Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS), by virtue of the fact that she is married to the President of the United States (POTUS). This is not an elected position, of course, and she does not receive a government salary, since she does not perform any official duties. Nevertheless, she finds it necessary to employ (at taxpayer expense) at least 22 staffers to serve her; not including the myriad cooks, butlers, gardeners, chauffeurs, and other functionaries needed to operate the Executive Mansion. Nor does this number include the large (but classified) number of security personnel detailed to protect her and her children.
Writing in the Canada Free Press, Dr. Paul L. Williams observes that Mamie Eisenhower had to shell out the salary for her personal secretary: “How things have changed! If you’re one of the tens of millions of Americans facing certain destitution, earning less than subsistence wages stocking the shelves at Wal-Mart or serving up McDonald cheeseburgers, prepare to scream and then come to realize that the benefit package for these servants of Miz Michele are the same as members of the national security and defense departments and the bill for these assorted lackeys is paid by John Q. Public.”
(AP photo / Lawrence Jackson)
Dr. Williams makes ironic mention of the now-famous quotation from Mrs. Obama: “In my own life, in my own small way, I have tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. See, that’s why I left a job at a big law firm for a career in public service.“ He then lists the “assorted lackeys:”
1. $172,2000 - Sher, Susan (CHIEF OF STAFF)
2. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
3. $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL SECRETARY)
4. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
5. Winter, Melissa E. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
6. $90,000 - Medina, David S. (DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
7. $84,000 - Lelyveld, Catherine M. (DIRECTOR AND PRESS SECRETARY TO THE FIRST LADY)
8. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING AND ADVANCE FOR THE FIRST LADY)
9. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
10. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY SOCIAL SECRETARY)
11. Reinstein, Joseph B. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY SOCIAL SECRETARY)
12. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING AND EVENTS COORDINATOR FOR THE FIRST LADY)
13. $60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADVANCE AND TRIP DIRECTOR FOR THE FIRST LADY)
14. Lewis, Dana M. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT AND PERSONAL AIDE TO THE FIRST LADY)
15. $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY TO THE FIRST LADY)
16. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR SCHEDULING AND TRAVELING AIDE TO THE FIRST LADY)
17. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE FIRST LADY)
18. Tubman, Samantha (DEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR,SOCIAL OFFICE)
19. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
20. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (STAFF ASSISTANT TO THE SOCIAL SECRETARY)
21. Bookey, Natalie (STAFF ASSISTANT)
22. Jackson, Deilia A. (DEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE FIRST LADY)
Comments
This article would make since only if the salaries and number of staff members of Mrs. Obama is compared to Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Clinton. Is the total payroll higher or lower, when adjusted for inflation. I suspect that this is pretty standard for the White House occupants no matter who the first lady is.
The article points out that Ms. Obama doesn't earn a salary but does perform duties. I don't know what the author deems "official duties" but first ladies have, for the past dozen or more administrations they have had many responsibilities, and one of the questions asked of each of them during their husband's campaign is "what projects do you intend to work on." Additionally, a lot of the jobs listed have responsibilities other than those directly related to the first lady. This article seems like a pretty sad attempt to stir up criticism of the Obamas. I'll admit that they've had it easy in the press for the first few months of this administration, but more substantive critique would be appreciated more than a poorly reasonded article and photoshopped images.
Sorry for the poor writing on my previous post. I was typing it at work in between tasks.
This article would make sense (previous error corrected) only if the salaries and number of staff members of Mrs. Obama is compared to Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Clinton. Is the total payroll higher or lower, when adjusted for inflation. I suspect that this is pretty standard for the White House occupants no matter who the first lady is.
Bush, Clinton, Obama, doesn't matter who it is it's a waste of money.
J Baud:
In answer to your question, here's a link:
americanthinker.com/blog/2009/07/your_tax_dollars_at_work_suppo.html
In short, $1,448,5000 for Obama as compared to $561,325 for Bush.
She's just doing her part by creating jobs. I hope she's proud of America now.
wow...the obama can do no wrong crowd continues, makes one wonder what it would take to offend these people...have some more kool-aid!
Oh My,
So no other FLOTUS after Mamie Eisenhower had a paid staff? Well, no... the whole article is misleading. Compare those salaries with other FLOTUS who had a paid staff.
Also, since when is giving back to your community a bad thing? She didn't wait till she was in the White House to do it. Geez...
I was expecting to see her personal hairstylist, etc on the list. (She pays for them herself.) Why shouldn't those people listed be paid (they are doing a job)?
The question that should be asked is... why is FLOTUS not on the list? All FLOTUS should have been paid and still should be paid.
Don't bother pointing out the obvious, J Baud (@ 12:54 PM); you'll only rile up the "base".
How pitiful is it that T. McAdam had to go all the way back to Mamie Eisenhower to find a First Lady who had no obvious Executive Branch budget? Maybe because Mamie probably still had personnel who were being paid by her husband's previous employer? The duties of the wife of a 5-star general aren't insignificant, but that'd be too sensible for someone wanting to slam Michelle Obama...
And we paid GWB over 3 million to be president. So, what's your point?
www.sojournersplace.com
Laura Bush had 1 and hillary had 3 attendants.
There's your comparision J Baud.
She forgot the personl stlye consultant. My that lady hasn't worn a single thing that couldn't have benn made from my Granny's curtains or couch's material. OUch her cloths are butt ugly.
With the country in a deep recession you would think that the new adminst. would tighten their belt rather than going on a spending spree. Are they ever going to quit spending our grandchildrens money? A couple of attendants could be justified. This just has spoiled brat written all over it!
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