That’s Transparency For Ya

I updated the post for The Current #138 yesterday with information about the cost of Obama’s date night with Michelle to New York City. All-in-all the trip cost taxpayers $24,000, we were nice enough to chip in for the flight, security, and the travel costs for aides and reporters. At least the Obama’s picked up the tab for the tickets and the dinner.

A reporter questioned Robert Gibbs about it today and Gibbs rallied off some nonsense about researching it yourself.

Is that the transparency Obama promised, withholding the amount of taxpayer money he spent because it might look a wee bit hypocritical and insensitive?

Do I have a beef with them traveling all the way to New York for a date? Yeah, there’s plenty to do in D.C. Not to mention all the carbon the three planes they took emitted. If that’s not the definition of hypocritical I don’t know what is. This is the man who while campaigning said we can’t drive around our SUV’s anymore yet he unnecessarily flew three plans to New York for a date with his wife. Spare me the climate change lecture Obama.

However, it’s Obama’s prerogative where he wants to go on a date, but the taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill. Obama should be expected to reimburse the government for the use of the Gulf Streams and the cost of security. Hell, I’ll even cut him some slack on the security, just pay the travel expenses.

–jb