Posted on 08/05/2010 9:14:10 AM PDT by kristinn
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters yesterday, in answer to a query about First Lady Michelle Obama's Spanish vacation where she is protected by 70 Secret Service agents, 250 Spanish law enforcement officers, will meet with Spain's king and queen and is staying at a luxury hotel where she has reserved 60 rooms, that it is none of the American people's business because she is a "private citizen."
Lynn Sweet reported at the Chicago Sun-Times that Gibbs was asked about "the appearance" of Obama's vacation and that Gibbs blew it off by asserting Michelle Obama is a "private citizen":
"The first lady is on a private trip. She is a private citizen and is the mother of a daughter on a private trip. And I think I'd leave it at that," Gibbs said.
Sweet goes on to note that this is Michelle Obama's eighth scheduled vacation in the first nine months of 2010:
First ladies often go on vacations, with and without the president. An issue for Mrs. Obama may be how many: New York in March; Chicago, over Memorial Day; Los Angeles in June; Camp David -- sort of an extension of the White House -- in July; Maine in July, to highlight Acadia National Park, and now Spain. Mrs. Obama is glamorizing Spain's coastal resorts before her Aug. 14 first family weekend visit to Florida's Gulf Coast, to encourage tourists scared away by the oil spill. Starting Aug. 19, the Obamas will spend 10 days in Martha's Vineyard.
Last year, Michelle Obama vacationed in Paris and London, Martha's Vineyard, Hawaii, and Chicago, with a working vacation in Copenhagen lobbying for Chicago's failed bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. There was also the infamous 'date night' in New York City.
With America mired in the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and Obama's policies exacerbating the crisis rather than fixing it, Barack and Michelle Obama live their lives like billionaires, even though the president's salary is $400,000 per year and the Obamas are only worth a few million dollars thanks to book sales.
Barack Obama has played over 40 rounds of golf in the 19 months of his presidency in addition to his numerous luxury vacations.
Michelle Obama routinely wears outfits that, from her $800 shoes to her $5000 earrings and $300 tote bags, are impossible for the average working or unemployed woman to afford.
It appears the press is finally taking notice of what many of us have long seen in the Obamas:
'Michelle Obama is a modern-day Marie Antoinette': First Lady slammed for lavish Marbella holiday
It’s what happens when you give ghetto trash the keys to the candy store. They’s in it for all they can get. And they don’t care if nothing is left when they’re done.
Part of the Founder's genius. Look at what a loon Prince Charles has turned out to be. But he can't be recalled or voted out. Pity the PM who has to deal with him one day.
Need a laugh see post # 90.
Marie Antoinette had an excuse: She was a teenager with no parental guidance who didn’t know what was going on outside of Versailles. The Obamas do not have that excuse.
Then he should say she paid for it instead of telling taxpayers its none of your business.
Does Coach make guillotines?
Yeah...and Imelda Marcos was just a “private citizen” as well, right? The Obamas sure have the same attitude. Wonder where they’ll spend their future exile with all the loot.
But I think Ms. Barry Hussein is abusing the privilege on this trip. Especially when she told us all we should spend our vacations on the Gulf Coast.
LOLROTFL!
Love how they made it look like he was singing it. I SO needed a good laugh this morning.
It’s not a private trip when the taxpayers are paying for a good chunk of it there Gibby-boy. The Marie Antoinette analogy fits her pretty well.
Romania 1989
I like your posts. You say exactly what's on your mind.....
60 rooms??? Do you remember the Clintons grand visitation to Africa towards the end of his presidency? A totally useless trip since he was leaving office soon. He took along an entourage of 1000 or so. Some may have paid their own way but----
Reflecting On Clinton's Africa Safari
By: F. Wafula Okumu
During the trip, Clinton traveled in a true safari-version. His entourage of 981, according to the New York Times, comprised of advance people, security specialists, stenographers, telephone operators, pilots, diplomats, coordinators, facilitators, cooks, assistants to the president, deputy assistants to the president, special assistants to the president, reporters and technicians, 10 spin doctors, 16 members of Congress (12 of whom were African Americans and were 2 Republicans), 3 Cabinet members, business executives (one of them Nigerian-born), labor leaders, mayors, church leaders, Clinton pals, and his special envoy for democratizing Africa, the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
He not only traveled in style but also in comfort. He brought four Boeing 747s, four helicopters, and four armored limousines. In Kampala, the President and his entourage stayed at the Sheraton in a $210 per night room. This is more than what a Ugandan makes in a year! According to the Daily Mail, his security detail had eight goons armed to the teeth with M4 assault rifles, Heckler and Koch MP5 machine pistols and 5.56mm belt-fed Mini machine gun; and 12 chaps whose job was "basically to take a bullet for him."
Today, probably Clinton's recent African safari has faded from the memories of many. Some of us have even forgotten why Clinton made this safari. Clinton stated, in his own words, that America is seeking a new friendship and partnership with an Africa that is committed to democracy and economic development. And, he said, he was visiting Africa in order that the American people may see Africans with new eyes.
This trip was well-timed and executed to sell American image. It was laced with apologies, humility, respect, and other things Americans have never given Africans. Clinton's destinations were carefully selected: he visited two countries (Ghana and Senegal) in West Africa, two (South Africa and Botswana) in Southern Africa, one (Uganda) in East Africa, and one (Rwanda) in Central Africa. There is no doubt these countries were carefully picked for their potential usefulness to American interests. Probably Clinton's most memorable stop was in Accra, Ghana. In Accra, an exuberant city, Clinton was caught on camera with a scrunched-up face, screaming "Back up!" at hordes of ecstatic Ghanaians.
Wait just a damn minute. Sarah Palin isn’t allowed to be a “private citizen”!
OK, I’ll concede that michelle obama is a private citizen when she makes no more public appearances or policy statements, and quits trying to influence the rest of us.
But since that’ll never happen, she ain’t no private citizen!
LLS
The list, ping
If she is a private citizen, why does she have 26 taxpayer funded attendants, live in the white hut, and most importantly have a billion dollar budget to tell us what to eat???!!!
How about the 30 ‘close friends & family’ that she has tagging along? And the 60 - 70 reserved rooms? That doesn’t sound like a ‘private trip’ for a ‘private citizen’ who just happens to be sending the bill to the American taxpayers to me!
It was a sarcastic point, since obviously we the tax payers are footing the bill.
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