Dem Congressman: Hey, Sorry for Inciting My Thug Union Supporters to Violence

A little too late now considering the thugs haven't clearly gotten the message and are already beating up on women. Maybe these thugs should think twice before the speak. Then again, he's a Democrat so the national media won't bother to make any mention of this.

U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano expressed regret Wednesday for his choice of words at a Tuesday rally to support Wisconsin workers, after national and local Republicans pounced on him for “over-the-top and inflammatory rhetoric.”

“Congressman Mike Capuano must have lost the memo from President Obama and Democratic leaders who were demanding more civility in our political discourse and a toning down of incendiary rhetoric after the massacre in Tucson on January 8,” the Massachusetts Republican Party wrote in a Wednesday statement. “Yesterday, at a rally on Beacon Hill, Capuano couldn’t resist the urge to stir up a crowd of union members with a call for blood in the pursuit and protection of their political agenda.”

During the Tuesday rally – a gathering of more than 1,000 union supporters protesting a proposal by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to diminish the collective bargaining rights of public sector workers in that state – Capuano, speaking in front of the State House, fired up the crowd by saying, “I’m proud to be here with people who understand that it’s more than just sending an email to get you going. Every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary.”

After Republicans took aim at his rhetoric, Capuano issued a statement expressing regret for his language, although at the time it drew wild applause and cheers from the throngs of union supporters.

“I strongly believe in standing up for worker rights and my passion for preserving those rights may have gotten the best of me yesterday in an unscripted speech,” he said in a statement. “I wish I had used different language to express my passion and I regret my choice of words.”

Capuano also referred to a vastly outnumbered throng of Tea Party counter-protesters as “a couple of nuts in the background who want to take it all away from you,” waving his hand dismissively in their direction. Throughout the three-hour rally, rank-and-file union members traded heated barbs with the Tea Party backers. Some clashes nearly escalated into violence and resulted in police intervention. In one case, a pro-union rallier spit in the face of one of the counter-protesters, who set up camp near the rally.

Just imagine how civil they'd be if they actually took the president's empty words to heart.

Capuano’s comments quickly drew contrasts with the call for a more civil tone in national political rhetoric by President Barack Obama and politicians across the country after a mass shooting in Tucson that injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Capuano was reportedly among those who agreed with Obama’s call, telling the Boston Globe in January, “Everybody knows the last couple of years there’s been an intentional increase in the degree of heat in political discourse ... If nothing else good comes out of this, I’m hoping it causes people to reconsider how they deal with things.’’

As they continue to lose support with the public, the violent, angry rhetoric from the Democrats will only increase. Desperation will do that.

This is who they are.

Great News: Colonel Obama Assembling Cultish 'Army of Community Organizers'

Well, it seems as if Obama's troops are doing such a fine job of winning the future in Wisconsin, so why not make it a nationwide movement?

Oh joy.

The community organizer who became president has launched a massive pre-reelection year campaign to assemble and train an army of new community organizers to carry Obama's "movement forward for years to come."

Strengthening "our democracy" presumably has something to do with reelecting the revered leader in 2012.

However, the recruiting message says nothing about politics or election campaigns and strangely talks in military terms of "a grassroots program that aims to put boots on the ground and help foster a new generation of leaders -- not just to help win elections but to strengthen our democracy in communities across the country."

The message about what it calls the "Summer Organizing Fellowship" adds: "Effective organizing doesn't happen in a vacuum. It takes commitment, time, and hard work to build a movement around a cause." It does not specify what the "cause" is, other than promoting Obama and his agenda.

I can't be the only one thinking of the word cult here. Very creepy.

Think the atmosphere driven by the left the past couple of months has been ugly? It's only a warm-up.

News of the community organizer drive went out in an e-mail to millions of supporters and past donors Tuesday night by the ongoing arm of the Obama campaign, Organizing for America.

Organizing for America, the same folks behind the union protests in Wisconsin. Wonderful.

It appealed for workers of all ages to volunteer to undergo professional organizational training this summer for stationing in communities all over the nation to drive President Obama's social and political agenda.

The cadres "will be assigned to a specific community," the message informs, "where they'll work to organize supporters street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood."

Their job will involve recruiting additional Obama workers, running Obama-related events, knocking on doors to talk of Obama "and lay new groundwork to carry this movement forward for years to come."

Sounds like they want to get in our faces in every neighborhood in America.

This will be getting very ugly.

And if that's not enough, you'll never be able to escape the sight of him.

Wealthy Democratic donors and party activists have met several times in recent months to map out the best way to help Mr. Obama win a second term.

