Michelle Obama, Sasha to Vacation in Spain

By: Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics: First Family

(Credit: Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

The White House announced today that First Lady Michelle Obama and her younger daughter, Sasha, will visit Spain next week on a "private, mother-daughter trip" along with longtime family friends.

President Obama, as well as older first daughter Malia, will not be on the trip.

The announcement came after a denial from the White House to reports in Spanish media outlets that that the first family would all be vacationing in the southern Spanish resort city of Marbella.

A White House statement added that the first lady will visit with Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia during the trip.

The whole first family is scheduled to go on vacation this August to the Gulf Coast and to Martha's Vineyard.

Kevin Hechtkopf
Kevin Hechtkopf is CBSNews.com's politics editor.
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by ROYMAYNARD August 7, 2010 6:26 PM EDT: Well you can wash it any way you want, but right's , right and wrong , is wrong, and this is wrong. We have hungry kids in this country and families, we are feeding and helping most countries in the world now. What about our own peopl.e Spend money to feed them and take care of them, instead of paying for transportation, and body guards for some one who wants to go on vacation. Look at this picture , what is wrong with it. I grew up when we had to have a token to buy shoes and sugar, tires for your car, if you were lucky enough to have one, but that was alright everybody was ok with this because we were fighting for our lives, to stay free. There is so much waste in our Goverenment it is a sad shame. We give benefits to help people every where else in the world, what about people who are hungry here. During the 2nd. World War my Dad never turned anyone down who came to our door hungry, military man trying to get home from the war or tramp, as they called street people , back then. We were poor ourselves but we farmed and we canned and raised our own meat.I remember when we got down to one jar of greens one time and my parents wound not eat until I had. Laugh if you want to, but we need to take care of our own first.; Reply to this comment


by 19durango98 August 6, 2010 2:13 PM EDT: Once again the Obama Family and his administration are in the forefront of the media/political hype to demean and/or attack in anyway his presidential administration. Michelle's vacation, while funded by the tax payer as with all the expenditures within the budget, is no more than allotted to her as the first lady,and well deserving, to fund her vacation. The attack should be on the previous administration that caused the recession in the first place w/ waste of billions to initiate and now the government has to continue to fund, on an ongoing war which was a political strategy of optical illusion to successful deceive/distract the people from the real focus and cover up spending amongst other things that would not knowingly be authorized or approved of by the people and US Government non-subjective to that administrations policy used to achieve there ultimate goal.; Reply to this comment


by ebld154 August 4, 2010 9:17 AM EDT: This is ridiculous. How can anyone say that the family is taking a "well deserved" vacation? Again? How many vacations should one take per year, on our dime? My husband has worked for 10 years straight without a vacation. He gets one week per yr. and usually spends that week working someplace else. This year will be no different except for the fact that he may have to work two jobs since the economy is so rotten. The "first family" are no more deserving of a vacation than anyone else. Why don't they just stay home and save the money? The overspending needs to stop at the White House. As for their carbon footprint, it's now a big impression in the surface of the earth! And Mrs. O may not have quite the entourage that some like to claim she does, but she certainly has an entire team of people taking care of her. More than any other first lady in history. But not to worry Mrs. O. I and many others like me will stay home this summer, and enjoy the sprinkler in the backyard. Ahhh, what a great stay at home vacation!; Reply to this comment


by SmokeyJoe374 July 28, 2010 10:28 AM EDT: It looks fairly clear that Michelle Obama is fleeing the country in order to save face, because she and her husband are not on the wedding guest-list for Chelsea Clinton. Ha!! How does it feel, Michelle and Barry, to learn that your lies and cover-ups got you dis-invited to the biggest social event of the year? Ha! Now, kindly vacate the White House altogether. By the way, Barry, where are your passport, social security card, college transcripts? You're a phony.; Reply to this comment

by melsgolden July 27, 2010 5:19 PM EDT

Catmom?? It should not take a rocket scientist to figure out that perhaps a leader should lead by example. OUR NATION IS IN DEBT...AMERICANS ARE LOOSING THEIR JOBS...THE GULF IS FULL OF OIL...WE HAVE BORDER ISSUES...NOT TO MENTION THE MIDDLE EAST...IT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO ALL AMERICANS THAT ALL THIS PRESIDENT CAN DO IS VACATION, THROW PARTIES, AND SPEND MORE OF MY HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS ON ABSOLUTE BS!!

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by bcs2k August 1, 2010 1:15 PM EDT: People are not going to live under a rock 24/7 until all problems are corrected (that's because there will always be new problems coming down the pipe). That said, take a well deserved break first family. ENJOY QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY -- ENJOY YOUR VACATION!

by luddly-neddite July 27, 2010 12:53 PM EDT

While researching the untrue figures posted about Mrs Obama's staff, I came across some other things -

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/jul/03/letter-hateful-falsehoods-sustain-obamas-vicious/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128490874

We need to ALL work together to stop this climate of hate. Doesn't matter which side you're on. Hate does not help any of us.

