Posted on 03/18/2014 2:02:02 AM PDT by markomalley
The first lady, her mother, her two kids, plus numerous White House aides and security personnel are going to tour China this month, but White House officials are refusing to say how much the taxpayers will pay for the trip.
However, they did say it would be a thrill for everyone on the trip, including for Michelle Obamas top aide, Tina Tchen.
It is a real honor and privilege, and I think we are all, here in the first ladys office, quite excited about the upcoming trip, said Chen, just after she declared that my parents emigrated from China in the late 40s, so this will be my fourth time returning to China but the first time, obviously, in a role such as this.
The first lady has been looking for an opportunity to go to China, said Ben Rhodes, the White Houses deputy national security advisor for strategic communications.
I think the first lady is very much looking forward to it, said Tchen.
We will meet [the Chinese president's wife] Madame Peng on our first day [and] she will accompany the first lady and her family to the Forbidden City and will take the first lady through the Forbidden City before theyre able to join each other for a meal, a private meal and a private performance later on in the evening, said Tchen. Were looking forward to it.
Both officials declined to reveal the cost of flying the family to and from China.
As a general matter, we dont disclose the details associated with the security of either the president or the first lady, Rhodes said.
We are not discussing or disclosing information regarding the details of the logistics of the trip, said Tchen.
The first lady and the family will travel to China from March 19 to March 26. She will visit the capital Beijing and two northwest cities, Xian and Chengdu.
Shell be accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Marian Robinson, and daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama.
The first lady has taken her mother on several previous trips, including to Spain.
The 2010 trip to Spain cost taxpayers at least $487,000. A 2011 trip to southern Africa cost at least $424,142. The cost estimates were uncovered by Judicial Watch, a D.C.-based watchdog group.
However, the trip will be worth the expense, officials said.
I will say this as a Chinese-American, said Tchen, that Chinese people will appreciate three generations of family traveling together and the bonds that the Obama family have with one another across generations.
I think that, frankly, the most powerful message we can deliver [to Chinese people] is one of the examples of not just the first ladys life story but of America and our values, Rhodes said. That alone I think speaks to things like respect for human rights that are interwoven into the DNA of the United States of America.
The first ladys story itself sends a powerful message about the ability of someone of a disadvantaged economic background from a minority group to ascend to the position that she did in private life and now as first lady, Rhodes said.
Michelle Obama grew in a humble family that was entwined with the Democratic political machine in Chicago. Her father worked as a Democratic political activist in Chicago, she earned money by babysitting for Jesse Jackson, and she eventually married an up-and-coming political activist Barack Obama in a church whose pastor was an influential player in local politics, Jeremiah Wright.
The first ladys focus on people-to-people relations, her focus on education and youth empowerment is one that we believe will resonate in China, Rhodes claimed.
Roughly 200,000 Chinese people are enrolled at U.S. education centers, while roughly 20,000 Americans are studying in China.
In terms of the first ladys visit, first of all, as a general matter, the first lady has been a huge asset on foreign trips, said Rhodes.
Everywhere that she has traveled independently, she has had a tremendous reception and has been able to connect with audiences from Asia to Africa to the Americas, he said.
However, Rhodes added, there are real political disagreements between China and the United States.
Weve been very clear that our relationship with China is one in which we welcome the peaceful rise of China, which is in the service of global stability and greater prosperity for our people and the people of China and the people of the region. At the same time, were very clear when we have differences with China on a host of issues, so its a relationship that allows for both a constructive cooperation, and candor when we disagree.
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The Obamas are itinerant luxury-loving parasites, living high, greedily sucking at the public teat......(wire-transferring a bundle offshore for a cushy retirement and to finance Mrs O's political ambitions?).
NRO tallied what taxpayers are paying for M/M O to live large on the taxpayers' dime: a grand total of $1.4 billion per year: Air Force One ($181,757 per hour), executive chef ($100,000 per year), three full-time White House calligraphers ($277,050 per year for the trio), chief of staff to the presidents dog ($102,000 per year), Ohaha's royal motorcade ($2.2 million). $100 million alone for the African apology tour.
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$1.4 BILLION is the current annual cost of the White House just in household expenses, not including US policy operations for which the WH exists--administered by some 900 parasites---policy staff recruited by Ohaha. There's the $100 million trip to Africa not including the foreign aid billions O handed out to these oil-rich satraps. There's serial Ohaha vacations costing taxpayers millions---- (the low estimate Hawaii vacays is $4 million each, but is probably five times that); the pricey Martha's Vineyard stays; Mrs O's costly trip to elite Marbella w/ an entourage of 30. Mrs O's $3900 PER NIGHT in a posh Ireland hotel with 30 more rooms for her entourage.
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TAXPAYERS SUFFERED RUINOUS HEALTHCARE CANCELLATIONS--BUT THEY PAY $7 MILLION FOR THE OBAMAS HEALTHCARE---NRO found the first familys yearly health-care costs Americans $7 million; the reason why only Boobamba himself was "enrolled" --and not his family---in a faked-up PR ploy.
Mrs O wore her pricey diamond bangles (bought on a govt salary?) at a DNC fund-raiser, attended by "tolerant and compassionate" Dems....raised big bucks to keep Mr O in office so he could work for "the poor." Her diamond Gothic cuff priced at $15,350 set with 2.17 carats in diamonds and the Quatrefoil bracelet at $11,800 set with 1.73 carats in diamonds. (Excerpt) Read more at houston.culturemap.com. Mrs O wowed all the "tolerant and compassionate" Dems who hate the rich and support endless tax-paid programs "for the poor."
Not to forget a succession of designer dresses and gowns----like the $12,000 Caroline Hereara creation worn for the Frenchy state dinner (a bribe from Obama for his blonde indiscretion at the Mandela memorial?).
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Mrs O has 24 assistants at her beck and call. Her
wardrobe, nails and hair pieces subsidized w/ tax dollars
of struggling Americans.
It seems like the Obama children are out of school quite a bit jetting around the world with Michelle or on other trips. As much as they are traveling it can’t be all during school breaks. Are they just ignoring their studies or does the government pay to send a tutor along with them?
Imelda Marcos was a piker compared to this woman.
More than the money these a-holes spend on their trips I hate that they are representing us around the world. I want to puke.
She just wanted to gEt out of the country she’s so proud of.
She’s so manly she has two Adams apples.
Her dad made over $150K plus graft in the Chicago Transit Authority. It is the equivalent of $300K today. She was always in the Chicago machine and always wealthy.
Pray America wakes up
Mr. Obama will handle all social matters while she is away.
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