About us Login Get email updates
Research
Print

Limbaugh falsely claims taxpayers funding 60 luxury hotel rooms for Michelle Obama's vacation

August 06, 2010 6:01 pm ET — 32 Comments

Rush Limbaugh falsely asserted that Michelle Obama took "40 of her best friends and leas[ed] 60 rooms in a 5 star hotel -- paid by you." In fact, the White House has said the Obamas are paying for personal expenses on the trip, including their lodging.

Please upgrade your flash player. The video for this item requires a newer version of Flash Player. If you are unable to install flash you can download a QuickTime version of the video.

EMBED

Limbaugh falsely asserted that "60 rooms in a 5 star hotel" are being "paid for by you"

Limbaugh: Obama is "taking 40 of her best friends and leasing 60 rooms in a 5 star hotel - paid for by you." On the August 6 broadcast of his show, Limbaugh asserted: "Michelle has a beach closed down in Spain after taking 40 of her best friends and leasing 60 rooms in a 5 star hotel - paid for by you, because they deserve it -- but you have to pay, you have to pay up." He went on to say that "the Obamas have not done a days worth of work in their lives to generate this kind of lifestyle for themselves. They are living off of you, and every one of us."

White House: Obamas paying personal expenses on trip, including rooms

LA Times: White House says "personal expenses, such as hotel rooms and meals, were being paid for by the Obamas." Los Angeles Times reported on August 5 that the Obamas are paying for their hotel rooms:

But one White House official said Obama had a "small" group of friends and "minimal" staff on the trip, and said personal expenses, such as hotel rooms and meals, were being paid for by the Obamas.

"Any additional footprint, including rooms needed for security support and transportation, falls under the same rules as have applied to any previous first family travel," the official said. That is, private expenses are paid for privately and government expenses are picked up by Uncle Sam.

CNN: White House says Obama vacation "is a private trip and is being paid for that way." On the August 6 edition of CNN's Rick's List, Brooke Baldwin reported that "the White House says, quote, 'it is a private trip and is being paid for that way.' But taxpayers -- to be clear -- taxpayers are paying for her transportation and housing for dozens of her Secret Service agents who of course are there making sure she, her family - her daughter - are safe."

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by southerngal (August 06, 2010 6:36 pm ET)
      1 17
      I don't really think it's so god awful what Michele Obama is doing here, she is the first lady, it's her vacation and it's all part of the job.

      But you cannot get all flustered when people like Limbaugh use the sword handed to them? Is he making a mountain out of a molehill? Yes. But this kind of stuff goes with the territory.

      Remember Nancy Reagan and her WH china? Her sword yielding opponents had a field day with that too.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by raddave43 (August 06, 2010 6:54 pm ET)
        11 1
        No, I don't remember Nancy Raygun and her WH china. Care to share a link?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by southerngal (August 06, 2010 6:56 pm ET)
          1 8
          It's in here
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Buzzramjet (August 07, 2010 2:11 am ET)
            12 1
            I remember all of that very well. Mrs Reagan unfortunately did have an attitude of 'let them eat cake" when she first arrived. She was the very epitome of haughtiness when she was in the White House and it didn't really change but because of the campaign to make her look better the media and thus public's attitude changed.

            But she never gave up that belief in "separation of the classes" bit. She always felt that she had arrived and as such was now "better" than anyone else. She was highly disdainful of other First Ladies as well. Nancy probably would have loved for the U.S. to suddenly change into a royalty based society so she could immediately begin to call herself Queen and be treated as one.

            I never liked her when she was in the White House.

            I always liked Ronnie but wouldn't vote for him with a gun to my head. I felt he,like Bush Jr. were both Post Turtles.

            So to put her and Mrs. Obama anywhere near the same class is not even close. Michelle takes a trip to Spain and the next thing you know she's being castigated for not scrubbing floors in the White House to keep costs down and be reminded of "her place" in the scheme of things.

            Limbaugh is a racist and really should be honest and just wear his white sheets for all to see instead of parading around his house preening in front of all the mirrors with them on.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by Tbone Slickens (August 07, 2010 9:30 pm ET)
              1 7
              Mrs Reagan unfortunately did have an attitude of 'let them eat cake" when she first arrived. She was the very epitome of haughtiness when she was in the White House


              Hmmm...the eye of the beholder I guess. I remember it very differently but would you care to share an example of "haughtiness" or "let em eat cake" attitude?

