"Will President Obama lead by example and cut his own pay?"

[JeffreyWilliamson]

Answer: "I'm pretty sure his salary is determined by federal law."

Follow-up: "But don't you think it's important for him to lead by example?"

[ananda]

1. I seem to remember Kennedy..

.. serving for $1 a year.

[nsd]

2. Of course, Kennedy was rich. Obama isn't. (nt)

[TTUBatfan2008]

14. Wanna bet?

Obama's got quite a bit of money in the bank. And he's going to make hundreds of millions from speaking when he gets out of the White House, just like Clinton did.

[DainBramaged]

18. How the hell do you know what he has in the bank???

[TTUBatfan2008]

26. BOOK SALES...

His fortune is estimated in the $5-10 million range.

[Captain Hilts]

30. He's NOT a poor guy by any means. nt

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Captain Hilts]

39. Uh, here comes the potty language....

[DainBramaged]

46. How's this Captain

I don't care what he makes read my journal where I skewered the little jug-eared fuck who was in the White House and all of the Cons lurking here that they should get over it.

[DainBramaged]

52. My apologies, you are NOT a stranger, and I will not delete my rant

I just realized you previous "name" here and I profusely apologize for being an asshole. HOWEVER for the Freepers lurking, read my rant.

[Captain Hilts]

61. I see your point. And I think the question was stoopid...

but giving a certain % to charity or something would have great symbolic value.

We hold him to higher standards than the previous occupants.

Keep the faith!

[DainBramaged]

64. I AM SO SORRY for wailing on you.

These threads set my hair on fire. The RNC (and the lurkers here) are going to do their best to undermine Obama one day at a time. And it will be worse here than ever.

:hug:

[kestrel91316]

81. How the hell do you know he doesn't ALREADY give a significant

amount to charity?? Awfully presumptious of you, making like he doesn't.

I WANT the man paid fairly for doing the hardest job in the world. And I don't want him paid less than the INCOMPETENT WHITE GUY who came before him.

[Captain Hilts]

88. No, I assume he does. We're talking about taking symbolic action.

It, naturally, needs to be public.

[TTUBatfan2008]

43. I'm just stating the facts...

I am a huge supporter of Obama's and I've been one since 2004. Stop making ridiculous accusations. I am PISSED THE FUCK OFF that they want him to cut his salary, but suggesting that he's somehow not wealthy is distorting the facts. He's got plenty of money to "get by" without a salary. I hope he doesn't listen to the press vultures. They're assholes. Why weren't they asking the Bush administration these kind of questions???!!!!

[DainBramaged]

47. WHY ARE YOU???????

[TTUBatfan2008]

51. I'M NOT...

Listen, some stupid ass reporter asked this question at the press conference. I think Obama deserves every penny he's paid by the American people. Bottom line is that $400,000 is nothing compared to what the likes of Nixon were paid ($200,000 in 1969 is more than $1 million in 2009 dollars).

[Terran]

72. Link?

I seem to remember the family's total net worth at around $1 million.

[TTUBatfan2008]

92. Gladly...

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/17/nation/na-money17

This is from May of 2008.

"Obama is the least wealthy of the three major presidential candidates. But with advances and royalties from two bestselling books, Obama’s assets were worth between $2.02 million and $7.35 million at the end of 2007, according to a public financial disclosure report filed with the Federal Election Commission."

"Obama last month released his most recent tax return, which shows that he and his wife, Michelle, earned $4.2 million in 2007, driven primarily by book sales."

Through 2007, they were worth as much as $7.35 million. They made around $4.2 million in 2007. I would think they probably made a similar amount in 2008 given the Presidential campaign. They are not poor by any means. They are nowhere near as wealthy as the likes of the Kennedy family, the McCain couple, etc. but they are doing pretty well for themselves.

[Terran]

94. Ah, ok. Not the 5-10 mil you stated previously.

Thanks.

[TTUBatfan2008]

101. What is $7 million?

In between $5 million and $10 million. :P

[Terran]

103. 7 mil is the upper limit of the estimate

Yours was 10 million. It doesn't matter in the greater scheme of things. :spank:

[TTUBatfan2008]

105. Of course not...

They are well off but nowhere near as rich as a lot of other politicians. We don't need to pretend they're somehow poor though.

