Seriously Mr. President, is all this necessary?

[MadHound]

I understand that presidents need to travel once in awhile. But this seems a bit over the top to me.

"Mumbai: The US would be spending a whopping $200 million (Rs. 900 crore approx) per day on President Barack Obama's visit to the city.

"The huge amount of around $200 million would be spent on security, stay and other aspects of the Presidential visit," a top official of the Maharashtra Government privy to the arrangements for the high-profile visit said.


<http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/us-to-spend-200-mn-a-day-on-obama-s-mumbai-visit-64106?cp>

I understand the need for security, but taking 3,000 people along with you? That's more than simple security. That's a party, one that is costing us at least a billion or more.

I understand the need for diplomacy and personal visits, but frankly taking a trip this expensive, at a time when so many people are suffering from our economy, well, it is tone deaf to say the least.

[still_one]

1. Before we start dumping, what have they done for past presidents, or is this a precedent? /nt

[snappyturtle]

2. I look at it as being a bit insensitive too. Couldn't the Mumbai

officials travel to Washington?.....A state dinner and security for the officials has gotta be cheaper.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Yes, but the U.S. will save money

by arranging to send even more U.S. jobs to India.

Wait ... I have to go re-check my math on this.

:hi:

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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

[pdxmom]

5. Jake Tapper tweeted yesterday that this meme was nonsense. This

comes from some unnamed official in India. How would they know what the costs are? Reminds me of the nonsense about Michelle Obama's trip, which was also a lot of garbage designed to create an uproar.

[MadHound]

8. Well, apparently they are taking over the entire Taj Hotel,

That's a chunk of change right there. And if they are truly taking 3,000 people with them, then I can see how the bills can be quickly run up.

[liberalmuse]

9. Thought so.

Some 'unnamed' official from India. Rove? :rofl:

[WinkyDink]

6. Is this the 82nd Airborne? "3,000 people"?? I don't buy this story.

[liberalmuse]

7. OMG, really? REALLY?

Let's talk about Bush II and all the expenses he racked up before we EVEN start on an actual Competent President who is doing his job.

[MadHound]

10. So we can't hold a sitting president accountable for over the top expenses,

Because the previous president also went in for expensive trips? Sounds like a convenient way for nobody to be held accountable for anything.

Speaking of holding accountable previous presidents, wasn't it this administration that has let Bushboy and his administration off the hook for actual crimes against humanity? Never mind padding the expense account.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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

[CBR]

12. ...

[butterfly77]

14. LOL!

:rofl:

[MrScorpio]

13. Pure crap

Sounds like something that Fox News or the Onion would write.

They need to get better journalists at that Indian paper.

[CBGLuthier]

15. Wow, I am shocked that someone would post this BULLSHIT as fact

Truly amazed me to see that you have more than 26 posts. I am quite sure you are most certainly not a troll but why the fuck do you believe every RW lie you hear?

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/india.asp

[dionysus]

16. at least we're back to using retread complaints about the cost of presidential travel.

things are getting back to normal around here...
:rofl:

[MineralMan]

17. Check your facts, there MadHound.

Spreading incorrect information isn't a virtue. It always comes back to bite you, since DU has lots of decent researchers here. Of course, if your goal is to further bash President Obama, I guess it doesn't matter all that much.

[Gman]

18. The story is bullshit. Why are you buying it?

[uncommon]

19. That number came from an unidentified "official" in India - it is NOT accurate.

This is a right wing talking point.

Do your homework.

[JCMach1]

20. 200M rupees maybe... that's around 4.5 million $$$ a day... that's believable with all the security

Article needs some fact checking

[bigwillq]

21. You sound like Michelle Bachman.

:eyes:
The price tag is inaccurate. It will not cost that much.

[Stinky The Clown]

22. That seems an outrageous exaggeration, if not an outright falsehood.

No way on earth could they spend $200M per DAY on a trip, even if (and I doubt it) 3,000 people went. Think about that.

[Skinner]

23. Factcheck.org has debunked this.

http://factcheck.org/2010/11/ask-factcheck-trip-to-mumbai

Unfortunately, the previous post in this thread linking to factcheck was removed due to a personal attack.