So are you saying the first lady should not take a vacation because there are so many people without jobs even if she pays for her own travel expenses? Maybe if she stayed home those people would find a job; people like my neighbor who's out of work and he's in Vegas right now.
This thread really doesn't make much sense.
I think you are wrong on this - as evidenced by the fact that people all over the world are discussing this very same issue, and coming to the same conclusion, that many people on this thread are coming to.
What you need to understand is that no one (or at least very, very few people) here is stating that she doesn't have the right to take her 8 vacations in just over a year. I find it a bit excessive, but hey...good on her and her husband for making the kind of money that allows that sort of thing.
What people ARE saying is that the First Lady, if anything, is a symbol...a fashion symbol, a symbol of motherhood, a symbol of spousehood, a symbol of what an American wife, mother, woman, etc. should be. Hence why Laura Bush was mocked for appearing to not have an opinion or disagree with Bush on war policy, why people whispered about whether or not she was a smoker, etc. Why Hillary was slammed for her "baking cookies" comment, and why people to this day praise her or damn her for staying with Bill, why Barbara Bush's ridiculous comments continue to raise eyebrows, etc.
Our current First Lady has spoken very loudly and publicly about how her husband is asking us to cut back, to not spend, to save and stop our wicked ways. She has said loudly that ALL OF US are going to have to take part...that her husband's presidency is going to require ALL OF US to WORK.
8 vacations in a little more than a year isn't work...its taking a whole lot of expensive vacations. Does she have the right to? Sure. The question is...what does it say about the First Lady and her message of cutting back and working...if she doesn't even do it symbolically?
It is in poor taste to lecture to everyone at the table (including many who are of a healthy weight) all meal long about how dessert is terrible for your health, how it is causing obesity, and that we ALL need to stop eating dessert if we are going to stop the epidemic...only to order creme brulee, tiramisu, AND a slice of chocolate cake when the dessert trolley rolls by because HEY, I'm not fat!
It is in poor taste to invite everyone to a wedding - but state that because alcoholism is a big problem in the family no alcoholic beverages will be served - and when all of your guests arrive have a secret bottle of red behind the bar just for you because, HEY, I'm not an alcoholic!
And...it is in poor taste to lecture the nation repeatedly about how irresponsible WE ALL HAVE BEEN in our spending and that WE ALL will have to cut back. To criticize those who visit Las Vegas, to entreat people to visit the Gulf Coast, to tell us all that sacrifice is American and that the President is asking us to work and that its not going to be easy...
and then to take 8 vacations in basically one year because HEY! Life is all good for me!!!
At best, it shows a disconnect from the American people. At worst, it shows a complete lack of caring about them.
At the very least, Mrs. Obama should have taken her million-dollar vacay in the United States...somewhere on the Gulf coast perhaps?
