Three Weird Things in Barack Obama's Financial Disclosure.

[babylonsister]

http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=05&year=2010&base_name=three_weird_things_in_barack_o

Three Weird Things in Barack Obama's Financial Disclosure.


$1600 worth of belly rubs.


The White House has disclosed the president's financial situation, which has not really changed since the campaign. Short story: He's made a ton of money off of his books. But there were three pretty funny disclosures in the document {PDF}:

1. The Nobel Prize: The president gave away the $1.4 million in prize money, but he kept the tchotckes: "Noble medal and diploma (Value not readily ascertainble)."

2. Is Bo a liquid asset? However, there was no problem ascertaining the value of Bo, the Obama famly's Portugese water dog, a gift from the late Sen. Ted Kennedy and his wife Victoria. Bo is valued at $1,600.

3. Michelle gets paid. Perhaps the strangest note is this bequest, the "Henry G. Freeman Jr. Pin Money Fund":

Mr. Henry G. Freeman Jr. died in 1917.... Mr. Freeman's will provided that ... certain charitable income interests would be created an an annuity of $12,000 per year would be paid to each First Lady during her husband's term as president.

Apparently, Freeman was looking for a roundabout way to increase the salary of the president, who he felt was paid a "miserable pittance." Barbara Bush was the first first-lady to receive the payment after a court battle around the fund, which became active in 1989. Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush also accepted the payments, and donated them to charity.

Aspiring First Dudes shouldn't worry: It looks like the fund isn't picky about the gender or even marital status of the first partner, assigning the annuity to "to the lady termed the first lady in the land; that is, the President of the United States {sic} wife, or anyone representing the president as such, should he not be married or should she die during his administration."

-- Tim Fernholz

[Cha]

1. Thanks, babylonsister..interesting

about Henry Henry G Freeman's will..how it didn't become active until 1989 and then it wasn't received until 1992 albeit retroactively.

I was trying to find his bio but all that comes up is his "will".

The detactors are ready to whine no matter how Michelle spends her "salary".

[Bitwit1234]

2. Not knowing this was given to the two bush ladies

bet when the republicans hear of it they will burn up the blogs panning Mrs. Obama.

[Old Troop]

3. Having had dogs all my life, Bo should be on the debit side

for all the emotional support Obama needs to provide.

[Kber]

5. Not to mention the maintenance costs

I just spent 600 to keep my "free" shelter kitten alive through a serious but passing illness.

[Jennicut]

9. I spent about $700 on my cat. He had a heart murmur.

Wasn't able to save him though...

[Drunken Irishman]

4. Ugh. The term First Dude can't die soon enough.

[Clio the Leo]

7. I was HOLDING my breath for the last 15 seconds of the Preakness...

.... having to listen to coverage of the winning horse being named after that Palin Woman's husband would have been a fate worse than death!

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown2010/news/story?id=5196057


And for those who hadn't heard, "First Dude's" dam (Mother) is named "Run Sarah Run" ... his sire (father) is .... "Stephen Got Even."

Irony?

[Clio the Leo]

6. Put the Nobel prize on ebay...

.... WE will tell him how much it's worth. ;)

[Red State Rebel]

8. Does it say if Michelle is donating hers? n/t