What, exactly, is the argument AGAINST Obama cutting his own pay?

[GarbagemanLB]

I am sure all legalities can be dealt with. It is SYMBOLISM. He asks for a pay freeze for his own staffers, he should accept a modification to his own salary. He has made millions off of his books alone, and is nowhere near poor.

I am frankly confused as to why the reporter who asked him that question has been attacked. It was a legitimate question and criticism. You don't ask others to sacrifice unless you are willing to do so yourself.

[orestes]

1. It would be unconstitutional for him to do so.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

65. right

[joeglow3]

80. Nothing stops him from turning around and giving it back.

Not that I think he should, but I have no problem with the question.

[TTUBatfan2008]

2. The Constitution states...

that the President salary shall stay the same for the entire time of his Presidency. Now, what Obama could do is DONATE his salary if he wants to.

[hamsterjill]

13. That would earn him a lot of respect

If he were to donate his salary to a worthy cause. And can't citizens actually donate to the federal government? So he could, in effect, return his salary?

Either way, I agree that symbollically, it would be a positive act for him to "suffer" along with his white house staff.

[TTUBatfan2008]

18. Actually...

His staff are suffering along with him. The President's salary is fixed. No pay raises. Obama is not cutting these people's salary. He's putting them on the same terms as the President, aka no pay increases.

[LiberalFighter]

55. Yes. And there is another difference between Presidential and staff salaries.

Salaries for Presidents cannot be raised during their term of office.

[John Q. Citizen]

33. i wasn't aware the WH staff were forced to donate their salaries? I'm opposed to that.

People should get paid for their work.

Obama has no control over how much his salary is. It is frozen for his 4 year term already. He can institute raises and bonus freezes on his top people if he wants to. He may have let them know this before he asked them aboard.

I prefer my tax dollars paying the living of my President. That way he works for me.

[Career Prole]

37. "That way he works for me."

Aaaahhh! So nice to be able to say that again! :D

[hamsterjill]

43. Where did I say that WH staff were forced to donate their salaries?

I would be opposed to that, too.

[YvonneCa]

22. He could. But why would we ask that...

...of a President? Especially one who is not all that wealthy? (Yes, I know about the books. :7 )

[TTUBatfan2008]

27. Well, we aren't asking it...

It's the damn media. They had no problem with Bush taking his salary as well as giving his staffers raises AND giving his business buddies no bid contracts in Iraq that he and his friends were able to profit from. Cough...Carlyle Group...cough...Halliburton...cough.

[John Q. Citizen]

35. Got a link to the media asking Obama to do that? thanks.

[TTUBatfan2008]

36. It was from the press conference today...

Some stupid lady asked if Obama would lead the country by cutting his own salary.

[LiberalFighter]

56. Will that stupid lady accept a cut in her salary?

I doubt it.

[TTUBatfan2008]

38. Here's a link to an AP article on it...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iOh2ZouePb4m1Szadx_3zYbCh0wgD95SDGL07

Very last sentence:

"But when asked whether the president would take a pay cut, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Thursday said only: 'We'll check on that.' Obama's salary is $400,000."

[John Q. Citizen]

44. Thanks, I missed that. The US constitution seems to be the correct answer here to that question.

Clause 7: Salary

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.

The President's salary, currently $400,000 a year, must remain constant throughout the President's term. The President may not receive other compensation from either the federal or any state government.

[Vattel]

68. Oh suddenly the Constitution's text matters,

but not when it prohibits HRC from being SOS.

[John Q. Citizen]

73. Say what?

[Vattel]

78. nevermind,

the post wasn't directed at you.

[YvonneCa]

52. I agree. I saw the press conference...

...this morning. Seems the reporters need a litle educating. :7

[Renew Deal]

28. Obama isn't exactly filthy rich

He's just made money in the last few years from his books. His family needs an income.

[TTUBatfan2008]

30. I think...

when he leaves office he will end up one of the wealthiest Presidents. Bill made how much from speaking? $50+ million or something? We know there's no better speaker than Barack. He's gonna make a ton of cash once he leaves the White House. They enter the White House worth between $2-7 million according to the LA Times.

