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)
Kinda sounds like them folk that had the ‘cee-ment pond’ in the backyard of their mansion. The difference is that those folk were harmless and operating on their own money. Michelle, The First Disgrace, is just smart enough to be dangerous and she absolutely knows she is spending the taxpayer’s money, and that she is doing so with impunity. The arrogance is astounding. Good luck on getting this covered in the main-stream media, they are deeply embedded in the Progressive-Left Wing conspiracy. As an aside, the news anchors of ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, etc. would probably receive broken noses if Pres. BHO ever stopped unexpectedly short. Thank God for people like Judicial Watch, FOX News, and Glenn Beck among others, who are our only window to unbiased news reporting.
Isn’t this wasteful spending of American tax dollars for expensive personal vacations for Michelle and Girls, bordering on outright embezzlement practices? By listing the “minor” girls as “Senior Staff” members falsifying government documents?
The President is employed by the American People. She represents him only as Matriarch of their family. She and the girls are entitled to his medical, protection (i.e., secret service) for obvious reasons, and “his paycheck and bank accounts” She is not an employee of the Government of the United States and neither are the girls. Sorry, but no other government employee’s family members are given these privileges. I know that as “First Family” members they have an expense account for vacations and travel but it should not be an open account. He is after all receiving a pay check that he doesn’t have to pay taxes on, social security, nor medical coverage premiums for his family. All other government employees must pay for these things and still don’t get ” all expense paid vacations to exotic places. ” Even their food is supplied free of charge. If the “Lady” and “Girls” want these things, and they aren’t paying rent, or utilities why can’t they afford their own vacations? Why is it that we grant, allow, or simply turn our heads to this wasteful lifestyle? Why is there not a cap on their vacation spending per year? And why are they not required to repay any and all expenses over that amount? So place a cap on this kind of spending., garnish his wages to cover the differences, he is obviously rich to begin with before entering this office. He has no bills to pay for his day to day living expenses, and he should be responsible for his family’s expenses above reasonable limits. We are going to have to pay him his salary for another four years, and for the rest of his life, while he accomplishes putting this country further into debt. He also is guilty of defacing public property. To my thinking, removing the American Flag from behind his stage,( let alone not having respect for it and can’t be bothered to place his hand over his heart or recite the pledge of allegiance) and for defacing a government owned air plane with his own decal that was already in perfectly acceptable condition! And who paid for it? The “Family” has gone way to far in belittling our country! It is time they realize that if they also don’t like the ideals and practices of the American People…. they are welcome to find somewhere else to live! Close the Bank doors for these people! Make them accountable! Ask him to spend at least one year straight in the White House doing the job he was hired for! Not out on campaign trails, not flibberty jitting around the world mocking America! Why can’t they be held responsible for their actions just the same as you and me? We all would be put into prison for committing one of the above items. (Wait a minute, maybe that is where we need to be? We would get a high school, trade school, or college degree, or all of them if we want or are missing some….We would get medical, vision, prescription, dental and hospital coverage. The utilities would be paid for, and our food prepared for us! We would all have big screen tvs, gyms and state of the art exercise equipment . The vacations tend to be more mini stay cations due to overcrowding they take you out in buses and drive you about the countryside. And you even get to visit other places occasionally!