Posted on 08/04/2009 9:07:27 PM PDT by RobinMasters
The first lady of the United States is not elected, has no constitutional duties and receives no salary, but that doesn't mean the position is without its privileges including a staff of 22 White House employees who make a combined nearly $1.5 million per year.
Various journalists have scoured the White House's annual report to Congress on the West Wing payroll and listed those names that serve as members First Lady Michelle Obama's staff. Combined, their salaries total $1,495,700.
By comparison, a similar examination of the 2008 payroll, printed in the Washington Post, shows First Lady Laura Bush tallied 17 staffers, who combined made roughly $1.28 million.
News of so many taxpayer-funded salaries attending the first lady which doesn't include the White House servant staff or the Secret Service detail assigned to the first family has prompted some commentators to question if so many staffers are necessary.
"[Michele Obama] doesn't perform any official duties. But this hasn't deterred her from hiring an unprecedented number of staffers to cater to her every whim and to satisfy her every request in the midst of the Great Recession," writes author Paul Williams in a July 7 editorial. "Mary Lincoln was taken to task for purchasing china for the White House during the Civil War. And Mamie Eisenhower had to shell out the salary for her personal secretary. How things have changed!"
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
She doesn’t need a staff PERIOD. Fire them all. She was not elected, she was selected through marriage. You don’t get a secretary for boinking the CEO.
Putting that nearly 1.5 million into some perspective, it breaks down to nearly $68,000 a year per staff member. It might be interesting to know just what the taxpayer is getting for that money.
Maybe it takes that many staffers to comb and brush the 1st wookie.
On another thread, a poster pointed out that Laura Bush was +/- 1 staffer from Michelles numbers.
Where's my STAFF!!
That does not seem right, not at all.
I can't believe that Laura would have had that large of a staff.
OMG - ROFLOL. You’re evil!!!!
You mean, how many of them are from Chicago???
Exactly. The only good thing I can think of is that people have jobs out of it. If I don’t look for something good where the 0 family is concerned I might lose it. I keep thinking how his health care is going to cost so many people their jobs. As for our 1st lady maybe she needs this staff to teach her how to be a 1st lady. IMO she should just be a mom or look for specials on that expensive steak they eat. I don’t see why we need her traveling around & representing the U.S.A. I think they both travel too much.
Her "staff" can't do the impossible!!!
Damn, that’s some stank eye she has there.
I have exactly me and myself taking care of my looks on a daily basis and I still look better.
Money never means class.
lmao! Well their job is cut out for them. I think she needs a personal dresser. I just don’t get the belt under the boobs thing myself. But I am a t shirt, jeans & boots person. I don’t dress up unless forced to. My life is too busy rescuing horse right now to be worried about clothes.
Well..opps, sorry everyone! I just got a little distracted as my eyes were drawn to the first lady of England. My keen sense of proper attire is telling me Mrs Brown could use a spot of shape-wear under that lovely blue suit.
Back to the subject...I have rarely seen Michelle in an outfit that is a fashion statement. The sweater/dress thing and the horizontal skirt thing begs for some life! I am certain she has a few personal consultants amazed about how simple it is to make tons of money while fooling the first lady as well as the fashion media that raves about how wonderful she dresses. Thanks for the pictures- “the michelle obama look”—does anybody pick up a certain style or is it a subliminal obaminizer message?
Now that was a very pleasant and well-laid backhanded compliment... Nice job! ;)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.