Michelle to Africa

How much to send the First Lady to Africa ?

http://campaign2012.washingtonexamin...ichelle-africa

First Lady Michelle Obama's June 21-27 trip to Africa cost taxpayers nearly half-a-million dollars, according to official documents obtained by Judicial Watch. AP Photos
How much does it cost taxpayers to fly First Lady Michelle Obama, her two daughters and her mother, a niece and a nephew, a hairstylist and makeup artists to South Africa and Botswana to give a few speeches, meet Nelson Mandela, and enjoy a safari on a private game preserve?

Nearly half a million dollars, according to documents obtained by Judicial Watch via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) concerning Obama's June 21-27 journey.

The children were listed as senior staff ???

[Severa]

Oh no you just CAN'T say anything BAD about this family and their vacations, oh no siree....
I bet before both of my kids get home from school (youngest will be home around 2:15, followed by oldest at around 3) someone will be along to fuss at you and say, "well THIS OTHER President did "fill in the blank" and you didn't say a PEEP then..."

[itsbob]

I doubt $500,000 covered the fuel expenses..

Or for the lifestyle she has become accustomed to, I doubt it covered the hotel rooms..

[bcp (Premo)]

I would be happy to see ten times that amount spent,, if it was one way.

There has been no president in the history of this country (at least during my life so far) that I have hated as much as I do the bammys.
I have no respect for them, and I really have no concern as far as their personal safety goes.

Had someone taken out Clinton, I would have mourned with the country (even though I did not like his policies)

With the bammys, I doubt I would spend too much time mourning.

If he has no concern for the country, I dont think we should have any concern for him. I think their security details are a waste of taxpayer dollar.

[twinoaks207 (Premo)]

The nice thing about Judicial Watch is that they will link to the original documents that they received via FOIA requests.

Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Detailing the Cost to Taxpayers for Michelle Obama start at about page 14 to see who was on the junket (including 5 members classified as "press").

They don't seem to have a "family members" category so perhaps that is why the family is classified as "senior staff". The real test would be to see if the Obamas reimbursed the government for the cost of the trip for the family members who went along -- should be common practice for these kinds of trips, and I believe that there may be a precedent somewhere for that to happen. I seem to remember reading something about that happening with another trip where there was a huge outcry from the public with some negative publicity. It wasn't however, this trip.

[itsbob]

Originally Posted by twinoaks207

The nice thing about Judicial Watch is that they will link to the original documents that they received via FOIA requests.

Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Detailing the Cost to Taxpayers for Michelle Obama start at about page 14 to see who was on the junket (including 5 members classified as "press").

They don't seem to have a "family members" category so perhaps that is why the family is classified as "senior staff". The real test would be to see if the Obamas reimbursed the government for the cost of the trip for the family members who went along -- should be common practice for these kinds of trips, and I believe that there may be a precedent somewhere for that to happen. I seem to remember reading something about that happening with another trip where there was a huge outcry from the public with some negative publicity. It wasn't however, this trip.

That's just it.. Senior Staff Members are paid by us..

The Obama's would have to pay for their relatives and their children, just as we would if we took my kids on a business trip somewhere.

[ciwmj]

Originally Posted by bcp

I would be happy to see ten times that amount spent,, if it was one way.

There has been no president in the history of this country (at least during my life so far) that I have hated as much as I do the bammys.
I have no respect for them, and I really have no concern as far as their personal safety goes.

Had someone taken out Clinton, I would have mourned with the country (even though I did not like his policies)

With the bammys, I doubt I would spend too much time mourning.

If he has no concern for the country, I dont think we should have any concern for him. I think their security details are a waste of taxpayer dollar.

[twinoaks207 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by itsbob

That's just it.. Senior Staff Members are paid by us..

The Obama's would have to pay for their relatives and their children, just as we would if we took my kids on a business trip somewhere.

IF the US taxpayer foots the bill for all costs for anyone classified as a "Senior Staff member", even if said person is not actually on the US Government payroll under such a job classification (such as those listed on this trip), AND the cost for those persons erroneously classified on that trip as "Senior Staff member" (when they actually did not hold a paid position in the US Government as such) was paid by the US government, AND there was no payment made to the US government to cover the costs of those erroneously identified,

THEN
it would be fraud.

Who's bringing charges on our behalf?

[Fishn Guy]

Fishn 2012... Cause I only require booze and porn.. will probably never travel anywhere and can guarantee our troops come home tommorow... saving us millions...

[bcp (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Fishn Guy

Fishn 2012... Cause I only require booze and porn.. will probably never travel anywhere and can guarantee our troops come home tommorow... saving us millions...

already your policies are better than the wons.

I do hope you will try to reduce fuel cost so the fishing boats will be cheaper to run.