Well, at least in that regard, Michelle won't have to smuggle the silverware out in her coat.
Posted on 03/30/2009 12:59:27 PM PDT by nickcarraway
At a time when people are having trouble holding on to their houses, Barack and Michelle Obama have sensibly decided not to use taxpayers’ money to renovate theirs. New presidents are allotted $100,000 to overhaul the White House residence and the Oval Office, and the Obamas hired Hollywood decorator Michael S. Smith (known, per his site, for mixing “Old World classicism with very contemporary settings”). But the First Couple isn’t spending that money. They “are not using public funds or accepting donations of goods for redecorating their private quarters,” says Camille Johnston, director of communications for the First Lady. Nor is the couple, who reported $4.2 million in household income in 2007 tax returns, using money from the White House Historical Association, a privately funded foundation that paid for a $74,000 set of china shortly before Laura Bush left town.
But does this mean they’re going to spend more than $100,000 or less? Though Michelle Obama has talked up Pottery Barn, Smith’s client list includes cost-is-no-object types like Rupert Murdoch, Steven Spielberg, and former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain—for whom he procured that $87,783 rug. “There’s no question that he’ll get it done in the way that it’s supposed to be done,” says Smith client and Democratic donor Katherine Chez. “But how, I don’t know.” The White House declined to disclose the budget, saying that all expenses would remain private as a result of the Obamas’ decision to absorb the cost.
Well, at least in that regard, Michelle won't have to smuggle the silverware out in her coat.
I call BS on this one.
$4.2 million?? How do I get to be a senator in Illinois?
Are you sure there's not a new executive order?
Frankly I don’t care if he smokes tobacco in the White House. He wouldn’t be the first. It’s his own dumb “rule” to go outside to sneak a smoke. He lied about quitting and kept huffing cigs around the corner from the news crews during the campaign. Eventually some disillusioned reporters mentioned that he stunk of cigarettes.
Don’t those muslim people just sit on pillow on the ground anyways?
Thank you! I had the picture, but don’t know how to embed it. Great minds...
His smoking habit is a sign of addiction and there can be no question that the cigs are a remnant from his “previous” smoking habit. (Let us all hope it is previous...but, it wouldn’t be a surprise to learn othewise.)
Possibly the funniest moment in TV history.
Here is the story. Man of the people my ass.
Maybe they should move out for a year or two while the White House is brought up to code?
Don’t know if its still the situation, but I heard at one time it was waaaay behind on wiring, networking, phone closets, fire protection, etc...
Doing coke isn’t smoking so he’s okay
They are blowing the money on Marine One instead.
After throwing a $140 million dollar party for himself, and asking for a new $12 billion fleet of helicopters, he passes on $100,000 for drapes. That’s probably the cost of material for a tent-sized dress to cover his wife’s gigantic bedonkadonk.
This article reminds me of a Barack Hussein Obama press conference. It uses a lot of words but says nothing. After reading it I am left wondering where the money is coming from. If they turn down the 100k and they turn down corporate and public funds does this mean no redecorating is going to take place. Could it be that Michelle Obama has realized that she has no taste and that the White House and residence were impeccably decorated by Laura Bush and shouldn’t be changed. Probably not. I afraid it will take 100k worth of china just to feed Michelle if that restaurant receipt from the campaign is any indication of how she eats.
the white house doesn’t NEED redecorating. Laura Bush had it looking tasteful and classic. truly gorgeous and befitting the president of the united states. why mess with perfection?
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