President Obama’s not having a great week with his critics: first, he got accused of looking like Satan, and now he’s getting flak from a familiar critic, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, for leading an excessively luxurious lifestyle that weighs on the backs of America’s most hard-working, penny-thrifting citizens…or something like that.
Here’s her quote from the Conservative Political Action Conference, where she spoke on Saturday:
“A new book is out talking about the perks and the excess of the $1.4-billion-a-year presidency that we’re paying for. And this is a lifestyle that is one of excess. Now we find out that there are five chefs on Air Force One. There are two projectionists who operate the White House movie theater. They regularly sleep at the White House in order to be readily available in case the first family wants a really, really late show. And I don’t mean to be petty here, but can’t they just push the play button? We are also the ones who are paying for someone to walk the president’s dog, paying for someone to walk the president’s dog? Now, why are we doing that when we can’t even get a disabled veteran into the White House for a White House tour? That isn’t caring!”
Glenn Kessler, the “Fact Checker” columnist for the Washington Post, quickly dismantled Bachmann’s claims: the $1.4 billion number, touted in two books recently published by a conservative authors (The 1.4 Billion Dollar Man was written by a Republican lobbyist) would have to incorporate the costs of the White House’s entire policy staff, as well as the entire budget of the Secret Service, which accounts for more than half of the expenses directly linked to the President. Indeed, I think we can agree that it’s an excessive, uncalled for “perk” for the President to want to make it through his day-to-day without getting shanked on the White House lawn.
Kessler granted Bachmann “four pinocchios,” the lowest rating of accuracy, which is pretty familiar feedback for someone who claimed last month that she never said anything untruthful in the GOP debates or while on the campaign trail. So, if the words aren’t coming out of her mouth, then they must be…well, you get the idea.
The Fact Checker also noted that Pres. George W. Bush, if held to the same cost standards applied to Obama (aka the 1.4 Billion Dollar Man, because I can’t imagine calling him anything else now), racked up a bill of $1.6 billion a year while in the White House, making Obama a certified steal.
Bachmann’s no stranger to fabricating the glamour of Obama’s trips overseas: in 2010, she told Anderson Cooper that the President’s trip to India would “cost taxpayers $200 million a day” and include a 2,000 person entourage and five-star hotel stays…but was promptly taken down a peg by Politifact.
This article appears in Mar 14-20, 2013.
How crazy does one have to be before the republicans kick them out of the party?
Obviously, truth, honesty, honor are foreign concepts to these folks.
Ms. Bachmann needs to get her apologies in order.
After watching Michelle Bachmann criticize Pres Obama’s lavish lifestyle, I am still amazed that this woman holds any office in the Republican party. I believe she is mentally challenged, and come to the conclusion that the Republican party has very little to offer the voters of America. They are a scary bunch… What in the world?? or should I say where in the world do they get these people from?
Bachmann said something untrue and inflammatory! Shocking!!
Search Engine which President has taken us from a surplus to,,,google I discovered which Pres. Had more lavish vacation days off in his 2 terms. Define Lavish and more time vacationing will result in pure mathematics. No judgements. Abe Lincoln was accurate. Paraphrasing, when I say something that makes me feel good-Good. When I do not-Not Good feeling.
Bachman’s statement clearly fits the adage that it is one thing to ‘be’ stupid, and quite another to open one’s mouth and PROVE it.
I find it offensive to suggest that hiring disabled veterans is considered a sure fire way to earn points with the public.Hiring veterans is certainly a good thing but it should not be done if your motivation is to gain popularity riding the back of said veteran.Do your good deeds quietly and do not draw attention towards yourself when you do a good deed.
The sad part is she doesn’t realize what a joke she is.
Bachmann = Idiot.
The unfortunate part of these types of lies is that they’re thrown out there and people actually believe it. Then they start spouting this crap out and even more people believe it. It’s just a vicious cycle.
Obama lies, slanders and no one blinks an eye. But let someone else even mention anything about Obama and all his zombies come out to defend him.
I can only speak for myself and what I see, and what I feel when Obama takes vacations and then he tells the rest of America that we can’t afford to do this or that, yet that doesn’t stop him from going to play golf, and allowing Michelle and their girls to go on yet another vacation. The do as I say, but don’t do as I do is getting really old with this man.