Michelle in Africa

Michelle Obama heads to Africa, stirs criticism
By Rachel Rose Hartman – 2 hrs 16 mins ago


First Lady Michelle Obama embarks today on a weeklong trip to Africa to spread goodwill. But the trip is already stirring criticism, making it just the latest travel choice by the First Lady to draw some negative press for the White House.

The aim of Obama's tour, which will take her to South Africa and Botswana, is to engage with young people--especially girls and women--who play prominent roles in academic life and civic leadership, while also furthering awareness on health and wellness issues.

But, as Washington Post writer Krissah Thompson notes, the trip is already provoking disappointment from Africa advocates who argue that President Obama, whose father was Kenyan, hasn't devoted enough time to the continent since winning the presidency. Mwiza Munthali, public outreach director of TransAfrica Forum, argues that U.S. officials "are not seeing Africa as a big priority. There has been some ambivalence." The president has made just one trip to sub-Saharan Africa since his Jan. 2009 inauguration and has chosen not to accompany his wife on her journey.

This isn't the first time the First Lady has come under fire for travel plans. Below we review some of Michelle Obama's past controversies around trips:

• The glitzy Spanish getaway: The First Lady raised eyebrows last August when she decided to jaunt off to Spain, commanding top-dollar luxury accommodations in the middle of a recession. The New York Daily News called her "a modern-day Marie Antoinette."

• The greeting leaders with creative diplomacy in England, Indonesia: The ever-delicate question of international etiquette has made trouble for the First Lady on a couple of foreign trips. In April 2009, she broke royal protocol and hugged Queen Elizabeth, causing a major stir in England and elsewhere. Then in Indonesia last November, Michelle Obama shook the hand of a conservative Muslim minister, a form of social contact between the sexes that violated his religious vows. He blamed the First Lady for the violation.

• The visit to immigration-complicated Mexico: Critics accused the First Lady of organizing a frivolous trip to Mexico in April 2010 with Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden. While that trip, too, was aimed primarily on establishing contact with younger civic leaders, some detractors called out the First Lady for taking time to travel to a country that's long been a flashpoint in U.S. immigration policy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thetic...tirs-criticism

comments

Africa is angry because Obama hasn't devoted enough time to them? Last time I checked, he was the president of the United States. Africa isn't his problem.

Is it not a problem that this country spends too much time worrying about other countries and not enough on this one? Sorry Africa we have to fix our house before we fix yours.

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Why are we spending money on Trips to foreign countries???? Everytime you trun around, the President and Mrs. Obama are traveling for "business" or vacationing. We have so much going on here to take care of.

Next time the government wants to raise a tax or increase a fee, they should look back at all the money that is spent traveling with these huge entourages. What a waste.

Does The president and Mrs. Obama every, just stay home????

Michelle Obama defends husband on Africa[i]
Darlene Superville, Associated Press – Fri Jun 24, 4:14 pm ET

GABORONE, Botswana – Visiting Africa on a goodwill mission, first lady Michelle Obama defended her husband Friday against criticism that he isn't paying enough attention to the continent. She said her weeklong trip to South Africa and Botswana is proof of the president's commitment to Africa. "This trip is a reflection, a direct reflection, of his support and his interest and his view of the importance of Africa to the world and to the future of the world," she said. "That's why I'm here."

Given that Barack Obama is America's first black president and his father was from Kenya, many had hoped to see stepped-up U.S. involvement on the vast continent during his presidency. Africans also longed for Obama to visit so they could welcome home a U.S president they consider one of their sons. He did visit, stopping in Ghana in 2009. But he stayed less than 24 hours and has not been back to Africa.

The first lady said people expect a lot from her overworked husband and that some won't ever think what he does is enough. "He would love to be here but there's a lot of work to do on the domestic front," she told four American reporters traveling with her. "And as president it's hard to predict and plan internationally because you've got domestic stuff hitting you left and right".

"Africa's absolutely important to him," she added. "I understand why people feel like they want more. It's a big continent, a lot of challenges. But I think his record and the number of senior officials who've spent so much time in Africa ... that is a reflection of this administration's commitment to this continent."

White House officials previously have pointed to the president's involvement in Libya, Sudan and Ivory Coast as examples of his commitment to Africa, along with repeat visits by such senior administration officials as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Mrs. Obama said she is her husband's "direct representative" and as such she was the one who met Friday with Botswanan President Ian Khama. The two emerged from his office after about 45 minutes and shook hands for the news media. They made no remarks.

