Thread: Obamas' Night Out

I'm mixed on it. First, yeah, it's going to cost some money and we're going to be footing part of that bill for security. It doesn't matter, however, whether he and his family are in Paris, Tennessee, or Alaska, his security needs are going to be similar. That's just the name of the game no matter who is president.

Second, I don't recall that they have taken a vacation as of yet, and I imagine it's been a stressful time. The fact is, he does make a half million a year and he can afford a short European vacation.

Most of you know I'm not his biggest fan, but as long as this isn't something that happens very regularly, why shouldn't he take a short vacation with his family? If I was pulling in a half million a year and just got done with a rather stressful 6+ months, I think I would do the same.

I can't believe I just defended Barack Obama. They're going to be asking me for my conservative card back

Clearly the excess and it's disparity from what would be affordable to "the common man" for a similar night out is in a different class, it doesn't surprise or shock me in the least.

Obama is a member of an elite class. I think those that may be shocked by this kind of thing are IMO under the false assumption and even delusion that he, as president is of the people for the people rather than being an administrator to an influential and super rich yet largely silent ruling class. Sound crazy? I've been called worse things before, I'm sure.

Chris L

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Clearly the excess and it's disparity from what would be affordable to "the common man" for a similar night out is in a different class, it doesn't surprise or shock me in the least.

Obama is a member of an elite class. I think those that may be shocked by this kind of thing are IMO under the false assumption and even delusion that he, as president is of the people for the people rather than being an administrator to an influential and super rich yet largely silent ruling class. Sound crazy? I've been called worse things before, I'm sure.

Chris L

Not only does it not sound crazy, I think you're right on target.

I find no shock in discovering that he is completely unrelated to the masses, and completely out of touch with them. It comes with the territory.

I just find it annoying that it seems to be spun as a "regular family outing," which it's clearly not.

Sorry but the president of the United States cannot even take a dump without someone taking notice. Someone's got to be president and this time around we picked him. He has a right to take his wife out on a date. Even as president he has a right to have a personal life. As president, he can't just load up the wife into the ole RV and drive up to NYC and see a Broadway show on his own. There are security protocols to follow. There's a whole retinue of people to accompany him everywhere he goes. If he needs to fly somewhere, he has to take Air Force One and it's going to cost money. That's just the way it is.

So on his date with his wife, there is going to be a cost. Everything the president does has a cost. I seem to recall quite a few trips by our former president to his home in Crawford for the sole purpose of keeping his brush at bay. I don't remember any Republicans complaining about those trips. At least Obama is setting a good example by occasionally playing the role of a good husband.

Well sure it's a regular family outing, just for a different class of people, like Chris said. I think the fallacy here is trying to paint them as a being common, middle class folk. Anyone that believes that the President and his family are anything but affluent and in the highest tax bracket is simply delusional.

I don't see the problem.
Ok, the guy has money. So what if he spends 30K in one go? McCain has oodles and oodles of money more than him, and probably spends some chunks of it at one time or another. It's their money. Since when is someone not allowed anymore to spend his money accodring to his own wishes because someone else has less? That almost sounds like commie talk
Any money he spends goes into the economy. Spending it is more useful than keeping it stuffed in a mattress.

How about the RADicts here showing off their Livis? The only razors I can afford are those I restore or make myself. Should the RADdicts feel bad for showing off stuff that -I- cannot possibly afford?

I don't think so.

And seeing as the economy was already tanking during his campaign, I don't think it's his fault that the detroit auto workers are out of a job. That blame lies somewhere else entirely.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I don't see the problem.
Ok, the guy has money. So what if he spends 30K in one go? McCain has oodles and oodles of money more than him, and probably spends some chunks of it at one time or another. It's their money. Since when is someone not allowed anymore to spend his money accodring to his own wishes because someone else has less? T.

Obama himself has made this suggestion, along with other congress members, house and senate alike.


I think he should be able to spend his money as he likes also, but he is likely spending tax money as this trip is official government business.

His arrogance and hypocrisy is showing through.

By the way, one of the nastiest ploy's an opponent will use on you is to get you to hate them because then they have the advantage. The more you hate them the more you will become like them.

Originally Posted by JMS

I think he should be able to spend his money as he likes also, but he is likely spending tax money as this trip is official government business.

That was exactly my point. Everything that he does is official government business. When he goes on a date with his wife, the government doesn't shut down in his absence, some of it has to follow him around wherever he goes. He's on the clock all the time, even, as Hillary pointed out, at 3 AM. There is nothing wrong with what he did. It's not a class issue, it's a presidential job issue.

Schröder made similar mistakes by being on the gazettes in his holidays in (super expensive) Portofino, designer three pieces and Cohiba smoking while cutting down on government aid for the needy constantly.
It cost him quite some support.

I don't see the problem here.

If anything, the problem seems to be spin - but that's politics.

Also, if you earn 15k as a book seller, and that is not enough for you - then change your career. If you have a nice quality of life, and you enjoy what you do, then you're going to have to accept that people earn a crap load more than you and spend it (sometimes) frivioulesly - that doesn't mean, however, that they are any better for it or that they should stop.