              Report Abuse
            • Author by skycatcher (August 09, 2010 12:10 pm ET)
              3  
              Great post. My only complaint is that I can't give you more than one thumbs up.
              Report Abuse
          • Author by newzhound (August 09, 2010 11:53 am ET)
            3  
            I'm considerably more interested in who is telling the truth about how much President Reagan knew about Iran-Contra: Mrs. Reagan or Col. Ollie North. They both can not be correct.

            Meanwhile, I would have thought Mrs. Reagan would have learned from Mary Todd Lincoln about wearing borrowed finery. As I recall, although Mrs. Reagan promised to stop doing it she just couldn't.

            Like President Bush claiming to have given up golf...
            Report Abuse
      • Author by rwmacdonald2091 (August 06, 2010 7:01 pm ET)
        9  
        Of course then Limbaugh saying things like she thinks she deserves it because she's owed reparations, I suppose that's okay with you, too.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by mari2jj (August 06, 2010 11:40 pm ET)
          6  
          Aand how does he KNOW exactly who is paying. Now let me see, as I recall, Mrs. Reagan made some trips for which we picked up the tab. She did a great job of them too as does Michelle Obama. End of your racism, Rush!
          Report Abuse
        • Author by mari2jj (August 07, 2010 12:10 am ET)
          7  
          Not to worry, Limbaugh is a certifiable racist. That should end the discussion. It just drives him over the bend to think that of all things, we elected a black President. Drives him around the bend and that is probably exaggerated by the fact that the Obama's are black and wealthy. But then again, both worked very hard to attend college and graduate from Law School and both have held very responsible jobs. My husband is a lawyer and Law School is no picnic, either.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by usp (August 08, 2010 11:50 am ET)
            6  
            on fathead's racism: it's my opinion that- like that famous quote: patriotism is the last bastion of the scoundrel...i think racism totally works for people 'who have nothing else going for them besides the fact that they are white'.

            it might seem silly to apply this to the 400 million? 40 million? dollar fathead- but let us not forget where he comes from- nowhere. a total looser. a coward who dodged the draft- never got the self confidence of a military man. slinking in the alley trolling for men in the dark.

            he hooked up with that gay fellow in sacramento- and they found a 'nitch' for rush. and then the money started rolling in nicely. good for him.

            however? his formative years? rife with shame, self hate and loss.

            so naturally, trying to find his place in the world? when he had to 'take stock'...by god, one of the things he could put on his resume?

            White Guy.


            ---what do you guys think of my pocket 'sigh cololgy'?
            Report Abuse
      • Author by pete592 (August 06, 2010 7:11 pm ET)
        10  
        "Is he making a mountain out of a molehill?"
        Yes, but that's not the problem. The problem is HE'S LYING ABOUT IT.

        "Remember Nancy Reagan and her WH china? Her sword yielding opponents had a field day with that too."
        Can you quote anyone accusing her of using taxpayer money to buy it?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by DellDolly (August 07, 2010 1:09 am ET)
          6 3
          Nope, he's gone for the weekend - he submits his time card around 6:45 Eastern time.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by Porkeater (August 07, 2010 11:55 am ET)
        6  
        the sword handed to them

        Your forget, RightON, that this "sword" is a lie!
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Invent a Scandal (August 06, 2010 6:48 pm ET)
      5  
      Even el Fathead's lies are getting stupid.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by ProgLib (August 09, 2010 1:55 am ET)
        1  
        That ship has sailed since he got his fathead behind that microphone spewing his lies.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by mk3872 (August 06, 2010 7:56 pm ET)
      7  
      So ... the First Lady is NOT allowed a vacation?

      Or is it just that Rush Limbaugh wishes to be her travel agent to book the proper hotels and locations?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by classicliberal2 (August 06, 2010 9:19 pm ET)
      11  
      Back in June, Fox News was accusing Obama of staying on vacation all the time (when, in fact, he's taken less vacation time than any president in decades).

      But last night, ABC News ran a rather despicable piece on Michelle Obama's trip in the same vein, and this, I think, is more worthy of Media Matters' time than Limbaugh (because, with him, one expects nothing better from a pig but a grunt, and his audience is much smaller). The report all but portrayed the first lady as some sort of Marie Antoinette character, enjoying a lavish vacation while the country suffers. This is another case of a nut-right non-story being mainstreamed, and I suspect one would search in vain for a single ABC News report, during the Bush administration, criticizing Bush's excessive vacation time (he spent something like 1/3 of his presidency on vacation).
      Report Abuse
      • Author by MickD (August 06, 2010 11:20 pm ET)
        5  
        This is so farking stupid. The fact that ABC would waste time on it means they hate our country.

        It is August, every farking rich person in my hometown in Chicago is gone at some luxury resort. The fact that the First Lady shouldn't be allowed because others can't is ridiculous. What about every rich person sacrificing? Huh?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by txthinker (August 09, 2010 10:15 am ET)
        1  
        I suspect one would search in vain for a single ABC News report, during the Bush administration, criticizing Bush's excessive vacation time (he spent something like 1/3 of his presidency on vacation).
        George W. Bush's brain has been on vacation since his coke-snorting days....
        Report Abuse
    • Author by phredicles (August 06, 2010 10:42 pm ET)
      7  
      Even if Limbosevic weren't lying like a fat, rent-boy-diddling rug, how many seconds of the right's beloved war in Iraq would the cost of the rooms have paid for?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mari2jj (August 06, 2010 11:47 pm ET)
        5  
        We can always compare the travel expense of the Reagans against the Obamas I guess but who even wants to do that. Both did and are doing a fine job of representing our country. Let's just let Rush be his usual racist self. Poor thing is just insane about the great historical event that we finaslly elected a black Presdident.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by hitchikerforajax (August 07, 2010 1:33 pm ET)
      3  
      If Limbaugh says the Obamas has never worked a day in their life, implying they live of the American people. NEWSFLASH... Hey dumbo, look in the mirror. You have, never worked & you get paid indirectly by the Americans who are obviously tilted way to the right. What a ignorant clown!!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mari2jj (August 07, 2010 11:01 pm ET)
        3  
        Rush sounds like he is insanely jealous of the Obamas. He takes an inordinate amount of time trying to slam them but alas, it does not work. The Obama family seems to be above the "gotcha" news folks, I heard one newspaper person say that Obamas were dull as could be, even. It could also be that Rush is very racist and he does this truly silly nit picking just to irritate the Obamas. If that is his plan, he flunks out. They have a jolly good time, have two wonderful kids, and they are a loving stable couple. I think that may be what drives Rush nuts, That and the fact that they are both black. Drives him nuts!
        Report Abuse
        • Author by caseye (August 08, 2010 2:32 pm ET)
            7
          Okay "mari2jj" this racist accusation is getting so old. Just because this President happens to be African American doesn't mean EVERYONE has to agree with his political policies and decisions on these family vacations! I am so sick of that being thrown out there, its a cop-out when you have nothing left to say. And it completely diminishes what Martin Luther King JR. worked so hard for. (Remember "content of character", well some peole don't think his character is all that great mari) Rush Limbaugh is a hardcore conservative, would you expect him to support ANY liberal progressive? Absolutely not! It goes against his ideology completely. I don't think Limbaugh gives two hoots about how lovely this first family is, he doesn't agree with these extravagant trips that, news flash, the tax payers are indeed paying for! We are paying for all the expenses for secret service employees as well as all the personal assistants etc for this rather unneccesary trip! Obama is the one that says this is the worst financial disaster since the Great Depression! He should tone down the extravagant trips for the time being!
          Report Abuse
          • Author by ProgLib (August 09, 2010 2:10 am ET)
            4  
            Just because this President happens to be African American doesn't mean EVERYONE has to agree with his political policies and decisions on these family vacations!


            This has NOTHING to do with agreeing or disagreeing with President Obama. It's about attacking him and his family because they want to take a nice summer vacation and spend time together as a family.

            And it completely diminishes what Martin Luther King JR. worked so hard for.


            If anybody has diminished what MLK worked so hard for, it's the far-right and conservatives/Republicans who think they are part of some revolution when they are simply paranoid nuts who don't know anything about the real facts regarding Obama and only believe the lies about him spewed by the likes of Limbaugh.

            ...he doesn't agree with these extravagant trips that, news flash, the tax payers are indeed paying for!


            No, the taxpayers are not paying for it. The Obama's have spent their own money to take this vacation. The proof is there. Where is your proof?

            We are paying for all the expenses for secret service employees as well as all the personal assistants etc for this rather unneccesary [sic] trip!


            So, that's the bulk of your complaint? Secret service employees and personal assistants? Did you consider that no matter where the President goes, he needs the Secret service to protect him... that's their job. They are doing their job whether he's still in DC or on his vacation. What did you think? They're like sitting around when they're on their break sipping PiƱa colada's and getting drunk having a good old time at the taxpayer's expense? Same thing with the PA's... he needs them around regardless of his location.

            He should tone down the extravagant trips for the time being!


            Tone down?? It's one trip with his family, and during the summer... just like we all do! He has worked his @ss off for all this time, and he deserves a summer vacation. Why don't you tone down your tired complaining and bitch about this pettiness on the pathetic far-right blogs where all you trolls can find something wrong with EVERY single thing Obama does? Give it up already.
            Report Abuse
    • Author by little poncho (August 07, 2010 11:52 pm ET)
      3  
      hey fat boy, put on a military uniform and defend your country.... don't hide behind a radio mic, and bitch- bitch- bitch..... the neo-nutmegs want everything their way,keeping your bushie tax breaks, and still bitch. you, don't care about your country just your fat WALLET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!bushie was A LOSER, TOOK CARE OF THE RICHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHS' fbi, fcc, america needs your help, now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TOMORROW MAY BE TOOOOOOOOO LATE!!!!!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by SMTDL (August 08, 2010 1:53 pm ET)
      3  
      The crack about the Obama's never working a day in their lives and living off taxpayers is typical of racist rhetoric applied to black people in general.No matter how many hard working,tax paying black people there are, someone will claim they never did anything to deserve what they have or speak as if all blacks are on welfare.Both Obama's grew up in working class circumstances as compared to George W and Laura Bush.Now what hard work are the Bush's known far?What skimping did they do while in the White House.This is the usual raw racism from Limbaugh,but why is the rest of the media covering this as if it has validity.Who will correct the boldfaced lie from Limbaugh on what is being paid for and by whom?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by cugagcmu805031 (August 08, 2010 2:15 pm ET)
        4  
        And it was reported last year that the Obamas are paying for the costs to redecorate part of the WH when, as far as I know, no other presidential couple has ever chosen to do so, many of whom have been far wealthier than the Obamas. The others let the taxpayers pick up the entire tab and thought nothing of it.

        This just goes to show what I've always known: the rules are different for certain citizens in our country. Unless you're white, rich, and call yourself a "conservative," different rules are applied to everything you do.

        These kind of people don't care anything about the Constitution, the rule of law, precedents, or tradition. They're like little kids. They want what they want when they want it, and no one should stand in their way or challenge them because they're always right, even when they're dead wrong.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Moderate Man (August 09, 2010 2:38 am ET)
      2  
      If it were Sarah Palin, she would have had the government pick up the tabs for her little children to fly for some trumped up purpose...
      ---------------------------------------
      The Midnight Review
      Report Abuse
      • Author by txthinker (August 09, 2010 10:18 am ET)
        1  
        If it were Sarah Palin, she would have had the government pick up the tabs for her little children to fly for some trumped up purpose...
        And she'd quit in the middle of the vacation to go do something else......
        Report Abuse
    • Author by epichuntarz (August 09, 2010 8:35 am ET)
         
      I guess this is part of that .6% of the time he claims he's wrong. The hard part will be getting him to admit it.
      Report Abuse

my.MediaMatters.org

Login  Sign Up

Push Back

Phone calls, emails and letters from the public do make a difference. Remember that to be effective you must be polite, and professional. Express your specific concerns regarding that particular news report or commentary, and indicate what you would like the media outlet to do differently in the future.