Government
Blaze Poll: Should The First Lady Get A Paycheck? (President Obama Seems To Think So)
- Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:14pm by
Mike Opelka
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Should the First Lady get a paycheck? It’s an interesting question.

Credit: AP
The President was speaking to a group of supporters today — mostly women — in Denver and he appeared to float the idea. (He mentions it about :45 into this clip)
Some might argue that the First Lady does get compensated — not with a salary, but with considerable perks that come with her husband’s job.
- She virtually lives without cost (and in a pretty fancy place that she was allowed to redecorate without the budget constraints faced by most Americans).
- Her “weekend home” — Camp David — is certainly one that most of us would consider to be worth visiting almost every month.
- Michelle Obama has a liberal vacation allowance, with a private jet that she can and does use day and night.
- Her private security (Secret Service) keeps the First Lady safe at all times.
- The First Lady also has a personal staff numbering 24. (Hillary Clinton had 19, Laura Bush 18)
Although the President and Mrs. Obama are given a bill each month for the food they eat, toiletries they use and things like dry cleaning, she never has to wait in line, worry about getting decent seats at the Olympics or a hot concert, and every designer in the country wants Michelle to wear their clothing, shoes, and accessories.
Does she really need a salary?
Take our Blaze Poll on the subject



















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Comments (269)
F_This
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:50pmAre you kidding me, really? I‘m sure that the taxpayer funded 8 thousand dollar shirt the taxpayers bought her or the numerous trips costing 100’s of thousands of dollars we paid for will suffice, if not, she can **** off!
Report Post »starman70
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:30amShe has been living high on the hog at taxpayer expense for 3 1/2 years, taking shopping trips to New York and London along with vacations to the finest resorts. She and her husband have been living like sharecroppers who hit the lottery, only instead of the lottery paying for it, it is the taxpayers who are footing the bill.
A salary????? NOT NO BUT HELL NO!!!!
Report Post »desertspeaks
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:48ampaycheck? NO! prison sentence? YES!
Report Post »ambrosia
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 10:04amDo you mean THIS First Lady ?
http://youtu.be/OJgWMI0hch8
Over my dead body & all the others who have fought, bled & died for this country.
Report Post »Her paycheck comes when she writes her memoirs of her time in the White House-
THAT ends in November.
She’s over the top, BOMBASTIC & here’s hoping her memoir BOMBS.
“All this for a damn flag”….yeah, witch…..OUR flag !
gbo
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:02amWhen this woman became First Lady was the first time in my life that I was not proud of my country. Bill? Yes. Paycheck? Not so much. Let’s see, she gets more lobbyist and crony comps than she can use AND hubby thinks she needs a salary on top of that? This is way beyond just some perverted entitlement psychosis, this is Tim Geithner territory!
Report Post »hayesstephen
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 2:17pmPeople you must understand, These two thugs are the New Mr. and Mrs. President for life General Admiral, Defender of the Islamic faith, Dearly and Truly Beloved leader Berry and Mickey Nobama.You may as well give her the money she’s going to get it anyway. Nobama will steal the election or he will declare martial law and suspend the elections. We as a Christian Nation will no longer exist in 2013. Nobama will have Sharia law here the day after he becomes dictator. Laugh now, it won’t be funny when it happens.
Report Post »Tresse
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:15pmI seem to remember a trial balloon on the same thing when Mrs. Clinton was First Lady. Why is it the big mouth democrat First Ladies think they are so intelligent and indispensible that we should be paying them for their mouths flapping?
I didn’t hear anything at all about paying the First Lady when Bush was president.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:01pmSure she should IF she obtains employment, like get a job, like go to work, you know the drill.
Report Post »MadinIllinois
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:07pmI think that the Obama’s should re-pay the American tax-payer for every penny they have used – when on vacations, golfing, etc. – and “Dumbo” hasn’t been actually been working!! Then, they should spend the rest of their lives in Gitmo – with their adoring fans…
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:44amNot surprised this crew would ask this question…It only means one thing. She has already been cashing paychecks for the last couple of years and they are just now “introducing” the idea to the public….
