So Who Pays for Obama’s Chicago Barber to Allegedly Fly Bi-Monthly to the White House? ‘It’s Not Important,’ He Says
- Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:34am by
Billy Hallowell
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Obama and his greying hair (Image Credit: L.A. Times)
Finding and keeping a good hairdresser or barber can be a tough task — especially when relocating and attempting to find someone who can continue doing a decent job. But according to past and current reports, such a conundrum hasn’t been a problem for President Barack Obama, who allegedly flies his Chicago barber to Washington, D.C., twice per month to cut his hair. Despite this claim, which has been discussed in media before, it seems his barber, Zariff, is refusing to provide details about his arrangement with the White House.
Recently, German Public Radio repeated the claim that the barber, who has been cutting the president’s hair for nearly two decades, gets regularly flown to the capitol, at the tune of $300. Taken in their entirety, these trips may cost up to $7,200 each year. When contacted by the Daily Mail, Zariff was purportedly cryptic and refused to confirm the frequency of his visits to Washington. Additionally, he declined to delve into how the funds are allocated from the trips — by Obama or by the government.
“I get there. I keep his hair well groomed,” Zariff told the Daily Mail. “It’s not important how I get there and when.”
While it may not seem important on a small scale, the latter prospect of taxpayer funding for presidential haircuts, especially ones that include cross-country trips, would cause outrage among some Americans, especially at a time when calls for tax increases and spending cuts are commonplace. While Zariff wouldn’t delve into these details, he did tell the Daily Mail that he works diligently to make sure that Obama looks spiffy and “his best at all times.” He also highlighted that the services the president receives are oddly cheap.
“He pays $21 like everyone else. We don’t care about how famous you are or who you are,” the barber said. “Everyone gets the same price.”
Zariff continued in his interview with the Daily Mail, claiming that Obama uses him because consistency is important. And because the president must look good, the barber believes that it‘s perfectly acceptable that he’d be chosen to continue working on Obama’s hair.
“If you go to three or four different barbers, your hair will look like you’ve been to three or four different barbers. I’m his only barber,” he said. “His hair is pretty consistent. It’s my job. As with anyone; they have to look their best at all times.”
And Obama’s hairstyle is a hot commodity, Zariff explained. The president‘s haircut is so popular that it’s on the establishment’s price list. Naturally, it’s called “The Obama.” The barber told Essence about this famed haircut back in 2009:
The Obama cut is a custom cut. It came about in 2004 when Mr. Obama came into the shop and said he was speaking at the Democratic National Convention that evening. So I had to make him look sharp. Before that he was wearing his hair longer and a little curlier. I took it down to a short cut, tapered on the sides, back and neck. I wanted it to look more natural.
Now, it‘s important to note that the president’s barber has been mentioned many times in media before. The U.K. outlet, Metro, reported on Zariff last year, claiming that he is, indeed, flown regularly to Washington, D.C. But the web site made sure to note back in July 2011 that this is done “at the president’s expense.”
At the end of the day, it would seem that any president engaging in such a regular transaction would spend his own personal money on it and, according to Metro, this is the case. This in mind, it‘s odd that Zariff wouldn’t have simply explained this in his interview with the Daily Mail.
And during a campaign where Ann Romney’s horse hobby is “exposed,” it could be said that, during a time of economic trouble, flying one’s barber to Washington every two weeks (pending the allegation is true) is, shall we say, out of the mainstream.



















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Comments (224)
jds1959
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:20amYet again, another expose about this president that doesn‘t come from an american journalist but from Britain’s Daily Mail. Apparently, if we want the truth about this guy we have to look towards the Daily Mail.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:43amHe even keeps Michelle’s stash under control!
Report Post »Macman1138
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 11:00amEvery day I pray that this creature doesn’t get elected again. He treats himself like a petty dictator and the White House like Section 8 Housing.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 12:18pm“It’s not important how I get there and when.”
