THE ISSUE: Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha’s vacation in Spain amid a recession.
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Kirsten Powers is among a small group of liberals that will occasionally concur on what is obvious to everyone else (“A Foolish Trip,” Kirsten Powers, PostOpinion, Aug. 9).
The Obamas’ almost royal lifestyle is a stunning reflection of their feelings of entitlement.
When writing about Michelle Obama’s trip to Spain, Powers points out that, even if she is footing the bill, it is naive not to understand that appearances matter.
It is ironic that a woman whose previous writings and speeches convey anger at all of the injustice in America is so completely ignorant of how her behavior looks to the very people about whom she supposedly cares.
Robert Sanfilippo
Roslyn Heights
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People should stop bashing Michelle with respect to her lavish mother-daughter vacation to Spain.
Some estimates have said the trip will give as much as a billion-dollar boost to the Spanish economy, and after years of socialist policies those poor people deserve our help.
Besides, it’s not like we need that money here. Didn’t President Obama just tell us that this is the “summer of recovery”?
William L. Gensert
The Bronx
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It doesn’t matter how much or how little the Obamas may have contributed toward this vacation.
There is substantial taxpayer expense involved at a time when many Americans can’t afford to feed their own families, let alone take a vacation. We are constantly asked to make sacrifices.
These lavish, expensive vacations are vulgar, considering the millions of Americans who are out of work as a result of this administration’s policies.
We hardworking Americans who pay our own bills are being abused by the elitists in government and the unions.
Election time can’t come soon enough.
D.M. Diana
Greeley, Pa.
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I am a fan of Powers, but she has stretched facts when trying to make a point.
Her reference to President George W. Bush’s remark, “Some call you the elite, I call you my base,” in an attempt to prove that he is an elitist, is way over the top.
He was making fun of those who were accusing him of being a pawn of the rich, and she used it against him.
Rowe Stayton
Prescott, Ariz.
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Even Powers, a liberal at heart, sees what is wrong here.
With Obama in office, it is “do as I say, not as I do.”
He is obviously practicing what he preached regarding “redistributing the wealth” and is starting with his own family.
It would be interesting to see how much his vacations have cost the taxpayers over the short time he has been in office, compared to past presidents.
Whatever happened to leading by example?
Mark Reger
Westborough, Mass.
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The elite who grant us our meager existence will always believe that their service to a higher calling entitles them to excessive largess.
Anthony Varriano
Staten Island
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Michelle must think of herself as a “queen” instead of first lady.
Her vacation could have generated enormous benefits for the needy people at home.
Instead, she chose to travel to Spain on Air Force 2 with an entourage that, according to reports, far exceeded the six friends reported by Powers.
John Fox
Galloway, NJ
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Powers’ article is quite superfluous, considering that Mayor Bloomberg cut countless social programs, sending thousands into unemployment and homelessness, while flaunting his affluence.
After more than a year of steadfastly attempting to turn around our devastated country and eight years of Republican warmongering and indifference, Michelle certainly deserves a vacation, and to wherever she deems appropriate.
Albeit a possible campaign issue, Powers’ criticism is unwarranted. Bottom-line statistics will ultimately absolve Michelle of any alleged misbehavior.
Alan Champion
Manhattan