Obamas to use own cash to redecorate White House

[sabra]

Source: CNN

(CNN) — The Obamas are using their own money to redecorate the White House residence and Oval Office, forgoing the $100,000 in federal funds that is traditionally allotted to new presidents for such renovation projects.

The first couple — who made well over $2 million in 2008, largely fom from book revenues — is also turning down money from the White House Historical Association, the organization that financed a $74,000 set of china for the Bushes.

New presidents have traditionally undertaken extensive redecoration efforts to their personal quarters reflect their own tastes, with a new Oval Office rug tradition ringing in as the priciest item. Former President George W. Bush spent over $60,000 on a new cream carpet designed by Laura Bush in 2000 to replace the deep blue rug that covered the space during the Clinton administration. Obama aides have said the president likes the Bush rug, and does not plan to replace it.

The decision to forgo federal funds, confirmed by the White House Monday, is the president's latest belt-tightening move amid the sagging economy and widespread outrage over corporate excesses. Late last month, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced the administration had put an order on hold for a fleet of new helicopters that will cost at least $11 billion.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/30/obamas-to-use-own-cash-to-redecorate-white-hosue/

[XemaSab]

1. Are they paying for the exorcist too?

'Cause I really don't think federal money should go to the Catholic church. :hide:

[bitchkitty]

11. Would need a thousand exorcisms to completely rid those demons.

I hope we're up to the task!

[Odin2005]

13. I'd rather they hire a Native American medicine man to do it!

:)

[KittyWampus]

15. really, at least smudge the place

[glinda]

36. Place definitely needs a good smudging.

[Cleita]

37. I good sage smudging would be in order.

However, I would thrown some holy water around for good measure as well.

[AwakeAtLast]

44. They will need a huge field of it

for sure! :D

[msongs]

2. how bout cancelling ALL health care and retirement for congresspersons? nt

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. How about cancelling health care for

all government employees and elected officials at all levels of government.

I think it is outrageous that folks who cannot secure even minimum levels of health care for themselves or their families are required to pay taxes which are used to provide or enable others to obtain such care.

That ain't right.

[CreekDog]

6. so your solution to not having health care is to take it away from everyone else?

okayyy.

[Coyote_Bandit]

17. I'm sick of all the bitching about

folks not having access to health care. All talk. All bitching and whinning and finger pointing. Not one damn thing being done to resolve the issue.

There are thousands of Americans that die every year because they are denied access to health care. And there are many thousands more who suffer diminished and shortened lives for the same reason. If we really cared about that we would muster some courage and do something about it instead of just bitching and whinning and finger pointing.

Thing is, we only care in an abstract sense. We are not personally invested in the issue until it happens to us or to someone who know and care about.

IMHO, it is unethical and immoral to require someone to pay taxes to provide health care for another when they canot provide or obtain such care for themselves. I don't begrudge government employees and elected officials having health care - but I sure as hell do not think that those who cannot afford or obtain such care should be funding it. Uninsured taxpayers are subsidizing and funding health care for government workers. Hell, uninsured folks are subsidizing COBRA extensions for unemployed folks these days. That's WRONG. It's like requiriing the malnourished to pick up the resturant tab without allowing them to even eat the crumbs that fall from the table.

I suspect if more people are forced to go without health care then maybe the issue will finally be addressed. The uninsured are still a minority. A government that is designed to serve the interests of the majority often fails to protect the interests of its minorities - incluing its uninsured citizens.

[CreekDog]

20. but you are proposing eliminating health care for all gov't employees and families

period.

you say that you are only against having the uninsured pay for it --fine, then support not having the uninsured pay for it.

however, instead you say it's unfair that some people are uninsured (i agree), therefore, let's make it unfair for a much larger group --that will solve the problem.

take off.

[Coyote_Bandit]

23. OK Fine

Those government workers and elected officials can keep their health care. BUT I hope every damn one of them feels guilty because they know some of the folks who funded that died or lived a compromised or shortened life in order to make it possible.

We marginalize those who are without health care. Either they are not skilled or educated enough to work at the right job or they have made poor lifestyle choices that have resulted in some pre-existing condition that prevents them from obtaining insurance or they are poor and that alone somehow makes them undeserving.

We should have a single payer system. We don't. We don't even have anyone in government seriously entertaining the possibility of proposing moving toward such a system anytime in the foreseeable future. We should all be outraged by that. We aren't.

Change? Hope we can believe in? Not from my window. Just more of the same old crap protecting corporate interests.




So, Are you a government worker? Know one?

[Fearless]

29. Yeah right?!?!

:wtf:

[Regret My New Name]

52. All government workers?

So like even the secretaries, clerks, federal officers, and support staff?

[AndyTiedye]

10. Don't Cancel It, Open It Up to the Rest of Us

[Abq_Sarah]

47. That would be an excellent start

And then I'd require them to work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Two paid weeks off per year. Let them feel what it's like to be one of the "little people".

[Warpy]

3. He's cheap. I like that.

I'm cheap too. If a carpet isn't worn, I won't replace it. If I want my walls painted, I do it myself. If somebody offers me a deal that's too good to pass up, my mothers voice is in my head saying, "It's only a bargain if you really need it."

I'm not fond of that carpet, I think Clinton's deep blue was classier. The only good thing about Stupid's choice is that it hides dirt better.

However, I'm pleased that he's too cheap to replace it.

[Odin2005]

16. I loved Clinton's dark blue carpet, too. It was very elegant, classy, and presidential

Dumb-Ass's carpet gives off "Sun King" and "moi c'est etat" vibes, yuck.

