Posted on 08/08/2010 9:45:44 AM PDT by Schnucki
Michelle Obama is under fire from her husband's foes for the expense to American taxpayers of taking her younger daughter Sasha on a "girls' holiday" with friends to a luxurious Spanish retreat.
Andrea Tantaros, a Republican party strategist, caricatured the First Lady as a "modern-day Marie Antoinette" in a scathing New York newspaper column. Some among a flurry of newspaper and television reports, have estimated the cost to the American taxpayer of her entourage's trip at $375,000, drawing criticism as much of the US is mired in economic gloom.
Her stay at the lavish Villa Padierna in the hills above Marbella – where rooms cost up to $2,000 a night – has coincided with the news that the US lost 131,000 jobs last month, significantly more than expected.
President Barack Obama struggled to put a positive gloss on the numbers. "The road to recovery doesn't follow a straight line," he acknowledged on Friday.
But the blanket coverage of his wife's five-star Mediterranean break – including private viewings of the Alhambra palace in Granada and an expected lunch with the Spanish royal family on Majorca today – could not have contrasted more sharply with the bad economic news being battled by the President.
Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, declined to comment on Mrs Obama's holiday, saying "she is a private citizen and is the mother of a daughter on a private trip". But officials have quietly been briefing that some reports of the costs are exaggerated.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
“In fact, presidential travel is paid for by taxpayers-—not the First Lady’s travel.”
Will we be provided with evidence that she did, in fact, pay her and her daughter’s way...because frankly, I don’t believe it for a minute....and I’d be willing to bet that their friends got a free ride as well. Would her meeting with ‘officials’ cover her azz if it were determined taxpayers foot the bill?
“In fact, presidential travel is paid for by taxpayers-—not the First Lady’s travel. “
Well, not really. If she made the trip purely for private reasons, she would have to reimburse the cost of her airline ticket, at commercial rates.
Maybe $400. As compared to the more than $1M cost of the transport, alone.
Moreover, since she made a state visit - lunch with the king of Spain - she has to reimburse nothing. It was a state visit.
I am praying that God would deliver us from these evil people and their wicked policies.
yeah I heard that too. ;>)
Amen to that!
The media and the left (redundant, I know) went bonkers over Palin's $150,000 campaign wardrobe which was paid for by the GOP, not taxpayers.
(In some cases, friends setup a fund for the president's use---do not know if Obama has this source of funds--probably has).
Presidential travel and health care are covered, though not with a specific amount.
$100,000 is given each term for decorating the residence and the Oval Office.
Using the White House medical unit, or an appointed civilian doctor, if the president chooses, does not come with a charge, and prescriptions also are free for the first familyg.
The first family pays for all of their personal food - (their personal meals, not state dinners, etc). The president gets a bill for his personal family meals.
” The president gets a bill for his personal family meals.”
Yes - at the army seperate rations rate ~$2.40/meal.
Waygu beef, $2.40
Has any US media outlet reported this yet other than “media sponsored blogs”?
I think we need to check more journ0list emails.
What about all the islamics Michelle la-bell Antoinette Hussein will meet....?
Starting with a chief mucky muck Hamad al-Thani from Qatar....
On a separate note the returning flight arrives sans incoming customs inspection...
Any bundles of Quat (Kwat) veggies for our illustrious leader on board ....inquiring minds seek to know....?
Adnana KHOSHOOGIE ALSO!!
"Do you understand that this little vacation you insisted on will cost us 10 house seats?"
"Whatever, did you talk to the caterer at Martha's Vineyard yet? I can't wait to finish that stopover to be seen with that hillbilly trash on the gulf coast, so I can relax and enjoy myself. BTW, where are we going for Thanksgiving and Christmas?"
I just reported myself for Abuse. Thanks anyway.
Which one is the president? :p
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