Saudi Arabia's king was the most generous gift-giver, according to documents released by the State Department on Tuesday.
Saudi King Abdullah gave Obama, his wife and daughters nearly $190,000 in luxury baubles in 2009, including the single most valuable gift reported to have been given to U.S. officials that year: a ruby and diamond jewelry set, including earrings, a ring, a bracelet and necklace, for the first lady worth $132,000
But don't be looking for the first lady to be wearing the dazzling gems anytime soon. By law, most gifts to U.S. officials must be turned over to the government and the jewelry has already been sent to the National Archives.
MSNBC
A bribe? No. But with oil prices heading above $100 and the economy ready to tumble one of the few cards the President can play is using his influence to get OPEC to increase production.
By accepting these gifts the President is signaling to the SA king that what the king is doing is okay.
What Obama should have done, and it is not too late, is to return them while explaining that since the price of oil is too high and so destructive to the average American that he cannot accept them.
Don't hold your breath.
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Funny, I don't remember you getting this het up when it wasn't Obama receiving gifts from the Saudis:
ReplyDeleteWASHINGTON - For President Bush, the first family and Bush's top aides, the most generous foreign leader last year - by far - was Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.
Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, 2002.
The State Department's annual tally of gifts to administration officials shows that Abdullah gave them $127,600 in jewelry and other presents last year, including a diamond-and-sapphire jewelry set for first lady Laura Bush that was valued at $95,500.
The Saudi royal family's gifts dwarfed those of other world leaders, according to the tally, and easily eclipsed Abdullah's $55,020 in gifts in 2002. Abdullah has been Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler since 1996 after a stroke sidelined King Fahd.
All of Abdullah's gifts, and most others, sit in the National Archives. By law, federal employees must report all gifts received from foreign governments. The president and vice president and their families can't keep any gifts worth more than $285, which become federal property. While in office, however, they can take the items out on indefinite loan from the Archives.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0805-06.htm
Of course, thanks to you, we know that these gifts account for the rise in gas prices in the last 2 years of the Bush Administration.
Thanks for helping me with this expose, PPJ, perhaps we can work together against other menaces to the Republic in the future..........
Hello Dark Avenger…. Oops …. Harry Saxon.
ReplyDeleteI judge it wrong for any government official/worker/family member and their pets to receive any gift at any time at any place in any amount/value or description.
It is wrong.
Now, the run up of oil prices started in 2007 and parallels the Leftie Democrats taking control of Congress. Also during that time Lyin’ Nancy, aka San Fran Nancy, aka G5 Nancy bought stock in a company that, to be successful, depends on high oil and coal prices. Lyin’ Nancy also, in the spring of 2008, stopped three attempts by the House Republicans to pass laws encouraging drilling for oil.
Now, if you bothered to read the post and if you bothered to stay on subject, you would know that I said that Obama was not bribed.
The problem is that just by accepting the gift he creates an atmosphere of approval of the King’s actions. He has surrendered the bully pulpit.
Now, the run up of oil prices started in 2007 and parallels the Leftie Democrats taking control of Congress.
ReplyDeleteOr, Bush, realising that this was the time to serve his Saudi masters, (which, like Obama, he signalled by accepting the gifts) timed his inaction so that people like you would be drawn to come to the wrong conclusion.
Thanks for helping me clear that up.
Dark Avenger you are obviously trying to reframe the subject.
ReplyDeleteWhich is what Lefties do and why I tend to ignore you.
First, you seem to think that attacking Bush will somehow make your point.
It won’t. Accepting gifts is wrong. And if Bush was doing what the SA king wanted he used the Democrat congress to do it.
But at least the economy started strong under Bush. The economy currently is 30 fathoms down and sinking. And high gasoline prices is the reason.
But the real deal is this. When Obamie takes a gift the King thinks he has now bribed Obamie. And he wil act based on that belief.
Accepting gifts is wrong. And if Bush was doing what the SA king wanted he used the Democrat congress to do it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to say that I was being sarcastic, but thanks for demonstrating your inability to think straight on the subject.
You don't have a good day unless you can take at least one shot at Obamie, do you?
Don't answer, you'd just try to reframe my question to make you look good.
Later, tater.
Of course you weren’t serious. Of course you are smarter quicker faster better than anyone else.
ReplyDeleteDark Avenger, did you ever consider that both you and Harry Saxon have a cartoonish character as your moniker?
That both of you can’t resist disagreeing with me. And that both of you write the same way? You know, long quotations that have no relationship to the question at hand.
You are fooling no one. Catch a clue. You are both the same.