The White House said later that they underscored the "breadth and depth" of the relationship between their countries. Botswana is considered one of Africa's most stable democracies and has held 10 successive democratic elections since becoming independent in 1966.

Khama expressed appreciation for US assistance, including life-saving support for HIV/AIDS patients, the White House said. HIV/AIDS is a major public health challenge in Botswana, a Texas-sized country of 2 million people in southern Africa. About 300,000 Botswanans are infected with the disease. They also discussed youth leadership, the key theme that Mrs. Obama has been promoting in Africa, and Khama's interest in conservation. Khama also sent his best wishes to Obama.

Mrs. Obama opened the second leg of her trip in Botswana on Friday by wielding a paint brush to help create a mural at a children's HIV/AIDS clinic sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. The facility treats more than 4,000 children and their families.

The US has spent more than $450 million since 2005 to help Botswana deal with AIDS. The country's efforts and partnerships with academic institutions and foundations have helped more than 95 percent of infected Botswanans get treatment, officials said.

The first lady also had lunch with a group of women, many of whom have overcome personal challenges, and their mentors. She told them that she's proof that success isn't about money or connections because her parents had neither of those. It's "about how much one believes in their own potential," she said.

After the call on Khama, Mrs. Obama ended the day at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve, where family and staff had dinner.

The first lady is traveling with her daughters, Malia, 12, and Sasha, 10; her mother, Marian Robinson; and a niece and nephew, Leslie and ***** Robinson, 15 and 19, respectively. She began the trip Monday, spending two days each in Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa before moving on to Botswana.

She is due back at the White House early Monday, after a private family safari this weekend.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110624/...e_obama_africa

There are no comments allowed at yahoo for this article ... I wonder why ??

Written on October 6, 2011 at 2:25 am by FPP
President Daughters now Designated ‘Senior Staff’
Costs of family safari to Africa starting to come out

The president’s two daughters, Sasha and Malia, were listed as “Senior Staff” on the manifest of a family safari to Africa, which cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars at a minimum, according to a government corruption fighter based in Washington.

The information comes from some of the documentation from the Obama family’s June 21-27 trip to South Africa and Botswana that was obtained under a federal Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch. Among the bits of information that have been released as a result of the court action were that the children were listed as “Senior Staff” on the manifests for the trip, and the costs of the military airplane used for the trip were in the range of $425,000 – all paid by taxpayers.

While Michelle Obama delivered some speeches on the trip, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said the taxpayers’ money was wasted. "This trip was as much an opportunity for the Obama family to go on a safari as it was a trip to conduct government business," said Fitton. "This junket wasted tax dollars and the resources of our overextended military. No wonder we had to sue to pry loose this information."

The organization previously uncovered documentation revealing that a "date night" for Barack and Michelle Obama in 2009 cost taxpayers more than $11,000 in Secret Service costs alone.

Judicial Watch earlier filed a lawsuit over the federal government's refusal to reveal how much taxpayers spent on the Obama "family outing."

According to documents that were obtained under the legal action, taxpayers spent hundreds of dollars ($928.44) for "bulk food" for passengers aboard the flights and the calculated cost of the C-32 (a military configuration of a Boeing 757) was $424,142 (34.8 flight hours at more than $12,000 per hour). The other expenses, meals off the plane, transportation, security, miscellaneous services and other costs – "Have yet to be disclosed," Judicial Watch said.

The organization also reported, "The passenger manifests confirm the presence of Obama's daughter's, Malia and Sasha on the trip. The two girls are listed as 'Senior Staff.' The manifests also list Mrs. Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, and niece and nephew, Leslie and ***** Robinson, as well Mrs. Obama's makeup and hairstylist (Carl Ray and Johnny Wright)," Judicial Watch said.

The "professed purpose" of the trip "was to encourage young people living in the two growing democracies to become involved in national affairs; and during her scheduled stops in Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa and in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, the First Lady used the opportunity to speak on education, health and wellness issues," the report said. But the trip also included tourist events such as stops at landmarks and museums. There also was a private family safari at a South African game reserve for the Obamas.

The court case was launched just about the time The Daily Mail in the United Kingdom touted the $10 million in public money Michelle Obama has spent on her "vacations." "Branding her 'disgusting' and 'a vacation junkie,' [reports] say the 47-year-old mother-of-two has been indulging in five-star hotels, where she splashes out on expensive massages and alcohol," the London paper said.