[Renew Deal]

32. What if that doesn't happen?

There are no guarantees in life.

[TTUBatfan2008]

34. Oh I know...

I'm not saying I think he should donate it. I think he's underpaid to be quite honest about it. Nixon's salary of $200,000 is the equivalent of more than $1 million in current dollars.

[wmbrew0206]

48. $400K is a pretty nice salary, especially when you have no living expenses

I think the girl's tuition at Sidwell Friends is the only real expense the Obama's have right now.

[phleshdef]

53. When you have what SHOULD be the most high stress job on the planet and if you are doing it right...

...who cares? I have no problem with President of the United States being a high paying job if the person doing it is earning it by actually taking care of the interests of hundreds of millions of Americans.

[wmbrew0206]

66. Neither do I, but remember that other Federal Employees salaries as based off of the POTUS

4 Star Generals, SecState, SecDef, Assistant SecState, Assistant SecDef, all have their salaries limited by what the POTUS salary is. If the POTUS receives a significant raise, so will most of the executive and upper middle managers in the Federal Government.

[TTUBatfan2008]

57. They have to pay for their food too...

Or at least that's what someone posted on here a while back I think.

[wmbrew0206]

62. They do have to pay for their own food, but no official dinners or lunches.

[TTUBatfan2008]

72. Right, just their normal groceries...

[wmbrew0206]

75. I would suspect that it is a greatly reduced rate though.

I would not be surprised to find out that the agencies in responsible for the White House, Congress, and other Federal Agencies in DC that have executive dining facilities probably buy "groceries" in bulk, thus lowering food expenses greatly.

I don't think the executive chief at the WH sends a someone down to the nearest Whole Foods every week with a shopping list and then presents the bill to the First Family.

[TTUBatfan2008]

79. You're probably right...

They likely do receive a reduced rate.

[Lucinda]

58. They have living expenses to pay in the WH. And I believe they still have a home in Chicago

[wmbrew0206]

63. Yes, but if they could afford the house on a Senator's Salary, they

can probably afford it on the POTUS's salary.

[Lucinda]

67. I believe they do have some WH expenses, such as food.

I see no reason for him have to forfeit any of his salary. It comes with the job.

[wmbrew0206]

69. I agree. I don't see any reason either.

Most people who serve in middle to upper management positions in the federal government are underpaid and make up for that by going to private industry after a while in federal employment and cash in on their understanding of the requirement and procurement procedures.

[Hippo_Tron]

77. I think all of the WH stuff including food is paid for by the taxpayers

[redstate_democrat]

59. Don't they still have a residence in Chicago? And bills that need to be paid there?

They have to pay for their children's college education one day. They have to save for retirement. They have to pay for their own food, clothing, necessities while in the WH. They have to pay for their own vacations, etc. He gets 400k in salary and has a fixed amount even for official air travel on Air Force One. Check the U.S. Code under I believe Title II - President/Executive Branch. It is all laid out there what is paid for and what is not.

[wmbrew0206]

64. Save for retirement? Seriously?

If your a POTUS, you don't have to worry about saving for retirement. Your book advance alone will be worth $5M to $10M. Not to mention all the boards you'll serve on which pay very well. Plus their is your retirement as a Federal Employee.

There is a budget for official travel on Air Force One, not a limit. Does it really make any sense for the Federal Government to tell the POTUS, "Sorry sir, but you can't attend the emergency World Leader Conference because you've already used up all your time on AFO?" It make a lot more sense to say. "Sir, it's only May and we've already used 60% of our budget allownace on AFO. Would you mind going to Camp David this weekend, rather than Chicago?"

[redstate_democrat]

71. Isn't a "budget" a fixed amount? I'm saying that all of these expenses are accounted for very

carefully. Some things are paid for and others are not.

