,434

MCCAIN 2008

1) Merrill Lynch $298,413
2) Citigroup $269,251
3) Morgan Stanley $233,272
4) Goldman Sachs $208,395
5) JP Morgan Chase & Co $179,975

OBAMA 2008

1) Goldman Sachs $691,930
3) Citigroup $448,599
4) JP Morgan Chase & Co $442,919
10) Lehman Brothers $370,524

Did you get the picture yet?... why is it that theres never any outcry in the media left or right about this?... Nevermind, don't worry about it , keep fretting over Mrs Obamas Hairstylist...

Originally posted by LearnedToPlayNice
And these are the same idiots who can't understand why occupy wall street is happening...

It SHOULD be occupy WASHINGTON!

How do these arrogant narcissistic idiots think America is going to take this news? Do they actually think we will approve???

I was just thinking, they ought to occupy Pennsylvania Avenue, instead.

Obama is still patronizing Wall Street, which incidentally, does not care two whits about a bunch of college kids who haven't even paid off their student loans, yet.

Maybe it's being allowed to continue due to its high value as a diversionary tactic.

:: shrugs ::

The benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks, at this point.

reply to post by EyesWideShut


It's not that most of us ignore the problems you listed or that we focus on less significant topics, it's that these lesser things are also part of the BIG problem. Most of us are aware that our politicians come from very wealthy families (or have come to wealth in one way or another), and we are also aware that they are bought and paid for by big corporations. These little things like Mrs. Obama's 26 servants costing tax payers $1,700,000.00 per year simply illustrate the arrogance and self-importance that radiates from these people. They seem to become more and more arrogant with each election. These people are supposed to be PUBLIC SERVANTS, they are NOT our royalty yet they sure do try to live that way. It all adds up.