Tuesday, October 6, 2009

"Sacrifice" is in the Eye of the Beholder


In professional sports, only a comparative handful make it to the top of their game.

There's only one Tiger Woods.

Millions of people aspire to be movie stars, but only a handful are household names.

There's only one Tom Hanks.

Likewise, only a small handful of politicians make it to the top of their game: President of the United States.
No one denies or should deny Barack Obama, nor his wife, the perquisites of power. That comes with the office. So, when we hear that the trip to Copenhagen for Barack and Michelle cost the taxpayer between $1.1 and $1.4 million dollars, we don't begrudge the Obamas the finest personal protection in the world. And certainly no one expects the Leader of the Free World to fly coach!

First class trip, first class accommodations, first class cuisine...no problem with any of that. POTUS and FLOTUS represent the people of the United States of America, the world's last great superpower, perhaps the greatest nation on Earth, perhaps the greatest in the history of the world.

So, while ensconced in the lap of luxury, would it be too much to ask our representatives to knock off the phony self deprecation? The idea that Michelle knows anyone who thinks that her trip to Europe was a "sacrifice" of any kind is highly unlikely, especially considering the price tag on the their latest jaunt to Europe.

No more poor little rich girl, okay Michelle? Wear your $600 sneaks to charity events and take Air Force One for a spin whenever it suits your fancy. But, maybe your "sacrifice" could be just stop talking about it for the next four years?

A grateful nation salutes you!

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