First Lady Michelle Obama over the last year has spent a total of 42 days on vacation, or a little more than one out of every nine days, according to a White House Dossier analysis of her travel.
Her vacations, the cost of which are mostly borne by taxpayers, include trips to Panama City, Fla., Martha’s Vineyard, Hawaii, South Africa, Latin America, Vail, Colo., and her visit this week to her brother in Corvallis, Ore.
The total does not include a nine day sojourn in Martha’s Vineyard that the Obamas will enjoy this month. Nor does it include a trip she made to Ireland and Great Britain in May, which I’m counting as official travel.
The total vacation time would have been slightly higher had the Obamas gone as planned for an April weekend in Williamsburg, Va. The trip was cancelled due to an extended stalemate between President Obama and Congress over the budget.
Mrs. Obama’s extensive vacation travel comes while many America citizens find themselves out of work or having trouble making ends meet as the economic recovery stalls.
Taxpayers pick up most of the cost of transporting the first lady and her extensive entourage – including Secret Service and her staff – to her various destinations. While she may in some cases pay some of the tab for her personal expenses and travel, the amount is dwarfed by the overall cost to the public.
On trips she makes with the president, though, the costs are only somewhat greater that then they would have been had he travelled alone.
Mrs. Obama’s vacations began in August 2010 with a two day weekend trip to Panama City, Fla., where the Obamas stayed overnight at a Gulf of Mexico hotel in a symbolic effort to show that the Gulf area was safe for travel in the wake of the disastrous BP oil spill.
Next up was what has become an annual pilgrimage to ritzy Martha’s Vineyard, where the Obamas stayed 10 days and dined at several exorbitantly priced restaurants.
In December 2010, with President Obama delayed because Congress was still in town, Mrs. Obama decided to leave without him for their annual Hawaiian vacation, racking up at least $63,000 in additional costs because she travelled alone.
Since the president arrived late, he decided to leave Hawaii in January two days later than scheduled – resulting in a 17 day vacation for the first lady.
Mrs. Obama went right back out on vacation the following month, taking a four day skiing trip in February of this year to Vail, Colo.
In March, Mrs. Obama travelled to Latin America for a five day trip. I’m counting two days of this as vacation, though, because she took her children and her mother along, performed some sightseeing, and went to the beach.
The first lady went to southern Africa in June for six days in what was partially an official visit. Since Mrs. Obama took her mother, her children and their cousins along, since the trip was billed in advance as having personal significance for her, and since the travel included several tourist destinations and a safari, I’m counting half of the journey as vacation, or three days.
Finally, Mrs, Obama took her mother and one of her children to visit her brother in Corvallis, Ore. this week. The trip was not announced by the White House and appears to have lasted four days.
457 thoughts on “Michelle Obama Spent 42 Days on Vacation this Past Year”
Since it now appears that the trip to Oregon was another vacation that was kept quiet to avoid criticism, I will now add my voice to those who criticized her for not attending the Dover trip. I withheld because I thought there was the potential that there was a family emergency. Instead, it was another classless move by the most ungraceful First Lady ever. Now that she’s made so many trips on the taxpayer’s dime, she must be really proud of her country.
Don’t think she is any more proud of her country than she was when she made that statement. Black liberation theology plays a big role in the behavior of both Mr. & Mrs. Obama. America owes them, and they are collecting their due.
And while they’re at it, “collecting their due,” as you put it, they are trashing our country and taking more hard earned money from hardworking American citizens. Some how I don’t think this appropriate!
And now, a Public Service Announcement from The Usurper and The Hamburgler http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyK5-kJ-je8
“America owes them, and they are collecting their due.”
Well said, Susan.
Perfect
Baloney! Vacation on what the American people pay you to do your job, like the rest of us. When was the last time you took 40 friends on vacation on someone else’s money???
