Georgia Democrat, John Barrow, questions President Obama’s $100 million trip to Africa
In a rare public criticism from a fellow Democrat, President Obama was urged to reconsider a planned trip to Africa later this month, noting that $100 million price tag send the wrong message in the wake of sequestration.
“A trip of this magnitude isn’t unusual,” said Rep. John Barrow, Democrat from Georgia. “But these are hard times.”
Barrow referred to recent reports in the Washington Post, which estimated the upcoming trip to Africa would cost taxpayers upwards of $100 million – he said that’s almost the exact amount of negative impact from the sequester on his home state’s economy.
“$100 million could be better used to keep folks on the job,” said Barrow, who earlier this year decided against a 2014 bid for U.S. Senate in Georgia.
Here is Barrow’s full speech from the House floor:
A safari in Tanzania (like the one in 2011) was originally scheduled to end this summer’s African trip that begins on June 26, which reportedly had to be nixed when reporters began asking questions about the snipers who would be on the safari to protect the Obamas from potential animal attack.
The trip includes a possible visit to the ailing Nelson Mandela.
John Barrow says the $100 million trip to Africa by the Obamas looks bad
THE KENYAN NEEDS TO SPEND TIME TRYING TO “MEND FENCES” WITH HIS SO-CALLED, “FAMILY,” IN AFRICA.
IN AMERICA, black men HAVE A REPUTATION OF BEING PANHANDLERS. SO, IT IS EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO HAVE AN OLDER “HALF-BROTHER” – Malik Abongo Obama – WHO SEEMS TO BE SO DESPERATE FOR CASH HE HAS TO TRY AND SELL LETTERS FROM HIS FAMOUS “HALF-SIBLING” AT $15K A-PIECE.
IF THE KENYAN HAD SENSE, HE WOULD KNOW A WAY TO SILENCE “BIRTHERS” WOULD BE TO HAVE A PUBLICALLY LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AFRICAN-BORN SONS OF Barack Obama, Sr. BY IGNORING Malik AND THE OTHERS [“George,” ETC], THE KENYAN IS SAYING HE KNOWS “Obama blood” DOES NOT FLOW THROUGH HIS VEINS.
IF TAXPAYER FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE USED FOR THIS TRIP, THE KENYAN DEFINITELY NEEDS TO GO TO KENYA. Nelson Mandela IS AT THE END OF HIS LIFE – THERE IS NOTHING WORTHWHILE TO BE GAINED FROM A VISIT.
CHRISTOPHER ALLEN HORTON