A big myth is that America’s Inaugural festivities are privately-funded, and that the U.S. taxpayers don’t have to pick up a dime of the costs.
Yeah … that’s not even remotely true.
The federal government estimates that it will spend approximately $50 million for the inaugural weekend, and in addition to that money, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland have asked for $75 million from the feds to pay for the extra law enforcement and emergency services needed to deal with a crowd of over 2 million people.
What percentage of the event will be paid for by the privately-funded Obama Inaugural Committee?
Less than a third of the total costs, or roughly $50 million.
Interestingly enough, the swearing-in ceremony itself costs “just” $1.24 million – an amount that has become so small by Washington standards that we perceive it to be a bargain.
It’s not surprising, then, that legitimate questions of the appropriateness and necessity of the “Obamabration” price tag have arisen.
Obviously, it’s an event that needs to be marked for posterity, but at a time when the country faces increasingly perilous economic conditions and the threat of another Great Depression, Obama’s inauguration was the most expensive one ever.
It was also quite possibly the most secure event in American history, with some 40,000 law enforcement officers providing protection under the direction of the U.S. Secret Service.
Personally (and this is NEVER gonna happen), but if we were getting sworn in as President, we would have rolled up into the White House at noon, slapped our hands on a Gideon Bible from the hotel across the street, given our speech on TV (cheap and warm) and then ditched all the belles and balls and gotten down to business.
In fact, according to the U.S. Constitution, a Presidential swearing-in ceremony is redundant. By virtue of his election in November, Obama became President at high noon today whether he took the oath or not.
And frankly, that’s precisely the sort of low-key, low-cost inaugural we think America’s current situation called for.
As always we look forward to your thoughts …
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By Bill January 20, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Has there ever, and I mean ever, been an instance that you saw Obama (his campaign or his President-Elect Office, and now the Presidential Office) ever do anything for him that was not FIRST RATE AND THE MOST EXPENSIVE OPTION possible? From his staging to his choice of hotels, his vacations or his clothes, workout regime, everything is the best and cost is not considered.
What people will find out is that Obama is the classic narcissist…and cares only about himself. He is not remotely interested in anything else. People call him cool, and suave, but he is actually aloof, and only basking in the adulation he believes he is due. The only time he is ever riled up, or thrown off balance, is when HE is questioned. Welfare, war, terrorism, none of these things truly engages him outside of an academic argument. But when it comes to HIM….whoa!
So expect nothing but pretty pictures and photo ops…and grand schemes that will not work out.
You heard it here first.