General Discussion

CatWoman

(80,298 posts) Mon Jul 30, 2012, 07:48 PM Jul 2012

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

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

93 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

OK -- I need to know. Exactly how are the FLOTUS travel and wardrobe paid for? [View all] CatWoman Jul 2012 OP

This matters. Did she actually buy it? MrSlayer Jul 2012 #1

Of course she bought it. Gifts have to be reported. pnwmom Jul 2012 #16

Well then no one should care how the Romneys spend their money. MrSlayer Jul 2012 #20

There's no comparison. The issue isn't how either Obama or Romney spends his money. pnwmom Jul 2012 #24

I like that. MrSlayer Jul 2012 #30

C'mon brush Jul 2012 #54

No. MrSlayer Jul 2012 #64

It's not about what the Romneys spend their money on. NYC Liberal Jul 2012 #70

most famous people get dressed for free by designers. robinlynne Jul 2012 #45

But the Federal Ethics in Government Act doesn't apply to most famous people. pnwmom Jul 2012 #67

But if she gives it back then it is not a gift. Maraya1969 Jul 2012 #69

From what I've read, loans have to be reported, too. pnwmom Jul 2012 #75

What did you read? OH that's right, you don't post information you just insist. slampoet Jul 2012 #92

No, that's your specialty. You tell people to search through whole threads instead pnwmom Jul 2012 #93

You're dead wrong. She gets them donated by designers. Just like the last 4 first ladies. slampoet Jul 2012 #58

I was only able to find two such instances for her, both gowns donated to pnwmom Jul 2012 #66

I am not your servant. Look down thread. slampoet Jul 2012 #84

"I am not your servant." pnwmom Jul 2012 #90

If I remember correctly. Flotus pays for her clothes herself unless their gifts from designers. vaberella Jul 2012 #2

The government is reimbursed when she uses BlueToTheBone Jul 2012 #8

Reimbursed by who? former9thward Jul 2012 #15

Typically not the real cost of operating AF1 tritsofme Jul 2012 #21

By the Obama's. Since they're required to fly on this aircraft pnwmom Jul 2012 #68

She didn't use AF1. GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #17

And that he flew from Texas to DC in the middle of the night Horse with no Name Jul 2012 #34

And while over there, he couldn't find his way out of a room HarveyDarkey Jul 2012 #39

no, that's wrong cali Jul 2012 #50

No. I am correct. GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #56

It has an airforce seal on it so presumably it is not a private plane cali Jul 2012 #61

Yes. I should have said "executive jet". GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #62

I doubt she flew in one of the Presidential aircraft...... Swede Atlanta Jul 2012 #57

and disgraced us by falling down drunk in the stadium... CTyankee Jul 2012 #60

And, oogling the female beach volleyball players' backsides. GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #63

Laura Bush's clothing expense was never questioned... HipChick Jul 2012 #74

Designers flood her staff in hopes she will wear one of their designs. They do it all of the time monmouth Jul 2012 #3

none of the dresses worn to the oscars are paid for. the advetisement the designer gets by being sh robinlynne Jul 2012 #46

Absolutely. I wish a designer..ah, never mind..LOL.. monmouth Jul 2012 #65

Actors aren't bound by the Ethics in Government Act. pnwmom Jul 2012 #72

She still has to pay for them. pnwmom Jul 2012 #71

she pays for her own clothes but we pay official travel cally Jul 2012 #4

agree - and those suits Mitt wears look custom made to me spooky3 Jul 2012 #6

Did she steal it? Did she lie and say she never spends more than $100 on an outfit? spooky3 Jul 2012 #5

She pays for anything that isn't donated Warpy Jul 2012 #7

She mainly shops a Target. I don't think Target carries fancy clothes. demosincebirth Jul 2012 #9

beautiful demtenjeep Jul 2012 #10

I'd say that Michelle counts every Penny and anyone trashing her KoKo Jul 2012 #11

maybe we should ask how much Rafalca's dressage saddle cost Coexist Jul 2012 #12

RWers never ever talked about Laura Bush's clothes. Kalidurga Jul 2012 #13

No but we made an issue out of Ann Romney's. MrSlayer Jul 2012 #26

Ann Romney isn't FLOTUS representing the US as a forign dignitary obamanut2012 Jul 2012 #48

