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Michelle Obama's $1.5 million entourage
WorldNetDaily ^ | August 4, 2009 | Drew Zahn

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 ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: auntesther; flotusmichelle; wasteandcorruption
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1 posted on 08/04/2009 9:07:27 PM PDT by RobinMasters
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To: RobinMasters

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.


2 posted on 08/04/2009 9:11:16 PM PDT by Adammon
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To: RobinMasters

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.


3 posted on 08/04/2009 9:13:13 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier presently instructing at Ft. Benning.)
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To: RobinMasters
All that money and she still looks like this.


4 posted on 08/04/2009 9:18:49 PM PDT by lainie (The US congress is full to the brim of absolutely disgusting thieves who deserve humiliating ouster.)
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To: SoldierDad

Maybe it takes that many staffers to comb and brush the 1st wookie.


5 posted on 08/04/2009 9:19:21 PM PDT by Feasor13
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To: RobinMasters
a staff of 22 White House employees who make a combined nearly $1.5 million per year.

On another thread, a poster pointed out that Laura Bush was +/- 1 staffer from Michelles numbers.

6 posted on 08/04/2009 9:22:31 PM PDT by fso301
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To: RobinMasters

Where's my STAFF!!

7 posted on 08/04/2009 9:23:38 PM PDT by StandUpChuck
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To: RobinMasters
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.

That does not seem right, not at all.

I can't believe that Laura would have had that large of a staff.

8 posted on 08/04/2009 9:25:43 PM PDT by Uncle Slayton (Texan Pride)
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To: SoldierDad
It would be very interesting to know what the taxpayer is getting. I don't see why she needs such a large staff for herself. I can understand needing help with planing dinners etc but I would think that would fall under the general white house staff. I would like to know if any of these people she must have are friends of hers.
9 posted on 08/04/2009 9:28:23 PM PDT by pandoraou812 (elected officials should be required to pass drug, alcohol & dementia testing)
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To: Feasor13

OMG - ROFLOL. You’re evil!!!!


10 posted on 08/04/2009 9:31:35 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier presently instructing at Ft. Benning.)
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To: pandoraou812

You mean, how many of them are from Chicago???


11 posted on 08/04/2009 9:32:01 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier presently instructing at Ft. Benning.)
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To: SoldierDad

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.


12 posted on 08/04/2009 9:40:58 PM PDT by pandoraou812 (elected officials should be required to pass drug, alcohol & dementia testing)
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To: pandoraou812
Well, considering the fact that all they've accomplished thus far is putting this country closer to bankruptcy.
13 posted on 08/04/2009 9:47:41 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier presently instructing at Ft. Benning.)
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To: pandoraou812
As for our 1st lady maybe she needs this staff to teach her how to be a 1st lady.

Her "staff" can't do the impossible!!!

Photobucket

14 posted on 08/04/2009 9:53:29 PM PDT by kara2008 (Government cannot be the solution when government is the problem)
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To: SoldierDad
Very true. We all have tightened our budgets, gone without vacations etc. Most people I know aren't even buying their kids school clothes until it gets chilly. (glad I home school) Yet the 0’s live like money flows endlessly. More & more when I am out I hear people say if I had known he was going to do this etc I never would have voted for him. I used to want to turn around & say why didn't you educate yourself but it is no use. I did tell one nasty woman who was moaning that she lost her job after voting for him that “Nero fiddled while Rome burned”. She gave me a nasty look & my husband got between us.
15 posted on 08/04/2009 9:56:20 PM PDT by pandoraou812 (elected officials should be required to pass drug, alcohol & dementia testing)
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To: kara2008

Damn, that’s some stank eye she has there.


16 posted on 08/04/2009 9:58:27 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier presently instructing at Ft. Benning.)
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To: RobinMasters

I have exactly me and myself taking care of my looks on a daily basis and I still look better.

Money never means class.


17 posted on 08/04/2009 9:58:28 PM PDT by mplsconservative
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To: kara2008

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.


18 posted on 08/04/2009 9:59:47 PM PDT by pandoraou812 (elected officials should be required to pass drug, alcohol & dementia testing)
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To: lainie

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?


19 posted on 08/04/2009 10:28:05 PM PDT by michgirl
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To: michgirl

Now that was a very pleasant and well-laid backhanded compliment... Nice job! ;)


20 posted on 08/04/2009 10:36:38 PM PDT by cliniclinical (space for rent)
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