OK -- I need to know. Exactly how are the FLOTUS travel and wardrobe paid for?

[CatWoman]

Michelle Obama sparks fury after splashing out on $6,800 designer jacket for Buckingham Palace reception

Political commentators have expressed their fury over the fact that Michelle Obama wore a jacket worth $6,800 to the pre-Olympics Opening Ceremony reception at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

Though the dazzling J Mendel jacket and skirt won critical acclaim from the style set, some pundits are furious that she elected to spend so much money on a garment while so many in the U.S. are suffering financially.

A post on the Gateway Pundit blog read that the design 'cost more than the average American family makes in a month ($4,284)'.

'She does this as Americans continue to suffer through a deep recession and record unemployment,' writer Jim Hoft said. 'Michelle feels your pain.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2180702/Michelle-Obama-sparks-fury-splashing-6-800-designer-jacket-Buckingham-Palace-reception.html#ixzz229Ww769V

btw - I thought she looked absolutely FANTASTIC.

Much, MUCH better than her predecessor

[MrSlayer]

1. This matters. Did she actually buy it?

Or is it one of those things where the designer hooks you up to wear his stuff and you give it back?

It matters because it's hard to complain about Ann Romney's thousand dollar t-shirt when the First Lady is wearing a seven thousand dollar jacket.

The richie rich, out of touch meme only works when "our" side doesn't top them.

Did she buy it or was it a gift?

[pnwmom]

16. Of course she bought it. Gifts have to be reported.

And no one should care how this wealthy couple spends their money.

[MrSlayer]

20. Well then no one should care how the Romneys spend their money.

So tax returns, off the table. Who cares?
Foreign accounts, off the table. No one should care.
Dancing horse? Ten mansions? Who cares?


You see where this sort of thing gets us? Takes a major attack line off the table.

[pnwmom]

24. There's no comparison. The issue isn't how either Obama or Romney spends his money.

It's how they earned it, and whether they paid their full taxes on it. So far, Romney has released only one INCOMPLETE tax return (with a critical form related to foreign money not included), while Obama has released eleven.

[MrSlayer]

30. I like that.

I'm going to take that argument out for a test ride. It still comes off as spin though.

[brush]

54. C'mon

C'mon, where have you been the last 3 years. The First Lady famously favors moderatley priced JCrew outfits and has been photographed many times in them. Designers also love dressing (gifts are reported by the first lady, not sure if they are returned after events) her at big events for the publicity and sales it brings them. What, do you want her to look like a pauper at international events?

[MrSlayer]

64. No.

I just think it makes us look like hypocrites. But only if she actually bought the jacket.

[NYC Liberal]

70. It's not about what the Romneys spend their money on.

It's about their support of policies that shit on the poor and middle class in favor of the wealthy. It's about them being totally out of touch. The horses and mansions and tax shelters are simply examples to demonstrate that. No one would care much about the extravagances if they did anything at all to support the "have-nots" and less fortunate.

It's perfectly possible for someone who has a lot of money to not be out of touch, and to support the poor and middle class. Therein lies the difference between the Romneys and the Obamas.

Let's also not forget that neither Barack nor Michelle were born into money. They only finished paying off their student loans within the last 10-12 years. They know what it's like to not have money. They grew up among those who also did not have money. And even now they are nowhere near as rich as the Romneys are. So they have not lost touch. But Romney was born into money and has never, ever known what it's like to not have it. (Well, except in college when he and Ann had to sell some of their stocks. )

Hell, it's even possible to be born into incredible wealth and still be in touch with the poor and middle class, and support good policies. FDR, anyone? So that makes the Romneys even worse: they choose not to care.

[robinlynne]

45. most famous people get dressed for free by designers.

[pnwmom]

67. But the Federal Ethics in Government Act doesn't apply to most famous people.

And it requires that gifts over $35 be reported.

I googled and could only find mention of two such gifts, both donated after use to the Smithsonian (one was her inaugural ball gown.)

[Maraya1969]

69. But if she gives it back then it is not a gift.

[pnwmom]

75. From what I've read, loans have to be reported, too.

[slampoet]

92. What did you read? OH that's right, you don't post information you just insist.

[pnwmom]

93. No, that's your specialty. You tell people to search through whole threads instead

of providing links.

