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WaPo's Ruth Marcus: Unfair attacks on Michelle Obama's Spanish vacation
Washington Post ^ | August 6, 2010 | Ruth Marcus

Posted on 08/06/2010 2:00:56 PM PDT by maggief

Let's stipulate: A five-star resort on the Spanish Costa del Sol was probably not the first choice of White House spin-meisters for a mother-daughter getaway. Especially when the getaway included a posse of 40 friends of the first lady staying at the Hotel Villa Padierna, where rooms start at $330 a night, and photos of Michelle Obama strolling in Marbella wearing an off-the-shoulder number by Jean Paul Gaultier.

"The first lady is on a private trip," said White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. "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."

He wishes.

Technically, the first lady may be a private citizen. In actuality, she isn't. She can't be; see, for example, the Secret Service contingent that accompanies her, private trip or not private trip. This is a simple fact of modern presidential family life.

So as a political matter, the trip to Spain was not a good idea. You don't need Dick Morris -- who famously polled the Clintons' vacation plans and pushed Jackson Hole over Martha's Vineyard -- to tell you it's not going to play well at a time of 9.5 percent unemployment.

(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 08/06/2010 2:01:00 PM PDT by maggief
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To: maggief


The author...
2 posted on 08/06/2010 2:02:28 PM PDT by jimbo123
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To: maggief

If SHE”S PAYING for it, then fine.....but it STILL LOOKS AWFUL MARIE ANTOINETTE-LIKE!!


3 posted on 08/06/2010 2:03:35 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion......the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: maggief

4 posted on 08/06/2010 2:03:35 PM PDT by 4rcane
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To: jimbo123

Ruth Marcus is married to some big Lefty either in the Govt or the media.


5 posted on 08/06/2010 2:04:11 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion......the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: maggief

Has Marcus been drinking? Just the other day she wrote a column saying how out-of-touch the Obamas were becoming. Now she writes this. I guess someone got her back to writing the party line on the Obamas.


6 posted on 08/06/2010 2:04:22 PM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard
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To: maggief

“40 friends of the first lady”

We want names.


7 posted on 08/06/2010 2:04:35 PM PDT by BenLurkin (Will must be the harder, courage the bolder, spirit must be the more, as our might lessens.)
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To: maggief

It would be a nice touch of Michelle has thrown dimes to the peasant children.


8 posted on 08/06/2010 2:05:42 PM PDT by DManA
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To: maggief
George W. Bush made 77 visits to his ranch in Crawford

Over eight years, not eighteen months. And I'd bet all 77 trips together cost less than this "party for 40" that MarieAntoinetteMaBelle's on.

9 posted on 08/06/2010 2:06:51 PM PDT by hsalaw
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To: maggief

where rooms start at $330 a night,

Right, like queeny would deign to stay in a broom closet.


10 posted on 08/06/2010 2:07:31 PM PDT by DManA
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To: Ann Archy

The Obamas’s don’t seem to know that we’re in in an economic mess. Any TINY effort on their part would be greatly appreciated if they could just keep down their absurd spending. Less holidays, less parties, less celebration. CUT THE SPENDING, CUT THE SPENDING


11 posted on 08/06/2010 2:07:47 PM PDT by 4rcane
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To: maggief

The comments are pretty funny. Look for the one by SandySteiner1.


12 posted on 08/06/2010 2:09:09 PM PDT by La Lydia
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To: 4rcane

They still think they deserve to live the high life


13 posted on 08/06/2010 2:09:14 PM PDT by 4rcane
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To: Ann Archy
She's having a lunch with the Spanish king to make it an official visit so the government will pick up the entire cost of the airplane. I wonder who covers the Secret Service costs? Sure they would collect their normal wage here in the U.S., but there are per diem costs for hotels and meals, plus they are probably working a lot of overtime hours which increase the cost for Michelle to have a foreign vacation.
14 posted on 08/06/2010 2:10:07 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Gun control was originally to protect Klansmen from their victims. The basic reason hasn't changed.)
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To: jimbo123

She has that radical feminazi look.....ugh!!!! Not a surprise that she would lick the ONE’s boots. A little like Kagan. I usually wouldn’t comment on physical looks, but it is their souls shining through....


15 posted on 08/06/2010 2:10:21 PM PDT by savagesusie
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To: maggief

One thing about the O-bomb-a family, they know how to spend taxpayer money regardless of economic circumstances in the country. In addition they do it with an arrogance that is breathtaking.


16 posted on 08/06/2010 2:10:28 PM PDT by hgro (Jerry Riversdun)
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To: 4rcane

...the media treat them like royalty, awwwww shucks, its only a million here, a million there. Its tiny. Quit your complaining you plebs


17 posted on 08/06/2010 2:10:45 PM PDT by 4rcane
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To: maggief

She has to take her top off on the beach like Spanish women do to fit in down there. Then I will pay some sort of attention with pictures.


18 posted on 08/06/2010 2:11:12 PM PDT by BobS
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To: hsalaw
George W. Bush made 77 visits to his ranch in Crawford

What a canard. The Crawford ranch was set up to allow Bush to do the nation's business while he was there.

19 posted on 08/06/2010 2:11:37 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (No apologies.)
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To: Ann Archy; hoosiermama; penelopesire; STARWISE; Liz; onyx

http://www.ftc.gov/commissioners/leibowitz/index.shtml

Jon Leibowitz was designated to serve as Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission on March 2, 2009, by President Barack H. Obama. Leibowitz was previously sworn in as a Commissioner in September 3, 2004, following his nomination by the President and confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

In joining the Commission, Leibowitz resumed a long career of public service. He was the Democratic chief counsel and staff director for the U.S. Senate Antitrust Subcommittee from 1997 to 2000, where he focused on competition policy and telecommunications matters. He served as chief counsel and staff director for the Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism and Technology from 1995 to 1996 and the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice from 1991 to 1994. In addition, he served as chief counsel to Senator Herb Kohl from 1989 to 2000. Leibowitz worked for Senator Paul Simon from 1986 to 1987. In the private sector, Leibowitz served most recently as vice president for congressional affairs for the Motion Picture Association of America – from 2000 to 2004 – and worked as an attorney in private practice in Washington from 1984 to 1986.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a B.A. in American History (1980), Leibowitz graduated from the New York University School of Law in 1984. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, and has co-authored amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court on issues ranging from gun control to the census.

He lives in Bethesda with his wife, Ruth Marcus, and his two daughters, Emma and Julia.

////////////////////

Who else worked for Paul Simon???

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/mar2008/db20080314_121054.htm

Axelrod


20 posted on 08/06/2010 2:11:49 PM PDT by maggief
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