Report Post »as in “These aren‘t the droids you’re looking for”
turkey13
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 12:18pmHey the president might be saving us money! I read where the Congress has a private barbershop that charges us taxpayers $150.00 a pop. I think it was an article about John Edwards. Obama is right, this is chump change compared to the half billion wasted on just one company – Solindra. He doesn’t even consider anything in millions as money to talk about. It’s like Bloomburg – noticed the NYC police Dept. spent 1 million $$$ on typewriters last year and he joked that he didn’t even think anyone made them anymore. He is right – this was a graft that went into the Chiefs retirement fund.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 1:05pm“At the end of the day, it would seem that any president engaging in such a regular transaction would spend his own personal money on it and, according to Metro, this is the case.” No surprise this fact was left to the end of the report. Another none report, report.
Report Post »defendConstitution
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 1:59pmThis is yet another example of the transparent half-white, full illegal, full muslim POTUS we have squatting at 1600 Penn. Ave.
Report Post »ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 2:03pmThe Fourth Estate morphing into the fifth column to allow this behavior, stealing from the people and then grinning about it.
Report Post »What a piece of sewer debris.
backoffmonkey
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 3:08pmSick Libs, Sick Culture, Sick Aholes = Dem Trolls Who Can’t Take It!
You’re Pathetic Orifices————————(0)(0)
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 6:30pmHow hard can it be to short-cut an Afro with shears?
Barber or gay lover? Both?
Report Post »bobbiejean
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:10pm@JDS1959 You know how it is with the US media—no bad news stories about the Prez—don’t print
Report Post »anything that will put him in a bad light. So, of course, one has to look at foreign media to find out what
is going on in our country, at times. Sure hope the money is coming out of Obama’s pocket for these
trips, but I won’t be holding my breath on it.
Bluebonnet
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:59pm@THE MONK; Which magazine just reported he was a gay president? Is that true? Do you think his barber flies in twice a month for more than a haircut? Hmmmm? Interesting, what do you know?
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_GOP_IN_12
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 11:12pmYes the whole haircut thing worked great against Bill Clinton. Maybe the 2nd time will be the charm.
Way to go GOP
Report Post »Abysmal
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 12:33amBuried at the end of this report is the fact that the travel and the haircut are all done at the President’s, not the taxpayers, expense. There is nothing to be outraged about here.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 3, 2012 at 3:27amSomeone had to work hard for that money before it was taxed and wasted.
Report Post »strewth_cobber
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 2:20amI am no fashion/hair expert… just guessing Biden has not paid his barber in a while.
Report Post »keeps informed
Posted on June 12, 2012 at 2:36pmO‘s hairstyle doesn’t seem too difficult to maintain – just sayin’
Report Post »AlmostaCowboy
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:17amHow much more “boujie” can one family be?
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:10pmBet I could buzz cut his hair at a fraction of the cost. Gee-whiz, it’s short hair, how much styling could that be? You really can’t do anything with that short hair style. Something’s wrong here folks.
Report Post »Whackajig
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 2:31amBluebonnet……………… do you know how much damage cutting steel wool does to electric barber shears?
Report Post »Penn
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:16amTraces of heroin can be found in hair follicles for over a month. Just saying.
Report Post »KenInIL
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 2:31pmCan’t allow any hair samples out for DNA testing or drug testing.
Report Post »layla
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:14am$300 hair cut? a cheap electric razor can get the same effect.
Report Post »redbone007
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:46amWho pay for this barber food, hotel cost or does the barber stay at the WH and the WH staffs wait on him?
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:47am$321.00. Plus the tip. Oh, Eh, Ahhhhhhh yes, I forgot, Barry and Bite Me and most DEMOCRATS don’t tip, or donate to charity unless an election is going on.
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:44amRedbone, who do you think pays. I for one would not bet on the O’s to be doing the paying, when they can use our dollars for it.
Report Post »Rajabear1
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 11:30amHmmm, just curious. How much is he compensated for the business he loses when he is on the road traveling back and forth? Are you telling me that he gives up his days off every two weeks as a sacrifice to the country? I call BS on this whole thing. I’m also willing to bet this is NOT coming out of BO personal accounts.