This Wikipedia article is about Nancy Reagan, but the legal situation is the same. Loans of designer clothes are still considered to have monetary value, which is supposed to be reported.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Reagan


Though her elegant fashions and wardrobe were hailed as a "glamorous paragon of chic", they were also controversial subjects. In 1982, she revealed that she had accepted thousands of dollars in clothing, jewelry, and other gifts, but defended her actions by stating that she had borrowed the clothes and that they would either be returned or donated to museums, and that she was promoting the American fashion industry.Facing criticism, she soon said she would no longer accept such loans.While often buying her clothes, she continued to borrow and sometimes keep designer clothes throughout her time as first lady, which came to light in 1988. None of this had been included on financial disclosure forms; the non-reporting of loans under $10,000 in liability was in violation of a voluntary agreement the White House had made in 1982, while not reporting more valuable loans or clothes not returned was a possible violation of the Ethics in Government Act.Nancy expressed through her press secretary "regrets that she failed to heed counsel's advice" on disclosing them.

[slampoet]

58. You're dead wrong. She gets them donated by designers. Just like the last 4 first ladies.

[pnwmom]

66. I was only able to find two such instances for her, both gowns donated to

the Smithsonian.

The Federal Ethics in Government act requires that all gifts over $35 be reported.

So, unless you can show me a link that proves otherwise, I will continue to believe that Michelle purchases almost all the clothing she wears.

[slampoet]

84. I am not your servant. Look down thread.

If two confirmations are good enough for a reporter, what is your issue?


and BTW - EVERY first lady has a dress in the Smithsonian. I saw them in 1989 at the Smith castle.

[pnwmom]

90. "I am not your servant."

How old are you? Twelve?

[vaberella]

2. If I remember correctly. Flotus pays for her clothes herself unless their gifts from designers.

She doesn't use the her hubby's pay check for it. Just money she's earned. As for flying, normally on Airforce 1 I think. That's taxpayer money. But this is for diplomatic purposes so it fits.

What irritates me is that normally people have asked questions about how things are paid for, more under Obama than any other President.

[BlueToTheBone]

8. The government is reimbursed when she uses

AF1 for her travel. It is standard arrangement.

[former9thward]

15. Reimbursed by who?

The Obamas are wealthy but not that wealthy.

[tritsofme]

21. Typically not the real cost of operating AF1

But what a first class commercial ticket would cost, IIRC.

[pnwmom]

68. By the Obama's. Since they're required to fly on this aircraft

for national security reasons, they pay at a reduced rate.

[GoCubsGo]

17. She didn't use AF1.

The 747 people know as AF1 is for her husband's use, and he didn't go with her. So, the plane stayed with him. She probably went over on a small private jet. Or, possibly a military plane. If she went over on official business, the taxpayers payed for the travel. And, I believe this may have qualified, as she was there to lead Team USA and represent the rest of us, as well as to meet with the Queen. I find it quite hilarious that the wingnuts have their panties in a wad over this. I never heard a peep from them when Dumbya spent a week playing around at the Beijing Olympics. And, THAT trip cost the taxpayers millions of dollars just for the use of the airplane, never mind the security.

[Horse with no Name]

34. And that he flew from Texas to DC in the middle of the night

to ceremoniously sign the Schiavo bill when he could have signed it from Texas.

[HarveyDarkey]

39. And while over there, he couldn't find his way out of a room

[cali]

50. no, that's wrong

there are two identical jets in the WH aircraft fleet. She almost certainly flew in one of those at tax payer expense. It's how she travels. She never travels on small private jets- even when on private travels. In that case the Obama's reimburse the cost of operating the craft.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/air-force-one

[GoCubsGo]

56. No. I am correct.

Here she is getting on the plane on which she flew home. It is not a 747. And, yes, she does fly on small jets. So does her husband. When they went on their first "date night" to NYC not long after he took office, they took a small Gulfstream 500 jet (http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2009/05/30/obamas-date-night-on-broadway/).