The meetings have included representatives of labor groups such as the AFL-CIO, the National Education Association and the Service Employees International Union; abortion-rights organizations including NARAL Pro-Choice America; the League of Conservation Voters and other environmental groups; and some of the biggest Democratic campaign givers and insiders, such as strategist Harold Ickes.

Let there no longer be the slightest doubt the labor and teacher's unions are working hand in glove with Obama. They're all "organizing" to take as much of your money as possible to push their radical agenda. I imagine this major effort is what's been distracting him from world events. He hasn't said a peep about Libya, but obviously has time to work with his campaign group to send out mass e-mails. What leadership.

"You're asking the wrong question"

Watch this union leader from Wisconsin avoid answering the question about the "fake" sick slips by telling Megyn she is asking the wrong question. He stuck to his script and seemed to be ticking off his talking points regardless of what the question was and for you Megyn Kelly fans she is less confrontational here then she is at other times, but hey it is Megyn Kelly.


I would personally like to thank the Wisconsin public [government] employees union for opening the eyes of so many taxpayers, you know the ones who foot the bill for your outrageous benefit and pay packages. I think we all now realize that the Democrat political party is nothing more then an extension of the union leadership and if that continues to hold true the only percentage of the vote the Dems will get in the next election cycle will be that 10% of the population.

Well and those in California who are on their 'medication'.

Hero of Fallujah Ready To Try Again

David Bellavia, former US Army infantryman, author, hero and someone with one heck of a quick wit is going to give it another try in the political arena by running for the vacant house seat in the New York 26th congressional district. You know the one vacated by that idiot who decided to act like a teenager and send topless pictures of himself to some admirers.

This ain't David's first try. He tried earlier and while he posted a good showing in the primaries a lack of funds and unbelievably name recognition as well not getting the support of the Republican politicos in New York, you know the group that brought you Debbie Scoffavaza or whatever, he wasn't able to prevail. The Republicans of course are not real anxious to see him running again since of course they have their handpicked crony that they want to run. David is assuring folks however that with or without the Republicans blessings that he is going to run.

So here is a challenge for all of you Independent minded or self identified folks. Are you only Independent when the pollsters call or are you ready to put your money where your mouth is?

It would be really awesome to see this former NCO paired up with the former officer Allen West who is certainly sending a message.

Bad Idea: CAIR Stooge Blows Sunshine Up Allen West's Butt

Here we have Rep. Allen West (Real Man-FL) administering an ice-cold, methodical smackdown to CAIR Executive Director Nezar Hamze. Hamze really thought he had a "gotcha!" question for the Congressman at this town hall meeting in Pompano Beach.

Be patient with the sound on this. The relevant parts are audible, and the money sound bite is clear as a bell.



For more comically bad ideas, click here.

h/t: Ace. Cross-posted.

Finally: The Larry King Comedy Tour

Take my wives, please!

Larry King is no stranger to on-air banter, but how about real-life heckling?

It's a legitimate concern that the former CNN "Larry King Live" host will have to face when he kicks off a stand-up comedy tour this spring.

The 77-year-old former talk show host will be trying his hand at a different kind of live show - on the stage in front of an audience - when he launches a seven-city tour titled - appropriately - "Larry King: Standing Up."

King's routine will revolve around stories of his "life growing up as a street-smart kid in Brooklyn" and his experiences as a broadcast journalist, according to a statement.

No doubt audiences will be enthralled by his with and self-effacing humility.

Larry King: STANDING UP. The Emmy®, Peabody and CableACE Award-winning broadcasting icon will be giving fans a hilarious and insightful look inside the legend with a series of exclusive, one-night-only performances for audiences across the country. Starting with his life growing up as a street-smart kid in Brooklyn to tales from his storied career as the greatest interviewer of all time, Larry King's style and wit will give audiences an evening to remember. Audiences will also have the extraordinary opportunity to ask their own questions of the broadcast veteran (and now stand up comedian!) in a Q&A with Larry King at each performance

'Repulsive' and 'Potentially Dangerous' Democrat Gets 55 Days for Sex-Crazed Spree

Repulsive? Well, to be fair that could mean almost any Democrat. But here we've got a real piece of work from--where else?--Massachusetts.

Condemning his creepy behavior as “repulsive” and “potentially dangerous,” a judge today sentenced former state Sen. Joseph “Jim” Marzilli to three months in the Billerica House of Correction for the grandfather’s 2008 sex-crazed spree in Lowell, when he accosted four women in one day while on official business.