I would like to know why someone would think that America “owes” the Obama’s anything? What is it that Lady Obama is “due” ? I hope that it is not an assumption that just because someone is black that America owes them something. The Obama’s both have had advantages that many have not…and I mean White, Hispanic, Oriental etc. President Obama had free education….he did not pay a dime for his education…he was given a large home by a political friend of his…Lady Obama also received part of her education on the tax payers dime..you know, grants…President Obama’s life was not even half as hard as many others have had nor was his wifes. They had the same opportunities that everyone else in America has been given, its not like they have not been successful…they are millionaires and both are attorneys, so, once again…just how is it that America “owes” them?
I hate to be the one to dissagree, butt accouring to my calculations, Lady M is suffering a serious vacation deficit!
Both Keith’s item and your “rebuttal” (or whatever you want to call it) are priceless.
How does America owe them ? Where else can you Become President when all you know is how to make speaches . He will become the worst President this country ever had . and that is sad because he could have been the greatest.
You waited because as a true American with values and morals, you gave the benefit of the doubt..
Michelle Obama just like Barack Obama are just here for the party, and dont care..
The families at Dover SPECIFICALLY requested there be no media or camera’s there, yet Barry brought his personal guy. It was the WH photo of the day within hours…
Nothing like a shameless plug between golf and lobster…
Yeah, turning that into a photo op was unconscionable.
A cheap, sleazy (although typical) move by this miserable bag of human feces. Re-election motivates this POS, irregardless.
What a sad day for America and the patriots who serve their country.
i totally agree. it was a classless, disrespectful, and disgusting move, but in contrast, if you were one of the family members greeting a loved one’s remains, would you want to see her standing there when that loved one was returned?
As 1st Lady, I would expect it.
Laura would have came..
What can we expect from people with their backgrounds.
Remember when they danced in the White House with the Rapper that likes Cop Killers while it was a week to honor Police.
ANYONE BUT OBAMA IN 2012 !!
No More Limo Liberal Trash
I totally agree with you William, especially the last sentence. What a disgrace. I haven’t gone on vacation in 3 years! Can’t afford it and my husband was laid off 4 months ago. The Obama’s should at least practice empathy and be humble. Will it kill them to not go on so many days of vacation? Sheesh, just living in the White House is like a vacation. Sickening.
Your situation sounds bad but you’re inability to travel has nothing to do with the Obama’s ability to travel.
You make no sense.
Everyone I know goes on vacation each year. I personally take about 6 travel trips to other states or countries a few times a year. i’m not stopping.
NAH…….You ain’t seen nothing yet!
Haha, seriously, though, you didn’t *really* withhold your judgement, did you?
And she can have our french fries when she pulls them from our cold, dead hands…or maybe just while we’re in a diabetic coma, but whatever.
That’s what’s called “gaming the system”.
I guess she is of the school that life is uncertain, eat dessert first–though that seems pretty “deep” for her.
Actually her theory is “Eat dessert first, but nobody else better have any.”
LOL. Fork through the hand! Back off!
LOL – silly Negroes, they’re all them same!
Keith, How about; 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.
Which as I remember late July or early August last year….that was a pricey one!
J2O – I did – https://www.whitehousedossier.com/2010/07/29/michelle-obama-vacation-spain/
And did it well! Nice pix.
Sorry, I missed that one.
Total arrogance! Today’s Imelda Marcos!!!
do as I SAY – NOT as I DO
Michele Obama
ANYONE BUT OBAMA IN 2012 !!!
A Sad Day in the U. S. A.
Can we strip the title First Lady from this woman?! There was never any question she was day tripping again. Why go to Dover when she can squeeze in a secret vacation in before vacation? The fact they are keeping her under wraps is an obvious sign how unpopular she is and admitting what she is doing is wrong they just don’t give a dam!
They are both pretty smokin’ on the home page of AOL all the time since The Accented Divorcee took over my ISP. If I wanted the Huffington Post, I could go there.
Amen! Stock in AOL dropped wonder why? Ruined my favorite food blog too:(!