Report Post »You know it is ‘our’ fault that we have a tradition of making ‘our’ presidents live in that stupid white house in DC instead of moving the capitol to lovely sh!tcago. ‘We’ should have to pay cuz ‘we’ owe him and his peeps for all the bad things ‘we’ Americans have done to them over the last 500+ years anyway.
Walkabout
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 3:35pmWhat is it with National league Democrats & their haircuts?
Clinton
Edwards
Obama
“Well, John Edwards’ campaign for president spent $400 on February 20, and another $400 on March 7, at a top Beverly Hills men’s stylist, Torrenueva Hair Designs. ”
- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1818219/posts
“Edwards, 53, who has made alleviating poverty the central theme of candidacy, has been criticized for building a 28,000-square-foot house for $5.3 million near Chapel Hill, N.C. The complex of several buildings on 102 acres includes an indoor basketball court, an indoor pool and a handball court.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18157456/ns/politics-decision_08/t/edwards-haircuts-cost-pretty-penny/#.T8kNjNnmk_A
http://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/21/us/haircut-grounded-clinton-while-the-price-took-off.html
Report Post »PYPYPY
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 4:31pmThis man has been milking us tax payers to pay back his bundlers, you think he will have a conscience and pay for his hair cut with his own money? I think not. Shows what an idiot the barber is $21, my foot!! convenient that he leaves out the other costs!!!!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:12amHow tough is it to maintain that haircut? Looks pretty basic to me.
Report Post »DirtyDeeds
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:29amDude, you are brilliant and right on point!
Report Post »AxelPhantom
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:19amThe summer haircut I gave my youngest son last night is almost identical. Snap on a #2 and shave.
Report Post »SovereignSoul
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 11:33am$10 at Wal Mart
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 12:50pmYes .. my son keeps his hair short like that (he has for years .. if he finds out they call it “the Obama” he will start looking like a hippie — I don’t dare tell him!) He goes in and whoever is there .. he tells them the attachment numbers and they do it. Don’t tell me that ONLY this barber can do it! And you know who is paying for all the expenses .. and it ISN’T Obama!
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:10amWhen Obama was living in Chicago and going to Zariff’s Barbershop they would hold meetings and even had a secretary taking the minutes. This is a short account of some of those minutes…
OBAMA: “There are three things that Black people need to tell the truth about. Number one: Rodney King should’ve gotten his ass beat for being drunk in a Honda in a white part of Los Angeles. Number two: O.J. did it! And number three: Rosa Parks didn‘t do nuthin’ but sit her Black ass down!”
OBAMA: “**** Jesse Jackson!”
ZARIFF: “See, in my day, a barber was more than just somebody who sit around in a FUBU shirt with his drawers hanging all out. In my day, a barber was a counselor. He was a fashion expert. A style coach. Pimp. Just general all-around hustler. But the problem with y’all cats today, is that you got no skill. No sense of history. And then, with a straight face, got the nerve to want to be somebody. Want somebody to respect you. But it takes respect to get respect. Understand? See, I’m old. But, Lord willing, I‘d be spared the sight of seeing everything that we worked for flushed down the drain by someone who don’t know no better or care.”
OBAMA “Who drank my apple juice?”
OBAMA “Who drank my G-ddamn apple juice?
ZARIFF: “Whoa! Barack, stop cussing. This ain’t Def Comedy Jam!”
Report Post »justangry
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:20amWow, that‘s ’newsletter‘ worthy for people who can’t take a joke.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:33amI guess you didn’t see the movie “Barbershop” JUST.
Like Ron Paul said about those Newsletters… “blame the writers… not me” lol.
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:17amWho am I ?
I will give you everything you need food, shelter and healthcare and all you need as long as you give the scratch to me and don’t be holding out on me.
I have my plane my cars and everyone caters to me all I lack is the
purple velvet suit and the feather in my cap currently workin on the Gold Caps.
Have you guessed me yet ?
Why it’s your sweet daddy pimp Barack Obama I own you beatches so
Report Post »don’t you be holdin out on me.