The report said Michelle Obama is believed to have taken 42 days of vacation in the last year, including a respite in Spain that cost $375,000 and a $2,000-a-night ski trip to Vail, Colo. When the report came out, the family was on another vacation, at Blue Heron Farm on Martha's Vineyard, where the rental fees are estimated at $50,000 a week.

The paper reported the situation was aggravated because the Obamas took separate airplanes to the Massachusetts retreat – even though they traveled the same day.

Also, the report cited figures from a Hawaii Reporter investigation into the Obamas' trip to Hawaii last winter, where the costs were $63,000 to bring Michelle Obama to town ahead of the president, $38,000 for a beach property rental, $134,000 for staff members to stay in a nearby hotel and $251,000 in police overtime.

The White House Dossier report explained South African U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau confirmed the African trip was partly personal. "She's coming on this trip to talk about women's development and youth development, and South Africa is a leader in that, not only on the continent but globally," Trudeau said in the report. "A visit to South Africa is important for them as a family. She'll be visiting many struggle-era landmarks, including the Apartheid Museum (and) the Hector Pieterson Memorial."


The organization, which investigates and fights government corruption, also earlier documented what appears to many to be the extravagant spending by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Records showed Pelosi cost taxpayers $101,000 for in-flight food and alcohol over a period in 2008 and 2009. At one point she instructed the Air Force to provide chocolate-covered strawberries for a snack, since it was her birthday. "Dark chocolate preferred" was the order.

Pelosi's spending habits first came to light through Judicial Watch efforts when it was revealed taxpayers spent $101,000 for in-flight food and alcohol for her during that time period.

Then there was a follow-up report from Judicial Watch that more taxpayer money – hundreds of thousands of dollars – were spent in the months before Pelosi handed the gavel over to Rep. John Boehner as Republicans took control of the House following the 2010 election.

Among the receipts: $130 from a Detroit store for popcorn, cheese puffs, Hershey's milk chocolate kisses, peanuts, Snickers minis, Nilla wafers, ginger snaps, mixed nuts, dry roasted peanuts, M&M peanuts, Kraft caramels and crackers. That order apparently was connected to a congressional delegation trip to Detroit that cost some $24,000 in air travel expenses plus another $10,000 in miscellaneous expenses.

The records, which are linked Judicial Watch's website, include flight manifests, expense summaries, copies of receipts and congressional correspondence for Pelosi's trips in 2010. There's not a grand total for the expenditures because of the nature of the reporting: Sometimes there were reimbursements listed for members of Pelosi's family traveling with her, and it was unclear whether those reimbursements were paid.

The individual files of 50 to 100 pages of details are posted online in three parts:

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Part One. http://www.judicialwatch.org/files/d...1-07062011.pdf

Part Two. http://www.judicialwatch.org/files/d...2-07062011.pdf

Part Three. http://www.judicialwatch.org/files/d...3-07062011.pdf

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The details include information on a May 6-10, 2010, trip to Afghanistan and Germany "to discuss issues of mutual interest in Qatar and Afghanistan, as well as conduct oversight on women's issues (troops) in Afghanistan and to visit with U.S. troops and meet with government officials in Germany."

Tab for the military travel? $204,135.

And Pelosi "made a personal request that the 'maximum per diem allowance be made available at the enhanced rate of an additional $50.'"

Also uncovered were "numerous" trips by Pelosi between San Francisco and Andrews Air Force Base. "Several of these trips included members of Speaker Pelosi's family, including her husband, daughter, granddaughters and son-in-law."

The Detroit trip? Costs were $24,336 for commercial air travel and another $10,046 in "expenses."

The Pentagon also paid for military escorts for the trip, the report noted.

Earlier reports documented that she spent $2,100,744.59 in military travel costs in a single two-year period. That included the $101,429.14 taxpayers paid for "in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol."

"For example, purchases for one Pelosi-led congressional delegation traveling from Washington, D.C., through Tel Aviv, Israel to Baghdad, Iraq, May 15-20, 2008, included: Johnny Walker Red scotch, Grey Goose vodka, E&J brandy, Bailey's Irish Crème, Maker's Mark whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Bacardi Light rum, Jim Beam whiskey, Beefeater gin, Dewars scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jack Daniels whiskey, Corona beer and several bottles of wine," Judicial Watch reported.


Part of the tab for alcoholic drinks on a congressional trip arranged by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

http://www.wnd.com/images/misc/100128booze.jpg

Read more: President daughters now designated 'senior staff' http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=351813#ixzz1a2BywvEi

opps - double post

[b]August 26, 2011 by V2A[/i]

U.S. Sued Over Michelle Obama’s Secretive ‘Family Outing’

Judicial Watch has filed a lawsuit over the federal government’s refusal to disclose how much taxpayers spent to send Michelle Obama on a “family outing” that included a safari in Africa.