Yeah, they tried to say it was because they were paying writers –unlike Zsa’s practice on her other site…what a funny joke. I love funny jokes, don’t you?
Like those inhabiting the WH now yes I do love a good joke:)
Star, do you know of a way we can avoid HuffPo,if you have an AOL account? I sure hate going through that slime every time I check my email. Thanks.
drop them in the spam folder they go away nicely
For starters, you could leave the early 90s.
AOL is so 1996 … just let it go.
Why doesn’t she have a budget for air travel? Can’t there be some kind of limits placed on their travel? I know someone is going to come on here and claim this is ridiculous and past presidents and first ladies also used planes all of the time, but this really seems a bit excessive. There has got to be a way to limit both of their “carbon footprints”!!!!1
Michelle Antoinette is werking the perking that comes with being First Lady. There never was a need before to limit what the First Lady did because their perks and privileges were used wisely and with attention to the fact that other people were footing the bill.
I believe Michelle Anoinette is, in part, taking the money that she thinks she should receive in salary form for being First Lady. The honor of holding this unelected position would mean nothing to a person who has never been proud of her country. Too bad such a person became FIrst Lady.
There is a way to limit it their travel. Vote pack of liars and cheats out of office.
True, I just wish we could do something before then. She is really taking advantage of the situation.
I love this website! One-stop shopping for angry white racists!
What racist comment(s) are you referring to? Oh, sorry I forgot, dealing with the facts is incomprehensible to liberals and progressives. It’s much easier to accuse fact tellers of being racist than it is to admit that this entire administration is an utter failure and embarrassment. M.O.’s behavior is just a reflection of her hubbies governing style, that is, Mostly Absent.
p.s. please let me know how you magically discerned that the “racist” comments here are all made by white people.
She does have a budget but the President keeps on raising the ceiling.
Srdem is right. The Obamas’ certainly have learned how to game the system. They always throw an official appearance or two into every boondoggle trip they make. Just like Obama’s trip yesterday. We, of course, paid for that trip because he made a stop at some battery plant that has been propped up with our tax dollars. That was just a pit stop along the way to the big New York campaign event where he rubbed elbows with the elite movers and shakers.
I know Bush was forced to release the financials on his campaign related trips. Would be nice to see the books on the Obamas’ travel expenses. I won’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen.
Of course Obama would release his travel expense records as part of that whole “transparency thing”, just as he has done with his school records, passport records, etc…..oh wait.
I love it. You guys are so on.
Birth certificate…oh wait.
Agreed, they should be forced to sit in an unheated hovel, released from their chains only long enough to come out on the street corner and perform songs and beg for scraps. Oh, what has become of the America I loved?
Keith,
Be careful with your assessments. They might decide to go after you like they’re now going after S&P.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/SEC-investigating-SPs-rb-3543917251.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=2&asset=&ccode=
That’s what they are hoping for! Those Chicago rules of fear and intimidation and control of the media. That’s why we need more like
Keith and let them read so the see we are watching and will not be
silenced out of fear!
Unbelievable. So the SEC is MIA on all financial shenanigans that got us into this mess, but they are Johnny on the spot when the ruling class releases the dogs on any person or organization that dares to tell the truth.
Shhh! they only let him come to the briefings so they can watch him…
Obama misuses his office.
He keeps trying to Black list so many different people and sources.
He’s another Richard Nixon.
You guys are right. I think she should only ba allowed to leave the white house once a month, and they should homeschool the kids so we won’t have to pay for their security detail everyday.
I think she should leave the White House PERMANENTLY and take her kids, her mother and her hubby with her.
Better yet, send them back to the part of Africa Obama is really from.
I think after they vacate we should file a class action lawsuit to get
all the money spent on vacations, expensive clothes and junk jewelry. For heavens sake if you are going to pay $2500 for a
pair of earrings at least make them pretty and real!
Only a little over 5 years left. I cant wait.
