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
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- 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)
This is one of the many reasons Ole Moochie had her Law License revoked in illinois. The arrogance of these people is beyond me. I can only hope that Obama is defeated so he can take his worthless ole lady and his kids back to Africa to start a new villiage. Get his Lying, Thieving a$$ out of the United States. And they wonder why this country is so down on Obama.
YOU ARE ALL VERY STUPID IDIOTS – THIS IS TOTAL BULLSHIT – I BET MOST OF DO KNOW THIS BUT WILL PLAY ALONG BECAUSE IT SUITS YOUR AGENDA. LYING POS REPUKES. THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL GET THAT SCUM SUCKING DICK INTO THE WHITE HOUSE IS TO STEAL THE ELECTION AS YOU DID IN 2000 and 2004. ESaD
It will be another sad day if Obama is elected again. It goes to show the lack of intelligence of the American people. If He wins another elction America will never be the same. I’m looking for a new country. Obama is a suto-Anti-Christ.
Tony Bulver below, could not have said it better! This is one of the worst Presidents to occupy the Oval Office!
In response to Tony Bulver: I believe the newest term for these idiots is “the low informed”. They elected this potus and the ones I have engaged in conversations do not have a clue about anything except how to use thier cell phones for texting. I believe the term should be in a “coma”
I believe that President Obama is operating by “The Chicago Way”. He don’t know any other way to operate. Gangster’s and Thugs. The votes in Chicago politics have always been manipulated. I am somewhat involved in my business with software and the code writing people. I believe the vote counting machines can be “Rigged” to slant the vote. Think, if we can deliver a payload onto the face of Mars and drive it around snapping and delivering pictures, surely it isn’t such a feat to Rig a voting machine to vote for the candidate of choice. Yes, that does seem far fetched. But if you were Obama and knew, no matter what you did or said would effect the pre-programmed outcome (Re-election) then wouldn’t you be a bit arrogant, conceited and nose in the air? It is a fact that voter fraud is occurring with the likes of ACORN, you know their Mantra, “Vote Early and Vote Often”. Pray hard. Jim+
let’s get a few more facts first. did previous 1st families take their kids along on any junkets? if so how were they listed on the manifest? if they were listed as family and govt was reimbursed then lets get on this and start demanding answers,
No wonder our country is in trouble. Our leaders are living the good life on OUR dime and keep raising our taxes to fund it. This is disgraceful!