[Zodiak]

130. Damn, that's an awful wide window of speculation there

2 million and 7.35 million differ by more than 300%. Not a reliable estimate at all.

[texastoast]

40. I seem to have read that Michelle made a very good salary

working for the University of Chicago Hospitals. And good for her in this capitalistic society where the concept of equal rights for all races and sexes (sadly, not all people) is less than 50 years old.

[Captain Hilts]

42. Right. They're not poor or middle income by any means. nt

[kestrel91316]

85. SO WHAT. He's entitled to fair pay for the work he does.

A salary freeze may be in order but A CUT IS MOST CERTAINLY NOT.

[texastoast]

111. Agreed.

I didn't realize it had been increased to $400,000. Naturally, Bush would want a 100% salary increase.

No executive in the land should make more than that. That's where the real change should come.

[kestrel91316]

77. Obama just paid off his student loans a few years ago, and you

want to begrudge him his legal pay for the HARDEST job in the world???? Why? Because blacks aren't as good so they should be paid less than whites??????

If he wants to lead by example then he should request that his pay be FROZEN WHERE IT IS. What the hell is this faux outrage about needing to take a PAY CUT??

[Posteritatis]

50. Anyone with multiple bestsellers and, oh yeah, the Oval Office ain't exactly middle class (nt)

[DainBramaged]

67. Do you hold that against him? Or Michelle?

I ask ALL OF YOU who question the salary of President Barack Obama to show me where you ever questioned the salaries of B* and Chubby.




<crickets>

[Posteritatis]

70. Nope, just asying he *is* 'rich' by most Americans' standards

I've never questioned any of the presidents' salaries. They've always been the highest-paid public employee, which is reasonable enough, and in the long run the presidential salary is far from any of their greatest sources of income. There's more miportant things to scream in bold and caps about than this, and I think the reporters should keep that in mind as well. (Well, that and the fact that the President doesn't legislate his own salary - or legislate at all.)

[Elidor]

78. Strawman

It has nothing to do with Bush & Cheney, as you well know. If a boss orders his employees to take pay cuts, but doesn't join in the communal sacrifice, he looks like a hypocrite. Are you really this dense?

[DainBramaged]

84. Don't call me dense, Obama didn't order pay cuts Bozo

he ordered a PAY FREEZE, get it right or get along. It has EVERYTHING to do with B & C because the lurkers here will have us believe history is wrong. As are you.

[Elidor]

100. Well then the question becomes: did he freeze his own pay?

Well did he, Bozo?

[DainBramaged]

113. Who giveS a shit through a flying flaming donut.

"Click" and I have NO compunction about putting yo on ignore.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

114. Did you note that nick before you clicked? n/t

[Elidor]

117. That's probably a good move

You're very emotional and overwrought and obviously cannot discuss anything rationally.

[madmom]

90. It was NOT a pay cut it WAS a wage freeze. Big difference.

[kestrel91316]

86. Thank you.

[Shiver]

11. Kennedy got the regular salary

Much more than a dollar a year - it was all donated to various charities, though.

[WinkyDink]

79. Yes. Now name a President since then who did. Particularly a Republican.

[DainBramaged]

3. Why is everyone so interested in Obama cutting his own pay?

Why weren't you all interested in B* and Cheney cutting theirs? And how about they cut their federal pensions????

This is a new Freeper meme that they are using to undermine confidence in Obama, and this shit should be locked here.

[Cha]

7. Yeah, why don't they worry about

something important?

[DainBramaged]

10. This bullshit was brought up yesterday too, they should give up

[JeffreyWilliamson]

9. But it wouldn't be fair to ask Bush or Cheney any of these "important" questions.

[DainBramaged]

13. Why are you asking these unimportant questions???

[Cassandra]

21. Because they suddenly found their balls...

rolling around on the press room floor. The excitement at the discovery was palpable.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

44. I didn't ask these unimportant questions.

I related the exchange. To highlight how stupid the follow up was.

I'm on your side here.

