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EDITORIAL: Obama: Pay my wife, please
The Washington Times ^ | August 9, 2012 | Editorial

Posted on 08/09/2012 7:16:04 PM PDT by jazusamo

President wants taxpayers to pick up larger family tab

President Obama thinks his wife should be paid for the privilege of serving as first lady. Speaking at a campaign event in Denver on Wednesday, Mr. Obama invoked Mrs. Obama’s plight to make a point about equal pay for equal work. “I want to make sure that when she’s working, she is getting paid the same as men,” he said. “I’ve got to say, first ladies right now don’t, even though that’s a tough job.” Poor Michelle, we feel her pain.

If Mr. Obama was joking, it was in poor taste, especially with so many women struggling in hard economic times. First ladies have never been given a paycheck, but they certainly benefit from their privileged circumstances. Michelle basks in the reflected fame of her powerful husband; she lives rent-free in the most exclusive address in the world; she has chefs, maids, drivers and other servants at her beck and call 24 hours a day. It might be a “tough job,” but she is assisted by a personal staff of more than 20 people, who are paid a collective salary of over $1.5 million. Those perks are forms of compensation.

Mrs. Obama lives the good life and she lets everyone know it. While not known for being a fashion leader in the style of Jackie Kennedy, she has come under fire for flaunting her expensive tastes in times of economic trouble. Her latest offense was showing up in London at a pre-Olympics party wearing a jacket costing $6,800. That’s 10 times the median weekly earnings for full-time working women.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: barack; bho; flotusmichelle; michelle; michelleobama; minimumwage; obama
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To: jazusamo

The job of first lady is purely voluntary. It is no different than agreeing to serve on the board of the local United Way or Red Cross chapter at no pay. No one is forced to accept the role when offered.

If Michelle doesn’t want to play the role of first lady, for no financial compensation, she can quit at any time. She can live in the White House as spouse of the President, she can move back to Chicago and sit at home in her mansion, she can try to go out and find a paying job or volunteer to work unpaid for a nonprofit. Her time is hers to do with as she chooses.

She is a free agent, not a victim. If she stops being first lady today, very few will care. The elimination of her staff and travel budget will benefit the taxpayer.


41 posted on 08/09/2012 9:55:55 PM PDT by Soul of the South
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To: jazusamo

What a douche. I’ll give her a quarter to never speak again.

And he goes after Romney for being a rich guy.


42 posted on 08/09/2012 10:04:02 PM PDT by Impy (Don't call me red.)
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To: preamble

She had an abortion?


43 posted on 08/09/2012 10:07:41 PM PDT by Impy (Don't call me red.)
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To: jazusamo

In law, one would say the First Lady Ho has NO CONTRACT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

American voters did NOT elect her to office! Her husband was elected.

If she wants a career, she could have continued to work in her crony job at $300K/year.


44 posted on 08/09/2012 11:47:54 PM PDT by AlanGreenSpam (Obama: The First 'American IDOL' President - sponsored by Chicago NeoCom Thugs)
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To: jazusamo

I mean, what’s a real husband for?


45 posted on 08/09/2012 11:51:00 PM PDT by JudgemAll (Democrats Fed. job-security Whorocracy & hate:hypocrites must be gay like us or be tested/crucified)
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To: jazusamo

OK....Pay her what’s she’s WORTH..........NOTHING!


46 posted on 08/10/2012 12:49:47 AM PDT by Ann Archy ( ABORTION...the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: preamble

How do you know she had an abortion?


47 posted on 08/10/2012 12:50:43 AM PDT by Ann Archy ( ABORTION...the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Ann Archy

:Those perks are forms of compensation.”...........

Is she being taxed for those perks? If that were you or I, wwe sure as hell would be visited by the IRS if we failed to list them as “compensation”.


48 posted on 08/10/2012 3:26:53 AM PDT by DaveA37
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To: kempster
I think since they make over 250000 a year she should be taxed on the value of all the fringe benefits she receives like all the flights, trips, hotel stays. fancy clothes and everything else we pay for.

That is an excellent idea.

49 posted on 08/10/2012 3:36:39 AM PDT by savedbygrace (But God.)
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To: jazusamo

Obama Campaign Misdirection,dont look at the Elephant in the room the Economy, Dont look at the Fat ass,Look at those Toned Arms


50 posted on 08/10/2012 3:47:09 AM PDT by ballplayer
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

How exactly do they get to be “Bishop”?


51 posted on 08/10/2012 4:25:27 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: jazusamo

I don’t think this was his idea. I think this comes directly from the horse’s mouth....and yes, I mean Michelle.


52 posted on 08/10/2012 4:29:14 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: jazusamo

Before she can be paid, what is she qualified to do?
And don’t put down lawyer, bacause she lose he law license.


53 posted on 08/10/2012 4:52:12 AM PDT by BuffaloJack (Repeal Obamacare, the CITIZENSHIP TAX)
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To: SoDak

I’d chip in a few bucks if it meant she stayed off camera.


With these people, her mug may soon be on your money.


54 posted on 08/10/2012 5:02:55 AM PDT by gortklattu (God knows who is best, everybody else is making guesses - Tony Snow)
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To: preamble

OH thank you so very much for the clarification.


55 posted on 08/10/2012 6:07:27 AM PDT by TEXOKIE (Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little. EdmondBurke)
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To: Colorado Cowgirl; ridesthemiles
http://www.factcheck.org/2012/06/the-obamas-law-licenses/

Thanks for the link. FactCheck does, in fact, confirm that their law licenses are inactive (or, in Barack's case, retired), but it goes on to say:

"But the claim that the Obamas “surrendered” their licenses to avoid ethics charges has no basis in fact. Neither of the Obamas has any public record of discipline or pending proceedings against them, according to the online public registration records of the ARDC. We also confirmed that with Grogan, who said that the Obamas were "never the subject of any public disciplinary proceedings."

Which is directly opposed to one some others have said on this thread, that the Obamas gave up their licenses to prevent some sort of charges or ethics complaints from being pursued.

56 posted on 08/11/2012 7:48:23 AM PDT by SeƱor Zorro ("The ability to speak does not make you intelligent"--Qui-Gon Jinn)
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