Those are some spendy shoes to be sporting in these economic times.

Let 'em eat cake, I say!

First Lady Michelle Obama steps out in Lanvin sneakers and they're only $540!

I always try to dress way better than others when I go help at the food bank, too!
(not!)

Quite honestly, is this all the conservatives have to complain about? The Obamas have earned their money and they can spend it any way they want. They didn't claim to not have money and I am not sure that those people at the food bank picking up their food care whether her shoes cost five dollars or 2000 dollars. The important thing is that she was there donating her time to help fellow Americans have food, isn't it?

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

It is their money to spend anyway they want too, But I don't believe I could ever spend that much of any kind of garment whether it be shoes, pants, dress , shirt. Guess I'm just a cheap shopper . Heck I wouldn't spend 540.00 on all of it together ( pants, shirt, dress, shoes, etc ) I don't buy into this label stuff. You are not judge by ME on what you wear or don't wear. I look a lot deeper than this.

If I had their money I would have the best made shoes, purses, clothes. I would have a very expensive haircut, my jewelry would shine and my teeth would be impeccable.

People work hard to EARN their money. She is not throwing caviar down the drain. Why should she NOT have a pair of expensive comfortable well made shoes. I bet her feet feel a better than mine after being on them for hours.

Find something else to complain about. Nobody tells you what you can spend your HARD EARNED money on and if they did...ho boy the roof would EXPLODE.

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

The point is that Obama has been talking about the need for everyone to tighten their belts, and during the campaign she lamented the high cost of things like dance lessons and said she knew how hard it was to make ends meet.

I'm a capitalist and have absolutely no problem whatsoever with people spending their hard-earned money. Personally, I do think it's wasteful to spend so much on something as insignificant as shoes. I don't put a lot of stock in my belongings - I'm someone who would rather use my money to "do" than to "have". If I were to have to chose between spending $500 on a trip or $500 on shoes, the trip would win hands down. I'm really not into lining the pockets of elite designers - I'd much rather buy something of solid quality at a reasonable price than something that can only be labeled as a vanity item.

It's not *that* she is spending her own money that makes me roll my eyes at this. It's the choices she makes. To show up to give homeless and out-of-work people a much-needed meal in something so 'designer' is just, IMHO, in poor taste. If I were going to a picnic with the people who had just lost their job, I wouldn't pack lobster and fine wine for myself, kwim?

It's not the only thing I can find to talk about, and it's not just a diversion because there are no issues with which to find fault. It's just an interesting window into what the family that is running our nation places a lot of importance on.

I value people having the freedom to spend their own money on the things *they* value. I just think it was in poor form to sport such extravagance in the presence of people who have nothing. The term "Limousine Liberal" comes to mind.

Comfortable shoes are worth whatever they cost.

What ugly shoes!! How come ugly is always expensive?

__________________
Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

Well, I would venture to say that very few if any of those at the food bank knew that her shoes were designer or from K mart or how much they cost. I might be mistaken but isn't this a tenet of the conservatives...that someone might tell them how to spend their hard earned money? That someone would tell them they need to pay more taxes? Wasn't there an argument here about people who have worked hard to earn their money and stature in life not being allowed by the "socialist" candidate to spend it the way they wanted. Weren't they being punished for working hard to have the money to buy 500 dollar shoes?

And not only was the First Lady "having" but she was "doing" as well.

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

This conservative Republican doesn't really care what she spends her own money on.

I wouldn't have a clue what those shoes cost if I saw someone wearing them on the street so I'm doubtful that the homeless/out of work people she was visiting knew.

A woman I know who is a CPA and always beautifully dressed had on a really cute pair of shoes the other night and I was surprised when she told me she got them at Payless. I can't tell the difference btwn. a $15 pair and a $450 pair of shoes. I just know what I like.

And I second what susiecat said -- I think they're ugly

__________________
Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

All political points asside...that whole outfit she's wearing is plain old pitiful looking! If I saw someone wearing that same outfit at the mall, I'm quite sure I'd turn to my husband and make a comment about how ugly the outfit is!

Hell I look better wearing my $40 Skechers, $30 jeans and a $10 blouse from Target for Pete's sake!

I agree that they are ugly. To me, it just seems wasteful and over the top.

If they were attractive I might *almost* be able to understand. lol I still wouldn't wear $540 shoes to serve homeless people a meal, though.

Good shoes have value - no doubt about that. But something tells me that these weren't purchased because of the awesome arch support they provide. These were a vanity purchase.