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 9:44amNo 1st-“lady” has been ELECTED to any position. They are ONLY a private-citizen-wife of the President. They should NOT have any force in governmental proceedings. Nor should they have any compensations$$ fron our government. Any other job they have should be in private-sector, unrelated to politics of ANY side, while hubby is pres. . They should not be connected with any radicals and facists while hubby is in office. She is NOT in line for VP or any other part of government should they be “dissabled”…she is NOT part of the elected.
Report Post »ponyboy11
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:32pmOh, boy, huh. Time for everyone here to hate on the First Lady. Com ments on here saying she has been ”living high off the hog” and that us taxpayers probably payed for her pricey shirt. Please get a life. I seem to remember Eleanor and the like living rent free for a number of years in the White House. Everyone First Lady that has ever been has been living ”high off the hog”. Living for free in the White House comes with the territory, as do the various trips tory. places out of the country. You complain about her taking fancy trips with your tax dollars when I promise you that the firms that took your tax dollars in the bailout (you remember the bailout yes? AIG, GM, etc) bestowed on it’s executives large bonuses WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS who used this money to go on far more fancy trips than Mrs. Obama could ever dream of.
Report Post »SREGN
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:40pmAnd those cement buttox injections she got from the Black Madam. I’ll bet we paid for those too.
Report Post »toto
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:58pmSalary for what she does? A lawsuit for recovery of taxpayer funds is more appropriate.
Report Post »Look4DBigPicture
Posted on August 12, 2012 at 2:47pmNot only does the First Lady not deserve a paycheck, but neither does the President. They are civil servants who have all their expenses paid. They don’t need paychecks.
Report Post »getourcountryback
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:50pmAre you FN kidding me? I would like to send them both a bill for unauthorized use of MY tax dollars for crap they don’t deserve. What a crock of crap.
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:22amWe The People did not hire her! She was NOT vetted. With the thought that she should be paid then she should be open to censure.
Report Post »jettson
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 10:10amThis woman should get the hell out of our country She should get nothing
Report Post »mtsnj
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:49pmFortunately her free ride won’t last forever..just taking advantage of a good thing. She has gotten millions from us so far. Can’t wait for them to go by the way of the Weiner
Report Post »DazzleMe55
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:16pmI sure hope her free ride will be over, this country cannot stand another 4 years of these people.
Report Post »Pontiac
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:20pmAs if the millions they will make after Obama leaves office isn’t “enough” (quoting Obama). Hell the system is so corrupt and the candidates are so wealthy the job shouldn’t pay anything anymore…
Report Post »DazzleMe55
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:30pmAMEN Pontiac!
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:41pmHas She Earned a Check? She sure treated herself well at our expense,
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:46pmWhy shouldn’t she get a government check, the rest of them are………..
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:50pmShe’s already living rent free and getting free food; sounds like what she’s used to…Welfare.
Report Post »stumpy68
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:52pmAnd my wife deserves a paycheck oh wait im self employed
Report Post »never mind…BTW i don’t remember anyone helping me develop this business
although my wife does go without quite often.
Paul
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 12:02amA Pay Check ? No…
A Pink Slip and an Itemized Bill ? Yes….
Report Post »Maji
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 12:14amIf we are going to employ them now we should be able to pick them!
Report Post »I want a knew one…this one sucks!
Raging_Waters
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 12:31amPaycheck….or exorcist.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 12:43amWell said, Obama does not think like a American with a dream !
Report Post »its_time_to_arrest_our_government
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 1:42amoh hell no she should be paying us for all the money shes burned through taking her trips
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 2:38amWe should send her a bill. This woman only deserves a paycheck from the International Socialists.
Report Post »Living In NYC
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 5:45amAgain, another “Community Organizer” comment momment…don’t we all support our spouse swhen it comes to their careers in the private sector..I don’t ask for pay from my wife company when I have to attend company function or help her with her work!
