Michelle and Sasha's Excellent Adventure

     People ask me, and every other DC kid, the same question every time I say where I go to school or where I’m from: Are you friends with the Obama girls?

     I’m always sorry to disappoint with my answer, but unfortunately I don’t usually hang out with 12- year-old girls in my spare time.  I also do not babysit for them or see Barack and Michelle on a regular basis.  So, although I am not close with the Obama family or hang out at the White House, they are the subject of my next post, more specifically Michelle and Sasha.

     Taxpayers across the country were frazzled earlier this week over Michelle and Sasha Obama’s trip to Spain.  The mother and daughter spent five days in Spain, touring the sites and having lunch with King Juan Carlos, but had no apparent political or diplomatic motivation.

     So they took a vacation, what’s all the fuss about?  Although Michelle paid for the meals and rooms during their visit, they travelled on the Air Force plane which is government funded, thus taxpayer funded.

     Our economy is not so great right now and people don’t like to hear their hard-earned money is being spent on European vacations, but I say more power to Michelle.  Anyone who has spent a day in DC this summer can attest to the extreme heat and apocalyptic weather.  Congress recesses in August so activity on the Hill slows down.  If you have the resources to take your daughter to Europe and can take advantage of the diplomatic relations you have there, I say why not.

    I understand that a large amount of money was spent to fly them overseas, but how else would they get there?  Though security has tightened on commercial flights, I don’t think it would be possible for the First Lady to hop on a Spanair flight….especially since air travel has been so pleasant recently.

     I don’t pay taxes yet, so I don’t really have a leg to stand on in this argument.  But from my point of view, I don’t see anything wrong with Michelle and Sasha’s Euro trip and I hope others will not lose respect or change their opinions of the First Lady from the vacation.