Not
Sorry, everything that woman wears is ugly!
you know what they say………”lipstick on a pig”
If she would just stand up straight and stop slouching. I have seen worse posture. What kind of “role model” is that for all the kiddies to whom she is dictating…………
racist much?
I agree we shouldn’t have to pay for secret service to protect this family. Why are they so special? We should send Obama back to Hawaii. I didn’t realize Hawaii is in Africa.
You win the prize for best comment of the day!
Michelle has NO BUSINESS taking vacations at taxpayer expense; she is not a federal employee and thus should not be eligible for “vacations” courtesy of the rest of us. Maybe like most Americans she could take vacation when her spouse does.
No offense but we need to protect them and us from them when they leave the WH. becuase they will sell all the secrets to our enemies the muslim brotherhood..remember keep your enemies close
Why you…..you….you….RACIST!!!
I LOVE it!!
Truth hurts you , so stick your head back in the sand.
I bet the “trip to visit her brother” was to pick him up and bring him back to the Vineyard. Probably picked up others along the way. Guaranteed
The title of this article is inaccurate. It says Michelle SPENT 42 days on vacation…. That is incorrect. WE spent, Michelle and all her coffee clutch buds WENT. She is truly living large at our expense. Can’t wait until she is able to do so on her own money! That can’t come soon enough for me and MILLIONS of others. Want to see this free loader getting a C boarding pass on Southwest Airlines like many of US. Wonder if she will still love our Country when that happens?
Well, we’re half-way. Moochelle never was proud of this country, now she’s happy as a pig in slop – literally, and we’re the ones whop have nothing to be proud about the way the pres, senate, dems and freeloaders who pay no taxes yet live off those of us who work.
Looking forward to Nov 2012 when we reach full circle and kick the Jeffersons out of the WH. Then Moochelle can go eat at her greasy spoons all the time. Oh wait, she already does while lecturing us.
Guess the ugly flip fop is on the other foot now:)
You forgot her elaborate over-the-top Spain trip last year. I think she stayed at the Ritz or a Ritz-like resort in Marbella, Spain.
Like Jeffersons on steroids. Only these are ghetto rats wit tum cash!
Looks like someone has a bone to pick for some reason. what crawled up your ass. Did you know our service members get 30 days per year in vacation? maybe you should write an oped condemning them if they choose to use all of their vacation. In the USA, we enjoy the least amount of time off compared to any of the other major industrialized nations.
So you’re demented enough to compare the Obama parasites to our service men/women?? If that is the case, and it appears that is exactly what it is, you need serious help.
No flaming, Keith.
I think he “flamed” our service men/women by comparing them to to moochelle. That I cannot tolerate.
I understand your feelings, but I want to avoid personal attacks here.
No problem.
“30 days per year in vacation”
Spoken like a true anti-military zealot. If anyone believes that military men and women actually take 30 days vacation a year, they’re smoking some good stuff. They may “get” 30 days but in the middle of multiple conflicts, there is absolutely no way any military member gets to pick and choose vacation days at whim. Having served during the Clinton years and experiencing first hand the vacation requests, I guarantee you, nobody gets to take all 30 days a year. Unit preparedness will not allow for such in the military.
i did get thirty and it was before i went to the pi..for six yrs..was great to serve under reagan and bush 41…go a.f.
Tell me you aren’t comparing the military who put their lives on the line protecting our freedom, with the pampered elite who sit on their butts all day long.
That comment doesn’tbdeservean answer one born everyday.
If you don’t understand the need or requirement for decorum and an ostentatious display of taking advantage of the system like a gluttonous pig, you may not be able to put into perspective the distinction between the state of the economy, the citizens abhorrence of this nauseating display, or the disdain for the populace shown by the arrogant parasites initiating the cause of this conversation.
Oh, and Chris…. If you could for a moment, spark the thought of this article and the date. That number is “as of this date” and there is still one third of the year to go. How about a calculation of how much time YOU think she will be able to log on our dime by the END of the year.
The bride of King Kong is NOT a government employee to the knowledge of the mighty Boa.
