Posted on 08/04/2011 11:23:14 AM PDT by Hojczyk
As I mentioned in the OOTD today, Barack Obama promised a new focus on jobs for about the 15th time in less than three years, shortly after the conclusion of the debt-ceiling deal. As part of that new focus, Obama plans a bus tour — an unusual mode of travel for an American President, but SOP for a presidential candidate working the crowds to bolster support. But when White House reporters quizzed press secretary Jay Carney about whether Obama or taxpayers would foot the bill for this whirlwind tour, Carney responded that “the air of cynicism is quite thick,” as CNS News reports: CNSNews.com asked Carney, “Is that a campaign event or a presidential event?
Carney answered, “Negative. That is an official event.”
CNSNews.com followed, “So it is being funded by taxpayers in battleground states?”
Carney responded, “He’s the president of the United States.”
Another reporter followed up about whether there was a political nature to the trip.
“The air of cynicism is quite thick,” Carney shot back. “The idea that the president of the United States should not venture forth into the country is ridiculous.”
The reporter said, “I didn’t say that.”
Carney said, “No, but you implied it in your question. It is absolutely important for the president – whoever that person is, in the past or in the future – to get out and hear from people in different communities.”
Something’s getting thick, but it’s not the air of cynicism. Presidents do make appearances throughout the country during their terms; it’s one of the perks of the office, and one reason why incumbent Presidents are so hard to beat in an election. However, they don’t usually travel by bus. They normally use Air Force One, which has a standard security profile as well as the capacity to allow a President to perform his job while away from the White House. In order to accomplish this three-day bus tour of the Midwest, the taxpayers will have to foot the bill for re-inventing the wheel as well as the rest of the costs.
Last year, this wouldn’t have been as big an issue. That’s because Obama hadn’t officially launched his re-election campaign. The campaign raised $49 million for itself in the first quarter and another $38 million for the DNC. Getting in a bus on a jobs tour sounds a lot like preparing the ground for later fundraisers more than a job-related duty. This is the reason that most incumbents wait for as long as possible to launch re-election campaigns, but Obama and his team wanted to make a run at a billion-dollar haul for this election … and this from the candidate who sang hosannas about public funding of presidential campaigns, too.
I wonder which costs more. A bus tour or an Air Force 1 tour?
obama memo to Palin:
“I got a bus too!”
Don’t come here! We’ve lost enough jobs in the area already!
I'm gonna kick your bus...
Woooo when did I end up in this world?
The press is questioning the Won?!?!??!
This is an FEC runaround. This should absolutely be illegal. He’s campaigning and we’re all paying for it. If this is how it’s going to be then we need to change a Presidential term to 6 years and you can only run once.
We all need “Sarah did it first” t shirts to stand along the road in since it seems he thinks he will get the same attention she did.I’m thinking it would be a perfect opportunity for capitalism sell cups rotten tomatoes for 25¢ along the road.....
Midwest job tour? How about a Midwest re-election campaign that the tax payer is paying for?
“The air of cynicism is quite thick,” Carney shot back. “The idea that the president of the United States should not venture forth into the country is ridiculous.”
So not only are we supposed to roll over and play dead while this idiot ‘President’ paralyses the economy and pawns everyone’s’ future... but we are also supposed to FOOT THE BILL while he travels the country rubbing our faces in it???
The epic gall of this creepy turd is enough to choke the whole stable.
When did this communist Idiot, ever create a Job in the private sector?
Or HAVE one??
Large peaceful protests along the way would take a lot of the campaign benefits out of this tour.
FUBO and the bus you rode in on!
Sarah Palin is a joke running around in that stupid bus.
Maybe so, but it seems to be working for her.
Really? Hey, then why don't we run a bus tour?
Good idea, run it by Mrs. Robinson and I'll get the troops right on it and we'll even stick Mr. and Mrs. America with the cost.
BRILLIANT. Valerie, you are the bomb!
Job tour?! My 8 year old neighbor knows more about jobs from his lemonade stand then the kenyan will ever know. That idiot has never created a job, punched a clock, invented anything or as had to set an alarm clock! This is just UNBELIEVABLE!
did the friendly chief of police come and shut him down for not having a permit?
1. Don't expect the FEC to do anything. Sure, everyone knows it is a campaign tour, but tell me when has the FEC done anything? I will give them this - they "piled on" John Edwards with charges four or five years after the fact and ONLY after he was facing numerous indictments, but they won't cross 0bama.
2. As for a six year term: What makes you think Hussein intends to leave the office, even if defeated? He has already thumbed his nose at The Constitution every chance he got.
Not without a food vending license, you won’t!! If they won’t let little girls sell lemonade, you’ll probably be arrested and handcuffed as an adult trying to sell rotten tomatoes.
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