The Cost to U.S. Taxpayers for Michelle and Family's African Excursion.
by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Birthplace of Independent Conservatism
Liberty -vs- Tyranny
Michelle Obama's June 2011 trip to Africa was quite costly to say the least. Judicial Watch, the organization that keeps watch on government corruption and fights government waste has obtained documents detailing the cost of the FLOTUS's "little" vacation.
The cost to the American taxpayers should both shock and anger. Following are highlights of what amounted to a very extravagant outing.
Yes indeed. While the trip may have been presented to the public by the Obama administration as official business for the purposes of encouraging young people to get involved in the fledgling democracies in South Africa and Botswana it certainly is surfacing there is maore than meets the eye.
Will Rational Nation USA goes as far as to claim corruption. Certainly not. That would be an accusation for which there is no proof. However, the accusation of extravagance and excess is certainly justified.
Great and effective leaders {and their spouses} lead by example, not by the old "do as I say, not as I do" mode of operation. We are beginning to see first hand both the application of the denoted "rule" if you will, as well as the hypocrisy of progressives.
More at JammieWearingFool
Via: Memeorandum
Rational Nation USA
Birthplace of Independent Conservatism
Liberty -vs- Tyranny
 |
| Michelle and Children on African Safari |
Michelle Obama's June 2011 trip to Africa was quite costly to say the least. Judicial Watch, the organization that keeps watch on government corruption and fights government waste has obtained documents detailing the cost of the FLOTUS's "little" vacation.
The cost to the American taxpayers should both shock and anger. Following are highlights of what amounted to a very extravagant outing.
According to U.S. Department of Defense’s published hourly rates for the C-32A aircraft used for the trip, Judicial Watch calculated the total cost to American taxpayers was $424,142 for use of the aircraft
The passenger manifests confirm the presence of Obama’s daughter’s, Malia and Sasha on the trip. The two girls are listed as “Senior Staff.” The manifests also list Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, and niece and nephew, Leslie and Avery Robinson, as well Mrs. Obama’s makeup and hairstylist (Carl Ray and Johnny Wright).
The expense records also show $928.44 was spent for “bulk food” purchases on flight. Overall, during the trip, 192 meals were served for the 21 passengers on board.
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The trip also included such tourist events as visits to historical landmarks and museums, plus a nonworking chance to send time with Nelson Mandela, a meeting that Mrs. Obama described as “surreal.” The trip ended with a private family safari at a South African game reserve before the group returned to Washington on June 27.
“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.” {Read More}
Yes indeed. While the trip may have been presented to the public by the Obama administration as official business for the purposes of encouraging young people to get involved in the fledgling democracies in South Africa and Botswana it certainly is surfacing there is maore than meets the eye.
Will Rational Nation USA goes as far as to claim corruption. Certainly not. That would be an accusation for which there is no proof. However, the accusation of extravagance and excess is certainly justified.
Great and effective leaders {and their spouses} lead by example, not by the old "do as I say, not as I do" mode of operation. We are beginning to see first hand both the application of the denoted "rule" if you will, as well as the hypocrisy of progressives.
More at JammieWearingFool
Via: Memeorandum
The unemployed watch these idiots and begin to wonder who is going to lead the revolution!
ReplyDelete.
ReplyDeleteHurray for victim-hood. Where would the world be without losers snivel, snivel, whine, whine?
"That would be an accusation for which there is no proof." Proof? Proof; we don't need no stinkin' proof. Snivel and whine; because it is all that is left for little losers.
Ms Obama is the First Lady of USA.
Ok, let us play your game. How is Ms Obama's trip as First Lady of USA any different than the foreign travel trips of other First Ladys?
Ema nymton
~@:o?
.
As reporters were fond of saying during the Bush years, it's "bad optics."
ReplyDeleteFunny, they don't talk about that now that their hero is in office.
The only defense of this seems to be that previous Presidents supposedly engaged in such riduculous repacious personal use of tax dollars as well.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is not a defense.
It has to stop somewhere.
What ever happened to the "change" part of "Hope and Change"? Why must we accept an administration doing bad things because of the justification that others did bad things also?
This needs change, for sure.
The Obama's haven't spent any more money than other other First Family on these sorts of excursions. It is part of their job, so to speak. Good will, diplomacy, the int'l photo op, bla bla bla. It's a petty argument.
ReplyDeleteJMJ
jmj - It is not petty. Especially since this nations is, whether you close your eyes to it or not, in deep financial trouble.
ReplyDeleteIt is however about frugality and principle. Something it is quite obvious progressives refuse to comprehend. As do many neo-cons and so called conservatives.
As dmarks so aptly pointed out, it has got to stop somewhere.
No, not just "somewhere." It has to stop where it really counts - the military and police states, "free trade," regressive taxation, cannibalistically financialized healthcare and education, regressive taxation, etc.
ReplyDeleteThis silly whining about state trips is just petty, narrow, obviously politically prejudiced, and short-sighted.
JMJ
Ohay wizard,shoot some specifics, starting with your top three that you think needs to be adressed. I AGREE WASTE IS WASTE and it ought to be addressed wherever it is found.
ReplyDeleteHere's a taste of Mrs. Bush compared to Mrs. Obama. Enjoy.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.politicalnewsnow.com/2009/08/04/michelle-obamas-paid-staff-laura-bushs-paid-staff-sroblog/
JMJ is feeling emboldened because Notmyname is here to back him up. Michelle obama is simply doing her part as an entitled and oppressed minority liberal to finally get her piece of the pie. Oh, and we are paying for it. Yay Socialism.
JMJ: We need more free trade, not less of it. These types of decisions are best left to the individuals doing the trading, not the ruling elites.
ReplyDeleteOf course, free trade gives people more power over their own lives, and cuts into the power base of the ruling class. Since you typically want more power for the rulers and less for the ruled, it is not surprising you oppose free-and-fair trade.
@JMJ,
ReplyDelete"Let them eat cake", indeed. Those filthy peasants, whining about a petty little trip to Africa....where's their loyalty and fealty and admiration and worship of The Obama Family? Great goddess, don't they know The Obama Family is royalty?
dmarks, I know propping up totalitarian communist regimes is apparently good for you, but it's not good for most everyone else.
ReplyDeleteecc, "Let them eat cake???" Hey, genius! You're lucky you live in a country where people don't chop off the heads of the wealthy and their sycophants.
jmj
At the very least they should have vacationed here in America. I mean, seriously, we need the business. LOL
ReplyDeletejmj - I'm still waiting for your top three...
ReplyDeleteIt always seems that every outrageous multi-million dollars waste has someone who will go to amazing rhetrical tricks and baffling arguments to defend it.
ReplyDeleteAll of these instances of waste with diehard defenders add up to something. It's why no one seems to be able to do anything about Obama's massive debt: increased 50% over from what Bush left him with. and soaring still.
JMJ said: "dmarks, I know propping up totalitarian communist regimes is apparently good for you, but it's not good for most everyone else."
ReplyDeleteIt's not, and I do not defend this. I do however defend the right of each and every American to make his or her informed economic decisions.
Hate a nation enough not to ever buy anything from it? Fine. Then don't buy from it. But this choice is personal. It fits your own situation. This is a matter best left to the people, not a fascistic government imposing "one size fits few" policies on everyone.
jmj - My considered opinion is this, if you were in charge it is possible, maybe even likely this would happen...
ReplyDelete... "where people .... chop off the heads of the wealthy and their sycophants."