[WinkyDink]

83. It's the "THROW UP SOMETHING A DAY" Offense. It will be EVERY DAY FOR OBAMA'S TERM.

Oath.
Bible.
Salary.
No "plan on Day One" for mortgage relief (MSNBC).
No video.

EVERY. DA*N. DAY. They will rant over something, and will make up anything.

THEY ARE REPUBLICANS. They aren't "interested" in anything other than attacking, then laughing while Democrats actually take the time to respond.

[DainBramaged]

87. Yup

and I thought I could trim my ignore list this year.

[Terran]

108. I'm ready for a "Support Our President" bumpersticker

Srsly.

[MadBadger]

4. who asked that?

[JeffreyWilliamson]

19. I'm not sure of her name

but it was a freaking ridiculous question.

After everything he's done the last 3 days and she's sooooooooo very concerned that set the right example for everyone.

As if ending torture isn't setting a good example.

[eleny]

54. April Ryan

[Posteritatis]

5. Don't many of the presidents not 'keep' their salary anyway?

Washington refused one, Roosevelt spent all of his on guests, Kennedy donated all of his to charity(!), etc.

[Captain Hilts]

15. The Roosevelts lived hand to fist at high levels and were hugely subsidized...

by his mother and Eleanor earned her own cash to pay for her apt. in NYC, etc.

I have heard that it can be expensive to live there. ER kept three or four checkbooks going with one for expenses that were billable, etc.

She never picked up her widows pension, but did use the franking privilege for mail related to White House issues, etc.

[BattyDem]

6. Perhaps he should move out of the WH as well. Get a two bedroom apartment instead.

:eyes:

[texastoast]

23. Well, Carter did try something similar

He tried to drive his own Chevy instead of taking a limo. The Secret Service wouldn't have it.

[firedupdem]

24. Yeah...they could save on electricity. Kick em out of the whitehouse.

These fuckers are killing me.

[kestrel91316]

91. Yeah, make 'em live with the rest of the blacks in DC, in the ghetto.

Damn uppity n-----s anyway.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Clinton had Nixon's salary of $200K. It was doubled for GWB. Cutting out $25K would be a nice,

symbolic gesture.

He should be able to make it on $375K.

[DainBramaged]

16. Why should he cut out one cent??? What the hell is wrong with you people

The bankers steal more in a day than Obama earns, and you want him to cut his salary already?

[Captain Hilts]

22. No, but he's holding pay raises, etc. It's symbolic.

It would be nice if he did so, though certainly not necessary.

[DainBramaged]

29. Bullshit, stop now with this or maybe you can live on $1 a year

This is Freeperspeak at it's worst.

[Captain Hilts]

37. Symbols are important to Obama.

You don't 'get' it.

[democrattotheend]

17. Can he do that?

Can Obama unilaterally cut his own pay? I thought it had to be changed by an act of Congress with his signature.

[Captain Hilts]

27. I think that is correct, but he could send it to charity or something. nt

[Shiver]

63. It was doubled by Clinton

And congress. It went into effect in 2001, but it wasn't done by or for Bush - actually, the reason for doubling it is because the President is traditionally the highest-paid public employee. All federal employees get a yearly cost-of-living increase unless Congress votes against it, and by the end of the 1990's, many salary caps were being met. The president's salary was increased so that none of those salaries went past the Presidents.

I heard something the other day about this not being the case anymore, though.

[Dennis Donovan]

12. He deserves every cent he gets...

...he just took on the worst job in the world.:evilfrown:

[Captain Hilts]

28. We all agree with that. nt

[Cha]

41. Exactly! That would have been

an interesting thing for Gibbs to say.."why should Obama cut his pay when he has the toughest job in the world thanks to the fucktard?" :)

[ClarkUSA]

20. The same reporter, April Ryan, sucked Bush's dick after 9/11 during press conferences.

One memorable session: She asked Bush about what prayer he'd want Americans to say after 9/11. Gee, what a tough question. :eyes:

[JeffreyWilliamson]

31. You have got to be kidding me...

She asked Bush that? :wow:

[ClarkUSA]

53. Yes, she did. Helen Thomas' post-Inauguration concert HBO bio played a clip of Ryan.

She acted as if she was talking to the Pope. Just so we know where April Ryan is coming from.