Honestly I take care of my money makers and if they don’t obey they just disappear.
I do attend the “Playa Haters Ball” and I am the King.
justangry
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:34amIf it doesn’t have Elmo, Tinkerbell or princesses in it; chances are I haven’t seen it.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 12:05pmJUST. You need a baby sitter for a few hours to get out and see a good movie or twelve. Barbershop was funny as all get-out, lol.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 12:09pmMAMMY, Lol…
Report Post »Obama_Sham
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 12:18pm@Time
That was the best part of the entire movie… Cedric gave a classic performance in that 1 minute tirade…
@Just
Please tell me you have kids and that is why you watch Elmo, princesses, tinker, etc…
Report Post »SLOWBIDEN
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 12:56pmThanks Time…I needed a good laugh
Report Post »BelindaB
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:08amThe American People are NOT going to take any more sh@t from soetoro….he’s OUT in November!
Report Post »Fonz777
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:07amWhat skill would that haircut take?
Report Post »BelindaB
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:05amEveryone sees what an arrogant SELFISH idiot soetoro is…..He doesn’t even realize that the American People can see right thru him….The American People will be throwing him out in November, for insubordination, failure to do the job that the American People HIRED him to do, and for Failure to uphold the United States of America’s Constitution. THEN, the feds should Charge him with FRAUD….he should serve time in JOE’s Prison in Arizona!!!!
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:50amThe American people are just as blind today as they were in 2008. O’s approval ratings are just under 50% The fact that that many people can just ignore the thousand of examples of Obama’s hypocrisy, dictatorial tendencies and outright lies, says we are in serious trouble.
Report Post »theotherken
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:05amObama critized John Edwards for his $300 hair cut, Obama has him beat, $321 for a hair cut.
Report Post »MF3500
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:00amand we didn’t pay for John Edwards…we are on the hook with Obama, I wonder if Moochelle has hers flown in too?
Report Post »waitin42012
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:29amHow long is his barber away from Chicago to go to Washinton DC? What about all of the other $21.00 haircuts that he is missing out on while he is traveling? If he is gone even a day or two and he normally works an 8 hr day, he can probably do about 3 haircuts per hour. That is $63.00 per hour plus lets say $10.00 in tips equals $73.00 per hour. If the chosen ones barber is gone from his salon for 1 day he is losing out on $584.00 and if he is gone overnight and misses two days that is $1,168.00. So his $21.00 haircut could realistically be costing him or us around $1,500.00. I also want to know who does the hair coloring? If you notice sometimes his hair is especially gray and sometimes it is not. Maybe that is a color specialist flown in also? Somehow I doubt he is running to the drugstore for a box of Just For Men!
Report Post »redbone007
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:04amIt only takes about 30 minutes to cut hair. So, do his barber leaves the same day which is costly, does he get a hotel room and who pay for it, or do he stay at the WH, and the WH personal staffs have to wait on the barber until he leaves?
Report Post »subic
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:59amHey Man, dat be Zariff, he famous,he da guy dat cuts da fraud’s hair. You know, da guy weeez all knows is hiding his background cause he dont belong in no WH! We know dis brotha ain’t ready to lead no United States the right way…..But he a brotha so weez gots ta suppoet him. He may give us suma dat gubbmint money yo!
hey yo, lets get him foe mo yeas yo, we just might end up like Liberia & Sierra Leone, weez can loot den and gets all weez wants fo free!
Report Post »softunderbelly
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:02amLook, I know that it’s hard to find a good barber. I’ve had that problem for years. But why doesn‘t he just sign up for Angie’s List? I’m sure they have one for D.C.
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:09amIt may be difficult to find one that wouldn’t slit his throat during the shave.
Report Post »Whackajig
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 2:41am@Mammynunn…………….. dc is nearly all black, those parasites love ovomit, none would slit his throat.
Report Post »Laus Deo
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:01amFlush the Turd in November.
Report Post »davetrav
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:00amHow much more is America willing to take—-Its our tax dollars , not his monies. When he was on vacation last time, he had his DOG FLOWN to take pictures. AMERICA —WAKE UP AMERICA.
