Don't look to the current residents of the White House for dignity, or a sense of the gravitas of the presidency. In their world, classy=expensive, and more is more. And don't look for any acknowledgment from the Obamas' behavior (words don't count) that many Americans are hurting financially. Byron York reports:
At a time when the unemployment rate stands at 9.9 percent, when jobs are still being lost, when worries about the global economy are causing breathtaking volatility on Wall Street, when millions of Americans who still have jobs are worrying more than ever about the safety of their retirement savings — at a time when all that is going on, the Obama White House has turned itself into a showcase of glitzy extravagance.Read the rest.
Instead of the elaborate pavilion constructed at unknown expense for the first state dinner, we have an enormous "marquee" tricked out at unknown expense into the Obamas' idea of a real classy nightclub, for the after-dinner partay:
R&B diva Beyonce topped the entertainment bill for the dinner, taking place in the East Room of the White House, with the action later moving to a luxury marquee on the South Lawn of the presidential mansion. The marquee, the size of two-thirds of a football field, decked out in elaborate black decor and nightclub-style lighting, featured a stage and baskets of flowers and models of Monarch butterflies dangling from the ceiling.Commoners can get a glimpse of the glitz from the White House flickr feed. Here's one of Barack and Michelle gettin' down:
Hat tip: Power Line
Update: Doug Ross has more pics.
Cross-posted in the Green Room.
Many thanks to Michelle Malkin, Doug Ross, Pirate's Cove, Adrienne's Corner, and Carol's Closet for linking.
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"Let them eat cake"
ReplyDeleteAt least Jimmy Carter had the sense to pretend to care about the suffering of average Amerians during his presidency when he wore the wool cardigan.
Personally, I was a bit relieved when I found out they weren't eating the butterflies under glass.
ReplyDeleteJill:
ReplyDeleteAre you going to the We the People event over 4th of July weekend? It sounds like it is going to be a really good time, and very family friendly.
Remember where he came from in his upbringing. The trappings of being a world leader and President would turn anyone's head, especially if you are believing you are destined for it.
ReplyDeleteNormal people are going to react two ways. One, they will get all uppity and think the whole deal is about them (some high end models come to mind). Two, they will be so unimpressed they'll learn to hate the events. I would think Eisenhower and Truman were two president not impressed with all the pomp.
There is something to be said about having your leaders come from a place where they have been exposed to this type of situation at least somewhat, because it will not turn their heads as much.
Obama is the worse of both. He has never seen such attention in his life and in his mind it is BECAUSE of him (remember the European tour). Worse, he will quickly find it very comfortable, maybe too much so, because he believes all of this was his destiny (remember he claims he wanted to be President as far back as twelve years old).
It is dangerous to stroke the ego of a tyrant. It only makes him want to hold onto power even more.
Yep, this is definitely line not only with someone pretending to be something and someone he is not (you cannot "buy class" as Carol says), but it's also in line with the lavish living of tyrants and dictators. I wonder if the Obamas have put in 24k gold faucets and toilets yet?
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