Barry and his union / community organizer perspective, pay me, my wife and kids if they lift a finger. The Dictator in Chief and family are living off my tax dollars right now and both will have a show on the “O” Network, CNN or MSNBC when they get booted out of Washington in November.
Report Post »KURT1010
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 5:55amDon’t forget that she did grow a garden. Here is a women that eats better than anyone in the world, crab,lobster, shrimp etc….been a long time since I could eat out…and dont forget she is in charge of child hood obsiety ….with her big butt and hips….
Report Post »Bluefish49
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 6:57amYes…and I think she should also get more shopping vacations for her and her gang of leaches on the American tax payer tab…….she deserves it….you now that she is actually proud of America.
Report Post »Certainperson
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 6:58am@Dazzle
Report Post »Four more years? If this merry band of thugs win the next election, it’ll be Obama, President for Life. The way he ignores the constitution, is setting up military control of the civilian population and gutting our gun rights, he will be un-stoppable.
jcldwl
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:05amShe has been paid, over and over again. How many vacations on us? How many millions of our taxes has she already stolen so she could jet set. A huge house to live in on us, multiple personal assistants on us (other first ladies only had 1), Her current residence cleaned by us, Meals prepared by us, lawn mowed by us, personal security provided by us, utility bills paid by us, etc. etc. NOT PAID!!!!! KISS MY ASS!!!!!
Report Post »koyettsu
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:21amHell no she shouldn’t get paid, no one voted for her and she has taken advantage of our tax dollars since her husband was put into office. If anything with all the vacations she took she owes us money.
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:58amWho pays for the mother-in-law that lives in the people’s house?
Report Post »Justus39
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:00amShe already has a blank check apparently!
Report Post »ambrosia
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 2:36pmI want to know when American taxpayers can expect a refund check
from King & Queen Obama’s wasted use of all the taxpayer dollars-
from Solyndra & all his other best friends/best campaign bundlers
to the “Alice in Wonderland” Party withJohnny Depp & Co.
and all the other wild soirees’
at the White House ?
The “Tax em’ & Let em’ eat cake” attitude of these two grifters seems neverending
Report Post »but it WILL end in November.
Oblameo wants every irresponsible women to be entitled to free contraceptives-
let HIM pay for it…out of his book royalties.
The taxpayers are entitled to their OWN hard-earned money…
NOBODY else !
gperky
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 5:20pmThe problem is that even when we vote these two out in November, they will collect salary, retirement,healthcare, perks and protection for the REST OF THEIR LIVES!
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:46pmLaura & Barbara Bush would never have even thought about being paid for their efforts nor would Nancy Reagan or any other self-respecting First Lady. I will even go as far to say when we have a “First Dude” that is a conservative, he would laugh at the notion of demanding pay.
The narcissism of Obama shows more and more.
Report Post »themongoose
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:46pmshouldn’t the first ladies non govt. related travel at taxpayer expense be counted and taxed as income?
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:55pmNah, I’m all in for her getting a paycheck….only if it’s for Monopoly money.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:22pmNot only no, but HELL NO! NO ONE elected her, nor their children, nor their extended family.
Report Post »They are just there to tag along and look the part. GOD!
PAYCHECK my A$$. These are such GREEDY freaking sad people.
Zipit
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:38pmYou’ve heard of hush money! We can give her a check and call it “Shut The Hell Up Money”!
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:41pmDo food stamps count as pay? Let them live off of those after he is voted out in November.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:48pmIf the others got it, then yes. Is she the first? Or does it bug all of you because her last name in Obama?
Report Post »christoff9
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:17pmEx – No. first ladies have never been paid. nor should they. she was neither elected or hired to do a job. nor is she required to. he is paid enough for both pf them. only the obama’s would look for more taxpayer money even though they are millionaires
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 1:26am@christoff9. TY. Then, yes, it’s aggravating and should not be allowed.
Report Post »Msgt Ret
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 6:54amExrepublisheep: You are such a troll, please go back to your basement…and put some pants on!
