Obamas Are Personally Paying For White House Renovations

[jefferson_dem]

Home Decorating With the Obamas
By Erica Orden Published Mar 29, 2009

At a time when people are having trouble holding on to their houses, Barack and Michelle Obama have sensibly decided not to use taxpayers’ money to renovate theirs. New presidents are allotted $100,000 to overhaul the White House residence and the Oval Office, and the Obamas hired Hollywood decorator Michael S. Smith (known, per his site, for mixing “Old World classicism with very contemporary settings”). But the First Couple isn’t spending that money. They “are not using public funds or accepting donations of goods for redecorating their private quarters,” says Camille Johnston, director of communications for the First Lady. Nor is the couple, who reported $4.2 million in household income in 2007 tax returns, using money from the White House Historical Association, a privately funded foundation that paid for a $74,000 set of china shortly before Laura Bush left town.

But does this mean they’re going to spend more than $100,000 or less? Though Michelle Obama has talked up Pottery Barn, Smith’s client list includes cost-is-no-object types like Rupert Murdoch, Steven Spielberg, and former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain—for whom he procured that $87,783 rug. “There’s no question that he’ll get it done in the way that it’s supposed to be done,” says Smith client and Democratic donor Katherine Chez. “But how, I don’t know.” The White House declined to disclose the budget, saying that all expenses would remain private as a result of the Obamas’ decision to absorb the cost.

http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/55679/

[BlooInBloo]

1. Aw - cmon guys. That one's on us.

[firedupdem]

2. Good for them and another good example of the kind of people

we have living in the white house now.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

3. I can't wait to hear how the wingnuts will trash this announcement.

You know they'll find something.

[cliffordu]

14. Al Quaeda is footing the bill...

along with the american socialist party.

And all that acorn bail out money.

[Patchuli]

17. Did you forget

this? :sarcasm:

[cliffordu]

18. Well....

about all I post is :sarcasm:, so if I actually use the :sarcasm: tag, everyone might think I was being sincere....

And that could lead to all kinds of misunderstandings..

And I wouldn't want one of those.....

:sarcasm:

[GoCubsGo]

22. Just go to HuffPoo

Read some of the comments on its link to the story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/29/obamas-are-personally-pay_n_180551.html

The wingnuts have been trolling there all morning. You wouldn't believe some of the ways they're trying to trash the Obamas. Or, maybe you will. (Nothing about them surprises me anymore.)

[DeepBlueC]

4. I hope this story ends right here

[Clio the Leo]

5. And this is one of the unfortunate parts of being the First Family at this time....

... even in spending their own money, they open themselves up to criticism IF they spend "too much" when so many cant even afford to pay for a roof over their heads.

My training is in historic preservation and it would KILL me not to be ABLE to spend MY money (assuming I was a millionaire) to take care of what is one of this country's most precious treasures.

This website is one of my guilty pleasures.....
http://1observatorycircle.com/

I cant wait to see what they do with the place. :)

[bluestateguy]

8. Good point

At the same time though, one should be reminded that the money they spend is employing people who are happy to have the work right now.

[Clio the Leo]

12. lol, very Barackariffic answer!

You're learning well! (and I'm ashamed I didn't think of it.)

[wildflower]

20. I love that site! Especially the old pictures of the solarium...

http://1observatorycircle.com/floor3/sun-room.htm

[GoCubsGo]

25. Me, too!

I wish I had a solarium like that! I love that Hillary used those bright primary colors in the upholstery in that room. I like lots of colors. And, while I never had much use for Nancy Reagan, at least she had decent taste in decorating. Not my style, but more appropriate for the architecture. I like it better the decor Michelle is having to redo.

[wildflower]

26. Check out the West Bedroom pics...

I love the one with Amy with her cat in the dollhouse; also the ones of Jackie and John Jr.

http://1observatorycircle.com/floor2/west-bedroom.htm

[high density]

6. I noticed today on Face the Nation...

...that Obama has finally removed GW's plates from the Oval Office. :)

[Clio the Leo]

10. lol! And replaced them with BOOKS!! Just as I figured! NT

[Clio the Leo]

7. And we should also mention.....

.... that one of the great things Jackie Kennedy did when she restored the White House was to establish a committee that would allow the First Family to preserve and decorate the house using private money. If the Obamas are even skipping THIS step .... well, all I can say is, just when you think they're perfect enough, they prove you wrong and show you they're even nicer than you thought. :)

[Shoush]

23. The Story of Laura Bush & the Dishes

The committee Jackie Kennedy endorsed is formally known as the White House Historical Association. And it would seem that the Obamas are, in fact, going to bypass utilizing this fund, as well. Camille Johnson, Michelle's director of communications, made a statement that the First Couple will not use "public funds or...donations...for redecorating their private quarters." They are millionaires, after all...

PLUS, it's a wicked smart PR move considering the Historical Association "paid for a $74,000 set of china shortly before Laura Bush left town." :puke: She's married to the man who orchestrated the demolition of our country, but at least she got some nice plates out of the deal.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/29/obamas-are-personally-pay_n_180551.html

[InvisibleTouch]

9. They've got to scrub the W stench out of the place...

...and please please please get rid of that ugly rug in the Oval Office. I don't care whose money they use to do that!

[Aristus]

15. Yellow; a perfect color for Dubya. We need a more appropriate carpet for President Obama.

n/t

[girl gone mad]

11. Smart politics on several levels.

They can avoid the criticism of "wasteful spending" during a recession and by not disclosing the line item renovation budget, they'll avoid the typical hyper-analysis of personal taste.

[grasswire]

13. I actually don't like this scenario.

I would rather have them use public funds and publicly revealed donations so that all is transparent. This way, there's room for speculation and cynicism.

[Faryn Balyncd]

16. It sounds like they are not accepting donations (although the article only referred to donations of

goods or services, and didn't further specify other than to say that they were paying for it themselves)


I agree about the need for transparency if there are any donations of any type.

[Hellataz]

19. What a great example to set, we need more positive stories like this brought here.

They are so much nicer to read then all the non stop bitching.

[PopSixSquish]

21. $74,000 for Plates?

for fucking plates? Good Lord those thing better be 24 carat gold and levitate up to your mouth and then feed you themselves.

I'm glad the Obamas are doing this. I hope we get to see some pictures at some point.

[Shoush]

24. If the plates are 24 carat gold...

...they would provide the perfect platter on which to serve up the former President's head... :evilgrin:

[jesus_of_suburbia]

27. I expect Republicans to applaud this move..... what? Why aren't they giving Pres Obama accolades?

Pathetic.