And why wouldn't he want to actually save some money? He didn't come into office extremely rich. There is no guarantee that he will sell his soul and give a speech practically anywhere to make a buck. For some strange reason, I don't see Obama giving speeches at the Dubai Auto Dealers Conference for a quick buck when he leaves office.

[wmbrew0206]

74. A "budget" is normally a projected amount that you are expecting to spend over a certain time.

At least it is in the Federal Government. Budgets are not always fixed, and can be variable based on the situation at hand. Like I said above, it doesn't make much sense to tell the POTUS you can only spend X amount on travel. If a crisis pops up, the POTUS has to be able to travel even if he is over his budgeted amount.

A former President will never have to worry about making money. Pres. Obama might not have been "Cheney Rich" when he stepped into office, but he was doing very well, especially now based off book royalties. I see no reason that he won't write several more books once out of office and those advances and royalties would more than cover any expenses he might have supporting a lifestyle of a former POTUS.

I also expect he, as several other POTUS have done, will sit on a lot of boards of major corporations and/or foundations that will pay extremely well to have a ex-POTUS on the BOD. Thus avoiding having to give a speech at the dreaded Dubai Auto Dealers Conference.

[soccermomforobama]

3. The Constitution

His salary cannot be raised or lowered during his term

[WeDidIt]

4. Congress determines the pay of the president

It would take an act of congress to cut Obama's pay.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

9. The Constitution bars them from doing that.

So that they cannot reduce his salary as a revenge tactic.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

5. The Constitution says his salary cannot be increased or diminished.

He can donate it. The reporter is being attacked because it misunderstands what a pay freeze is, it shows she does not know the Constitution, and because it was an attempt at "gotcha" journalism.

[SunsetDreams]

6. You're right, he should symbolically freeze his salary

You want him to take a pay cut?

He didn't cut any salaries, he froze them.

[stray cat]

26. and his is currently frozen since 2001 and I suspect will not be increased with this congress

[SunsetDreams]

31. exactly n/t

[niyad]

7. do you understand the difference between a pay raise freeze and a pay cut?

he is instituting a pay RAISE freeze for his senior staff, with their full approval. please quit repeating the latest freeper meme.

[scheming daemons]

8. His pay *IS* frozen

He will make $400K per year for every year of his term.

He ALSO made it so his staff will make the same pay the entire term.

And your first sentence is incorrect. Only the congress can set the pay of the President, and they can only set it for the NEXT occupant - not the current one.


Obama literally has no capability to change his salary. He can choose to DONATE it, but he cannot change it.


Your OP shows an amazing ignorance of our Constitution.... as much as that dimwit reporter.

[kirby]

10. Come on...

Did you really need to attack the OP with as having an 'amazing ignorance of our Constitution'? I doubt many people know the Constitution prohibits changing the salary of the President during his term. The OP had a legitimate question about what is wrong with leading by example and the response that the Constitution does not allow that is a fine answer as to why he cannot do that.

[GarbagemanLB]

16. I expected nothing less. Attacking the poster and not the post seems to be the strategy around here.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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

[GarbagemanLB]

17. Yes, please make this into a racial issue. Thanks.

[atreides1]

12. You've Heard of the US Constitution?

It's the document that determines what the president and vice president are paid, along with other little requirements that have been missing for the last 8 years.


Pay Cut- when an employee has their compensation lessened for a myriad of reasons.

Pay Freeze- when compensation is kept at its original level throughout the duration of a job.

[rcrush]

14. If he asked for a modification to his own salary then he wouldnt be freezing his pay.

Since his pay is already frozen. Maybe reporters shouldnt ask stupid questions?

[Clear Blue Sky]

15. He could simply donate a portion back to the US Treasury.

[CTyankee]

19. The reporter should have done his/her homework to find out how the President's salary

was arrived at. By asking the question, the reporter showed a certain amount of laziness, an unwillingness to do a little work before spouting off at a White House press conference.

[suston96]

20. I don't want anybody's salaries "cut" or "reduced"......They all pay into Social Security and.....

....Medicare and federal and state taxes.

