Watching President Obama at his birthday bash in Chicago, I am reminded of all those speeches he has been making lately about millionaires and billionaires flying around on those corporate jets as he plays the class warfare game.
There was Obama, after flying into Chicago on Air Force One with his staffers and Secret Service retinue, speaking to those wealthy enough to fork over $35,800 to attend-not to mention another ten grand to have their pictures taken with The One-lecturing us about paying our fair share.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/03/president-obama-celebrates-50th-birthday-with-re-election-campaign-fundraisers/
Talk about hypocrisy!
Keep in mind that those campaign trips are paid for by us the taxpayers, and they are not cheap. This is just an example of how politicians (of both parties but especially Democrats) waste our money and the Democrats keep coming back to us for more. It is obscene.
As I've pointed out every time you run this shabby number, flying The President of the United States ANYWHERE for ANY REASON is expensive, because of all the security, including Air Force One. It would be nice if we still had the cultural and security atmosphere where the president could catch an overnight train (I wouldn't begrudge him a Pullman sleeper), where the president-elect can stay in a boarding house in D.C., sharing the table with an assortment of residents (as Thomas Jefferson did), and where an attempted assassination is ended by the president personally hitting the pistol man over the head with his cane (Andrew Jackson).
ReplyDeleteBut, it isn't so. Therefore, EITHER we commit ALL presidents by law to a semi-monastic existence for the duration of their term of office, OR we stop carping about the expense of moving him (or her) out of the White House to whatever destination.
At least Barack and Michelle Obama file honest tax returns and pay what they owe without complaint.
He is for the Democrats millionaires that keep giving him money. It is only the Republican millionaires that are bad and need to be taxed to death.
ReplyDeleteAnd what was the reason for this trip?
ReplyDeleteFund raising.
I wonder how much that vacation Michelle took in Africa cost?
Gary, Michelle is back in Spain. I wonder how much this trip is costing us?
ReplyDeleteWell stop wondering and do some research. If you were writing a term paper you would get an F for sheer laziness.
ReplyDeleteAfter you have the numbers, provide some details on the purpose of the trip, or the numbers will be meaningless as to whether the expenditure is a legitimate one. (This is a well-worn phrase, but appropriate in this instance: I didn't hear any of you carping about the trips taken by George W. Bush and his reasonably intelligent, long-suffering, wife.)
Findalis, as far as the tax code goes, Democratic millionaires and Republican millionaires all pay at the same rate on the same income -- except Republicans may be better at hiring lawyers to shield their income.
Hey folks,
ReplyDeleteThe Obama's devoured cake while the Nation's credit rating when down from AAA to AA+. this is the first time in history that this has happened. I heard that Barack went on vacation this weekend. For those who wanted "Change", well, you got it. Of course, Francis Piven (of Cloward and Piven) is jumping up and down, with joy.
Squid
Gary, I can't believe how petty you become in your hate for Obama, I don't expect much else from your "fan club" but you should remember that all presidents went on trips and their wives visited foreign countries.
ReplyDeleteAnd Squid, I hope that you choke on your next birthday cake because that's what you wished for our president.
Don't get me started on Coward and Piven. I spent more than a decade working in neighborhoods filled with good people those puppeteers had proposed for the role of cannon fodder in their private fantasy war. Anyone who is not ready to put their body on the line to lead the charge has no business even talking about it. And anyone who had their feet on the ground knew better.
ReplyDeleteSiarlys,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, if you look at all members ofd Congress, the Dems are just as rich as the Rep.
I also bet that those paying $35,800 to attend the b-day bash are rich enough to hire the same lawyers.
If the WH is looking to cut expenses, flying to fund raisers and be on Oprah might be a good place to start.
Once again Gary, you carefully dance around the substantive question.
ReplyDelete(If you find the word "subtantive" confusing, and a dictionary doesn't clear it up for you, just ask, and I'll try to explain it.)
ANYTHING a president does costs a great deal of money because of the complex and extensive security required. One reason presidents end up depending on a chaplain at Camp David for worship is that it is a terrible imposition on ANY church to attend services in public, what with the advance secret service presence, traffic control, etc.
SO, we COULD set a rule that president do NO personal trips, NO fundraising events, perhaps even NO campaigning, for the duration of their time in office.
OR, we can put up with the inevitable expense of the security involved. You haven't endorsed either one, you just keep tap-dancing around which event cost money.
We could, of course, settle on a middle course: presidents may have, say, ONE vacation per year away from the White House, maybe two if we're feeling generous, campaigning allowed ONLY starting one year before the general election when they are going to be on the ballot, and NO fundraisers. Or, their respective parties pay half the security bill if they REALLY want them for fundraising.
You never want to get down to brass tacks. You just want to carp. That is how I know Ingrid has a valid point about the motives one can discern in your presentation.
Somehow, I don't think Bush's trips to Texas to clear brush on his place cost as much at the multiple trips to Spain, etc.
ReplyDeleteBush had approximately 7 fundraisers at this point in his re-election and Obama has had 37(!) in the same period at his attempt for re-election... God forbid.
Who wants another 4 years like this?
Well, like most Americans, I think I could do a better job than the guy in the White House now. On the other hand, I know that making things happen is a lot different than sitting in the comfort of my home ranting about the way it oughta be. Looking at the available field, I definitely want another four years of Obama.
ReplyDeleteMiggie, didn't Bush make a few overseas trips as well? Didn't he take vacations a few other places, besides Crawford? And are you sure you tabulated ALL the fundraising trips? Or did you just stop when you got to seven?
In any case, President Obama has to raise enough money to pay for most of his own campaign. He doesn't have the unlimited expenditures of the Chamber of Commerce and the Club for Growth to tear up his opponent for him.