Report Post »How much more are we willing to take—-even his wife has 22 people taking care of her, more than any
time in our history. VOTE THEM OUT.
sawbuck
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:57amYou know that every Barber, is going to paste that story of “Bigger Heads in America”…
in their Barber Shop…
Hair-cuts prices….Are necessarily going to sky-rocket.
Report Post »redbone007
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:57amJohn Edward paid $400.00 for his hair cut. The price Obama paid his barbar, $21.00 and the airfare, and hotel room is more than what John Edward paid. John Edward and Obama are two of the kind, they are both priceless.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:56amI don‘t think that I really care about who cuts Obama’s hair. It‘s not like that I’m planning to copy his hair style.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:01amNo but you’re paying more than $321.00 twice a week for it. Care now?
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:26amEvery other week, oops. So $642.00/month + all the staffers time to book the flights, the Secret Service to move him around the whitehouse, the IRS agents salary to seize that money from you in the first place, etc, etc, etc.
Report Post »Do you work for your $$? Do you have to trade hours of your life for dollars? When the government steals your money and wastes it, they are stealing and wasting your LIFE!
How many hours do you have to work to make $642 in your check? The Prince throws that away every month, courtesy of YOU.
seeker9
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:55amBHO is wealthy. He should pay for it himself. How about the pizza chef? Think I remember one from Chicago.
Report Post »jds1959
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:26amHow is there a pizza chef in the white house with “Queen Michelle” around??
Report Post »theotherken
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:53amObama has his barber flown in twice a month, and Michelle has her personal trainer flown in a couple of times a week? The Obama’s must have one of the largest carbon foot prints in the world, Obama has to support all the green companies just to equal the carbon foot print they have amassed. Where is Al Gore? He needs to be scolding the Obama’s for this reckless behavior.
http://michellemalkin.com/2011/02/28/sacrifice/
Report Post »salvawhoray
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:51amWhy are most black people angry?
Report Post »If you had pubic hair on your head, you’ll be angry too.
countryfirst
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 1:29pmI never thought of that, maybe that’s why Barry is such a perfect D#ck head.
Report Post »bustedupvet
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 12:56amI never could figure out why they cultivate on their head the same thing that grows on their a$$!!
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:49amHe pays 21 dollars and that is not going to pay for that round trip flight, so I guess we are paying the freight for Obbie to get his locks sheared. That should stop now. That is foolish and wasteful and he should be recalled for wasting our money for personal use like that.
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:55amBarber – “Step up, and take a seat. How would you like that cut today Sir”
Obama-” A little off the ears, and can you make me look like Curious George?”
Report Post »AZindependent
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:48am“Let them eat cake”
Heck the Obama’s dog handler gets $100K+ each year. Moochelle’s trip costs are legendary. These people just don’t care. They are living the high life on the government credit card.
Report Post »BelindaB
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:47amsoetoro is as stupid as he looks and acts. He is a fool, to think the American People have not caught up with him and all his lies. …And, we will be throwing him out in November….No second term for this illegal so-called president…
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:49amthese will soon be covered by the health care bill…..
Report Post »rjtaurus605
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:46amI get a basic buzz cut myself, so the only reason the president would use the same barber is politics. He should be paying for this out of his own pocket, not ours!!!!
Report Post »Optimist4now
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:38amI’d be happy to cut his head for free, oops!
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:49amHe flours his “hair” as necessary for public appearances. He needs to fly in a baker for that. Too much flour and he becomes a fire hazard. Too little and he looks like he’s been using “sun in” to get that “at the beach” look. Like B.J.Clinton, did.
Report Post »IvanK
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:52amPerhaps the question is not who pays for the hair cut but rather who came along with the Barber? Watch the left hand and not the right one.
Look, Over there!!!!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile in Gotham, The Joker welcomes the Bilderberg…
Report Post »Agnes
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:04pmAnd send it either to Chicago or Kenya along with the other clowns’ heads.
Report Post »