Seriously... I don't care.

@lisan23 (442)
United States
May 31, 2009 7:36pm CST
Obama took his wife on a date to NYC. They went to dinner and saw a play. Immediately we assume that the tax payers foot the bill for this date because Obama couldn't possibly have any money of his own, right? Oh... wait, that's right. He does. The next thing I know I'm going to hear people whining about what side Obama butters his bread on. This is completley out of hand. All previous presidents used Air Force One to go places for personal reasons. (The Bush's used it to go back to Texas.) If you don't like Obama's policy or what he's doing on a political level then complain about that. But PLEASE stop getting upset over stupid little things that he does in his personal time that (let's face it) don't even involve you.
4 people like this
12 responses
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
1 Jun 09
Actually, the news article that was on Yahoo homepage stated clearly in the article, it was at the expense of the taxpayer's money. I don't have the link, but you could search for it there. Yes, all the president's have done it, but I think it's a load of cr*p regardless of who used my money. They make a lot more then I do, as well as the average American, they should foot their own personal expenses. Especially now a days with the economy is so tanked the way it is. But hey, can't expect much from a president that was elected because of his race can you. Because we all know it's not from his previous experiences as to why he was elected-unless of course you count running around supporting terrorists, guess that would give him some kind of off beat experience huh? And before I get labeled a rascist for, God forbid, even suggesting he was only elected because of his race, I would have gladly voted for Colin Powell if he would've ran years ago, and was really hoping he would've. At least he's got some military experience and the whole mentality of "I want to see history being made" would've been easier to swallow. But, in the end, it really doesn't matter, because he's still a politician puppet with the strings being pulled from higher up. We'll see his true self emerge sooner or later, well we already have, just it was sidetracked because people wanted to see "history being made" at any expense.
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
1 Jun 09
Thank you, puppet is the word, and yes he was elected on lets make history and not what he knew or had done, it is a pity that people can't elect a person on the performance that they have had in previous years, but i also would of voted for colon powell had he run, had nothing to do with the color of his skin, but this election did, put a black man into office, don't care whether he is capable of doing the job, just get him in there. As for his date, let him drive to ny to eat dinner, it cost every time that jet is started up. Let him pay for the fuel, why should the tax payer pay for their night out, I don't care if it Bush or who it is. With the economy the way it is I think every time he does something like this it is a slap in the face to all the people out of work and losing their homes. Not to mention their kids insurance to be able to take them to the doctor, but all he can think about is jumping into the jet and off for a dinner in ny, what no resturants in washington. It is an attention getter and that is what he is after, this is like a popularity contest to him.
• United States
1 Jun 09
If you don't want the race thing to be brought up, then why bring it up yourself with your final statement? Im not saying that you are racist but saying that he got elected because of his race is a stupid statement because i have a half black brother that only voted for Obama because he couldn't stand Mccain or palin...and i am a person affected by the economy because I have no job but I admire the fact that this married man with children, who has the most stressful job in the nation, taking his wife out to a romantic dinner, if the whole thing IS on my tax paying dollars, i would much rather be it on something that more married americans should do than other bs that has no family value meaning
1 person likes this
@lisan23 (442)
• United States
1 Jun 09
Actually the news article from Yahoo News states that the Republican party said he was doing this on taxpayers money. Obama and the White House NEVER said he was using taxpayers money. The link for the article is http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/090531/usa/us_politics_obama_visit_1. Plus, if he used his salary from his job as president it would technically be using taxpayers money - but in the end isn't it up to Obama how he spends his salary as president? And again, there's NO proof that he actually used taxpayers money. That's just been an accusation made from the RNC.
@Latrivia (2878)
• United States
1 Jun 09
I made that point in another thread. Every time a president takes a personal trip, they do it at the tax payers expense. Obama's date with his wife is no more significant than one of Bush's many trips home back to Texas. Nor should anyone care that the president went on a date. I don't give a rats a** about the president's personal life - unless he did something illegal. All that matters is what he's doing politically.
