In one year. Is this true? http://politics.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474980044490 Is Michelle Obama a modern-day Mary Lincoln? Anonymous (so far) White House sources are saying it's a fair comparison as the First Lady does to President Obama what Mary Todd did to her husband by spending taxpayer money on luxuries like it was drying up forever. Which is possible... In the last year alone Michelle Obama is accused of spending more than $10 million on vacations and expensive accommodations, all on the public dime. The report, broken by the National Enquirer, is light on the sources, but heavy on the details. The picture painted seems to go way beyond what can be expected for the normal expenses incurred protecting the First Lady and her family. One key complaint centers on the secrecy over Mrs. Obama's staff listing. Who are they and how many are there? So far, there's never been an official public disclosure. But the main dispute stems from the fact that Michelle Obama has already spent more than 6 weeks away from her public duties. Most of that time was eaten up by separate travel from her husband, on military aircraft, and staying at the most expensive and luxurious hotels. All the while running up sky-high bills for top-shelf alcohol, food and personal luxury perks. The Obamas, of course, are entitled to vacations and having a good time, together as a family. But shouldn't they be held accountable for gouging the taxpayer? Can't they pay for the perks out of their own pocket? Especially at a time like this? President Obama will have a hard enough time getting re-elected next year. His wife, like that of his self-professed hero and role model, Abraham Lincoln, shouldn't be making it harder for him. Maybe even impossible?
i dont mind Barrack Obama but I really just cant stand Michelle. Something about her that just rubs me the wrong way. She just has this arrogance to her. But anyways if the above is true then that is pretty disgusting on her part.
You'd think some people would do some research here before writing their articles. From the actual source article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...used-spending-10m-public-money-vacations.html Here are some highlights: GIRLS' TRIP TO SPAIN: AUGUST 2010 The exact cost is unclear as Mrs Obama and her 40 friends footed many personal expenses, such as hotels and meals themselves. But the U.S. taxpayer would have paid for the First Lady's 68-strong security detail, personal staff, and use of presidential jet Air Force Two. Per diems for the secret service team runs at around $281 each - nearly $98,000 for the length of the summer break. Use of Air Force Two, the Air Force version of a 757, comes in at $149,900 for the round trip. This does not include time on the ground. Mrs Obama's personal staff, of which there are an unknown amount and might cost considerably more per day, should also be taken into account. Why would you add cost for her personal staff, when they'd still be getting paid if she were in the US? CHRISTMAS BREAK IN HAWAII: DECEMBER 2010 According to the Hawaii Reporter, the bill for the $1.5m trip included: $63,000 on an early flight bringing Mrs Obama and the children to Hawaii ahead of the President. $1,000,000 on Mr Obama’s return trip from Washington on Air Force One. $38,000 for the ‘Winter White House’ beach property rental. $16,000 to rent nearby homes for Secret Service and Navy Seals. $134,000 for 24 White House staff to stay at the Moana Hotel. $251,000 in police overtime. $10,000 for an ambulance to be on hand at all times $1MM to fly from Hawaii to Washington vs. $150k roundtrip to Spain, and apparently nothing to go from Washington to Hawaii? Does that not seem odd? How that money counts toward Michelle Obama, I'm not even sure.
National enquirer as the original source. Yes it costs a lot of money to fly the first lady around. Its not like she can fly commercial.
Basically since we can never give any loser a chance to take a shot at her, she has to be under extremely expensive security. So the choices are lock her in the white house kitchen or pay her tab. I'm indifferent.
Nah. Oprah is all of the above and she doesn't annoy me like Michelle. Toni Morrison is the above and I could listen to her read the yellow pages. I dislike Michelle in the same manner I disliked those Real House Wives of DC broads.
How do they compare to her? I've never seen this show, but are these ladies graduates of Princeton and Harvard Law?
yeah, i heard she was planning on going to india with an air craft carrier and entourage of 3000 troops. amazing what republicans find to b**** about. bush's long vacations were cool, because he was at the ranch.
Bush real frugal country white folk. Michelle urban black basketball wife spending our hover-around scooter medicare money!
Bush spent an entire year on vacation in total during his presidency. So yes, a whole entire year on our dime.
From the volume of your posts on the subject, you presumably have thought this out: What should the limit be on presidential vacation time?
Why do presidents take vacation. You have 4-8 years to impact history and change the world; why not use every day that you have that opportunity? It will never be there again.
Actually to be fair bush went back home to his Texas ranch on his own dime. Not to exotic locals. Not that I care either way
Why do presidents sleep? For that matter, why haven't we replaced fallible human presidents with cold, calculating robots?
