All Work, No Pay , should the First Lady get a salary

[dcsmart]

When Barack and Michelle Obama visited a Washington, D.C., public charter school on Feb. 3, they asked a class of second-graders what they wanted to be when they grew up. "First lady!" exclaimed one girl. Michelle Obama smiled. "It doesn't pay much," she responded.
In Michelle's last job, as a vice president of the University of Chicago hospitals, she earned $316,000 annually, almost double her husband's salary as a U.S. senator. The job of first lady, on the other hand, has always paid exactly ... nothing. But perhaps because Michelle Obama is so much more visible than her predecessor, Laura Bush, pundits have been debating whether the Harvard-educated lawyer deserves to pull a paycheck for her full-time duties as a public face of the Obama administration.

In February, Michelle Obama embarked upon an unprecedented tour of federal agencies. She addressed tens of thousands of bureaucrats, thanking them for their service and discussing how her husband's economic-stimulus package would improve each department's work. Michelle, who had previously promised to serve primarily as the "mom in chief," was taking on an explicitly political role, pitching the stimulus legislation even as it remained stalemated in Congress. "The Department of Education is going to be at the forefront of many of the things that we have to do in this administration," Michelle said during a Feb. 2 visit. "With these investments that we hope to make through this stimulus package, we'll be able to prevent teacher layoffs and education cuts in hard-hit states."
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FULL ARTICLE
http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=all_work_no_pay

[Clio the Leo]

1. If we start paying her, we can also start to dictate HOW she works...

... so no.

[Kaylee]

2. nope.....

that would open a can of worms. I like how she is accountable to no one on how she decides to spend her time.

[SheilaT]

3. It is very much up to the

first lady exactly what she wants to do, what causes she wants to be involved in. Our concept of the job stems from the 18th century when upper class women did not get paid for work. Times have changed a lot since then, but Michelle Obama is practically the first First Lady to have held paid employment for a significant part of her adult life. Laura Bush certainly didn't.

Remember the uproar it caused when Howard Dean's wife indicated she'd stay in Vermont and continue her work as a physician even if he were elected? Someday that very thing will happen. Two career couples are a fact of life, if not much of a factor in the higher political echelons.

[Beacool]

9. No, she 's not the first one.

Hillary was a partner in a law firm until Bill ran for president.

Regardless, I don't think that first ladies should be payed because then Congress would probably try to regulate their time. The way it is now, they are free (within reason) to pursue their interests and favorite causes.

;-)

[SheilaT]

15. I thought I was forgetting someone!

Thanks for reminding me about Hillary.

[SheilaT]

16. self delete

double posted

[Staph]

10. I believe that Michelle is number two....

Hillary Clinton had full-time work for most of her adult life, until she became First Lady. She, too, earned more than her public servant husband -- her income at the Rose Law Firm was considerably higher than Bill's salary as Governor of Arkansas.

Laura Bush -- a few years as a school librarian
Barbara Bush -- virtually no paid work
Nancy Reagan -- quite a few years as a working actress, before marriage and children

[olkaz]

4. Nope.

I get it, but bad idea. Let the first lady set her own agenda with no boss.

[cali]

5. fuck no. she wasn't elected to anything or appointed first lady.

she can do as little or as much as she wishes. What a stupid idea.

[Marrah_G]

6. Nope

She wasn't the one elected. She isn't required by law to perform any duties. The President gets enough money and benefits as it is.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

7. Heeeeeeill no! nt

[rvablue]

8. No. n/t

[Milspec]

11. I a word

No

[Egnever]

12. No

Michelle rocks! I see no reason though to pay the presidents significant other a salary though.

They will make millions after his stint as potus is over, Money will never be an issue for them ever again.

[genna]

13. No but all her costs and needs should be provided for.

A paycheck will guarantee Congressional oversight.

I'd prefer that the First Spouse (I firmly believe it will be a man eventually) should be able to do what she wants with her own time. As a lawyer, HRC and Michelle Obama might have too many conflicts of interests to have continued working in their field of study. But I'd like to see spouses who may be physicians, medical personnel, or not for profit fields be able to continue to work.


If they are CEOs, lawyers, accountants, and some other fields that overlap with their presidential spouse's responsibilities they should defer that career. In the same way blind trusts are used for the First Families' financial affairs, if overlapping careers can be set up so that no specific interest benefits then for all is the better.


No matter how beautiful or photogenic a First Spouse is, I don't think the fashion industry is the only visible way their talents should be used.

[NYC_SKP]

14. Nope, she's worth far more without having to answer to anyone.

That's the beautiful part of it.

:patriot:

[firedupdem]

17. No. Let her do her own thing. n/t

[bigwillq]

18. No (nt)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

19. Only if congress gets to advise and consent to the marriage

[Occam Bandage]

20. No. nt

[TahitiNut]

21. The Office of the First Lady has an expense budget since the Carter administration.

:shrug: