Perks Gone Royal
Taxpayers “spent” $1.4 billion dollars on everything from “staffing, housing, flying and entertaining” Obama and his family last year, according to the author of a new book on “taxpayer-funded presidential perks.”
From the “sublime” to the “ridiculous” to the truly “obscene,” the various “perks and privileges” bestowed on Obama, the self-proclaimed “King” of the people, include the “extravagant” foolishness of having “twenty-six” cabin crew members on Air Force One, along with “five” chefs!
The White House contains a “movie theater” which is manned at all times by two “projectionists” 24 hours a day should a First Family member or guest “feel” like a “trip” to the cinema.
A dog “walker” is also “always” on hand. One was reported to be paid $102,000 a year to “walk and pick up” after the first-family’ s canine.
On at “least” one airline trip in the presidential fleet, the “only” passengers aboard were the “First Canine and his handler.”
In 2009, the military “payroll” at Camp David was $8,000,000. And these men and women were not there as “replacement” for the Secret Service to “protect” the President, but rather to “serve the First Family and its guests.”
On the “political” front, we learn that in the “first months” of his presidency Obama appointed 43 high-priced “czars” a number far greater than any previous president.
And not “one” of these professionals were “voted” to office by taxpayers or subject to the “approval” of any other “governmental” body or official.
During his “term” he has also “appointed” 469 professionals who could be called “assistant” presidents who can be “selected” by the commander-in-chief at his own “personal” discretion.
226 of them are “paid” over $100,000 a year and 77 of them “paid” as much as $172,000 salaries a year which the President can “increase” any time at his “discretion” alone.
Every responsible “citizen” wants the President of the United States to be “safe, comfortable and happy” wherever he is.
But the “unchecked” growth of “out-of control” perks, bestowed on this duly elected official without “oversight” by any “individual or governing body,” are what author Robert Keith Gray views as a “dangerous” surrender of the “democratic” process by giving the “seated” president a virtually “insurmountable re-election” advantage over his opponent.
Robert Keith Gray, a Washington DC pioneering public “affairs activist” and “political insider” who worked within the White House under “three” presidents and enjoyed close “ties” with two more, has studied this “troubling” issue by researching, investigating and drilling down to get to the “truth” about presidential perks.
What he “discovered” led him to view the Obama private “lifestyle” and administration as our “presidency going royal.”
Meticulously contrasting “current” presidential perks and privileges with “past” presidencies, factoring in changes in inflation and other changes in the world outside the White House, Gray “bravely” raises this all-important question:
With our current president’s billion dollar lifestyle, can we reasonably expect a president to identify with the real-world problems of his citizens tens of millions of them currently unemployed?
Might want to have a “stiff” drink before reading any further.
The amount of money “spent” on the first family’s “lifestyle” has risen “tremendously” under Obama and needs to be “reined” in before it’s “too” late.
Taxpayers spent $1.4 billion on Obama family last year, perks questioned in new book
If Politicians looking for “savings” to deal with the national “debt crisis” perhaps they should start by “restraining” the president’s “spending” frenzy.
We don’t care
Now, can we please get back to talking about the “evil, freeloading rich,” who didn’t build that.