“First Ladies” in the past have traveled for business purposes. No normal person begrudges them that much. But nobody can deny that the beast AND the muslim infiltrator have gone way over the top in blowing taxpayer money on their little pleasure trips.
I was one of those service men who got 30 days vacation a year that we never had time to take and… oh, by the way, we were on duty 24/7/365. What kind of duty hours does Moochelle have?
Keith,
Can you post the highest number of days on vacation Laura Bush took in a year. Curious to have something to judge this against. Thanks.
I don’t see a need to compare. This article is about Michelle, not Laura Bush. The figure stands on its own as something one can be critical of or not.
Excellent response. The topic is the current First Lady.
So….your going to blame Bush on this also?…..hmmmmm.
Personally,with all the accomplishments(REAL ONES) Laura committed to and accomplished in her 8 years in the White House, I dont care how many days she took. She was and is still very much a 1st lady. Laura Bush has done more for this country SINCE leaving the White House, than mooshelle has. Not even in the same room with Laura.
And like Kieth said ,its all about Michelle,so Pbbbbbttttt on you
Just ordinary folks.
Uhm, what happened to Spain, or was that in a different year?
I am reminded of something. Do the obamas stay around town for Christmas? I think that they went to Hawaii last year instead of celelbrating it atthe WH. Where did they go the year before? Where will they go this year? I only ask because I absolutely remember Obama stating that the family does not celebrate Christmas. That would explain the vacations at Christmas away from the WH. I recall him saying that the girls receive gifts two times a year, their birthdays and at Easter. I would have never thought that we as a nation would have elected a man that didnt celebrate Christmas. Sad.
Must be nice that I am paying for the Moron in Office and his family to vacation constantly, when I can’t even afford to miss a day of work to take one. How’s that change working out for everyone else?
I cashed in my vacation to pay my Gas & electric. Last year I cashed it in to pay my taxes. Who gets a vacation? No one I know.
“It is my occupation to be plain.”
Vacation from what? How many hungry children would that money feed?
Unbelievable, but then again…Being Queen of the USA is a rough job.
One must get the R&R in to rest up after doing all those exercises, like counting the campaign dollars.
This *$^@#& needs to stop spending the harding-working taxpayers’ money!!!!
As one of the 50%ers who work our ass off to pay taxes and support the rest of the deadasses who don’t, I am pissed off.
And how many calories consumed on those 42 days?
Next article: estimate HOW MUCH all of this vacation time has cost the tax payers. The bright side, at least Mrs. Obama is REALLY proud of her country now.
Who the heck cares how many days this woman takes for vacation, except for the fact that we taxpayers pay for it. That is the issue, not the number of days.
Remember, we did not elect her not do we favor her with a paid position, even though she takes over 5 million dollars to support her most important staff of more than 20.
She is another public self important political person, period…..
Don’t forget the cancelled trip to Whitefish, Montana during the debt debate!
Why should we expect anything less from this no class FLOTUS?
So what’s your point? My wife works at a local college and has breaks and summers off, so she has more vacation time than Mrs. Obama. Do you have a dollar figure for the cost of her vacations? If so, how does this compare to previous first ladies? Maybe your point is here’s an uppity black lady using our dollars to live the high life, like that anecdotal Reagan Cadillac drivin welfare queen he always talked about. So should Michelle be back in the White House shining the silver? What is your alternative?
So should Michelle be back in the White House shining the silver? What is your alternative?
It’s been so long since it’s been done with a straight face, I almost missed the racist crack here… Aside from that–what is the alternative? Maybe a cause that helps truly afflicted kids or animals–not just those who are eating too much. An elaborate, hands-on plan to eliminate a disease like Melinda Gates is doing with polio? Maybe more involvement with her own kids, sans minders and nannies. Maybe a tour of job retraining facilities that already exist to give those visibility. Let’s see…maybe….