“I think he’s an ill man, I really, really do. I believe the behavior that was exhibited that day was due to mental illness. You don’t live your life for 50 years with no issues and have this come out of nowhere,” Marzilli’s attorney, Terrence Kennedy, said after the sentencing in Lowell Superior Court.

One of Marzilli’s victims was handicapped.

Former state Sen. George Bachrach, a longtime friend of Marzilli’s who came to court to support the legislator, said, “Jim Marzilli made a mistake. He’s going to pay for it. Clearly, he became unglued. How else do you explain what happened?”

Kennedy predicted the Arlington Democrat, who is being treated for bipolar disorder and anxiety, will serve less than 55 days of the punishment superior court Judge Paul Chernoff handed down after Marzilli pleaded guilty to the accosting charges, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

With his wife looking on in tears, Marzilli also admitted there were sufficient facts for a jury to find him guilty of the felony charge of attempted indecent assault and battery for reaching for the crotch of a nurse’s assistant waiting on a bench for a patient.

Well, at least they're cracking down on these rogue Democrats. Wasn't long ago that was all in a night's work for Ted Kennedy and Bill Clinton, and that helped their careers. But as a Democrat, Marzilli sure got plenty of leniency.

That charge threatened up to five years in state prison, but because Chernoff continued it without a finding for one year — rather than declare Marzilli guilty, as assistant Middlesex District Attorney Elizabeth Dunigan pushed for — the disgraced pol will not have to register as a sex offender.

More on his lurid behavior here.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Dunigan said Marzilli began approaching women after attending an early morning event at a Lowell business.

He approached the first woman outside a community health center and said: "The sex is sweet, the sex is sweet, you want it and you want to go with me."

About half an hour later, he walked behind another woman and said, "Oooh, baby, you are so beautiful, "and made references to her body.

Dunigan said Marzilli drove by a third woman several times and then asked her if she was wearing any underwear. She said he approached a fourth woman as she sat on a bench outside an apartment building, attempted to grope her and made sexually explicit remarks.

When police approached Marzilli, he gave a false name and address, then ran away before being caught in a parking garage.

Dunigan said urged the judge to sentence Marzilli to one year in jail, saying he had frightened all four women and violated the public's trust. She said one of the victims repeatedly told her she didn't understand how Marzilli could have committed the crimes.

She said, 'I don't get it. He makes the laws and then he breaks them,'" Dunigan said.

Democrats Now Raffling Off Chance to Meet Obama

At the rate they're going, they'll have to pay people to show up and have their photo taken with the boob.

Just wanted to make sure you saw Leader Pelosi’s message about your chance to meet President Obama on March 8th.

If you’re chosen as our lucky winner, not only will you get the chance to meet the President, but you’ll get to have your picture taken with him too.

Contribute $5 or more today and you will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip to Boston (airfare and hotel included). If you win, you and a friend will attend a dinner with President Obama on March 8th and get your picture taken with him.

Help us show continued grassroots strength for President Obama’s agenda. If you’re our lucky winner, you’ll get to meet the President and get your picture taken with him to keep for all time.

Thanks,

Robby Mook
DCCC Executive Director

Gee, we can keep that Obama photo for all time? Where do I sign up?

Cut and Run Dems Now Cutting and Running in Indiana

Cut and run should be an expression best left for sports, but for the Democrats it seems to be the only play left in their playbook.

Everybody is well aware that for years that was the Democrat strategy in regards to our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as how to handle the prisoners at Club Gitmo. They then repeated the play shortly after Nancy Pelosi and the Dems took control of Congress by leaving Washington, turning out the lights, turning off the mics and placing guards at the doors of the congressional chambers while the Republicans were trying to bring forth an energy bill. They have continued this now with the tantrum in Wisconsin, fleeing the state in defiance of the voters of their state and now it is Indiana's turn.

House Democratic lawmakers in Indiana have begun a de facto walkout in an effort to block a Republican-backed bill that would restrict private-sector union rights.

Republicans arrived at the statehouse Tuesday morning to find no Democrats present, as protesters applauding the walkout could be heard inside the chamber.

The strategy is possible because Republicans make up 60 of 100 House seats. Without any Democrats present, Republicans lack a two-thirds majority needed for a quorum to act on the bill.

Hello to Instapundit readers and thanks.

Somali Pirates Murder Four Americans

No doubt a strongly worded letter is forthcoming from our fearless leaders.

The four Americans aboard a yacht hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia are dead.

Hijacked last Friday off Oman, the Quest was being piloted toward the Somali coast - and was being shadowed by a U.S. Navy warship.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports that gunshots aboard the yacht were heard, and the warship took action.

All 4 Americans were dead, killed apparently by their captors.

