How much more should taxpayers pay out?

@marie2052 (3691)
United States
August 13, 2012 9:30pm CST
I was deleting mail I have read and I know we have all batted the vacation thing with the Prez and first lady. Well if we still need to justify their rights and we should pay as tax payers, I still can't believe we are so dumb as to fall for this. I am not here to persuade anyone on anything. Just facts of how luxurious life has been for this four years of this presidency. Michelle Obama Listed Daughters As 'Senior Staffers' To Justify her Expensive African Vacation and Safari. October 5, 2011 Judicial Watch said the U.S. Air Force provided a C-32 ( a Boeing 757) modified by the military for the purpose of flying big-wigs around the world - to fly the First Lady and her entourage to and from Africa , at a cost of $424,142. Another $928.44 was listed as 'bulk food' costs of providing 192 onboard meals for the 21 people who made the trip. The Obama daughters were listed on the manifest as 'senior staff.' 'This trip was as much an opportunity for the Obama family to go on a safari as it was a trip to conduct government business,' said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. 'This junket wasted tax dollars and the resources of our overextended military. No wonder we had to sue to pry loose this information.' I missed this story yesterday, but it's worthy of our attention. The nation is suffering with the economy sputtering, the national debt soaring and Obama's economic rescue policies not only failing but actively making things worse. Meanwhile, the First Lady justifies an expensive trip to Africa to take a vacation and safari with her daughters by saying it's 'official business' and even going so far as to list her children as 'staffers.' The level of arrogance and dishonesty on display here is nothing short of shocking. But, er, 'hope for change' and yes we can.. It's a true story. Check it out on your favorite search engine.
4 responses
• United States
15 Aug 12
Marie, I hate to tell you this, but presidents and their families for decades have used the assets of the office to enjoy themselves. The Bush family took many trips, including hundreds back to Texas, cost the tax payers tens of millions. Not to mention the hundreds of trips to Iraq, and Afghanistan by senior members of the administration. Funny how we all forget that Laura Bush did the same thing with daughter Jenna Bush. Here is a link for you: http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/history/faculty/TROYWEB/LauraBushpreparesforfirstsolotripabroad.htm I wonder why Judicial Watch didn't sue to see how much this cost the tax payers? They must have just been to busy to do that!!!
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Aug 12
Deb, Bush may have owned their house, but it is a long ways from Washington to Crawford, and they were there multiple times a month. The point of the story was that Laura Bush went on this extravagant European adventure with her daughter. Does this sound familiar? They also go to great lengths in defending her trip, using other first ladies adventures as a justification. My point is that if you are going to attack Michelle Obama for this, than maybe you should attack Laura Bush for doing the same thing. But, we all know that WON'T happen!!!
1 person likes this
@andy77e (5156)
• United States
16 Aug 12
It's funny how ironic this is. If you remember, during the first 3 years Bush was in office, many people complained that she wasn't "first-lady like" enough. She kept such a low profile during here entire time, that people complained she wasn't being flamboyant enough. Now, we have Michael, which I personally have no opinion on. I haven't paid enough attention to her to know if I like her or not... But regardless, here she is and people are complaining she's blowing billions like a member of the Queen Elizabeth royal family... and what do we hear? "LAURA WAS THE SAME!!" These leftists are Schizo, the way the flop around year by year.
1 person likes this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
15 Aug 12
$10M as compared to $4M. The Bush's owned their own home in TX, and actually entertained foreign dignitarys there as part of the job of President. The link you posted, great PR for Ms. Bush, she was a lady and comported herself as such, the article was very flattering to her. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@lampar (7584)
• United States
18 Aug 12
I guess it all depend on how much more bigger the federal government want to become, and how much higher congress think themselve actually worth and willing to pass legislation to raise their own salaries, perks and benefits and C.O.L.A in the year ahead; and also how many more advance war machines the country need to fight politician's perceived enermy.
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
26 Aug 12
Good Answer Lampar!
1 person likes this
@lampar (7584)
• United States
26 Aug 12
Thank for the BR, it is a great choice on your part. Thump up for you.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
14 Aug 12
You don't have to convince me. I've watched this playing out for quite some time. It's disgusting, how they take advantage of the position, both of them. Michelle is more flamboyant about it, but they both think they're royalty. I hope they get a loud wake up call in November.
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
14 Aug 12
Amen for sure. If they were paying for their vacations I would not deny them but since its a vacation. Thanks for the response
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
15 Aug 12
Hello Marie, glad you posted this. The American people need to know where their tax dollars are going. The question is this; will they realize just how much in contempt they are held by the Obamas? Or do they enjoy being used as long as they can have 'hope' and move 'forward' into the utopia Obama says he can give them?
1 person likes this
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
17 Aug 12
Well with 42million people on foodstamps, government medical, and government subsidized housing, and getting a paycheck there is no motivation to return to like it was. I heard a radio host talking to someone on his show. the gentleman said he was talking to a lady that was just embracing the idea of getting free health care. The gentleman asked her what her family was making, of course he did not talk about the personalization of the family but when he sat down with her and showed her what her family was making would cost her 10,000 to 15,000 a year for the Obama health care. If you remember when the Prez was running, a lady come out and said OH Baby when he is president I won't have to pay for my car, my house or anything. well I assume she meant she rides busses or trolleys, has subsidized housing and lives off the government. If not I would sure LOVE to find that lady in the crowd to see how she is doing 4 years later of this President!