"Let that Negro go to Africa on his own dime."

I love how hypocrisy rules the day in this country.

So now we are supposed to care that the president is taking a trip oversees because we are still in a recession? I need a break!

Why is this even an issue now with this president? Rhetorical question. I know why.

I suppose we should just kick the Kenyan out of the people's house and rent his family a nice apartment in Northwest Washington. I am sure that would save us some money.

And, while we are at it, why don't we just get Allied Barton to provide him with around the clock security? I mean why pay a secret service agent when we can get a rent a cop for $9 an hour?

"Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer asked White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough Sunday morning if President Obama’s $60-100 million proposed trip to Africa was “worth it in a time of sequestration, when we’ve got people in various government agencies working four days a week, taking a twenty percent cut in pay?”

“The Washington Post also said that price tag was fully consistent with the cost we’ve paid for similar trips in the past,” McDonough said, before pointing out that Africa was a center of investment and economic growth. “It’s very important for the President of the United States, as the Commander in Chief, and as the representative of this government and the American people, to be able to travel to carry out our foreign policy.” [Source]

Bob Schieffer is now in the home stretch of life. I am sure that the fire department is on standby when he lights his birthday cake, so I am going to cut him some slack. Anyway, the poor guy is probably just saying out loud what folks in Middle America are all thinking.

Of course some of us are wondering why there are so many issues with this particular trip.

"As someone angry over government fraud and waste, I can understand the need for our elected leaders to tighten their financial belts when it some to spending our money. But I’m just a little confused that penny-pinching is becoming the overriding theme behind President Obama’s first long trip to sub-Saharan Africa later this month. Published reports about the trip have focused on the huge expenses attached to the trip that will include visits to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania.

Authorities say that hundreds of Secret Service agents will be sent to protect the President while in Africa, and a Navy aircraft carrier with a fully staffed medical center will be stationed off of the coast of visited nations in case of an emergency.

But the big time spending won’t stop there.

Fighter jets will provide 24-hour coverage over the President’s airspace and 14 limousines will be reportedly sent over from the United States to provide President Obama safe passage by roadway.....

But when you consider that the President has made trips to Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia while making only a brief stop in Ghana during his presidency, why shouldn’t he go to Africa for a substantial visit, especially when the continent has been coined in several business circles “the New Frontier.”

Countries like Brazil and China have increased their investment in African nations and the United States needs to maintain its influence in the region while promoting trade, democracy, and empowering the youth and women. And with a strong Muslim component in many African countries, the continent is an increasingly important partner in global anti-terrorism efforts.

And Obama isn’t the first president to see Africa’s strategic importance. Presidents Bush and Clinton both visited Africa, with Mrs. Bush going to Africa five times in support of President Bush’s agenda.

I don’t recall the cost of those trips ever being questioned.
But now, as the first president of African descent prepares for his first major visit to Africa, Obama critics are looking to pinch pennies?

The Washington Post report says the costs for the trip are not out of line with what is spent when other presidents travel abroad.

So what gives?" [Source]


What gives? Hmmm, let's see now; Americans don't like tall skinny people?