Judicial Watch uses FOIA lawsuit to obtain cost of Michelle's "Family Trip" to Africa - daughters listed as "Senior Staff" to justify cost!
October 04, 2011
Charges for the Aircraft and Crew Alone Amount to $424,142
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to the June 21-27, 2011, trip taken by First Lady Michelle Obama, her
family and her staff to South Africa and Botswana. Judicial Watch
obtained the documents pursuant to an August 19, 2011, Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Air Force (No.
11-1496)). Judicial Watch is investigating the purpose and itinerary of
the trip as well as a breakdown of the costs to taxpayers.
On June 28, 2011, Judicial Watch filed a FOIA request seeking
the mission taskings, transportation records, and passenger manifests
for Michelle Obama’s Africa trip. Documents were only provided after
Judicial Watch filed suit:
- 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.”
Top Opinion
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doofiegirl POTL~PWCM~JLA 2012/07/21 17:22:12
* Mission Expense: http://www.judicialwatch.org/...
* White House Aircraft Manifest (In-Flight) depicting Malia and Sasha Obama as Senior Staff: .. http://www.judicialwatch.org/...
* South Africa Trip Cost Taxpayers over $500,000: http://www.whitehousedossier....
PLUS!
* Obama's "Date Night" in New York City security costs: http://www.judicialwatch.org/...
You mean Michelle actually pays someone to get her to look like that? I thought it was plain and simple neglect provided the excuse for her appearance.
The first family doesn't miss a chance to add to the deficit.
The Obama daughters were not listed as Senior Staff – that only designates the area of the plane where they were seated. The Air Force categorizes the passengers by compartment on the plane.
Were you all upset when the Bush twins traveled with their parents as " senior staffers"? During his administration, tax payers paid 22 million to ferry GWB and Laura back and forth to the Texas ranch. That doesn't include the African trips or the trips to Europe and South America. Were you upset then?
Listen how stupid that sounds. Michelle obama listed the daughters as senior staffers because it designates where they sit on the plane. Gimme a break. It was so that taxpayers would have to PAY FOR THEM on the trip. And michelle's mother, niece and nephew went. A$$holes living large on my MY TAX dollars!!!!
#2: it's no wonder your a hopeless lib is you get your info from that trash site
#3: you plagiarized. Your post needs quotes and a reference
Members of the president;s staff are considered employees. Therefore, if Malia and Sasha were not paid for performing their duties as "senior staff" members, it is possible that Michelle is in violation of child labor laws and therefore she would be a felon.
Ooops............
Well we can't fault her for lying........... She did say that "Barack will require you
to sacrifice" didn't she. She didn't say that she, her family and friends would
have to sacrifice............did she. But she didn't say they would live it up on the
taxpayers, while our national debt increased more than under any other presidents
and for the first time our CREDIT RATING went down....... and may again before
he is ousted from office. I will hate to see her travel agenda from Nov to Jan 2013
if 0bama is denied a second four years.
We have to stop this crazy spending by the First Lady! She thinks she is now
the Queen without any restrictions.