The organization, which investigates and fights government corruption, earlier documented what appears to many to be the extravagant spending by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Records showed Pelosi cost taxpayers $101,000 for in-flight food and alcohol over a period in 2008 and 2009. At one point she instructed the Air Force to provide chocolate-covered strawberries for a snack, since it was her birthday.

Now Judicial Watch wants to know what taxpayers are spending for Michelle Obama’s vacations.

“How much did the American people spend to send the First Lady on a family outing in Africa? That’s what we want to know,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “On the surface, the trip seems to have been totally unnecessary and was as much an excuse for the Obama family to go on a safari as it was a mission intended to advance the nation’s business in Africa.”

http://visiontoamerica.org/3547/u-s-...family-outing/

comments

For a president who decries the RICH, they sure love to live the life at our expense. And, buy the way, never turn down the rich peoples donations.

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Does anyone want this back in Our White House for another 4 years.
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Queen of the White House

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"The real truth is that there are no longer any "public servants" only armies of "public parasites" feeding off the dying carcuss of the American taxpayer - Mark Patush

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"In my own life in my own small way, I have tried to give back to this country that has given me so much, see, that's why I left a job at a big law firm for a career in public service, " ~~ Michelle Obama

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No, Michele Obama does not get paid to serve as the First Lady and she 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. Just think, 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 from her husband's salary.

Total Personal Staff members for other first ladies paid by taxpayers:

Mamie Eisenhower: One-- paid for personally out of President's salary.
Jackie Kennedy: One
Roseline Carter: One
Barbara Bush: One
Hilary Clinton: Three
Laura Bush: One
Michele Obama: Twenty-two


How things have changed! If you're one of the tens of millions of Americans facing certain destitution, earning less than subsistence wages stocking the shelves at Wal-Mart or serving up McDonald cheeseburgers,prepare to scream and then come to realize that the benefit package for these servants of Ms Michelle are the same as members of the national security and defense departments and the bill for these assorted lackeys is paid by YOU, John Q. Public.

Michele Obama's personal staff:

One.. $172,200 - Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)

Two.. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)

Three.. $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary for Mrs. Obama)

Four. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President And Director of Communications for the First Lady)

Five.. $100,000 - Winter, Melissa (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)

Six.. $90,000 Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)

Seven.. $84,000 - Lilyveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)

Eight.. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)

Nine.. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Project for the First Lady)

Ten.. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)

Eleven.. $64,000 - Reinstein, Joseph B.(Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)

Twelve.. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)

Thirteen.. $60,000 Fitz, Alan O.(Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director For the First Lady)

Fourteen.. $57,500 - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)

Fifteen... $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary To The First Lady)

Sixteen.. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide To The First Lady)

Seventeen.. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)

Eighteen.. $43,000 - Tubman, Samanth a (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)

Nineteen.. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)

Twenty.. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)

Twenty-One... $35,000 - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)

Twenty-Two.. $35,000 - Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady)

( total $1,591,200 in annual salaries exclusive of benefits )

There has NEVER been anyone in the White House at any time who has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady's social life. One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer expense. Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air Force One to Europe

Copyright 2009 Canada Free Press.Com Canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/12652

Yes, I know, The Canadian Free Press had to publish this, perhaps because America no longer has a free press and the USA media is too scared that they might be considered racist or suffer at the hands of Obama. Sorry America

Obama's daughter spends springbreak in Mexico
AFP – 40 mins ago.

The elder daughter of US President Barack Obama is spending her springbreak in the historic Mexican city of Oaxaca in the company of 12 friends, a state police official said. The young tourists, including 13-year-old Malia Ann Obama, are staying at a downtown hotel in this city famous for its colonial architecture and well-preserved native American traditions, the official said.

"We are here to block access to the hotel by other people and escort the vehicles that are carrying the visitors to tourism sites," the police official told AFP under the condition of anonymity. Malia Obama and her friend are guarded by 25 US Secret Service agents as well as Mexican police, the official noted.

