A question about campaigns

[S.V. Airlie]

If, as in this case, Michelle heads to fundraisers in AZ., I expect that it is funded by the DEC. However, as the secret service is required to guard the wife of the president, and in this case, has to be put up in motels etc,which pays those bills, the DEC or the government? Use any example you want. I only used Ms. Obama as an example as it is current. Just curious...I'm sure there is a system for payment, just don't know what.

[Norman Bernstein]

Well, for once, a reasonable question.

My understanding is that the Secret Service protection for the first family is always the responsibility of the government.... and that includes the cost of transportation, since you wouldn't want the first family travelling in coach seats on Jet Blue... that would make protection far more difficult.

However, on trips which are not specifically related to 'official business', the ground expenses of the first family are paid either by themselves (if it's a personal trip), or by the campaign (if it's a campaign trip). Thus, the Obama's vacation to Hawaii was paid for by them (hotel or property rental, food, eitc). ON a campaign trip, the campaign pays the ground expenses.

Admittedly, it's often hard to distinguish, in terms of practical effect, trips which are 'official' in nature, from trips which are 'campaign' in nature. If a President travels to speak to a crowd, and it's not explicitly a campaign trip, then the cost is borne by the gov't.... even if that trip has the net efgect of enhancing the President's chances for re-election. I don't see how you could draw a string distinction between the two, without unfairly limiting the President's access to public forums, which is indeed part of a President's job.

[Flying Orca]

I would suspect that the Secret Service's job is to protect the First Lady wherever she goes and whatever she does, therefore they would pick up the tab.

[S.V. Airlie]

Norman thanks for the response, but. you might want to note that, overall, I don't ask questions on a thread in the bilge whether they are reasonable or not.

[Nicholas Scheuer]

And when your heart-throb, Sarah Palin was on the campaign trail, the Secret Service went with her, too, SV Airlie. Of course that was OK with you, eh?

[S.V. Airlie]

Yup, and yours is/was her barely 18 yr old daughter. Nice!I bet you have to jump into a cold shower every time you see even a picture of that girl.You calling me Palin's heart throb (which I'm not) is like me calling Pelosi yours.Second thought, maybe I should. You two would make a sweet couple.

[Mrleft8]

What?

[S.V. Airlie]

An echo..?

[Gerarddm]

Now, now. A reasonable question was met by a reasonable response. Let's all just ignore all posts from #5 onwards.

[S.V. Airlie]

Ignored except Nicky brought up palin, not me, and he thinks she is my heart throb.RONFLMAO