[firedupdem]

34. Thanks for her name...I didn't know what it was. What a fucking

idiot. He deserves every fucking cent he gets. Fuck her and her dumb ass question.

[ClarkUSA]

57. Yeah, she's on MSNBC sometimes. Nothing interesting ever comes out of her mouth.

She's a fucking coward; she hasn't ever asked Bush a confrontational question in all the years she's been in the WH press pool.

[SoCalDem]

124. Good ole "faithful" April.. You can always count on her.. She gets a chance to ask the prez

a question and then gives him goo-goo eyes and asks how he's turning to his faith to sustain HIM , in these "troubling times"..:puke:

[ClarkUSA]

126. Yup. And that's the toughest question she ever asked of BushCo...

Honestly, I don't know how these morons get to be reporters. I should've gone into journalism because if these clowns
can get to where they are, I sure as hell could've.

[Window]

25. I thought it was a pay freeze, not a pay cut. Isn't there a difference?

[kestrel91316]

95. Yes, there is. You're a very clever child, aren't you?

He freezes staff pay, and the response from DUers of questionable persuasion is to demand he take a cut.

They are probably the same kind of people who use the phrase "______ times less than _____", not understanding the mathematical impossibility of such a thing.

[PVnRT]

32. He can't, moron reporter person

I guess we have to cut them some slack - they're used to eight years of a President who just does whatever he wants.

[bluestateguy]

33. Obama did not "cut" anybody's pay

He froze salaries, and since inflation is non-existent right now, it cannot be called a "cut".

[LibDemAlways]

102. Thanks for beating me to it. That "reporter" was

doing nothing but shit-stirring. I didn't see the exchange, but am hoping that Gibbs provided the same succinct explanation.

[niyad]

36. sounds like all the freepers whining about the money being spent on the inauguration--I notice

not one of them had anything to say about the monies spent by bushco.

or the whining by a pair of young repukes on dr. phil the other day, "his administration is supposed to be green--why didn't they just cancel everything???? they aren't really green" uh, and just how GREEN was the last eight years, you whining little cretins??

[Jack Rabbit]

38. The president's pay is set by congress beforehand and cannot be changed during his term in office

That is to prevent Congress expressing its displeasure with the president by cutting his pay to a dollar a year or something. Can you imagine what those thugs led by the Georgia Venomous Newt would have done to Clinton if that weren't in the Constitution?

[hileeopnyn8d]

80. exactly

That's how I've always understood it. Which is why the most recent increase didn't take effect until GWB took office, even though it was passed by Clinton.

[pdxmom]

45. Lead who by example? Is the reporter suggesting that everybody

out here should take a pay cut? Maybe she should lead by example and demand a pay cut from her boss.

Who would he be setting an example for? I thought the idea was to get wages to increase.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

49. I'm personally good with his torture-stopping example. n/t

[Clear Blue Sky]

48. It would be a good example. He can simply refuse a portion of it.

[WinkyDink]

75. And Bush didn't because??

[Clear Blue Sky]

110. I don't care about Bush. Our President should set a good example.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

112. The problem is he can't set that example...

His salary is set by the Constitution:

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services, a compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Notice the phrase "neither be increased or diminished".

He CAN donate some or all of it when he gets it, which would be a positive example.

[Clear Blue Sky]

115. Sure. Just donate some of it back to the Treasury.

Mayor Bloomberg doesn't get a salary. Though he really doesn't need it and the rules for NYC may be different.

[DainBramaged]

121. A good example of what, a Rethuglican talking point?

This is bullshit, just like we shouldn't jingle plastic keys with McSame around so he doesn't go batshit, and the inauguration cost $160 million, this is RETHUGLICIAN BULLSHIT at it's worst.

[rucky]

55. Let the Double Standards begin!

[DainBramaged]

58. Let's play Hail to the Chief as Obama burns his paycheck

:sarcasm:

[ksoze]

56. He could contribute some of his pay to Journalism Schools - They need it!

based on this group of reporters. They must get their playbook from Entertainment Tonight.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

59. !

:rofl:

[hileeopnyn8d]

68. LOL

Don't forget, Sarah Palin went to journalism school!