?w=655
http://theobamadiary.com/category/michelle-obama/

[cali]

61. It has an airforce seal on it so presumably it is not a private plane

[GoCubsGo]

62. Yes. I should have said "executive jet".

But, it is definitely not a 747.

[Swede Atlanta]

57. I doubt she flew in one of the Presidential aircraft......

There are two identical presidential 747s. The aircraft is only called AF1 if the President is aboard. I doubt very much they would use one of those aircraft to fly her to London. I expected they need both of them at hand in the event the President has to make an expected trip somewhere.

The military operates a number of executive aircraft for the Administration. I believe Secretary Clinton's aircraft is like a 757 or something like that. So I would expect Michelle Obama flew on one of these executive aircraft with her security detail, staffers and limited number of press aboard.

[CTyankee]

60. and disgraced us by falling down drunk in the stadium...

nt

[GoCubsGo]

63. And, oogling the female beach volleyball players' backsides.

[HipChick]

74. Laura Bush's clothing expense was never questioned...

[monmouth]

3. Designers flood her staff in hopes she will wear one of their designs. They do it all of the time

down here in Palm Beach during "season." I doubt Michelle "bought" it, but made some designer very happy that there is buzz about it..

[robinlynne]

46. none of the dresses worn to the oscars are paid for. the advetisement the designer gets by being sh

shown to the public is worth more than the payment would be. the stylists who brig the dresses to the famous people receive thousands of dollars for obtining all the free clothes. The more famous the person, the better the clothes they can get for free.
the designers would gladly pay Michelle to wear their clothes.

[monmouth]

65. Absolutely. I wish a designer..ah, never mind..LOL..

[pnwmom]

72. Actors aren't bound by the Ethics in Government Act.

Michelle is.

[pnwmom]

71. She still has to pay for them.

The Ethics in Government Act applies to gifts valued at over $35.

Other than a couple of gowns (one, her inaugural gown) that were donated to the Smithsonian, I couldn't find information about any other donated clothing.

Except to Nancy Reagan, of course.

[cally]

4. she pays for her own clothes but we pay official travel

and taxpayers pay for security costs on personal travel. I suspect this was "official travel" since she is representing the US. I also suspect that she does not pay full costs of her clothes since she is a walking advertisement for any designer she chooses to wear.

I think complaining about the costs of famous' women's clothes is outrageous. Newscasters constantly ridicule what famous women wear and critique them. The President's wife cannot hit the mall looking for bargains and trying on endless outfits. I wish it were different, but I don't see them having much choice.

I notices the British press were on a rant about Kate Middleton's clothes spending while constantly judging her attire and ridiculing her when she wears something a few times.

[spooky3]

6. agree - and those suits Mitt wears look custom made to me

How much does he pay for them?

[spooky3]

5. Did she steal it? Did she lie and say she never spends more than $100 on an outfit?

No?

Then I don't care HOW much $$ she spends on it.

[Warpy]

7. She pays for anything that isn't donated

and don't forget the Obamas have made enough on book royalties to be able to afford this, although I sincerely doubt she had to pay full price.

Often designers will donate one of a kind items for the publicity when a public figure wears clothing this well.

[demosincebirth]

9. She mainly shops a Target. I don't think Target carries fancy clothes.

Any way who in the hell cares

[demtenjeep]

10. beautiful

love that outfit!

[KoKo]

11. I'd say that Michelle counts every Penny and anyone trashing her

should "STUFF IT!"

I hope that answer is enough. She's an excellent First Lady and inspiration to Youth across the world and especially a model for the young females who need an "inspiration" to distract from the current examples they have who are lacking in ideals and the inspiration to seek "EDUCATION" as way to get ahead in the world and not what the MSM is preaching to them ...which is "Sensationalism."

She is an incredible GIFT. And, she uses her "GIFT" very wisely.

She's TOPS with ME! Her hubby....well...I'm still hoping she's gonna "GIT ON HIM!"

[Coexist]

12. maybe we should ask how much Rafalca's dressage saddle cost

to put things in perspective.

[Kalidurga]

13. RWers never ever talked about Laura Bush's clothes.

So, I really don't care. It doesn't matter what she does. If she went to Kmart to pick out her clothes they would say she was tacky. Even if she went to any store and got something off the rack it would have been called tacky. She was going to meet another world leader she has to be dressed for the occasion anything less is a fail.