I agree too those are ugly and dont care how comfortable they are. goes along with that show where the guy and girl "teach" people how to dress. Yeah they give these people the money to spend but heck they make them go to high dollar stores to spend it. $100+ for a shirt, nope i couldnt do it. that and her attitude annoys me and now she's in commercials so have to see her more

__________________
Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:
http://bookcrossing.com

My other favorites
www.paperbackswap.com
www.wheresgeorge.com
www.geocaching.com

I don't know what the fuss is all about. I have three pair myself. Who cares that 15% of the people who work for DH are now in the food bank line. I'm happy to commiserate with them over the perils of trying to afford dance class AND put food on the table. I know JUST where they're coming from. Really...... I grew up poor and by golly, I'm NOT going back to THAT.

I need to look good while hubby is telling people how they need to hunker down and how difficult these times are. I've got money and I'm going to FLAUNT IT!!! So THERE!!!

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Now that she is first lady, do you think she actually has to pay for many of her designer label items? While they may retail for $540, I would be shocked to hear that that is what they cost her. Designers give away tons of their stuff in hopes that a celebrity (which she is now one of the most visible ones) will choose to wear their item and be photographed. Designer's couldn't begin to buy the free publicity that their labels and current lines are getting every time someone chooses to harp on this topic.

__________________
I dream to escape!

I'm sure that she has to pay. Even though she's not elected, there are rules on what can be accepted as gifts.

I didn't care how much Pailin's clothes cost and don't care about Michelle's either.

__________________
Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

I guess it's possible that Mrs. O hasn't a clue how much the shoes cost. If that's so, I'll give her a pass on this one.

Who knows? As ugly as they are, she actually might have thought they *were* shoes that only the most down and out among us might wear.

I really don't think its anyone's business how folks spend their own hard earned money. I don't always understand it but.... I saw on the news today that "regular" folks were lining up in the rain to buy Kanye West sneakers that cost $300 and go on sale tomorrow! Different strokes...

Personally, it's not the idea of someone spending their own money on something. This "someone" is the First Lady of our country. She (and her DH) tried to come off as just like you and me, during the presidential campaign. Furthermore, we are in very tough economic times, and every time you hear President Obama speak, he tells you what "difficult times" we are in, and the "difficult decisions" that people have to make. For his wife to wear sneakers that cost $540, well, that just doesn't fit in with the tone of the country. Sort of like when we have a Nat'l tragedy, you (leadership roles) don't still go on and whoop it up as if nothing has happened. Even tho it may not effect them directly, which clearly it does NOT, as the First Lady and POTUS, they should consider the message and image they are sending. That's MY point.

As an aside, I think her taste in clothing, shoes, you name it.....um, rather stinks. But, like you said......different strokes.

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

It is sad that just because she is the first lady.any people expect her to live like a bag lady. If I bought expensive shoes, it would be okay because I am not in the white house? She is not poor and she should not be afraid to live like she has some money. That is just crazy!

__________________
"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

For her to spend $540 on shoes would probably be about equivalent to me spending $5.40 for shoes. I think they paid taxes on something like $4 million last year if I'm not mistaken...HAHAHA!

It IS 'hard' (scratch that...'impossible' is a better word) to think that Michelle's statement during the campaign that she was an off-the-rack shopper was sincere.

I don't buy for a minute that she bought those shoes for "comfort." That's silly.

I find her choice to wear those shoes in the recent surroundings tacky, tacky, tacky.

It's getting harder and harder for me to think that she isn't all about her image. And I see that image taking a nose-dive as she opts for the highest end items/maintenance at every turn while the country is in dire straits financially. Sure she CAN. Sure she has the money. But how about a little discretion?

__________________
"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

No, Gov. Palin tried to say she was one of us. Pres and Mrs. Obama never hid the fact that they had money.
The image is that she wore tennis shoes, I didn't see the price tag on them. I don't see what the hassle is. I get what you are saying, I guess. But I don't see that anyone else here is using the same logic towards Sen. McCain's wife, Cindy or to Rush Limbaugh and his 3000 dollar suits or expensive cigars. I don't think that Sean Hannity is wearing suits made by Target and when I saw the RNC chairman speaking about how why he wouldn't be jealous of President Obama because they were both leaders (of course one is the leader of the Free World and the other is leader of a political party badly in need of good leadership)..I did not see Sears on his suit. I saw Brooks Brothers or someone who had their suits special made.

The money they make is theirs...the problems you see with Mrs. Obama's shoes is odd to me. First it is her teeth, then her shoulders, now her sneakers and how ugly her outfit is. I would think that the most important thing would be how, if at all, the Republican Party is ever going to pull itself together. Quit worrying about how much the President spent on his dinner or his wife's flowers or if they will use their garden or whatever the dis of the day is. (that is general you not anyone here, of course).

The "image" that the President's wife is presenting is that she is working in a food bank. The tag that showed how much she spent on her sneakers was not readily seen by the naked eye. The message that she was sending was to get into your community and help any way you can....never mind the dress code - speaking of which, I didn't know there was one when you helped at the food bank.

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

Coming from someone who hates everything about the President, it doesn't surprise me that you hate everything about the First Lady. I don't care want to know what you think about the kids or the dog.

$540 for a pare of shoes isn't outrageous. You can do a lot worse. (Sarah Palin wears much more expensive shoes.)

Maybe the first family should move into a single wide so that they can be more like "some" Americans.

i cant believe such ugly shoes cost that much money. If I would of saw them and didnt know the price i would of thought they were a blue light special...lol

steph

__________________
IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/my2cuties/diabetes_1.gif[/IMG]

By my calculations, someone earning minimum wage would have to work nearly two full weeks @ 40 hours / week to pay for those. Yikes.

She was often picked apart for a paper she wrote in college where she discussed how she felt like she was 'selling out' because she was on a track that if followed to it's logical conclusion would lead her to a lifestyle that was far away from her roots. At one point during the campaign, I remember her telling an audience NOT to pursue high-paying jobs, but rather to opt for service jobs that didn't pay as much.

I guess that's one way to ensure you're the only kid on the block with $540 sneakers. Just convince everybody else to accept low pay, chase the dollars yourself, and then you'll be well-dressed when you show up to feed them soup?

I think if I were First Lady I'd be more like Barbara Bush, saving toiletries from hotels to donate to those in need.

I do want to be clear - I'm not against people earning as much as they can, and I'm not against people spending what they have earned on what they want to spend it on. But for an administration that has chastised executives for taking pay that was 'too high' to themselves be candidates for "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" is a little more than I can stomach. I didn't really *buy* it when they lamented the evils of having too much money, but I also can't say that I'm finding any great satisfaction in seeing that I was right on the money with my assessment.

Barbara Bush was no stranger to designer labels with megabucks pricetags. You didn't hear anyone on the left complaining about how much she spent.

In the big picture 540 dollars is not extravagant for a pair of shoes. Did you ever watch Sex and the City? I know that those shoes were much more expensive. Nordstroms sells shoes that are more expensive than that.

It is too bad that the hatred of the Obamas comes down to what they are wearing and not what they are trying to do. I just don't follow that kind of thought. I KNOW that if McCain had won, that Cindy would be wearing jellies or a pair of keds, right?

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

I wouldn't have paid $5 for those, much less to walk a dog. I have 4 letters for what I see:

U G L Y

I am tired of her being compared to Jackie and featured all the time for what she is wearing. It perhaps, has caused her to pay even more attention to how she appears. Today I saw how she is the next Princess Diana. I would wish that on no one. Another case of looking way out there for heroes or angels or whatever instead of everyday people.

dl

Why why does it matter to anyone here that the first lady has a personal make-up artist and now the amount of money she spends on her shoes... Why again I ask do we not speak of ex President Bush and how much unnecessary millions and millons of money has been spend on the war in Iraq. I still cannot believe that you wowitsdark find it necessary to start a thread about this. Again I still cannot believe you will not mention all the money that has been spend a war , we never ever should have entered into. Can you kindly explain how you are so concerned to start a thread , yet will not mention the war. Plain and simple its their money and they should be able to spend it the way they want. Futhermore if Sarah Palin had been elected, I am darn sure she would be wearing the best of the best along with hairdo's and make-up and all. Would you and others be saying anything then??? I do not think so. Finally on a personal note while I am a liberal when it comes to money I am a very conservative, I also would never spend that much money on shoes I am too frugual for that. However again its a personal choice and their money... Honestly with all the problems America has now , talking about her choice of shoes and the cost rates zero in comparison... honestly it does..... I guess nothing as changed it still comes down to hating the fact that Obama is our president...sadly for some it still does... Catherine

Democrats don't choose ordinary people to run their country.

She should demand her money back, because those sneakers are U-G-L-Y!!! They look like something you would see at Target for 90% off because nobody would actually buy them.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Why is this even news? And does anyone have a guess as to how long it will take for folks to "settle in" and get on to real stuff?

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Yes, Sara Palin tried to say she was one of us. So too, Did Michelle Obama:

Michelle’s Struggle by Byron York on National Review Online

Image is everything, and IMO, the image that MO is portraying is much different than what she tried to portray while on the campaign trail...... Should she be wearing $1.99 bo bos??? NO, of course not, but, it's poor taste to wear something so extravagent (and, YES, $540 is extravagent , for a pair of sneakers) while so many in our country are struggling.

No amount of me explaining this will ever cut it for some on this board. There's a reason the POTUS rolls his sleeves up when visiting a disaster sight. It portrays a more appropriate image.