[libnnc]

76. DUzy

:applause:

and welcome :hi:

[Cha]

96. Zing! They most definetly need some schoolin'

and I'm thinking Robert Gibbs is the one who's going to do it.

[Urban Prairie]

60. If Obama can get our economy turned around

I and millions of others would likely be willing to contribute two bits each year towards his salary.

[SpartanDem]

65. fair question

If Obama is freezing salaries it's not unexpected that someone would ask if he would take a pay cut. Not only do I think he should do it, but he should turn around and ask congress to take one as well.

[Oak2004]

104. The last thing we need is for the House to be paid less

That's a plan for widespread corruption.

While at first glance a member of the House gets a hefty salary, in practice they just squeak by. They have to maintain two homes, most of them have a family to support, they have to travel far, far more often, back and forth to their districts, than most people do, etc. Once the additional expenses are factored in, being a member of Congress is anything but a well-paid job.

There's a reason some Congress members sleep in their offices, and it's not that they love the sound of fax machines in the morning.

[Occam Bandage]

62. But, I mean, isn't it only right for the black guy to get paid less?

:crazy:

[DainBramaged]

66. Good point.

:applause:


That little ditz at the press conference never asked B* or Chubby to limit their salaries, and I hope she never gets to ask a question again.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

69. But but but

If she's never allowed to ask another question how will we find out what President Obama would like for breakfast tomorrow, or if President Obama believes that we should all have our carpets cleaned to help fight the terrorists.

Moving forward, I want to know if President Obama will set an example by personally not torturing anyone anymore.

[HEyHEY]

89. the reporter who asked that question is black.

[ecstatic]

123. Doesn't matter. The premise is still offensive

As much work as Obama has to do, he deserves every cent. He has the entire world on his shoulders right now.

Besides, he is not allowed to change his salary.

[nini]

71. Do they ask the same questions of fat cat CEOs?

no...

[treestar]

73. No, it isn't

What is she saying, we should all take pay cuts? The President first?

What idiots these people are!

[WinkyDink]

74. How about the departed BUSH??

[HEyHEY]

82. So?

Big fucking deal.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

93. It wasn't a big deal, just stupid.

Everything the man has done since showing up for work yesterday, and this "journalist" asks that VERY important question, is reminded what the law is, and then follows up by pretty much asking if he'll do it anyway.

I felt my own IQ draining away with almost every question they asked.

"You say the President issued an order banning torture, am I right in understanding that he'll do it when he thinks it's necessary?

"Is the President aware that people will be concerned when he puts terrorists on the streets?"

"Back to the executive orders signed today, does the President think that torture is wrong?"

[HEyHEY]

97. Questions that appear stupid are often asked because the reporter....

Wants to make sure, one hundred per cent, that they are understanding the situation. You know, people don't know how it is in a mass press conference, and if you are writing when it's being answered or something, you can miss things, so a responsible reporter will ask again.

What the reporter should have asked is, "Can Obama change that law?" However life isn't perfect and when you're on the spot shit happens.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

98. I guess...

My question was why did she ask it in the first place. It's like they were going out of their way to try and embarass him today.

Why the hell weren't they so probing of every little thing when Bush was in office?

I fully expected one of them to ask what Obama had for lunch today, and then debate the answer.

[HEyHEY]

106. Was blitzer there? He woulda asked that.

Read what that reporter writes about the conference, decide then. I've ask extremely stupid questions in my career. Stuff like "What did you have for lunch" sometimes it's just looking for a piece of colour for a lead or something.

[Spazito]

116. The was once a time when responsible reporters DID THEIR HOMEWORK...

researched the issue BEFORE they asked their questions. Not any more, it seems, they wait for the e-mail or phone call from the special interest group/political party spokesperson to formulate the question for them and they go ahead and ask it without doing their homework.

[HEyHEY]

118. Yeah, but at a press conference

When something like that just comes up, you don't have time. I still think the correct question would have been to ask if he planned on changing legislation so the salary would be diminished..


How are you these days?

