Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Detailing the Cost to Taxpayers for Michelle Obama’s Family Trip to Africa
Charges for the Aircraft and Crew Alone Amount to $424,142
Contact Information:
Press Office 202-646-5172, ext 305
- 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 Avery 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.
The professed purpose of Michelle Obama’s trip to South Africa and Botswana 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 trip also included such tourist events as visits to historical landmarks and museums, plus a nonworking chance to send time with Nelson Mandela, a meeting that Mrs. Obama described as “surreal.” The trip ended with a private family safari at a South African game reserve before the group returned to Washington on June 27.“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 Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “This junket wasted tax dollars and the resources of our overextended military. No wonder we had to sue to pry loose this information.”
Readers Comments (26)
Listing Obummers daughter as senior staffers makes me want to throw up.
Wake up people. It doesn’t matter if you are a democrat or a republican. Are you an American? If so just vote to stop the spiral tail spin. We as a nation ,each are responsible for putting officials in office. Do a little homework. The mainstream media is bought and paid for. Hidden agendas. Yes politiicians have hidden agendas, all of them. Lets face it. The current administration has pretty much revealed their intent. Bankrupt the economy. Force taxpayers, most of which are middle class, to pay for those who could work, but refuse to. We have perpetuated an entire group and generations to come to receive without contributing. If you are receiving of course you want to continue in such, but have some pride, stand up, get up, give back with some dignity. If you are paying, of course you don’t want to pay anymore. Lets face it we are in a dilema, things MUST be done differently. Don’t enable Congress and the Presidential office to decide the future of our children and their children to be paupers and government benefit dependent. Give them the choice to be free and the ability to work to make things better. Please. I have kids and grand kids and I want them to be proud of their country and encouraged that this, United States of America is still the land of the free and home of the brave, where liberty and justice are alive and well, for ALL.. Ask yourself, can you in good conscience say I as a person of this nation am not going to make a difference. I refuse to stand up and say no more of this. Can you say I am just one, I don’t matter? Have you even read a history book? One makes all the difference. Be that one to say NO MORE. Give me back my country. Stop the misdirections and focus on what Really needs to be done. Politicians SHOULD have to live with the same consequences of their actions as the people the are supposed to be representing. Now wouldn’t that make a difference. Come on educated yourself. Know what, how and why these politicans say and do what they are saying and doing. Hold them accountable for their actions. Make them fulfill their oaths to serve and protect you and this country. Make them swear allegiance and honor you and this Nation. Each of us can make a difference. Be the United States of America. Unite, one voice. No more.
What I want to know is this:
How much were the kids paid as “Senior Staff?”
You people have no clue what is really happening to your country do you? The puppet that is ” running” your country is under direct orders to gut it from the inside out! Wake up! This administration has let the Wallstreet bankers rob the country of trillions of dollars, they have shipped all your jobs over seas, taken away all your rights and freedoms, shredded your constitution and now they are coming for all your guns because they don’t want you to be able to protect yourselves when they enact marshal law and start rounding up all the American dissidents ( those who speak out against the government) and put them in one of the FEMA camps that they have recently built in every state. Obama is under orders to destroy the USA from the inside out and you had better wake up and realize what is going on around you and take action NOW! What kind of government spends trillions on military budgets and starts wars all over the globe when the country is 15 trillion dollars in debt? All the while leaving the citizens of the US to suffer with no injections to the economy and no help from the government as the standard of living deteriorates at an alarming rate. PS if it looks as though Obama will not be re-elected then you had better start praying because he will start WWIII by attacking Iran who supplies Russia and China with 40% of their oil. And i can assure you that Russia and China will NOT let that happen …it will be the end of us all. Meanwhile all the elites will be safe in one of the self sustaining D.U.M.B.S ( Google it if you know what’s good for you) This Canadian prays for you!
Wow!! and all we hear is how out of touch Romney is (fair enough) while the current WH admin continues to pull crap like this. WAKE UP ppl!!
It’s only a little bit fraudulent, and it was only 1/2 a Billion taxpayer dollars
It’s not like the citizens are starving, or doing without, or in need of health services or medication, now were they?
I am reminded of another self important royal from another time
“then let them eat cake” is her claim to fame
How does this corrupt administration keep getting away with it!!!!!
Another 4 yrs. will totally destroy the America we have known and loved.
If we don’t repent and turn from our wicked ways, this Nation is a thing of the past.
God have mercy!!!
Here we in America are suffering from busted economy, high employment, high gasoline and diesel fuel and on & on. Then a president and his family, that could care less for hard working americans (non union) that has made this country great. A stupid president that told senior American that worked all their lives, we are gong have to sacrifice. Then he and his family traveling all over the globe on vacations at taxpayes expense without a care in the world about We The People.