The group, which arrived in Oaxaca Saturday, has already visited the architectural zone of Mitla and the tree of El Tule believed to have one thousand years. The sightseeing plan also includes visits to Monte Alban known for its archeological research sites and Oaxaca's famous artisan quarters.

http://news.yahoo.com/obamas-daughte...145031176.html

comments

That makes a lot of sense to me! First they put out this warning about traveling to Mexico and now this? Of course the Mexican government obviously affected by the decrease in American tourists put the pressure into the Obama's administration! Nice try but it won't work! I will no go there if my life depended on it! As far as I concerned, sure her daughter is there with 30 or so Secret Service Agents surronding her 24/7 plus about 350 Federales in the outer circle. Enjoy your vaction little darling ... at our expense.

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Has Obama lost his damned mind? I would no sooner send my thirteen-year-old daughter to Mexico right now than I would to Afghanistan, whether she's guarded by 25 Secret Service agents, or not! And talk about fiscal irresponsibility by having all those agents with her in a time of fiscal crisis in the United States...absolutely inexcusable!

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Interesting 2 articles about Obummer on Yahhhooo today.... First one is about Obummers re-election campaign "only" getting $25Million this month...and this article about his daughter taking a Mexican Spring Break vacation. He takes the money with his left hand...doles it out with his right!! Liberals must be SO proud!!

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When my son graduated h.s., his friends were going to Mexico to celebrate. He was a good kid and he deserved to go too, but I couldn't send him. Oh, I had the money for transportation and the spending money to give him. But I didn't have the money for bodyguards, and I was afraid for his safety. It's ironic that my son is now working two jobs -- to cover the cost of health insurance for his family, and in part, to help pay for Little Miss Obama's bodyguards. Life just isn't fair. And it will get even less fair if Obama is re-elected.

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13 years old ?? on spring break at tax payer expense !! Obama is not only unfit to be President he is an unfit parent.

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So it is OK to go to Mexico on Spring Break if you have 25 secret service agents watching you. Will they protect me if I decide to go? This must be Obama's twisted logic trying to convince people that Mexico is safe and we should support their tourism. What's next on the agenda? Sending her to Chaves' "safe" country?

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This is not an age appropriate event until a child leaves for college spring breaks should be spent with family not 12 friends in a foreign country with 25 agents playing babysitter on the tax payer dollar.

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So the state department warns against students traveling to Mexico for Spring Break, and then Obama sends his daughter there? Anyone else see an undermining of wise advice to avoid mexico here?

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Charity begins in the home... And the entitlement mentality begins in the White House.
No wonder half the country sees nothing wrong with having their hand out.

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too bad most american kids cant afford a movie ...

White House Admits Asking Media to Scrub Reports of Malia Obama's Mexican Vacation
By Noel Sheppard | March 20, 2012 | 09:50

After it was reported Monday that Malia Obama was going to Mexico for spring break with 25 Secret Service agents, people began to notice that such reports were being scrubbed from the Internet.

Politico's Dylan Byers reported Tuesday this was done at the request of the White House:

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The AFP page for the story now links to a story titled "Senegal music star Youssou Ndour hits campaign trail," as does the Yahoo page. The Huffington Post page now links directly back to the Huffington Post homepage. The Daily Mail, Telegraph, and Australian stories now lead to 404 error pages, reading "page not found."

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In an update, Byers explained who was responsible for the scrubbing:

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Kristina Schake, Communications Director to the First Lady, emails to confirm this was a White House effort: From the beginning of the administration, the White House has asked news outlets not to report on or photograph the Obama children when they are not with their parents and there is no vital news interest. We have reminded outlets of this request in order to protect the privacy and security of these girls.

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Must be nice to command such an obedient media.


http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sh...#ixzz1pflkjzov

comments

Didn't the media rake the Bush twins over the coals for 8 years? Granted, they did some stupid things, as will the Obumble girls, but the media went out of their way to report on Bush's girls. Did Bush ask the media to lay off? don't think so. Any one know better?

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I think the 25 Secret Service Agents can provide for the "security" of these girls. But I don't think that the American People ought to pay them for having to do so.....Especially when they do this stuff behind our backs. How much does it cost for 25 agents and all of the equipment necessary to support them on this little "Spring Break"??? Disgusting...then again, EVERYTHING about the Obamas is disgusting.

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I'm not even sure 25 would be enough, if they knew where they were heading. It's fairly routine for truckloads of bodies to be dumped on city streets down there. After all, they have our federal gubmint sending automatic rifles straight to the bad guys.

What's more stupid than the ham fisted way of scrubbing this story? How about the fact that it was leaked in the first place? Why would they even consider sending either of their girls to a country which our own State Dept has deemed unsafe for Americans?

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The State Department warns people to avoid Mexico for spring break and this is how Obama responds? Do they not talk to each other.

