Barack Obama's attack on Sarah Palin over the Bridge to Nowhere has to rank among his biggest blunder. Both Biden and Obama voted for the bill containing the earmark for the Bridge to Nowhere - not once but twice.

 

However, the worst aspect to the attack is that it draws attention of Obama's questionable earmarks, not the least of which is one involving Michelle Obama's employer.

 

Michelle Obama, tonight’s big speaker, received a large payday in 2005 from the University of Chicago Medical Center — a promotion with a $200,000 annual raise. It came just after her husband became a U.S. senator. The following year, Senator Obama inserted a $1 million earmark for the hospital. Given that money is fungible, taxpayers are underwriting Mrs. Obama’s raise through 2010, thanks to her husband’s earmark (she is currently on leave from that job).

 

When the Chicago Tribune asked about this appearance of impropriety, Senator Obama remarked that he should have given the earmark to another senator instead of handling it himself. “When it comes to earmarks, because of those concerns, it’s probably something that should have been passed on to [illinois senior Senator] Dick Durbin,” he said.

 

So the “new politics” way to deal with the appearance of impropriety is to hide it — in this case by having someone else insert your earmark for you. - Investing in Obama

Edited September 10, 200818 yr by AcesFull

I have to say that this is the most entertaining of the "names" given to Obama.

I have to say that this is the most entertaining of the "names" given to Obama.

Any thoughts on the conflict of interest and Michelle's big payday?

Any thoughts on the conflict of interest and Michelle's big payday?

 

The link isn't working correctly. It comes up as a BGP "reply." Let me read from the source and then I will reply.

FWIW, the middle name Earmark scares me more than Hussein.

The link isn't working correctly. It comes up as a BGP "reply." Let me read from the source and then I will reply.

Thanks. The link is fixed.

I understand it was for cancer research. Apparently no improprities were found.

I understand it was for cancer research. Apparently no improprities were found.

I am sure that Michelle's promotion and $200,000 a year raise was coincidental. I just thought the extraordinarilyy good luck that greeted Barack Obama and his family so soon after his election to the US Senate would make a great human interest story. It is just unfortunate that Barack did not think of asking the senior Senator from Illiniois to sponsor the earmark sooner - just to avoid any possible appearance of impropriety. :lol:

I am sure that Michelle's promotion and $200,000 a year raise was coincidental. I just thought the extraordinarilyy good luck that greeted Barack Obama and his family so soon after his election to the US Senate would make a great human interest story. It is just unfortunate that Barack did not think of asking the senior Senator from Illiniois to sponsor the earmark sooner - just to avoid any possible appearance of impropriety. :lol:

 

Probably coincidental.

Probably coincidental.

Most likely. Just like the millions of taxpayer dollars that went to Tony Rezko's company after he donated $168,000 to Obama over a decade. Pure coincidence. Move on. Nothing here to see.

First, I find the bias in the article difficult to swallow. It is not hidden in any way (which doesn't make it worse, just less palatible).

 

But let me get this right. Michelle Obama gets a promotion, which comes with a raise. Then a YEAR later the hospital she works for gets funding earmarked by Obama? And the "foul" cry here is that the taxpayers are now paying for her raise? This is certainly an issue of "the cart before the horse" as regards wrong doing.

 

Next?

I never did see in the article what the money was earmarked for...was it cancer research? If so, how awful and evil! :lol:

First, I find the bias in the article difficult to swallow. It is not hidden in any way (which doesn't make it worse, just less palatible).

 

But let me get this right. Michelle Obama gets a promotion, which comes with a raise. Then a YEAR later the hospital she works for gets funding earmarked by Obama? And the "foul" cry here is that the taxpayers are now paying for her raise? This is certainly an issue of "the cart before the horse" as regards wrong doing.

 

Next?

If you don't like reading the facts in National Review, then find an article on a site of your choosing. Michelle Obama did not just get a raise, her salary nearly tripled within a year. I don't know about you, but my salary has never come close to tripling in a single year.

 

If you are still undecided about Obama, I encourage you to research his earmarks for yourself. This is a losing issue for Biden and Obama. McCain has crusaded against earmarks for years and Palin has not been in position to put any earmarks into spending bills.

 

Obama has hundreds of millions of dollars of earmarks to his credit in only three years. Apparently Obama sees throwing rocks in glass houses as a challenge.

You know, the thing is, I always thought elected officials were supposed to go to Washington to represent the interest of their constituents and stear money to their respective states. The check was supposed to be the other congresspeople looking out for their states' interest and a balance was created where everyone knew there was only a certain amount of money to be doled out.

 

What has happened is that no one is saying no to anyone else b/c we have forgotten the art of compromise. It is now everyone gets what they want or no one gets anything (gridlock).

 

If we are really, honestly worried about earmarks, then we will vote out McConnell and Hal Rogers. They flat bring home the bacon.

If you don't like reading the facts in National Review, then find an article on a site of your choosing. Michelle Obama did not just get a raise, her salary nearly tripled within a year. I don't know about you, but my salary has never come close to tripling in a single year.

 

If you are still undecided about Obama, I encourage you to research his earmarks for yourself. This is a losing issue for Biden and Obama. McCain has crusaded against earmarks for years and Palin has not been in position to put any earmarks into spending bills.

 

Obama has hundreds of millions of dollars of earmarks to his credit in only three years. Apparently Obama sees throwing rocks in glass houses as a challenge.

 

Linc please.