I have to laugh — how old-fashioned to evoke the “uppity black lady” cliche and the ancient Reagan welfare queen event. Let’s see, Reagan was in office in the 1980s — 30 years ago. As for “uppity,” the only people I see using that term are those who are waving the race card frantically to distract from the real issue at hand.
Michelle Antoinette could stay in the White House and take care of her children and husband and hostess the official events that occur there. Or she could combine a quiet life with a few charities or causes that do not require the necessity for expensive travel. These are just two suggestions that are more palatable than her expensive celebrity lifestyle.
Unelected spouses of Presidents have varied in how they spent their time and if Mrs. Obama went on all these vacations and let her private resources foot the bill I would have no criticism to make. However, the fact that she vacations extensively and lets taxpayers pay her way is very offensive and would be so no matter what her race.
I think the race card must smell unless waved frantically once a day — it comes out so often and nearly always is not pertinent to the dicussion at hand. You have waved yours, Mr. kogut, so put it away until tomorrow.
I don’t pay for your wife’s vacations. I do (apparently) pay for Michelle Antoinette’s. and even those I wouldn’t begrudge her if she wasn’t so clearly taking advantage of it at a time when the country is hurting.
Oh….your wife is a teacher. Nuf said.
How about during tough times, like now, she stays at the White House to support her husband? It is what I try to do when my husband is under a lot of stress, just try to be there because it is what a wife is supposed to do. I know it sounds old fashioned, but it has worked for my marriage. When the going gets tough . . . most of us can’t just jump on AF2 and leave.
the obama’s have been milking (fleecing) us since they took office. can’t wait until they are off the american payroll and funding of their lifestyle.
The sad thing is, they’ll never be off the American payroll. His retirement is around $225,000.00 a year for life and you and I can’t believe the perks for life.
we should change the retirement and perks. But just for this president.
Paying for her to be away on vacation is better than having to see her fat a** and hear her loud mouth.
There are no words left. This “woman” is enough to gag a maggot. Her hypocrisy is mind-boggling. She hogs the nation’s lobster supply while telling us to be satisfied eating the carrots that we grow on our own patch! She flies a bunch of freeloaders to Spain, where she wins a special “award” arranged by Eva Longoria, then arranges for Eva Longoria to come to the White House as a special guest! ALL PAID FOR BY OUR MONEY!!!! Take, take, take, take, take, and then take more! And, since when does a FLOTUS, who is bringing mom and daughter to visit her brother, get a “motorcade?” She lives like a welfare queen who just won the Irish Sweepstakes or an African potentate’s first wife!!! VOMIT!
And you wondered why O’Bozo was so worried about raising that debt limit? He has a FAMILY to feed, you know….
AH HAHAHA!!
You have NO idea how much it costs to keep these people in Kobe Beef and lobsters!
So madame ‘banjo butt‘ spent in excess of forty days making like Marie Antoinette, what’s the downside?
What does she do when she’s NOT on vacation? It’s not like she has a job does she?
What a lot of American idiots have accomplished at the ballot box, is place two Muslim Grifters in the White House. Neither care one iota about America, or its people. They plan on being on a four year vacation and hope for eight and while vacationing, tear down this nation and steal all they can while in power.
I hope we’ve learned a lesson…
Poor Jeronimo, You really think that those who voted for bama ….as dumb as they are….wouldn’t vote for him again..We have a citizenry so out of reality I doubt they even know who they voted for last election
Wow……6 weeks of all-inclusive vacations all paid for by the taxpayers. Must be nice. The nation is falling apart and Michelle gets to fly first class around the globe in a private jet. Must be nice.
I guess that’s the “hope and change” that they were talking about……….
Pretty obvious she is not comfortable in her role. She is milking it for all it is worth.
Sad….. I hope the next President and his/her wife can restore the dignity to this office.
Fat lazy parasite….all she is and ever will be
This is racist
yep
Listen, I wish her hubby would take a permanent vactation, but I really don’t care how many days a first lady “works” I didn’t elect her for anything.