Maybe Obama can take his eyes off his War on Wisconsin to offer a reaction.

Illiterate Lefties Tweet Death Threats to Scott Walker

Bask in the new civility. Somehow I doubt we'll be seeing any mention of this from the lamestream media.

Via Big Government.

Seems to be a lot of assassination chic going around (via Instapundit).

Surreal: Charles Rangel Now Offering Tax Tips to Constituents

Let's look at the upside. He can at least demonstrate how to avoid prison while piling up multiple tax violations. It's a wonder he doesn't team up with Al Sharpton to help dispense the handy tips facing the citizens come tax time. One can only assume he's advising his voters how to avoid paying taxes.

Rep. Charlie Rangel isn't backing down from anything after his censure by the House last year -- including offering tax advice.

Among the ethics violations for which the Harlem Democrat was punished by his colleagues just before Christmas was failing to pay taxes on his DominIcan villa. But Rangel nevertheless just emailed his latest "Rangel Report" featuring tax advice for constituents.

"On its face, Charlie Rangel giving tax advice is more than just ironic, it's surreal," said Baruch College politics maven Doug Muzzio.

"On the other hand, Charle Rangel knows the tax law, his constituents need tax advice and he can provide it," Muzzio added. "It’s a service for his constituents."

Rangel's spokesman declined to comment on the mailing, except to note that he does it every year.

Rangel had to pay some $2 million in legal fees to fight the ethics charges against him, and was forced to give up his chairmanship of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.

In the tax case, he failed to declare income from his Dominican villa, and had to pay about $10, 000 in penalties and back taxes.

The Shame of Wisconsin Teachers: State's Black Fourth-graders Post Worst Reading Scores in U.S.

Funny how the whining teachers aren't touting this news during their temper tantrum in Madison.

Reading scores for Wisconsin's African-American fourth-graders trail those of their racial peers in every other state and the District of Columbia, according to a national government report that delivered dire news Wednesday about how Wisconsin prepares its students.

Further, fourth-graders as a whole in Wisconsin are losing ground in reading while other states make gains, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the nation's report card. Only 33% of the state's fourth-graders scored at a level considered proficient or advanced by the test; the rest scored at a basic level or lower.

And for these abysmal results they expect to be rewarded in perpetuity. Seems to me most of them should be fired. If they produced results like this in the private sector they'd have been out of work long ago.

Not only are they failing black children, those looking forward to college haven't got much to fall back on either.

The parents of the kids who can't read must be so grateful to see the incompetent teachers shutting down schools for days so they can protest.

Nutty Left: John Bircher Who Died in 1965 Behind Scott Walker or Something

Yes, they really believe their own lunacy.

It should be no surprise that Walker’s radicalism is boosted by Bradley money. Today, the Bradley Foundation is controlled by a group of establishment Republicans, along with Washington Post columnist George Will. However, the Foundation’s agenda still reflects the extremist views of its founder, Harry Bradley. Although he passed away in 1965, Harry, a member of one Wisconsin’s most powerful families and a key financier of nationalist hate groups, would have eagerly applauded Walker’s union-busting agenda.

They obviously have no idea how insane they appear.

Algore: Forests are a Moral and National Security Issue or Something

I was just thinking of this moron today as I cleared ten fresh inches of global warming off my vehicle and driveway. Sure enough, he's here to remind us of his latest fierce moral urgency.

He may have been preaching to the choir, but former Vice President Al Gore stirred an Aspen audience Friday with a passionate speech about the effects of global warming, at one point pounding his fist on the podium and declaring it “a moral issue.”

Gore, 62, delivered a 50-minute keynote address for a symposium on “Forests at Risk: Climate Change and the Future of the American West.” The event, hosted by the local nonprofit For the Forest, was held in the Doerr-Hosier Center at The Aspen Institute.

Gore told the standing-room-only audience that his remarks on global warming, and the presentations throughout the half-day symposium, should not be taken as merely “interesting” or “an intellectual exercise.”

How ironic a man who hasn't had an original thought in three decades speaks of intellectual exercise. When was the last time this bloated bag of wind had any exercise at all?

“It is a call to action,” he said, “if you love these forests, if you think for a moment about the obligation we have to those who come after (us).

“This is a forest issue. It's a political issue. It's an economic issue. It's a national security issue. It's a jobs issue. But at bottom, it is a moral issue,” he said to widespread applause. “And we have to be willing to stand up and do the right thing."

Gore then dazzled the captive audience with another tedious slideshow of made-up statistics.