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 6:24amNot even food stamps. If you lose your job, but have millions in your account, you should not qualify for food stamps until you’ve burned through all your money, and I don’t mean buying flashy cars or $900 shirts. When I applied for SSI for my handicapped son, they wanted to know if I had SOLD anything in the past year, if I had a paid for cemetary plot, how much money my son had in his piggy bank and had me turn out my wallet and count my money in front of them. Of course, I’m white. they probably don’t even ask those questions of a minority person.
Report Post »TJexcite
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:40pmYou can see the 2016 attack ads already. Ann Romney has a 17 houses and a horse yet she is taking your taxpayer dollars in a paycheck she does not need. We need to stop that, Vote Obama 2016 to complete his second term.
Michelle will be making big speaking fees well into the next decade along with O, and no need to stay on script and can say what she really wants. Making more for one speech than the little people make in 4 years.
Report Post »AllAmericanGirl22
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:39pmNow that I think about it, I don’t think any politician should be paid, it’s an honor and a privilege and most of them take advantage of their position to screw up our country. The first lady is not elected,and there’s a lot of perks. In fact, she doesn’t have to do ANYTHING, she just chooses to.
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:51pmI would say give her a paycheck then tax the bat snot out of her wages. Then charge her rent for the use of the house the people are paying for. Then she needs to buy her own food. She needs to find her own transportation to and from work. Only one week vacation, with of course Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July off.
Report Post »wisehiney
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:56pmShe thinks she should be rewarded for her great “service to her country”. You know the one she is ashamed of.
Report Post »Decca
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:57pmSo what are they going to live on if they are not paid? Seems to me that will make politicians a lot more susceptible to being bribed.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:04pmI have always maintained that no politician should be paid more than their lowest paid constituent. If that were the way, there’d be zero unemployment in the country.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:10pmDecca- why should they be paid when all they do is encourage bribes, anyway?
Report Post »christoff9
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:20pmMecca you’re kidding right? the president makes $400,000 per year not to mention the money he males from his books. they have plenty, trust me.
Report Post »mash4077
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:37pmwhat has moochelle done to deserve a paycheck? hasn’t she wasted enough of our tax dollars? I can’t believe that 53% of americans voted for this communist.wake up america before it’s way too late!
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:57pmIt’s the 0bama way. We can’t stop spending YOUR money fast enough.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:12pmHi RJJ,
Can you imagine every politician’s spouse (that wasn’t on a ticket and voted into office) getting a tax payer funded pay check? I don’t like where this is going or how Congress would vote on this. : (
Report Post »DazzleMe55
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:27pmMOOchelle does NOTHING to deserve a paycheck especially from a country that she is ashamed of. I cannot believe that this subject even came up. She should feel very privlidged to be in her position, a position that she nor her lying husband should never have been allowed to be in. He is nothing but a socialist Islamic IDIOT that is splitting this country up and it seems that this country is not EVEN paying attention.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 12:34pmMASH…you don‘t believe the nation’s foodscold who’s finally proud of her country should get a salary?
Report Post »Shiroi Raion
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:37pmDidn’t he say, “At some point you’ve made enough”? Apparently, even with the hundreds of millions of dollars of freebies from fundraisers, taxpayers, gifts, cronies… Obama can’t have too much, but everyone else can? How very Socialist dictator of you, Obama.
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:27amJust like George and Wheezy “Movin on up we hit the big time now” lifetime welfare is the ultimate ticket. No she should not be eligable for anything they are married and probably filing joint.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:35pmThis is just another example of Obama in campaign mode: he is speaking to women. How to get them angry ? Talk about their being treated as second class citizens. Talk to them about not receiving adequate compensation. See a pattern here ? It’s called DIVISION : gender ; race; class; income . You name it. Obama is dividing it. Mr. Divide them. Mr. Stir Them up . Mr. Victim Card . Mr. Barack Obama . Hopefully Mr. Gone From the White House…..
Report Post »Decca
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:08pmWhen Obama goes in front of an audience of women he is already preaching to the choir. In 2008 Obama had a 12 point gap with women voters. Right now the polls are showing an 18 point gap.