[MrSlayer]

26. No but we made an issue out of Ann Romney's.

That's why FLOTUS is taking a beating from them right now. A thousand dollar t-shirt looks puny next to the seven thousand dollar jacket. This takes a big time talking point off the table for us.

When the first family spends a ludicrous amount of money on clothing and we don't care then we forfeit the right to call the Romneys out on their out of touch, elitist ways too.

[obamanut2012]

48. Ann Romney isn't FLOTUS representing the US as a forign dignitary

Including meeting Queen Elizabeth.

[Tarheel_Dem]

59. How utterly ridiculous. Laura Bush and Michelle Obama = First Ladies. Ann Romney=Mitt's wife.

I'd say you need to work harder on your false equivalencies.

[WillowTree]

89. It's EXACTLY the same thing.

They are two wealthy families wherein the husband is a politician. Both women sometimes wear very expensive clothing. So what?

Gawd, I wish both sides would decide it's time to leave spouses and children alone. This sniping back and forth is ridiculous and only makes the snipers look petty and childish.

So long as they both paid for their overpriced garb and could afford to do so, that's their business, I suppose but personally, I think they were both had. I can say, though that even if I could afford a $900 t-shirt or a $6,800 jacket, I wouldn't buy them 'cause I don't believe any t-shirt or jacket will ever be worth what these women paid for them. But that's just me.

[yellerpup]

14. She is appearing on the world stage in company of

world leaders and royalty. She can't be expected to shop at Target for that event. Besides, the Obamas are millionaires and they didn't put anyone out of work to get that way. She is spectacular and exquisitely tasteful in this outfit. If I tried something on that looked that good (and had the resources) I'd have to have it. Even if I had to plan an event to have a reason to wear it. I love Michelle Obama's sense of style.

[CatWoman]

18. Besides, the Obamas are millionaires and they didn't put anyone out of work to get that way

I'm soooo stealing that

[yellerpup]

43. To the Obamas...

[spanone]

19. i hope i pay for it with my taxes.....she's a fabulous ambassador for america

[GoCubsGo]

22. The First Family buys its own clothing.

And, they pay for all food that is not part of a State Dinner. And, they pay for their own vacations. They always have, despite what the brain-dead Right says. Although, as has been pointed out several times here, designers often donate clothing to the First Lady so that their work gets more attention.

And, I agree with you. She looked fabulous in that jacket!

[obamanut2012]

49. this

[jaysunb]

23. I send her a check once a year and

insist that she share it w/ others in the Government.

[avebury]

25. If you totalled up the cost of Michelle's

wardrobe and compared it to Ann Romney's you would probably find that Michelle spends a fraction of what Romney spends. Michelle is known for being creative in her clothing choices and wears a lot of affordable outfits. I am not going to begrudge her when she buys (is loaned, whatever) a higher end garment, particularly when she wears it for an official function. She looked fabulous.

[soccer1]

27. Designers loan clothing to First Ladies....

and I imagine, if the clothing is bought it would be at a big discount. Maybe the designer gave it as a gift....we don't know. But I do not believe that Michelle Obama would pay anything even close to that price for any piece of clothing.

[robinlynne]

47. no famous poeple who appear in magazines have to pay for their clothing. The more magazine

photos, the more designers want to give away their clothes. Every time a photo appears of a designer's outfit, they sell hundreds more immediately.

[Texasgal]

28. It's never good enough, is it.

Imagine if she wore her signature Ann Taylor set. The nut jobs would be freaking out over that.

Whatever. I think it't fine. She is visiting the Queen of fucking England! Target just cannot work for such an occasion. GRRRR.

[GoCubsGo]

37. No, and what makes it worse...

These same assholes who are bitching about how much she may or may not pay for her clothing, are the same ones who are always first to say, "How I spend my own money is my damn business, not yours." That's the line they spewed regarding Ann Romney's thousand-dollar t-shirt, too. Fucking hypocrites.

IIRC, the last time she Michelle met with the Queen, they bitched about that outfit, too, claiming it was too cheap and tacky. Nope. Nothing she does will suit them, short of dropping dead, so fuck 'em.