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by melsgolden July 27, 2010 5:26 PM EDT: True...But did you request the same when Bush was president? The media and dems were very harsh on Bush as well. It simply comes with the job!!

by NoVacationHere July 27, 2010 12:50 AM EDT

First Lady Requires More Than Twenty Attendants

1. $ 172,2000 - Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and
Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)
3. $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and
White House Social Secretary)
4. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to
the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
5. $100,000 - Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
6. $90,000 - Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 - Lelyveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
11. $64,000 - Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events
Coordinator For The First Lady)
13. $60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $57,500 - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press
Secretary to The First Lady)
16. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special=2 0Assistant for Scheduling and
Traveling Aide to The First Lady)
17. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)
18. $43,000 - Tubman, Samantha (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $35,000 - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $35,000 - Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of
Correspondence for the First Lady)

(This is community organizing at it's finest.)
There has NEVER been anyone in the White House at any time who has created
such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First
Lady's social life. One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer
expense, when even Hillary, only had three; Jackie Kennedy one ; Laura Bush
one ; and prior to Mamie Eisenhower social help came from the President's
own pocket.

Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and
"First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air
Force One to Europe .

FRIENDS.....THESE SALARIES ADD UP TO SIX MILLION, THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($6,364,000) FOR THE 4 YEARS OF OFFICE????? AND WE ARE IN A
RECESSION????? WELL....MOST OF US ARE. I GUESS IT'S OK TO SPEND WILDLY WHEN
IT'S NOT YOUR OWN MONEY?????

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by bcs2k July 27, 2010 7:09 AM EDT: I'm not sure where you live but it's expensive to live in DC. Fortunately, we all recognize your bag of lies and half-truths (http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/m/michelle-obama-staff.htm). You should write fictional stories and make your life easier. Consider logging off as your lies have absolutely nothing to do with this mother-daughter trip to Spain. You failed.


by luddly-neddite July 27, 2010 12:45 PM EDT: Not true. This one has been part of the infernal email lies about the Obamas ever since people first heard of them. Obviously, people can say any thing they want on the internet, but my own opinion is - hate them if you want but back up your accusations with facts. Thanks.

I always wonder if the people who send this stuff around to all their friends ALSO send an apology and correction. I doubt it.

I also wonder how much damage has been done to our country by these constant chain letters.

by bcs2k July 26, 2010 9:32 PM EDT

Well said catmomtx! The endless complaining and predictable excuses (ervx, stormerF3, Quantrill13) are pointless and will make no sense. I have taken kids (family) on overseas trips and will continue to do so. So would the complainers (if they have any sense and can afford it). The President and First Lady should continue being wonderful parents for their children, That's their number one priority. I hope it serves as an example for the bitter whiners and complainers.

Have a safe trip First Family. By the way, after 8 years under dumb Dubyah Bush feel free to spend an extra day on my dime. I won't complain.

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by chattingwithu August 4, 2010 10:09 AM EDT: You will be spending a whole lot more than a dime on Obama's watch...so those trips may be OUT for YOU in the future thanks to this administration!

by edpbo July 26, 2010 7:54 PM EDT

catmomtx, thank you for reason. This president can't do anything to please people in this country to save his life, which I'm sure he's also trying to do, seeing as he is so hated. I have never in my 57 years on this earth seen a family so criticized or a man so demonized. I did not like George Bush or his policies, but I never let this consume my every waking hour. I actually survived those 8 grueling years. I am African American, and don't anyone try to tell me that the racial component is not the major factor. I know b...s... when I smell it. Some people need to get down on their knees and ask the creator to forgive them for their judgements and condescension about this man. And by the way, I happen to love the president and his family. They are fine people, regular, everyday folk, who were financially successful before he took office.

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by bcs2k July 26, 2010 9:40 PM EDT: I agree. While I thought Dubyah was Dumb, I kept living my life and staying positive. The sickos that demonize Obama are on the verge of being committed. IT's truly sad that they can't function like well-balanced adults. Of course they will never admit to being racist, or knowing racists. Most of them (let them tell it) believe slavery/jim crow/segregation never happened and all was peachy keen after the Pilgrims Thanksgiving day meal. They're too funny.... lol


by chattingwithu August 4, 2010 10:12 AM EDT: Then you didn't pay attention during the Bush years because the man couldn't breath without scorn from the PRESS! Noone HATES Obama they don't like his POLICIES! Honestly stop using race as an excuse. It IS possible that someone BLACK can have a bad policy/plan for AMERICA! And this man does!

by Quantrill13 July 26, 2010 5:05 PM EDT

Good grief, that's all these Obama's do, is vacation, vacation, vacation, vacation. Now its Mz. Obama and child. I wonder how her garden is doing this summer? That is the only thing I've ever seen the "first lady" do, except put down fat people and tell them they need to diet. She is a busy lady, and I guess needs yet another vacation out of the country to rest up. Whew!

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by bcs2k July 26, 2010 9:36 PM EDT: Most fat people put their own self down. They lack the discipline to eat reasonable portions and exercise. Take it from me (I weigh 175 lbs but once tipped scales at 220. I lost 75 lbs in fat and gained 20 pounds of muscle) -- a former fat man.