Presidential Date Night

This past weekend President Obama actually kept one of his campaign promises; he took the First Lady to a Broadway show.

I think it's cute and nice. I'm sure that the Obamas have been quite busy and it's great that the got some time out together. However, I'm still pissed. Why? Oh, because I got to pick up the tab, and so did you.

You and I paid something around $73,000 so that the Obama's could have a night on the town. This doesn't include the money that the citizens of NYC had to pay for police protection, etc. Not to mention the hours and money lost by people tied up in traffic jambs cause by the numerous, hours long, road closures along the President's motorcade route.

He supposedly saved us money because he, and his entourage, took a mere three Gulfstream jets, instead of the big ole 747. However, please explain to me exactly why he needed to take the Whitehouse Press Corps along? He wasn't making news and I'm pretty sure there are reporters in NYC that could have covered this.

I'm also kind of curious as to how this "green" President can justify the "carbon footprint" of three small jets, as opposed to one large jet. I'm betting he killed dozens of polar bears on this trip. Why not just use Amtrak?

Now, a mere $73k is jack-diddly when compared to the multi-trillion dollar federal budget. However, it's the arrogance, and the sense of entitlement that really pisses me off here. Yes, Presidents use our tax money for campaign purposes, fund raisers, etc. I don't like that either. However, they always spend a few hours on these trips for some legitimate gov't business so, technically, it's ok. Well, not in my opinion, but unfortunately that's how it's done.

However, don't recall any President in my lifetime using taxpayer money for such blatant personal reasons. There's a Presidential Box on permanent reserve at the Kennedy Center and it's like a 10 minute drive from the Whitehouse. He's going to be in NYC sometime for official business. He couldn't have taken Michelle along for a date then?

The President's salary is about $400,000/yr. Michelle was making over $300k in her previous job. So, why am I paying for them to go on a date?

The man's an asshole, plain and simple.

Update: Robert Gibbs duck the question as to the cost and appropriateness of the Obama date night: