UPDATE, December 2, 2008: Obama aide denies ring story
The communications for Obama's transition, Dan Pfeiffer, flatly denied a Daily Mail report that Obama is buying an exotic $30,000 ring to thank his wife "for her support during the election."
The report is sourced to an anonymous spokesman for the manufacturer of the rhodium ring, who is quoted claiming, "Our agent in the United States was asked by Mr. Barack Obama about the ring because he wants it as a thank-you gift for his wife, Michelle, for her support the last two years."
The spokesman is not named in the story, and there seems to be no other evidence for the claim.
The report is "not true," said Pfeiffer in an e-mail. He didn't elaborate.
Enrico Gamba, a spokesman for the jeweler, Bosco Giovanni Srl, declined to comment on the story.
"I don't confirm any news," he e-mailed.
Gamba sent a longer, but also unclear, statement to an AOL News blogger, saying that "because of reports so wrong and clearly different from the reality of our statements, we decided to not issue [a] statement on this matter."
Is the report of the $30,000 ring a fabrication, like the Waldorf-Astoria Iranian caviar whopper?
In that case, the New York Post printed a retraction. It was clear the story was false.
If the report on the ring is also shown to be wrong, I would expect the paper to do the same again.
When Pfeiffer e-mails Politico, and without elaboration, writes "not true," that's not very clear. What's "not true" about the story? Everything or a detail?
Gamba's statements are bizarre. First, he says what amounts to "no comment." Then, in a longer explanation, he says that because the story is so untrue the jeweler isn't going to say it's untrue.
That's weird.
I expect the Obama thugs will convince the jeweler to issue a statement completely and clearly denying the story.
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The Obamas reportedly aren't feeling our pain.
From the New York Post:
The country's economy is in shambles, but President-elect Barack Obama is reportedly sparing no expense when it comes to bling for his first lady.
Obama is giving wife Michelle a $30,000 diamond-encrusted Harmony ring made of "black gold" - rhodium - the world's most expensive metal, London's Daily Mail reported online last night.
Made by Italian designer Giovanni Bosco, the pricey thank-you ring will be ready in time for the inauguration, the report said.
"Our agent in the United States was asked by Barack Obama about the ring because he wants it as a thank-you gift for his wife, Michelle, for her support the last two years," a spokesman for the designer said.
..."We have a select number of clients in the United States, Europe, Russia and the Middle East, and our prices, as a result, reflect the wealth of our customers," the spokesman said.
The Obamas have earned their wealth. They have a right to spend it however they see fit.
Perhaps Barack Obama would rather splurge on an extravagant ring for his wife than invest his money in the market. If he goes forward with his proposed tax hikes on the rich, his presidency is sure to have a crippling effect on the already limping economy. There's no incentive to invest in businesses. The outlook is so bleak with an Obama presidency looming.
Still, these reports of a $30,000 "thank-you" ring come at a bad time.
Although a $30,000 "thank-you" ring is a pittance compared to that $4 million "forgive me" ring Kobe Bryant gave to his wife, it sends the wrong message given that so many Americans are struggling economically right now.
With more and more people losing their jobs and their 401(k)s being decimated while Obama preaches about spreading the wealth around, it just seems inappropriate for Obama to be dumping so much of their wealth on Michelle's finger.
Remember what Michelle had to say in a stump speech she delivered at UCLA early in the primaries?
Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you put down your divisions. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed.
You have to stay at the seat at the table of democracy with a man like Barack Obama not just on Tuesday but in a year from now, in four years from now, in eights years from now, you will have to be engaged.
Obama will REQUIRE you to be engaged and shed your cynicism. No comfort zone for you.
It's hard not to be cyncial when Michelle is being so demanding of Americans, insisting that Barack will "never allow you to go back to your lives as usual," as she's being treated to expensive jewelry.
Do the Obamas expect from themselves what they are requiring from the American people?
They don't seem to be getting with the program.
Why not donate the cost of the ring, sacrifice, be less selfish?
As a "thank-you" gift, Obama should consider buying Michelle a respectable Republican cloth coat.
4 comments:
The Obamas are hypocrites. They could have given this money to a Chicago neighborhood organizer to use to the benefit is its citizens. They are NOT going to walk the walk. The next four years are going to be a disaster.
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 12/02/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.
I wouldn't get to carried away with this one, folks. It's probably much ado about nothing.
Michelle and Barack have worked hard to balance their check book. If he wants to lavish her with a gift what is that to anyone. A man needs to show appreciation to his wife and Michelle has given selflessly to the cause of the Presidential race. Congratulations, and may God bless them in the White House.
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