That said, she doesn’t need to be “vacationing” on our dime either.
Thank you , Keith for a good piece of work.
Its a disgrace and a double standard that the mainstream media do not expose the WH abuse of public funds and resources. The media are mouth pieces more than they are conduits to the people, at least when a Democrat is in WH.
Obama ain’t no democrat with a wife who travels in a style like his does!
As it turns out, Bush easily eclipsed Ronald Reagan’s previous record for presidential sloth. By March 2008, Bush had spent all or part of 879 days at his Crawford, Texas ranch or at Camp David, surpassing Reagan’s mark of 866. By the time he left office, George W. Bush had made 149 trips to and spent 487 days at Camp David, with another 77 getaways to (and 490 days at) Crawford. Toss in 11 visits and 43 days at his folks’ compound in Kennebunkport, Maine and President Bush spent 1020 days – 35% of his presidency – getting away from the White House.
hahaaaaa;-()
Daily Kos
I see you got your facts from the usual unreliable source.
Bush did spend a lot of time away. At least he kept it to a couple of locations, so it cost us a lot less to secure those areas and equip them with what he needed to work.
Michelle Antoinette’s vacays on the hand are simple taxpayer money spent to indulge an unelected spouse’s taste for travel and novelty.
What a pig.
Who cares she’s not the president.
I care–since I’m footing the bill for it.
I care; we’re in a recession!
How much did the 42 vacation days cost the TAXPAYERS
in total? And how did the US Government allow this?
Is this a case of Marie Antoinette–Let Them eat PEAS?
Don’t forget that she is constantly ‘sneaking’ out of the Wh for lunches, dinners, shopping….and taking a 22 vehicle motorcade wherever she goes.
Also, her alleged trips to spend 5 minutes with military families are nothing more than photo ops so she can charge the taxpayers for ‘official business’. She joy rides on AF Two nearly every day with all her friends and relatives. We are never allowed to see who gets out of the back of that plane!
Remember the kerfuffle the first week the grifters took over the Wh when a plane buzzed the WTC sending panic through the streets??? That was Mooshelle and her friends showing off!
She pays for her own vacations. The taxpayers pay for her security and by extension her transportation. Really it does not matter that the Bush’s had racked up about 4 times the vacation time that the Obamas have. As has been pointed out here, it is completely irrelevant what first ladies have done in the past. This first lady and her ghetto kids should not be allowed to leave the white house. If they want to go somewhere they should go when Barry goes and we already have to pay for security.
You know what makes me sick, is the pathetic people in the mainstream media, would be crucifying Bush, if he vacationed as much as our dear leader and his queen. Really, quite pathetic and so over the top with bias.
The issue is not whether or not she takes more vacation than someone else. The point is perceptions, the economy and just showing some humility. When millions of people are out of work, furloughed or working twice as hard because of layoffs and they have had to make cuts in their lifestyle, those in charge should at least attempt to show some constraint, i.e. the Obamas could publicly come out and use the bully pulpit to tell the American people that they have explained to their own children that this year we are going to send you to camp and then as a family we will take one vacation. I don’t begrudge those who have the ability to do more than me that right, however it’s all about perceptions. My boss used to say to me – it isn’t what is real – it is about perceptions. He works as hard as I do and he’s 70 years old. He doesn’t expect me to do anything he wouldn’t do himself and that includes coming to work early and working past 5:00 if necessary. Just because you are the leader of the free world or a company doesn’t mean you can’t at least try to moderate your lifestyle so those whom you lead see some humility and sacrifice. It also doesn’t matter what prior Presidents and First Ladies did – this is now, this is our current state of affairs. Be leaders.
Amen!
Worked for a company that was downsized twice. This company had a meeting every year at a fancy spa like place. I worked in the accounting section and our manager refused to go or send any of the
senior staff he said it wasn’t right. What a guy.
It’s ethics Lizzy. Your old boss had ethics. Sure wish we had a few ethical people like him in DC.
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