[SoCalDem]

29. When you are famous, your wardrobe is multi-faceted

designers fall all over themselves to "clothe you".. They "give" a jacket/dress/shoes/coat/etc that would cost a LOT if actually "sold", but they "loan" it in exchange for the publicity it brings.

The clothes are often donated to charity auctions after they have been worn, or are given back to the designers.

Mrs. Obama, no doubt, also buys some things for herself with her own money, and since she does not pay rent, or pay for health care insurance, or grocery shop, or buy gasoline or pay utilities, I'm sure the family can easily afford for her to dress as nicely as she wants to.

At least the clothes she wears are tasteful and look great....unlike Poor Laura whose wardrobe looked like she stripped the furniture bare & bedazzled it a bit.


Memory Lane :
What Would Laura Wear?

[CatWoman]

42. and I remember how her clothes never fit her, either

[HopeHoops]

31. YOUR FUCKING TAX MONEY!!! - But DAMN does she look nice. Go girl!

[pnwmom]

73. You mean, in the salary the President is paid? Because there are no taxes

that go to pay for her clothing, other than what pays for his salary. And I think he earns it.

[HopeHoops]

82. Yep. He certainly has earned it.

[NeverEnuff]

32. Queen Nancy

I seem to remember that when Nancy Reagan left the Whitehouse she complained when she had to give the beautiful gowns back to the designers who had LOANED them to her for use while First Lady. No lame brain Republican complained then. What about Sara's Wardrobe expense account financed by the RNC.

[Horse with no Name]

33. I understood that it was given to her by the designer

But I just read that on the internet so I don't know if it is true or not.

[pnwmom]

83. I looked and was only to find two donated gowns, both of which

went to the Smithsonian.

Nancy Reagan made a regular practice of this, however.

[aquart]

35. The meme is: Dems are hypocrites if they don't give all their money to the poor.

Please don't buy into this garbage.

Instead, counter attack. First Lady is a full-time UNPAID job. How dare we expect a woman to work that hard for NO PAY? It's outrageous.

[mucifer]

36. Her husband is a millionaire and they live rent free for 4-8 years Plus she

had her own career where she made some decent money. (Not millions but she did alright.)

They certainly don't own tax free dressage horses.

[kestrel91316]

38. I assume she purchased it. She isn't a pauper.

[backscatter712]

40. The Obamas aren't poor.

Barack Obama made millions from sales of The Audacity of Hope and his other books.

[Starry Messenger]

41. Ugh, sometimes the internet is a PITA.

Why is dailymail linking to Gateway? Don't they have enough right-wing racists in their own country? Gateway is a birther and has a link to a white supremecist site on his shit-blog:

http://stlactivisthub.blogspot.com/2012/01/jim-hoft-continues-to-promote-racism-at.html

Jim Hoft Continues To Promote Racism At His Site

<snip>

Hoft had earlier been criticized by a conservative blogger for linking to the white supremacist blog for the Council of Conservative Citizens, which he has done multiple times. Here's my previous description:

In 2009, Hoft linked to a video that claimed, without any evidence, that a white child had been beaten up by black kids on a school bus. Though it was true that the boy had been beaten, the race of the attackers was never mentioned in any of the news reports (this is not to be confused with a different incident in which there was video of a bus assault). Hoft had gotten his account from the Council of Conservative Citizens, a white supremacist organization based in St. Louis, and he originally linked directly to them in his post. This was not the first time Hoft had linked to white supremacist organization Council of Conservative Citizens.

After being criticized in the comments by fellow conservatives, Hoft moved the link to the Council of Conservative Citizens blog to a new location but still kept it on the blog (see update #2; note that this is from the blog of a conservative blogger). He finally removed even that link but kept up his link to the misleading video from the youtube page of KillTheCensors.

Though Hoft removed that particular link, to this day he still has links on his site to the Council of Conservative Citizens blog, despite being alerted to their presence.

I'm glad she looked really gorgeous and not dragging around like Curtains did for eight years.