I guess the old saying is true....no amount of money can buy class

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Purely rhetorical question, here, but, WHY OH WHY did you respond then if you are so confused as to why someone would care about her shoes??? And the war.......for the love of CHEESE, must we ALWAYS bring that up??? Yes, George Bush ordered the war, it costs this country millions.....yes, yes, yes. And, pray tell WHAT do you suppose we do to recoup that money??? It certainly is very productive to keep harping on it, too, isn't it??? YOUR opinion is that the war was not necessary. NEWSFLASH....not everyone shares YOUR opinion

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Well, we're waiting for all that "change" that was talked about....... for crying out loud, I might go THRU the change, before we actually see any of it

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

To cjs216 your so hot and cold when it was my birthday you sent me a blue rose yet here we go ahead once you see me posting you have to come right in and post negative and funny things and pictures. To allinaugust newsflash to you as well, I will continue to bring up the war, because to many many millions of people across the United Stated they do share my views on the subject. As I stated as long as someone here wants to talk about expenses they Obama's are spending then I will continue to talk about the war and can do so anytime I want whether you like it or not. Sheesh again does the cost of the first ladies shoes truly matter in comparsion to the war???????/Boy oh boy some things never change here. The bottom like there is nothing the Obama's could do would ever make any Republican happy and thats the bottom line of all these threads. Like it or not its the out and out truth. Next time someone here worries about how much money the Obama's are spending, try thinking about how each day how many innocent young lives are lost in Iraq and then decide what is more important in life..... Catherine

Those are some ugly shoes. She'll never be Jackie O.....

Lucy - it's really simple, I respond negatively to bad behavior and actions, I respond positively to good behavior and situations.

Bad behavior, in this case, is continuing to drag George Bush and the war into yet another thread that has nothing to do with it. You just did this yesterday and caught heck for it - and today, you're right back doing the same thing. Stirring the pot, if you will. You've posted a bunch of stuff lately that I've read and moved past.

cj/

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I really don't think she can show up in a pair of Walmart canvas sneakers....there would be a whole bunch of press on that as well.

Do these particular shoes appeal to a certain demographic? Apparently, they don't appeal to the average couponing mom. LOL

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Oh, yes, true statement about money and class. I am guessing many people who are having fits about this now understand what was so hypocritical about Palin and her "hockey mom" persona while wearing 150,000 worth of duds.

From what I gather Mrs. Obama has always dressed like she has now. She isn't throwing around "I have money and you don't". I happen to own a pair of Ferragamos that my husband paid 600.00 for. I guess I shouldn't wear them because of those people who don't have jobs.

She shouldn't have to change what she wears because she is the Presidents' wife. I am betting that she has worn those before and no one ever said boo about how much those shoes cost before she wore them today. I am more impressd that she was at a food bank helping - putting her money where her mouth is. The Obamas asked us to start small in our own communty to help get America back on the right track.

Is there a picture of Laura Bush at the Food Bank?

It is petty. There are bigger issues out there to channel anger at. Or are there?

ETA: Those shoes are off the rack. I have seen many things Michelle Obama has worn that are off the rack. As a matter of fact, most of the things can be purchased at department stores all across the nation or at your local mall. Those shoes included. So, I don't think that is hypocritical.

__________________
GO NAVY WRESTLING!!BEAT ARMY!!!
RJB 3/18/60 - 5/22/04
We miss you, sweet brother
God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

http://mylifeundertheabaya.blogspot.com/

Amen, usnamom!

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

cjs216 wrong your the one who continue to stir the pot of trouble, You stay away for a few days and when you see me posting you come right under me and post those silly pictures fact is a fact. As far as yesterday with the thread on the low flying planes I admitted it was wrong and in terrible poor taste and who ever did it or ordered it was wrong and if it was Obama he was wrong. Again if you go back to the thread you will see I was not the first person to mention Bush but god forbid if you post something againist another poster . No you simply do find joy in doing it to me over and over again. And please do not write back and tell me I an seeking attention because I am not. When it was my birthday and you send the blue rose I thanked you so much and sincerely thought perhaps maybe we can put all the past behind us and start anew. How wrong I was, again I am not the only poster here cjs216 who thinks that the shoes are a big deal I do not see you quoting anyone else's comments only me as usual some things like I said never change.... Catherine

I believe the Obama administratiions IS spending our HARD EARNED money on bailouts, etc..

I WISH I was as resourceful as some - you'd be getting the best hand-clapping little graphic I could muster!!!

AMEN!!!!

__________________
"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Like this?? I swear - a picture really is worth 1000 words sometimes.

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Oh, and for what it's worth, I hate to tell you ladies, but if my own experience is any indication, that might mean you have 8 years of waiting.....it's a loooonnnnnnggg (awful) journey!

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Catherine, I fully appreciate and support your freedom to continue to rehash your stance on the war.

But since you have the above response "anytime I want whether you like it or not," why does your view of your own right to post not apply to wowitsdark's rights to the same?



I'm just puzzled as to why you ask the op directly why she feels the need to start this thread, while in the same thread you defend your right to discuss any matter you want...

__________________
"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Pssst... you forgot to say 'ad nauseum.'

....just the personality.....hypocrite.

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips