You Paid for Obama's Fundraising Trip to New York

Obama's New York sprint also includes a visit with counterterrorism workers to thank them for their efforts. By holding an official event along with his fundraising, Obama dramatically reduces the cost of presidential travel that's charged to the political campaigns. Taxpayers pick up the rest of the tab.

news.yahoo.com...

That's right, Obama came to New York to raise dough for his democrat buddies:

At separate events in New York City, the president will raise money both for Bill Owens, a Democrat trying to win a special election in an upstate New York congressional district, and for the Democratic National Committee. The national party fundraising event alone is expected to generate between $2 million to $3 million.

So, he makes a 5 minute drive by of Federal Plaza in New York to glad hand a few federal employees and guess what, YOU paid for this trip rather than the people who he is raising money for. Don't you just love your tax dollars at work!?!

So much of "our tax dollars" are talked about with government spending, that you'd swear we were a far more populous nation.

When push comes to shove, I think these points should be taken into account:

1) Most of the Federal Budget does not come from personal income tax (or even direct taxation).

2) Travel expenses are expected to be paid for. This isn't always a bad thing since these days you'd have to be independently wealthy to hold the office and travel at the secure level that is required. That would eliminate quite a lot of qualified people.

3) Huge portions of the money the Federal Government has spent in the past 30 years or so don't even come from American sources.

4) The amount of money we are talking about (on a national scale) here is chump change.

Why worry about a hangnail when your head is on the chopping block?

[edit on 20-10-2009 by KrazyJethro]