Sometime people make the silliest suggestions.

[backscatter712]

21. The actual salary of the President isn't particularly high.

I believe the official salary of the POTUS is $400,000 per year, plus some accounts for expenses, travel and so on.

Obama probably makes far more money from royalties for his books.

[ieoeja]

23. The President is underpaid. n/t

[stray cat]

24. It has been frozen for years and I think takes a vote from congress

It hasn't increased since 2001 and won't increase this year. It sounds like a freeze to me.

[Life Long Dem]

25. There's a pay freeze. Get it right.

[Cha]

29. Maybe 'cause Obama has the hardest

job in the world and we would pay him twice his salary to work on getting our country back into top shape if we could.

[sohndrsmith]

39. I don't think it's his choice. He could certainly put it in the bank and

use it philanthropically at the end of his 2nd term : ). He can put a freeze on the pay of his staff, but I'm pretty sure his earnings are not his to alter as he sees fit. I could be wrong, but if a President was capable of cutting his pay, it would seem plausible that he could raise it if he wanted to, too. My guess is that someone else (like Congress) is in charge of this matter.

[Uzybone]

40. This is idiotic

it was a dumb question as any fool should know the president cannot cut his pay.

Why is the first black president the one being asked to cut his pay? Why does the son of someone who was on welfare the one we are looking to for symbols of sacrifice?

[firedupdem]

42. Hello!

He has worked HARD for everything he's gotten. Not one thing has been handed to him on a platter. He doesn't need to cut shit. Next he and his wife and family will be asked to move to an apartment somewhere since foreclosure rates are high. Fuck That. He's inherited the worse mess we can imagine.

[rurallib]

45. Sounds like another FUX faux controversy

[yodermon]

41. I'm sure Obama will make charitable contributions from his personal income every year.

Subtract that from his salary and there's his "pay cut". Ta-daa!

[treestar]

46. Staffers who make 100K or more

Don't fall for this bait, it's irrelevant.

People who are as stupid as that chick should not rise that high in journalism that they can get into the White House.

[democrattotheend]

47. He doesn't have the power to do it

Congress sets the president's salary, and the Constitution says that the president's salary can't be raised or cut in the middle of a presidential term. So any legislation Obama signed raising or cutting the president's salary would not go into effect until his successor takes office.

[theboss]

49. I believe it is unconstitutional

I think he can refuse his paycheck. But he cannot alter it.

[WinkyDink]

50. Because the question was simply an in-your-face by the newly-emboldened Bush poodles.

[wmbrew0206]

51. The POTUS salary is also used as a measuring stick which federal

employees salaries are based off. If the POTUS salary is adjusted so will a lot of federal employees.

[ShortnFiery]

54. So now that FOX fly-weight "April Ryan" is ruling the news cycle?!?

Now I've seen it all. :puke: :thumbsdown:

[CakeGrrl]

60. There's a difference between "freeze" and "cut" - did Gibbs correct the MSM today?

Freeze: Staffers won't get increases from their current salary for now

Cut: Reducing a staffer's current salary so they're making less. That's not what Obama did.

Obama's salary is frozen unless Congress votes to give him a raise, which I doubt they'll do.

[sammym3]

61. Thank you. And why should he take a cut. Look what's facing him.

If he cuts his pay, a lot of white collar Feds with far less responsibilities would be making more than he is.

One thing that can be done immediately is to stop all the retention bonuses for Feds and all the special pays which get added onto their salaries for retirement benefits. Obama could either elimnate them altogether or make exclude them from base salary so that the extra money does not get figured into retirement benefits when these people retire. There are lots of ways to save money in the Executive Branch without taking draconian measures. But I think Obama does not need to take a pay cut...being the President at a time like this certainly deserves the salary at the current level.

[Still Sensible]

76. I don't believe that's true

If Congress votes to increase the President's salary, the change cannot be effective until the next President takes office because the Constitution says:

"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."

[Raine]

70. Why should he

he has the hardest job in the world and he is more than worth every cent he will be paid, all well earned.