The Secret Service does put itself in harms way to protect its charges. But that does not give their charges carte blanche to take unnecessary risks. This is NOT a vacation for them, they are WORKING, doing their job. I am sure it is no picnic guarding a bunch of 13 year olds.

Finally, given the fact that this First Family seems to always be taking vacations, I would like to see a breakdown of what the Obama's pay out of their pocket and we (those paying taxes) pay out of our pockets.

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the MSM is so complicit at taking orders from the Obama adminstration. This must come as a complete shock to all Newsbusters readers. It certainly is to me. I thought the coverage of the Obama adminstration and family was trasparent and objective. I guess from now on we will not know about Moochelle's lavish vacations and travels of their children at taxpayer cost. A few calls from Obama Kremlin will kill the stories.

I can't post this because I keep getting the following message

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A censored word was detected. Please do not use censored words in your posts.

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I have been unable to determine what word is deemed "censored"

Top 4 Most Wasteful Michelle Obama Vacations
Bert Atkinson Jr. July 18, 2012 8:28 pm

http://www.ijreview.com/2012/07/1089...ama-vacations/

Michelle Obama and her two daughters took a ski trip to Aspen over President’s Day weekend in February. Judicial Watch, a public interest group that investigates and fights government corruption, announced that the vacation cost at least $83,182.99.

According to Judicial Watch’s report:

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The bill for the U.S. Secret Service, including accommodations at the Fasching Haus Deluxe condominium and the Inn at Aspen, totaled $48,950.38.

The cost for the flight, per official Department of Defense published hourly rates, was $22,583.70. Food and miscellaneous on-flight items cost $235.44.

Rental car costs totaled $6,442.23.

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Keep in mind, regardless of the President, he (or a future she) will spend startling amounts of money in travel. But, for a President that can’t get unemployment down and has earned the title of the ‘Undisputed Debt King,’ news of lavish vacations will certainly serve to be a slap in American faces. Even if a Republican was in office, it would still be a slap in my face to see the Secret Service spending a mere $50,000 on shelter over a weekend.

In June of 2011, Michelle Obama took her family and staff to South Africa and Botswana. The stated purpose of the trip was “to encourage young people living in the two growing democracies to become involved in national affairs.”

A Judicial Watch report, based upon documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, shows that:

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According to U.S. Department of Defense’s published hourly rates for the C-32A aircraft used for the trip, Judicial Watch calculated the total cost to American taxpayers was $424,142 for use of the aircraft (34.8 flight hours x $12,188 per hour). (The C-32 is a specially configured military version of the Boeing 757.) Other expenses – meals (off the plane), transportation, security, various services, etc. – have yet to be disclosed.

The passenger manifests confirm the presence of Obama’s daughter’s, Malia and Sasha on the trip. The two girls are listed as “Senior Staff.” The manifests also list Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, and niece and nephew, Leslie and A Robinson, as well Mrs. Obama’s makeup and hairstylist (Carl Ray and Johnny Wright).

The expense records also show $928.44 was spent for “bulk food” purchases on flight. Overall, during the trip, 192 meals were served for the 21 passengers on board.

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In August of 2010, Michelle Obama, reportedly with one of her daughters, two friends, and four of their daughters (this is only reported by the NY Times – U.S. Air Force officials have not released official records), went on a vacation to Spain.

A Judicial Watch report, based upon documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, shows that:

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According to U.S. Department of Defense’s 2010 published hourly rates, the total cost of flying Michelle Obama and her guests from Camp Andrews to Malaga and then to Mallorca and back to the United States was $199,323.75. This is based on approximately 17 hours and 15 minutes of total flying time.

The 15-member flight crew stayed at Tryp Guadalmar, a nearby motel. Lodging cost was $10,290.60 and car rental cost was $2,633.50. Food cost was $876.30, including $57.68 for four bottles of maple syrup and a package of pancake mix.

Secret Service reports show that costs also included $254,461.20, including $26,670.61 for a chauffer tour of Costa del Sol, and $50,078.78 for a travel planning company. (George Soros is 50% owner of the travel planning company.)

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The Obama family’s 2011 Hawaiian vacation costs a staggering $3,629,622 – in travel alone, according to the Hawaii Reporter.

Michelle Obama left early for the vacation at a cost of $100,000 in travel expenses. President Obama left later on Air Force One, and his cost to fly from Washington to Hawaii and then back again totaled $3,271,611.

The Obama’s did cover the expenses for their own private front-beach home.

In total, the vacation cost, according to the Hawaii Reporter, an estimated $4,113,038.