Comments on: Should Michelle Receive a Paycheck?

By: brian

brian — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:30:38 +0000

I do not believe she should get a pay check for being first lady. When did Bush’s wife ever get a check? Did Clinton’s wife ever get a pay check? If i am correct Obama is making close to $400,000.00 a year, that money then gets banked. He is in office for 4 years that is 1,600,000.00 roughly estamated before taxed, if he even gets taxed. Why should she get money when she’s not in charge? The government pays for everything they want. I don’t get a check for being a citizen, why should she get a dime for doing nothing. Might as well be on wellfare.

By: rose

rose — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:02:46 +0000

What is her salary? Is she so much better than previous First Ladies and in what way? NO, she should not receive a paycheck. What makes her so special?

By: Shaun

Shaun — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:42:41 +0000

She doesn’t have a job. She volunteered to not have a job. She knew what she was doing. If she doesn’t like it, gee, that really sucks. ::rolls eyes::

By: Robert A.

Robert A. — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:36:29 +0000

With all the perks she’s getting she should be paying us. When was the last time you ate $100 a lb steak. No other presidents wife ever got a paycheck and this in no exception. Leave it to the Liberals to try and screw the taxpayers for money.

By: Mark S. McGrew

Mark S. McGrew — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:13:03 +0000

Michelle Obama is NOT a lawyer. She has NOT BEEN A LAWYER since 1993, when she was put on “Court Ordered” inactive status.
Go to: http://www.iardc.org Click on Lawyer Search at the top left. Then in the next window type in Obama only.
The World can see that Michelle Obama was a lawyer from 1989 to 1993.
The World will also see that Barack Obama’s license is also on inactive status.
She doesn’t deserve any salary from the tax payers.

By: Dee

Dee — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:37:29 +0000

There is certainly a place for a debate about unpaid female workers, and it may well be the case that the question of whether or not a First Lady should be remunerated for her role highlights this.

There are any number of other women in positions of prominence who could bring this important issue to the fore and start a debate should they choose to do so. I look forward to hearing their views and comments.

In the meantime, Michelle has more than enough on her plate getting to grips with her position, and settling herself, her children, and her husband into their new life, with the added burden of having detractors circling overhead waiting to pounce on her for the slightest thing that may well have gone unremarked on/unnoticed in the case of her predecessors…..

…. I maintain the view that Michelle will assume her role and the duties and responsibilities therein, with passion and commitment. No salary necessary or expected as was the case with the previous 43 First Ladies….

(On a separate note, here’s wishing my fellow Capricorn, Michelle, the happiest of birthdays.)

By: readbooks

readbooks — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:27:35 +0000

The quesiton of a paid first lasy highlights the role of legions of unpaid female workers that society depends on. Whether it be reproductive labour or throwing the dinner parties that land a husband a corporate promotion, women do unpaid work. If the argument relies on the fact that many such women choose such a role, perhaps because a corporate big-shot for a husband provide more income and stability for the fmaily as a whole than she would make in the paid market, then the obvious fact that a first lady has no such choice means she is essentially doing forced free labour. It is impossible for her to continue doing the job she was trained to do previous to the role. Book deal? Great. But not waht she chose to do when her husband ran for political office. The honour of serving her country? Well, then why pay the president? Or civil workers, or military generals, etc. This society relies on unpaid, “freely-chose” labour of women, unfair whether it is the cashier who is forced into working through lunch, or the more visible example of the spouse of a political figure.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:35:27 +0000

My question is: how much time do the responsibilities take? Could she possibly act as the First Lady *and* hold down a paying job? It seems like not.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:01:42 +0000

I don’t think the first lady should get a paycheck. Although she becomes a public figure, she doesn’t actually have any mandatory responsibilities while her husband is in office. (She can use her fame to promote causes of her choosing, but she’s not required to do so.) Also, the first lady is not appointed, elected, or hired. She is just the person who happens to be the married to the president. But why does it matter? As first lady, following Obama’s presidency, she will have the opportunity to write a book and give speeches for huge sums of money. I don’t think any first lady will ever have to worry about her financial status.

By: Gloria5

Gloria5 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:05:41 +0000

I can’t tell you how annoyed I am at women who think Michelle Obama should get a pay check. I get a pay check. Michelle Obama will be First Lady, the wife of the President. Sorry, but her job is to support him, her children, and volunteer her time to her country like any good citizen. Offering money to Mrs. Obama for the chance to give to her country is an insult to her.