NYC Letter: For Thee. Not Me

UPDATE 06.02.09: WH press secretary Robert Gibbs takes the tough question, doesn't answer it.

Q: Robert, are you going to tell us how much the President and the First Lady's date night cost on Saturday night, and if not, why not?

Well, Jonathan, I think [A low noise. Distracted.] it's a...it's, itza, I thought it was the air conditioner, now it's the helicopter. Um, you know, I, I, I think spokespeople have spoken to this over the weekend, ah, the President, ah, ah, would had-had-he or could he, ah, based on the Secret Service, he would have taken the shuttle [No doubt!]. Ah, but, ah-um, I would say that the costs are proportionate with, ah, travel for Presidents. And I would encourage you to, ah, look up previous coverage on, ah, travel costs, ah, because they're analogous.

Q: But is there any President or a President and First Lady who have taken an out-of-town date night like this, not connected to an official or even a political -- previous event?

Ah, you-you've got probably more researchers than I do.

The WH transcript is considerably tidier. Why couldn't Mr. Gibbs simply say the costs are not officially known, that they will or won't be calculated, though, calculated or not, are certainly significant, and that Mr. Obama is out of touch.

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Day 132 of CHOPE

First this.

OBAMA CALLS FOR SACRIFICE
AS ECONOMIC TEAM ROLLED OUT

CHICAGO November 25, 2008 (AFP) - President-elect Barack Obama was set Tuesday to promote swift action to revive the US economy, and appeal for sacrifice from voters and politicians alike, in his second press conference in as many days.

Well, I mean, we're out of money now.

Mr. Obama,
spender-in-chief, giving America's account balance
as he prepares to squeeze taxpayers
for $1.5 trillion
to nationalize health care
INTERVIEW May 23, 2009 (C-Span)

So. On your own dime, to make ends meet, its fish sticks, PBRs, and re-watching your collection of pre-viewed movies from Odd Lots. Also on your dime, the Obamas fly to NYC for dinner and a show.

OBAMA KEEPS HIS BIG APPLE PLEDGE
Wows First Lady With Dinner & B'way Show

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK CITY May 31, 2009 (NYP) - "I am taking my wife to New York City because I promised her during the campaign that I would take her to a Broadway show after it was all finished," the president said yesterday after touching down at JFK for an intimate night on the town.

Well. At least he's kept one campaign promise. (Oh, and this and this. And a roundup.)

What exactly was the cost to taxpayers? [We lean forward in our seats.]

WHITE HOUSE DECLINES TO SAY
WHAT NY TRIP COST
June 1, 2009 (KCS/AP)

Low-ender.

PRICEY PRESIDENTIAL DATE NIGHT

June 1, 2009 (ExtraTV) - The Obamas' theatre tickets, three planes, two helicopters and a police escort for their NYC date night cost a reported $73,000 -- and the GOP is pouncing on their pricey night of theatre in the Big Apple.

High-ender.

MICHELLE OBAMA'S $1M DATE IN NEW YORK

June 1, 2009 (Mirror) - Three jets of security staff accompanied the Obamas all the way from Washington to dinner in Manhattan before the play Joe Turner's Come And Gone - about poor black workers 100 years ago. The night is believed to have cost $1,000,000 but recession-hit New Yorkers did not seem to mind, clapping the couple through the streets all the way to their seats.

GET A CLUE, BLOOMY! MAYOR TOUTS
OBAMAS' 'AFFORDABLE' NIGHT ON BROADWAY

NEW YORK CITY June 1, 2009 (Daily News) - Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Monday at City Hall commenting on the Obamas' Saturday junket:

I can't think of anything that is better as an advertisement for our tourism industry, for Broadway, for our restaurants, for saying that this is a safe city and an affordable city. The President doesn't get paid that much. He's on a budget, too.

Mr. Obama's expenses are covered in the national budget. [Pause.] Where date-night extravagances are an insignificance.

Some Republican critics have called the Obamas' trip an extravagant waste, given security and other expenses, but Bloomberg called that "so off-base, I wouldn't even mention it, even take it seriously." Mr. Bloomberg:

It does cost us a little extra in security but given the advertising value of having the President and the First Lady come here is worth many times over that. It's a very good deal for us.

It's only money (and this). After all, Mr. Obama won. It's his money to do with as he pleases.

CHOPE.

Keep up the sacrifices. Or suffer quietly. Either or, preferrably both.

Posted by Damian at June 1, 2009 07:30 PM