Posted on 05/30/2009 3:46:22 PM PDT by y6162
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama landed in New York City late Saturday afternoon for a Manhattan date night that was to include a Broadway show.
A spokesman read a statement from Obama: "I am taking my wife to New York City because I promised her during the campaign that I would take her to a Broadway show after it was all finished.
The president traveled in a smaller, Gulfstream-type plane rather than the larger planes typically used as Air Force One.
The Republican National Committee slammed the outing in an "RNC Research Piece": "As President Obama prepares to wing into Manhattan’s theater district on Air Force One to take in a Broadway show, GM is preparing to file bankruptcy and families across America continue to struggle to pay their bills. ... Have a great Saturday evening – even if you’re not jetting off somewhere at taxpayer expense. ... PUTTING ON A SHOW: Obamas Wing Into The City For An Evening Out While Another Iconic American Company Prepares For Bankruptcy."
The RNC's Gail Gitcho added: "If President Obama wants to go to the theater, isn’t the Presidential box at the Kennedy Center good enough?”
Here is the pool report to the White House press corps from Dave Michaels of the Dallas Morning News:
"We touched down at JFK International Airport about 4:35 p.m. in the first plane of three. We held in helicopter for POTUS AND FLOTUS arrival at 4:43 p.m., which we witnessed through windows. We took off before Marine One and passed over the rooftops of Queens before turning south over the East River. Just after passing over the Brooklyn Bridge we landed at the downtown Manhattan Heliport, which I'm told is also called the Wall Street landing zone.
"The sky is clear and blue here, same weather as in Washington. No traffic on West Street as NYPD had cleared the road. Some observers watched for Marine One from a pier about 100 yards north. I could see ten or more NYPD motor jocks, a bunch of cruisers and a rather large RV-style van, perhaps a mobile command center.
"We headed north on West Street in vans and passed Ground Zero. Southbound traffic on the Westside Highway seemed light, but probably slowed down as the rubber necking began. We turned right on Clarkson Street and headed cross town. Plenty of pedestrians and diners at the trattoria checking us out.
Battleground Virginia
* Submit your questions for Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidates.
"POTUS waved to enthusiastic watchers as his vehicle headed toward the Blue Hill restaurant on Washington Place."
From an earlier report from Michaels as the presidential party took off from Washington: "Three presidential helicopters descended on Andrews Air Force Base about 3:42 p.m. A group of about 20 people, a few members of the military wearing camouflage and what must have been their families, watched from a distance of 50 to 75 yards.
"Exactly five minutes later, President Obama and Michelle Obama stepped down from Marine One. POTUS was business casual, but very sharp, in a dark blue suit and black shoes. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the top — no tie. Mrs. Obama wore a black cocktail dress and black heels. Her hair was up and she held a small blue purse, which I'm informed is called a clutch. They boarded a presidential Gulfstream 500 and we took off shortly before 4 p.m. en route to New York City, where the first couple is to have dinner and watch a play, 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone' at the Belasco Theater. The name of the production is courtesy of the New York Daily News."
ObaMugabe lives high on the hog on the tax payer dime.
Obamachev may hate America, but he really loves the perks of the presidency.
Michelle Antoinette.
“The president traveled in a smaller, Gulfstream-type plane rather than the larger planes typically used as Air Force One.”
Did he pay for it? I pay for my dates.
GAG...it takes three planes to go on one of these outlandish “date nights.” Those two spend money like we actually had some.
I was having such a nice day until I read this crap. This arrogant Kenyan and his gargoyle wife are really pissing me off! What an absolute disgrace that this POS thumbs his nose at all of his subjects who are really having a hard time economically.
That’s nice that he kept his promise to his wife, but Broadway was open for business when Zero was President-Elect. Hey, he’s has a few rough weeks, so maybe a guaranteed standing ovation from a theater crowd in Manhattan will soothe his frayed nerves.
GWBush traveled too.....
But jetting off to a night of Broadway theater is something a cheap dictator does to inspire awe in his subjects. That he can be any place at any time whether it is this or at a hamburger joint
This is designed to contrast with the Bush’s who didn’t show off this way. GW traveled for Gov’t business or to campaign
Didn’t 0bomo jet down to Camp David to show off his new airplane to his homies?
Why should we be surprised. Its the socialist, marxist, communist credo that leaders have lavish lifestyles while the people scrape out a living in their leftist ‘utopias’.
But BOZer0 still gets worshipped by the MSM and blind sheeple. What a goat cluster copulation.
with everything else to worry about I see nothing wrong with this
I take that back...
What I see wrong is that the MEDIA would be having a ROYAL CHIT FIT if Bush did this.
ObaMugabe screamed when business execs jetted off to Las Vegas or the super bowl. Remember?
This trip shows his arrogance and extravagance.
It would be interesting to compare the travels of W and Obamachev during the same time period. Seems to me Obamachev is running up a big Air Force One bill.
I see this as a serious problem. Korea is making major threats, our economy is trashed and he goes to the theater in NY which probably cost us tens of thousands of dollars. He should be worrying about the country, not making inane promises to his wife.
Bottom line, he's giving the US the finger. He's king now in his opinion and can do anything he wants.
Gee, the economy is going down the toilet....
America's enemies are even more emboldened....
All the companies Obama now runs are going bankrupt...
MILLIONS are losing their jobs, their cars, their homes, their HOPE...
So Obama takes in a show, ON OUR DIME.
Had enough yet, America?
And of course - there being no sensible adults in this family - Michelle did not have the decency to tell Bozo that this promise could wait for better times.
Flaunting their ability to live like millionaires, while some folks are jobless & wondering where the next meal for their children is coming from, is very despicable behavior!!
They have no shame, or this trip would never have happened!
please do not refer to FLOTUS (the klingon)as a gargoyle. it is an insult to gargoyles everywhere. :)
I try to avoid POLITICO as much as possible. Just looking at the headlines you can see how much they love and are cheerleading for Obama and how much they mock Republicans/Conservatives.
Politico is just the Beltway/NYC political media on steroids. To heck with them.
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