Sunday, December 14, 2008

BARACK OBAMA

Should First Ladies Get a Salary? Let Me Help You with That Question: No.

During Meet the Press, there was a commercial for the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, promoting a report that will ask the question: "Should First Ladies Be Paid?"

Excuse me?

Indeed, the First Lady collects no salary. But it's not as if the position sentences one to a life of deprivation:

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC boasts 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, eight staircases and three lifts. There is the billiard room, tennis courts, a swimming pool and cinema. And there is a staff of 34 on hand.

Should he feel hungry, President Obama can call on one of the five full-time White House chefs. And while dining, he can sample from the extensive White House wine cellar and admire the artwork chosen from the collections of the National Gallery, which are at his disposal . . .

The president gets to land his helicopter, Marine One, on the White House's south lawn. But he also has Air Force One, the flying office, hotel suite, situation room and hideaway. And he has two Boeing 747s, just in case. And the presidential limousine — a stretched Lincoln Continental, reconfigured for each new president.

Weekend away?

Camp David, the 125-acre rural hideaway, an hour's drive from HQ is at the president's disposal for weekend recreation or international summits.

But wait, there's more:

In addition to his salary, the President gets numerous expense accounts including:

        * General account ($50000)
        * Official expenses of the White House office
        * Entertainment expenses
        * Separate entertainment expenses for official presidential functions
        * Traveling expenses for the president and anyone traveling with him (above and beyond the free limo, helicopter, and airplane rides)

In addition there is an account designated for "unanticipated needs" which is not to exceed $1 million per year. These unanticipated needs include anything for the furtherance of the national interest, security, or defense, including personnel needs and needs for services. Basically if the President is over-quota for anything listed above, he can dip into this money.

If President-elect Obama wants to divert a portion of his $400,000 salary to create a First Lady salary, that would be their business. But I'm wondering what, if any, justifications we will see in NBC's report.

12/14 11:54 AMShare