• United States
1 Jun 09
i agree he does have a right to go out with his wife on his own time you can be presedent and still have some what of a life so who cares how many times he goes out on a date with his wife , i am glad that he still has time for his family
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
1 Jun 09
I'm with you on this one lisan. I hadn't heard this "breaking news" but then again, I tend to block this sort of stuff pretty well. I really really don't care what they do in their personal lives. These people that get into these sorts of stories are what keep the paparazzi in business. With all that is going on in the world ...you gotta wonder about the mentality and energy that puts focus on this sort of crap.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
1 Jun 09
I think it is silly that people would make a big deal out of this. Even the president of United States needs some down time once in a while, and should be able to take his wife out on the town if he wants to. Sure he had to have protection and the tax payers pay for the Secret Service to protect the President but the Secret Service would be protecting him if he was at home watching TV too. I don't believe this cost the tax payers a thing. I does draw a salary and I am sure had plenty of money before becoming president so he can certainly afford a night out if he wants.
• United States
2 Jun 09
I hear you on this issue and totally agree. For the past six months, every little action taken by the President that the Extreme Right Ultra-conservatives don't like, they have proclaimed it the end of our country! (or atleast seems like it). I first heard of this story on HLN, and it was pointed out that the President could not just take a bus, train, or drive to NYC for security reasons (he is the President, after all). So, instead of using Air Force One, he used a helicopter that costs less than half of what it would have cost using Air Force One. We all have a right to our own opinion and have a right to express it. I do prefer to read and respond to discussions concerning policy issues rather than political posturing. I no longer go to the politics section because the last time I checked, there was only 1 discussion out of 20 that I felt that for me was worthy of a response. The rest was just bickering, written by those who have their shorts in such a bunch up against the anal orifice that they are suffering from methane retention. We all are entitled to disagree with other points of view, but we must remember to be respectful, and be polite. This way everyone can have a good experience.
• Philippines
1 Jun 09
For me if its his personal matter we should care n0t for that becAuse pres.ObAMA has its riGht to unwind sometimes becAuse being a president of the most powerful country in the world is not an easy task and for a human to perform his task welL he must take a break fr0m his busy schedule all i can say is that lets give him his time as long as he didnt forget his duTY as a president then so be it..
• United States
1 Jun 09
I know exactly what you mean lisan, people are so scrutinizing of the man, i totally agree with that if you dont like his policies, then complain about the policies, if you don't like his views on this or that law, then complain about that, but people who complain about his personal life seem like "desperate housewives" to me that have nothing better to do than discuss "OMG did you hear that Obama took his wife to a expensive dinner? Im so upset, let me go get some more bon- bons and ill tell you all about it"
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
1 Jun 09
I'd bet my bottom dollar that Obama paid for the whole trip out of his personal pocket!
@ganderlot (351)
• United States
1 Jun 09
I agree completely.. or should I say TOTALLY.
@o0Tora0o (355)
• United States
1 Jun 09
This. I read the news article, and quite frankly it disgusted me. So the man kept a promise he made to his wife and took her on a date to New York City. They had dinner and saw a show on Broadway. So what? It's not like he's been making a habit of jetting off to play whenever the fancy strikes him, and he does get paid enough to be able to afford things like the New York trip... I love how everyone gets up in arms over stupid little things, but doesn't give a rat's patootie about the things that really matter.   -_-;
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
1 Jun 09
I can't believe how petty people are. The people who are making a big deal about this I'm sure didn't vote for him. It was ok that Bush could fly to Texas whenever and bring our country to its knees, but Obama can't take his wife out on a date. Give me a break! I wish all of the people who are against our new President would stop talking how much they can't stand the new President and just leave and go to another country.
@zzyw87 (1254)
• Philippines
1 Jun 09
I agree with you. Why don't people think that Obama may have his own money to spend and not the taxpayer's money? Is is really that hard to believe Obama may have his own money? The problem with people is that they always tend to think negatively. Some people like criticizing others, even the very little and most insignificant things. For me, as long as Obama is a good, ethical, and responsible President, I don't care if he takes a little vacation every now and then. He deserves it.