Archive for the ‘Michelle Obama’ Category

by Mark Bowes

First Lady Michelle Obama had sought to speak at a Chesterfield County elementary school during her campaign swing through Virginia today, but county school leaders rejected her request, citing school policy, a Chesterfield supervisor has confirmed.

“I do believe and think that Mrs. Obama, the first lady, should be allowed to attend a Chesterfield school,” said Dale District Supervisor Jim Holland, who confirmed the Obama campaign request. “I know it’s not school policy. However, I just do not agree with that, because I think it’s an honor for the first lady to visit a school. That’s just my personal opinion as supervisor.”

Chesterfield schools officials refused to discuss the Obama campaign’s request or even confirm whether a request had been made. School system spokesman Shawn Smith did not reply to two email inquiries about the matter Wednesday until after the Times-Dispatch contacted School Board Chairman Patricia M. Carpenter.

“We respectfully decline to comment,” Smith said in an email.

Holland, the only Democrat on the five-member Chesterfield board, was unaware of the Obama campaign request until contacted by a reporter. He then confirmed it after contacting the county administration.

“It was confirmed that (Mrs. Obama) did in fact ask to come to a Chesterfield school,”Holland said. “I don’t know the extent of what their request was, whether it was a political request or whether it was an educational request.”

“If it was official, that would be appropriate,” Holland added. “If it was political, that would be inappropriate.”

Wednesday evening, the school division’s community relations director, Tim Bullis, sent by email a statement regarding the school board’s policy in response to the newspaper’s inquiry.

“If a political campaign were to inquire about the use of a school facility during the school day, the campaign would be referred to a School Board policy 6100, which prohibits the use of school facilities during the school day for political purposes,” Bullis wrote.

Holland said school officials felt that making their denial public would potentially embarrass the Obama campaign.

The Obama campaign said in a statement: “Any time the campaign looks at venues for events, we consider a range of options. The school was only one of several options being considered in the greater Richmond area, and CenterStage theater was ultimately determined to be the best fit for this event.”

Chesterfield’s action follows a similar denial several weeks ago from the University of Virginia, which declined a request from President Barack Obama’s campaign to hold an event on the Charlottesville campus.

In a statement, U.Va. said officials met with members of the campaign about using one of two outdoor venues — the Amphitheater or the Harrison-Small Library plaza.

In denying the request, university officials said holding the event at either site would cause the cancellation or disruption of classes on the second day of the semester and the use of either site would require closing adjacent buildings for the entire day.

America’s newest Olympics gymnastics star Gabby Douglas got scolded Monday night by first lady Michelle Obama for eating a celebratory Egg McMuffin at McDonald’s after the competition was over.

This occurred on NBC’s Tonight Show with host Jay Leno acting as the devil on Douglas’s shoulder congratulating her for the splurge.

Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas left London with two gold medals, and came back to the United States to public ridicule from the first lady of the United States.

When Douglas visited “The Tonight Show” Monday night alongside Michelle Obama, host Jay Leno asked the winning athlete what she did to celebrate her gold medals. Douglas replied that she “splurged on an Egg McMuffin at McDonald’s.”

Obama, who is known for her “Let’s Move” heathy eating and fitness campaign, scolded the athlete who is in pique physical condition: “Don’t encourage [Leno], I’m sure it was on a whole wheat McMuffin…You are settin’ me back, Gabby.”

We say let Douglas — and any American Olympian — enjoy their Egg McMuffins in peace.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/14/michelle-obama-disappointed-in-olympic-gold-medalist-gabby-douglas-video/#ixzz23XMIO2Ra

Speaking at the University of Sciences in Philadelphia on Thursday, First Lady Michelle Obama encouraged attendees to recruit their “little lazy friend” to campaign for President Barack Obama’s reelection.

“And that’s why we have launched this wonderful effort that we’re calling It Takes One,” Mrs. Obama said. “It’s simple. It is as simple as it sounds. Every time you take action to move this campaign forward, we’re asking you to inspire just one more person to step up and do their part as well.

“So if you’re making calls, knocking on doors, bring that friend, that little lazy friend, bring them,” Mrs. Obama said. “Bring them.

“If you’re coming to an event, bring a neighbor who has never been involved, may be undecided. Bring them with you,” she added.

“When you’re voting early or on Election Day, find that person in your life; help them get to the polls,” Mrs. Obama said. “Find that one friend, that one colleague, that one person in your family.”

First Lady Michelle Obama led a healthy foods initiative designed to improve student lunches, but school administrators fear the new government rules won’t generate good results.

For one thing, the small portions might not satisfy the hungry students. “They will notice a smaller burger and more vegetables,” Hollyy Von Seggern, vice president of marketing for a food company that serves New York school districts, predicted to Levittown Patch. [...]

To that end, the new school meals will have “calorie caps” for students, per Huffington Post. “Some school leaders said they expect some children and, in turn, their parents, will find the portions insufficient for hungry teenagers,” Patch added.

Michelle Obama’s Family Ski Trip To Aspen Cost Taxpayers At Least $83,000…

In case you forgot, at the time this was her 16th vacation in only three years.

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and fights government corruption, announced today that it has obtained records from the United States Air Force and the United States Secret Service detailing Michelle Obama’s February 2012 President’s Day weekend ski vacation to Aspen, Colorado, with her two daughters.

Judicial Watch obtained the records pursuant to a May 31, 2012, lawsuit against both government agencies. Among the highlights from the records are:

The total cost for the Aspen ski vacation was at least $83,182.99.

The bill for the U.S. Secret Service, including accommodations at the Fasching Haus deluxe condominium and the Inn at Aspen, was $48,950.38.

Key details, including flight records for the Secret Service detail and the names of individuals who accompanied Mrs. Obama on the vacation, were redacted from the documents with the exception of two staffers. One was Meredith Koop, her personal assistant and style advisor, the other was her scheduler Kristen Jarvis.

As reported by the Aspen Daily News on February 18, 2012:

First Lady Michelle Obama arrived in Aspen on Friday afternoon and is here with her daughters for a ski vacation.

Few details about her trip were available. Sources said she is staying at the home of Jim and Paula Crown, owners of the Aspen Skiing Co. She is reportedly skiing at Buttermilk today, where the Crowns, of Chicago, own a home on the Tiehack side.

Several people have known about the “low-key” vacation, with the Secret Service in town for the past few days scoping out places for the family to relax and enjoy what the resort has to offer.

FoxNews.com noted that the trip was the 16th vacation in three years taken by the Obama family. Judicial Watch first asked for the travel documents on February 21, 2012.

“No wonder we had to file a lawsuit in federal court and wait six months to get basic information on Michelle Obama’s luxury Aspen vacation,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The costs of the Obama family ski weekend are staggering. These high-priced luxury vacations, and the lack of transparency about them, are beginning to seem like an abuse of office.”

Judicial Watch previously obtained documents from the United States Air Force and the United States Secret Service detailing costs associated with Michelle Obama’s controversial August 2010 vacation to Spain. According to a Judicial Watch analysis, the records indicate a total combined cost of at least $467,585.

Judicial Watch also obtained documents detailing costs a June 21-27, 2011, trip taken by Michelle Obama, her family and her staff to South Africa and Botswana. Judicial Watch received mission expense records and passenger manifests for the Africa trip that described costs of $424,142 for the flight and crew alone. Other expenses, such as off-flight food, transportation, security, etc. were not included.