[Spazito]

120. They had 24 hours to formulate their questions around all of the issues they raised..

actually more given nothing President Obama did re Gitmo, etc, was new, it had been brought up numerous times during his campaign and during the transition.

The only exception on the issues would be the issue of the re-swearing of the oath and, again, a little homework on that re the history would have served the reporters better.

Unlike the "scrum" that happens in the corridors of Parliament in Ottawa, these press briefings are part of the workings of each administration and not sudden and unexpected opportunities to question the Administration.

[HEyHEY]

125. Even then

Dealing with anything of a legal nature, you're better to flat out ask the adminstration.

[Spazito]

127. Actually, it would be even more important to have done one's homework on legal issues....

to insure one's follow-up question isn't based on the usual snow job given by most government spokespersons.

I thought the press briefing today went as expected by both the press and the administration. Some good questions, some attempted "gotcha" questions.

I do think, however, Mr. Todd was trying to "make his bones" being a newbie and he failed miserably and came off as an ass.

[HEyHEY]

129. Thing is, we're KIND OF in new territory here

So, the whole oath thing and such is really something to be left to the courts.

I didn't really see any controversial issues here... just silly things that we all may as well get out of the way. I don't think any of the questions asked were ones that any homework could have had any bearing on. I think they may have just been phrased incorrectly. For example the "follow-up" of "Will he lead by example" I think it's just a case of a reporter being on the spot and therefore inarticulate.

I'll judge when I read the articles.

You never answered, how have you been? Still in Stelmach country?

[Spazito]

132. Oops, sorry bout that, I missed your question re me...

rather ironic as I was castigating reporters for not doing their homework, lol!

I am doing great despite still living in Texas-lite, lol. DU is more crucial to me now that I live in a place where criticizing harper could have catastrophic consequences although I still do get my digs in!

I saw a post saying you are off to China soon, are you going there on official business or for a holiday? Either way, have a great trip, I hear from those who have been there that it is a fascinating country to visit.

[HEyHEY]

134. I'll be living in Beijing

Still doing CBC and some globe and mail stuff, but my main gig will be hosting a show on China radio's english service.

[Spazito]

136. Wow, congrats!

That is very exciting! What kind of show? I am glad you are still with CBC, it is the only Canadian media I pay attention to now, I find the rest are mirroring the US infotainment media more and more.

[Fire1]

99. His salary is commensurate with his responsibilities. Period.

Imo, that IS leading by example.

[Lucky 13]

107. No and he shouldn't.

His job has more responsibilities than any other in the world. He will earn every cent of that money.

I think this is a stupid fucking issue. Leave the man alone. It's been 24 hours and office and so far he's worth his weight in GOLD.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

109. Too bad that reporter didn't have that same take.

It was a ridiculous line of questioning when so many other important things are happening.

And the brainless follow-up was a real class act.

"It's determined by law."

"Well shouldn't he do it anyway?"

[DainBramaged]

119. Does anyone think that this FAUX reporter will ever get an opportunity to ask a question again?

[JeffreyWilliamson]

122. If we're lucky she not only won't...

But she won't even be allowed in the room again.

[kiranon]

133. I hope not. The President's salary is minimal for what he does.

Also think the First Lady should be compensated based on the amount of work she does.

[MarjorieG]

128. Pay freeze

[Zodiak]

131. LOL, whatever

If this is another Repuke talking point to come out, they better hit the drawing boards again or just shut the hell up.

This question NEVER came up for Whistle-ass 43, as much as we hated Bush and felt he didn't deserve the position and that he was filthy-ass rich.

Asking this question will clearly paint the asker as a partisan jerk. I welcome this question, and will counter with the fact that Obama just got done paying off his student loans. And that Darth Cheney actually PROFITED from his position the last 8 years, raking in millions while he wrote sweetheart deals to himself and his buddies. The same with Whistle-ass making money for his daddy's Carlisle group to the tune of millions and millions. In the face of such blatant hypocrisy, I would tell the repuke asshole asking this question that he is a typical hypocrite partisan jerk and if insists on acting like a troglodye nurturing his sour grapes, he should kindly do it in the corner or pull himself up by his damned bootstraps...there is work to do.

[JVS]

135. Cutting pay is not leading by example. Americans need better pay