[WillyT]

44. I'll Pay For HOT !!!

[CrispyQ]

51. Weren't the same frickin' whiners pissed when she wore J. Crew, as well?

They are just pissed that she is so lovely no matter what she wears!

[brush]

52. J Crew

C'mon, where have you been the last 3 years. The First Lady famously favors moderatley priced JCrew outfits and has been photographed many times in them. Designers also loved dressing (gifts are reported by the first lady, not sure if they are returned after events) her at big events for the publicity and sales it brings them. What, do you want her to look like a pauper at international events?

[samsingh]

53. she looks fabulous.

[appleannie1]

55. I suppose that every other FLOTUS got their clothes at Goodwill or Penny's. How much did Laura

spend on clothes? The people that are bitching now are the same ones that thought that was just fine.

[southernyankeebelle]

76. I think she looks fabulous. Just fab. She is representing the United States at the Palace.

She is on a world stage. If she had gone under dressed we wouldn't hear the end of it. It seems no matter what Mrs Obama does she doesn't win. So fuck off people. She looks great.

[Zen Democrat]

77. The Obamas pay for their own clothes.

The travel is on government planes. If they are on personal or campaign business, the government is reimbursed. Mrs. Obama was on official U.S. business as our representative to the Olympic Games. This is the way it has always been -- nothing has changed.

Jackie Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, the Bushes -- all first ladies spend their own money for clothing, no matter how stylish or tacky they may be.

[patrice]

78. I'll bet most of the state-function clothing gets donated eventually, so it's money well spent.

[left is right]

79. I seem to recall that Nancy Reagan often wore gowns donated for the occasion.

There was quite a scandal surrounding the issue but with Nancy she was neither reporting them as gifts or returning them afterwards. Designers often loan gowns to first ladies and movie stars on Oscar night. In both cases the women are supposed to give them back after the event

[nolabear]

80. Where is the sackcloth??? Think of the CHILDREN!!!

And, uh, great shoes too. Wonder if they're real baby seal skin covered in gold extracted from the teeth of homeless people. Because that's what I heard on the internet.

(Not aimed at the OP, just at the goofiness of the whole damn thing)

[CC]

81. Why does it matter?

Has Michelle started calling the masses "you people" and talking her husband into cutting the safety nets while giving more tax cuts to the wealthy? The people whipping themselves up into a lather over the cost of this jacket/dress would be whipping themselves in a lather if she wore less expensive clothing to meet a Queen. She dressed appropriately for the occasion and did our nation proud as the representative of us at the Olympics. AFAIK she didn't insult the British or the Olympics while there. She did find time to meet our Service members stationed there and their kids. Also IMHO there is a big difference between the cost of an outfit appropriate to meet the heads of states in and a t-shirt you hang around in. My budget might not cover what either woman can buy but I can say this honestly, I would spend more money on clothes for a reception than a t-shirt and you would never see my spend a $1000.00 on a t-shirt. What I don't understand at all is why we are helping the right wing with their manufactured whining and their efforts to tear the first family down.

[Hatchling]

85. Elegant!

Elegant First Lady! I'm not one who usually gets all excited by how she looks. She's beautiful and all that, but that outfit makes me feel very proud of her.

[JoePhilly]

86. The right wing HATES that our first lady smashes their sterotype of the black woman.

It drives them nuts. So they have to claim that she is really a "welfare queen", living off the tax payers.

If she's classy, she's a welfare queen, if she's open and accessible, she's embarrassing.

The don't just hate her, they hate the IDEA of her. Because if she helps kill their sterotype of what a black woman is, they lose more power over their sheep.

[GreenPartyVoter]

87. I was just a kid at the time, but wasn't Nancy Reagan something of a clothes horse??

[joeybee12]

88. Does the person who asked you know how Pickles trip and wardrobe to Beijing

was paid for?

[Jazzgirl]

91. I think I'm pretty sick of this racist crap.

Not you Catwoman but the fact they can feign "outrage" over the black FLOTUS when they have NEVER said a dayum word about the others and how much they pay for their clothes. I don't give a crap how much they spend and nobody, and I mean nobody, needs to defend it. It is what it is. There have been plenty of other First Ladies that have worn expensive outfits during bad economic times and they weren't criticized for it. Screw the critics!