How utterly ridiculous. Laura Bush and Michelle Obama = First Ladies. Ann Romney=Mitt's wife. Tarheel_Dem Jul 2012 #59

It's EXACTLY the same thing. WillowTree Jul 2012 #89

She is appearing on the world stage in company of yellerpup Jul 2012 #14

Besides, the Obamas are millionaires and they didn't put anyone out of work to get that way CatWoman Jul 2012 #18

To the Obamas... yellerpup Jul 2012 #43

i hope i pay for it with my taxes.....she's a fabulous ambassador for america spanone Jul 2012 #19

The First Family buys its own clothing. GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #22

this obamanut2012 Jul 2012 #49

I send her a check once a year and jaysunb Jul 2012 #23

If you totalled up the cost of Michelle's avebury Jul 2012 #25

Designers loan clothing to First Ladies.... soccer1 Jul 2012 #27

no famous poeple who appear in magazines have to pay for their clothing. The more magazine robinlynne Jul 2012 #47

It's never good enough, is it. Texasgal Jul 2012 #28

No, and what makes it worse... GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #37

When you are famous, your wardrobe is multi-faceted SoCalDem Jul 2012 #29

and I remember how her clothes never fit her, either CatWoman Jul 2012 #42

YOUR FUCKING TAX MONEY!!! - But DAMN does she look nice. Go girl! HopeHoops Jul 2012 #31

You mean, in the salary the President is paid? Because there are no taxes pnwmom Jul 2012 #73

Yep. He certainly has earned it. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #82

Queen Nancy NeverEnuff Jul 2012 #32

I understood that it was given to her by the designer Horse with no Name Jul 2012 #33

I looked and was only to find two donated gowns, both of which pnwmom Jul 2012 #83

The meme is: Dems are hypocrites if they don't give all their money to the poor. aquart Jul 2012 #35

Her husband is a millionaire and they live rent free for 4-8 years Plus she mucifer Jul 2012 #36

I assume she purchased it. She isn't a pauper. kestrel91316 Jul 2012 #38

The Obamas aren't poor. backscatter712 Jul 2012 #40

Ugh, sometimes the internet is a PITA. Starry Messenger Jul 2012 #41

I'll Pay For HOT !!! WillyT Jul 2012 #44

Weren't the same frickin' whiners pissed when she wore J. Crew, as well? CrispyQ Jul 2012 #51

J Crew brush Jul 2012 #52

she looks fabulous. samsingh Jul 2012 #53

I suppose that every other FLOTUS got their clothes at Goodwill or Penny's. How much did Laura appleannie1 Jul 2012 #55

I think she looks fabulous. Just fab. She is representing the United States at the Palace. southernyankeebelle Jul 2012 #76

The Obamas pay for their own clothes. Zen Democrat Jul 2012 #77

I'll bet most of the state-function clothing gets donated eventually, so it's money well spent. patrice Jul 2012 #78

I seem to recall that Nancy Reagan often wore gowns donated for the occasion. left is right Jul 2012 #79

Where is the sackcloth??? Think of the CHILDREN!!! nolabear Jul 2012 #80

Why does it matter? CC Jul 2012 #81

Elegant! Hatchling Jul 2012 #85

The right wing HATES that our first lady smashes their sterotype of the black woman. JoePhilly Jul 2012 #86

I was just a kid at the time, but wasn't Nancy Reagan something of a clothes horse?? GreenPartyVoter Jul 2012 #87

Does the person who asked you know how Pickles trip and wardrobe to Beijing joeybee12 Jul 2012 #88

I think I'm pretty sick of this racist crap. Jazzgirl Jul 2012 #91