News has recently surfaced that the Obamas hosted a lavish Alice in Wonderland-themed Halloween tea party at the White House in October of 2009, complete with décor by director Tim Burton and a guest appearance by the Mad Hatter himself, Johnny Depp in full costume and character.
Sounds like an awesome party to me. So why are we just hearing about it now?
Because it was kept very hush-hush at the time, when the unemployment rate had reached 10%, federal spending had skyrocketed, and the Tea Party movement was gaining momentum in the fight to stop a government takeover of our health care system.
In other words, it might have looked bad for the Obamas to throw a lavish party while espousing to the public the need for shared sacrifice and belt-tightening.
The cat is out of the bag now, with New York Times correspondent Jodi Kantor’s revealing new book, The Obamas. She writes about the party:
White House officials were so nervous about how a splashy, Hollywood-esque party would look to jobless Americans — or their representatives in Congress, who would soon vote on health care — that the event was not discussed publicly and Burton’s and Depp’s contributions went unacknowledged.
This is what frustrates me about the Obama administration – it’s all do as I say and not do as I do. President Obama claims that millionaire fat cats making over $250,000 (I know, math is hard) need to pay their fair share, then he allows the White House to host a flashy party. How much did that cost taxpayers, I wonder?
Our nation is broke as a joke, and our first family spends money like it’s going out of style. They even take separate planes to their travel destinations mere hours apart, costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars and who knows how many carbon credits (if you buy into that sort of thing).
Michelle takes photo ops at Target, because she’s just like you and me! A real mom taking advantage of the Dollar Spot and boxed wine! Meanwhile, she wears $495 shoes to dig around in the dirt, and dresses that are worth more than most people’s rent.
They ‘support’ the Occupy Wall Street crowd, after having lined their buddies at Solyndra’s pockets with $535 million that our children will have to pay back with interest someday.
These people are not like you and me -- they are wealthy and that is fine. There’s nothing wrong with working hard and enjoying the fruits of your labor. But the fact that President Obama lives an extravagant lifestyle while demonizing private jet owners is hypocritical and annoying.
Image via marioanima/Flickr
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Comments 27
*sigh* Jenny- it requires only a small mental leap to imagine that PERHAPS as the President has received innumerable death threats (by some reports, more death threats than any other President in history), he and Mrs. Obama travel separately more often than other First families, so as to decrease the chance of leaving their children orphans- or worse- should an incident occur.
Do you think this could be ONE GOOD REASON for traveling separately to the same destination? Or do you still just want to believe they're grasping, greedy spendaholic freeloaders?
Do you think this could be ONE GOOD REASON for traveling separately to the same destination? Or do you still just want to believe they're grasping, greedy spendaholic freeloaders?
No, that's not a good reason. The Secret Service is better able to protect them all in the same location, rather than having to monitor multiple targets. As for the grasping, greedy spendaholic freeloaders? Your word choices are interesting. I would just go with hypocritical.
FFS, Jenny...are you still bitching about her boots?
@hoticedcoffee: Then you should inform the Secret Service of this. Because the President and Vice-President also never travel together for somewhat similar reasons. Perhaps you should call and let them know that they are wasting taxpayer's money, as- according to you- they are better able to protect them both in the same location.
And I remember Bush's daughters ALWAYS traveling separately, also requiring twice the security. (and all those cover charges they had to pay to protect those girls in the bars....) Bush took twice the vacations that Obama has, spending almost a third of his time "at the ranch", but not a peep from Jenny.
Laura Bush also supported eating healthier,
www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=44
but somehow when she supported this issue there was no screaming from the conservatives.
Michelle Obama is the First Lady of the United States of America, that alone should be reason for a minimum of respect. I have never witnessed the blatant and mean spirited attacks on any other First Ladies other then Michelle Obama. Are you really proud to align yourself with the putrid wrecks such as Limbaugh, Beck and Faux News Jenny?
Then you should inform the Secret Service of this. Because the President and Vice-President also never travel together for somewhat similar reasons. Perhaps you should call and let them know that they are wasting taxpayer's money, as- according to you- they are better able to protect them both in the same location.
Actually, I was informed by a former SSA, so they're all set without my input. But since you seem unclear about necessity versus hypocricy, I'll clarify for you. The President and VP travel and live separately to ensure continuity of government if something was to happen to the President. To be blunt, the First Lady and First Kids are unimportant to both the continuity of government and national security. So yes, we protect them, but no, it's not important that they outlive the President.
Reading comprehension, hoticedcoffee. I said "somewhat" similar reasons. The President and First Lady may travel separately to ensure continuity of their children having A PARENT if something were to happen to the President (or, perhaps the First Lady). And it may not be important TO YOU or the country in general that the family outlives the President, but I'm sure you can agree that it just may be important to the President or the First Lady.