[snooper2]

26. re-sist tem-p-tat-ion to post - swarmy com-m-ent

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[crikkett]

25. It actually is a very nice carpet.

Golden sunburst design.

[JeanGrey]

50. He isn't replacing it because he "likes it" not becaue he's

cheap.

[Warpy]

51. I think it's because he's CHEAP

He saw a perfectly serviceable carpet and thought the design was just fine, so he didn't see any reason to replace it.

The old carpet is offered to the outgoing president, so it's also a nice if unintentional slap at Stupid.

[JohnyCanuck]

5. What about Biden?

Will he be changing the decor in the underground Dick-Cave under the VP's house?

[jobycom]

8. You think he should just reuse past presidential rugs, too?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

28. I think he'll use it to grow mushrooms

NO not THOSE kind--you know, the mushrooms you eat in salads, on the grill, etc.

[jobycom]

7. Why don't they just hire that guy on HGTV who decorates using furniture they already own?

Can't remember the show, but he goes into a home and creates a design by just rearranging the furniture already there. Surely the White House has some incredible furniture in a storage unit somewhere.

[tomhayes]

9. What a brillaint and MEANINGLESS differnce

This oughta satisfy the mouth-breathers in America.

Why spend money on our captial? it's not like we need to impress foriegn leaeders , or have any sort of national pride.

Also: Get rid of the lawn in the capital and replace it with dirt, and have the Obama kids paint the white house walls.

What meaningless drivel - I think Americans will love it.

[Tempest]

14. It appears everything is meaningless to you

Whether it's cops taking pay cuts to keep fellow officers employed, NPR cancelling newspaper subscriptions to save money, or Obama saving the taxpayers some money.


You're a real pleasure to have around.

:puke:

[tomhayes]

33. The right is right on this: we can be as bad as they are

>Whether its cops taking pay cuts to keep fellow officers employed

Vs. collecting enough taxes to pay of necessary services?

> NPR cancelling newspaper subscriptions to save money,

Vs. NPR spending money on newspapers so they can be better informed and in turn give us better reporting?

> or Obama saving the taxpayers some money.

Saving tax payers a meaningless amount of money.

We spend TRILLIONS of dollars each year in our budget, and you think not having our capital’s infrastructure be paid for by Americans is somehow laudable?

What a load of crap.

Are you actually John Stossel??

[onehandle]

31. I agrie. Brilent and meeningles.

Stoopid mowth-breethurs wil be reel empressd.

[JerseygirlCT]

41. LOL! nt

[llmart]

42. Your post is meaningless drivel.

What a negative person you must be.

[Regret My New Name]

53. ....

[zalinda]

12. Yup, that will satisy me!

Give billions of our money and our grandchildren's money to corrupt bankers and wall streeters, but tell us how you are going to "save" us money by redecorating the White House yourself. Wow, just how stupid do they think we are?

[Turbineguy]

18. Better keep that info

away from the Obamacritics.

[tonysam]

19. Frankly I Like the Bush Oval Office Rug

It brightens up the room. I can't stand rooms that are too dark.

[glinda]

38. I don't like the colors of the Oval Office. It is passible but I would like to see him

get stuffs out of storage there and mix it up. I would like to see richer colors. I think Laura's rug is nice but would like to see it out of there.

[santamargarita]

21. It cost a fortune just to get that Bush/Republican stench out

:woohoo:

[Norrin Radd]

22. It needs an air hockey table and a Ms. Pac Man arcade cabinet.

Send the rug to the Bush lie-brary.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

24. Good for them

wonder if they will pay for a new set of china or just use the old stuff? There's plenty of it around.

[Olney Blue]

43. They are inheriting two new China sets from Laura.

One of them has bugs crawling all over it.

[No Elephants]

54. Don't think I've seen uglier WH china. Target would not carry that.

[happygoluckytoyou]

27. the cream carpet of the Clinton administration started out as blue as well... lol

the blue carpet of the bush administration was never stained red, because cheney had the brains to put plastic down before they killed anyone

[mikelgb]

30. isn't "bush rug" redundant?

"Obama aides have said the president likes the Bush rug..."

[Bicoastal]

32. Funny, I knew a girl who had...

...oh, nevermind.

[Thrill]

34. When is he going to redo the Oval Office?

[Stinky The Clown]

35. Kudos. This is not necessary but is symbolically perfect. Good for them.

I have a suggestion/dream/wish ...... yank the bush rug from the oval office and put in something from the JFK era. Not necessary, but it would be a gesture I'd love t see.

[rateyes]

39. Please. somebody in the administration, I beg you...

accidentally on purpose spill some indelible ink and a couple of glasses of red wine on that damned puke-colored carpet, right in front of the president's desk.

That ugly rug needs to go.

[JerseygirlCT]

40. Great PR move

The guy is SMART.

[Cha]

45. That's cool..

A piece of their own selves in the White House.

[Mari333]

46. thumbs up to them for this

:thumbsup:
see, I am not always critical.

[bklyncowgirl]

48. Good for them--save the taxpayers' money.

Besides, the Republicans would have gleefully publicized every piece of furniture, lampshade and rug. This gives them nothing to criticize unless they want to go the "he's a cheapskate" route.

[Dorian Gray]

49. Smart move

Little things can make a big statement about unnecessary spending.

[Carni]

55. Impressive

If only more first families had conducted themselves in such a responsible manner
(with OUR money!)