Obama Asia trip expensive, but not as pricey as some say

[mgc1961]

WASHINGTON — The conservative blogosphere and media megaphones are trumpeting "news" that President Barack Obama's trip to India will cost U.S. taxpayers $200 million a day, but there's no basis in fact for the reports, and history suggests that they're false.

First, the source of the report: an unidentified Indian government official. The Press Trust of India, a news agency, reported this week that Obama's three-day trip to India would cost $200 million a day and include 3,000 people.

" '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," according to the news agency.

The report was posted prominently on the conservative website Drudge Report. Conservative bloggers such as Michelle Malkin posted it without question. Conservative commentator Glenn Beck multiplied it for the rest of Obama's four-country trip, saying it will cost taxpayers $2 billion. And on and on.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/11/05/103290/obamas-asia-trip-expensive-but.html#ixzz14Vlxeko3

I'll bet the knuckleheads who are howling about Presidential travel abroad for bogus economic resasons have little experience in the realm of domestic travel security and logistics too.

[COLGATE4]

1. They're not concerned about the 'price' of Obama's trip. It's merely

the latest in a unbroken string of attempts to play 'gotcha' with the President. And don't worry - the fact that very little (if any) of this is true will in no way affect the thousands of Goobers who breathlessly wait for Shammity's or Rush's latest fabrication with bated breath (while drooling down their wife-beater undershirts).

[Historic NY]

2. Of course CNN debunked it...but has anyone else.

[Skittles]

3. he is the friggin' PRESIDENT

I believe part of the job description is WORLD TRAVEL