Many provisions of the Republican platform are hated by women. Add in the kicker of Mormonism and it’s a real problem for Romney, and polls show it’s getting worse.
Report Post »IronSights
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:34pmSure why not, we already have a ton of people that were paying to do nothing in this country. As a matter of fact those same people should probably be entitled to a bunch of free travel to foreign countries and extravagant parties while were at it. (Yes, this is sarcasm)
Report Post »foxrocks
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:34pmStart packing up Michelle…No need to worry about a paycheck, as you have spent thousands of dollars flying around on air force 1 on our dime…doing nothing…… you can write a book about how to feed us on your own time, and earn a check like everyone else does……
Report Post »Your staff which we pay for will need jobs too….. and since when we have a new president and he makes people go to work instead of sitting around collecting welfare without having too look for work, you will need to employ your previous staff, as well as Barack, who never held a job in his life… Maybe he can organize the gangs in Chicago, and get some kickbacks from them…….
vtxphantom
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:33pmShe is not elected to office and she is not a civil servant. I believe they can and have been paid as consultants in the past for work done, but they were not paid for holding the posistion of wife.
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:32pmHe** no! BHO can pay her out of his salary. “Once you earn so much…”, “didn’t need it, didn’t ask for it”. Already subsidizing their daughter’s college fund. Already paying for too many people I didn’t vote for any way. Food stamps maybe?
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:31pm…
Report Post »Moochelle is already costing we tax payers too much.
She seems to vacation non-stop.
Plus, we are supporting her mother, Marian Robinson, who lives in the White House too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs6vnTJPb1A
LeadNotFollow
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:07pm…
Report Post »Throw that whole mooching family out of the White House, on November 6.
We can’t afford four more years of their wasteful spending and arrogance.
heitjer
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:31pmdoes a stay home mom be recognized with a minimum wage?
Report Post »FlagWavingPatriot
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:30pmGood Lord. I can’t even comment on this.
[find my happy place, find my happy place]
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 2:38amMe either FLAGWAVINGPATRIOT……..
Report Post »almont
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 5:46amOmg!
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:26pmShe should have to pay us for the harm to our mental condition every time she opens her mouth about what we should eat.
Report Post »lonewolf
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:26pmAre you kidding me? She has no necessary official duties, she has her own taxpayer provided security, she lives in govt housing, her meals are all provided, healthcare for her and family, she has taken the liberty of spending MILLIONS of dollars on vacations, as well as having friends and family tag along ALL at taxpayer expense. And now the bankrupter & chief thinks she should get paid???? Really getting paid to be a professional mooch! Moochelle Obama, no pay, no way!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:24pmAre you freakin kidding? Holy moly what an incredibly stupid thing to say, especially about Princess Obama and the people’s dime
Report Post »P C BE DAMNED
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:32pmI couldn’t find“hell no” on the ballot. FOOLS, Go Tea.
Report Post »txjb
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:23pmObama was not born in the U.S. so she is not the first lady .
Report Post »Kelly Henderson
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:57pmNext they will be wanting to give the kids a check for going to school. Oh wait,they already want to do that if you are non-white.
Report Post »Hiswill
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:23pmThe perks alone living in the big white house are more than enough payment for whatever she does to busy herself.
Report Post »It’s time for the both of them to leave. So get packin’.
Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:18pmI’d pay her to go away. Does that count?
Report Post »Goldi
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:24pmLOve it!
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:37pmObummer was pandering to a huge crowd of women and for the likes of me——I cannot believe any credible woman would VOTE for this chicago via kenya thug.
Report Post »OMG in November!!!!!!!!!
CatB
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:17pmIsn’t she being paid in vacations? … seriously I would be willing to pay .. IF she would stay in the White House and OUT OF MY BUSINESS .. including what people choose to eat, etc.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 10:23pmBetter yet .. START PACKING!
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 1:31pmAnd take your $6,000 blouses with you!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 6:04amAgree!
Report Post »