According to Gore, 90 million tons of pollution that contribute to global warming are sent into the Earth's atmosphere every day. The time has come for not just Americans but the world at large to make a conscious decision to tackle the problem, he said.

Gore acknowledged that there are skeptics and cynics but said an overwhelming consensus of the world's top scientific organizations now recognizes the causes and effects of global warming. It should no longer be a partisan issue, he said.

America's Nutritionist Michelle Obama Chows Down on Short Ribs in Vail

Nothing but the best for Queen Michelle. But it was locally grown or something.

The first lady went to Restaurant Kelly Liken in Vail Village on Saturday night, dining on a pickled pumpkin salad with arugula and a braised ancho-chile short rib with hominy wild mushrooms and sauteed kale.

“Yes, it's true, the first lady dined at our restaurant tonight and seemed to really enjoy it,” chef and owner Kelly Liken said.

That photo above is of ancho-chile short ribs. Of course she enjoyed it. You paid for it.

A plate of short ribs is over 1500 calories. Kids are starving in Chicago, but she stuffs her face with over 1500 calories in a single sitting.

Angry Mob Brutally Attacks Reporters ... in California

 
They obviously didn't get the memo about the new era of civility.

Angry mourners attacked two members of a television news crew Sunday at a curbside memorial for the victim of a fatal shooting in Natomas.

Both the homicide and the attack occurred outside the International House of Pancakes restaurant in the 2900 block of Advantage Lane, near Interstate 5 and Del Paso Road.

At about 2:40 a.m., Sacramento police officers responded to a shooting at the all-night restaurant. Homicide detectives believe two groups got into an argument inside. The fight escalated outdoors and ended in gunfire, police spokeswoman Laura Peck said.

Responding officers found one man lying dead on the pavement, she said.

Police described the suspects as men in their 20s, but could not describe their clothing or vehicles.

Peck said there were numerous people at the restaurant who might have seen the attackers, but few had assisted in the investigation. "There were plenty of people there," she said. "Someone should come forward."

By Sunday afternoon, a small memorial of balloons, candy hearts and candles had appeared at the restaurant.

A crowd of mourners gathered.

Journalists arrived to record the impromptu event.

About 3:45 p.m., a Sacramento Bee photographer was threatened and chased by members of an angry mob who mistakenly believed she was recording it on her cell phone. She ran to her car, where people surrounded her, screaming and pounding on her windows. She escaped unharmed but shaken.

Soon afterward, Fox40 reporter John Lobertini and photojournalist Rebecca Little – unaware of prior events – approached the memorial and a handful of mourners gathered there. Within moments, a dozen people ran from an adjacent parking lot and charged the journalists, screaming obscenities.

One woman grabbed Little's hair and pulled her to the ground. Another kicked her in the face. At least one man punched Lobertini as he attempted to protect Little.

Other mourners tried to stop the attack, but later insisted it was the journalists' fault for intruding on a private event.

Ah well, the reporters work for a Fox affiliate, so I'm sure the left has no problem with this.

'This Food is Disgusting, Which is Why I'm Not Eating Lunch'

Poor kids. If only they got to live large like the Obamas and scarf down cheeseburgers whenever they want. Or if it's not cheeseburgers, it's pizza, wings and ice cream. But hey, all those yummy foods are for the elitists. You kids just better shut up and eat your taste-free whole-grain goodies.

Anyone who has ever tried to sneak healthy food into kids' lunches knows what Chicago Public Schools is going through.

Sometimes kids openly embrace the new food. Sometimes they eat it without realizing the difference. And sometimes they refuse it altogether.

CPS has met with all three reactions this school year, when it stopped serving daily nachos, Pop-Tarts and doughnuts and introduced healthier options at breakfast and lunch. But in a sign of how challenging this transition can be for schools, district figures show that lunch sales for September through December dropped by about 5 percentage points since the previous year, or more than 20,000 lunches a day.

During visits to several CPS schools over the last few months, the Tribune heard many accounts of students throwing away their lunches. Others say they opt for "cookies and slushies" from the canteen or wait to eat until they get home. And while some kids said they still like their school meals, the vast majority used the same word to describe the food: nasty.

"If they're going to feed us healthy, they need to feed us something good that's healthy," said Mijoy Roussell, a sixth-grader at Claremont Academy who was skipping lunch in favor of a packet of candy. "This food is disgusting, which is why I'm not eating lunch."

For the 2010-11 school year, CPS and its caterer, Chartwells-Thompson, switched to menus featuring more whole-grain products, less sodium and a wider variety of vegetables. Most cereals offered have less than 10 grams of sugar per serving.

Chartwells and CPS note that these changes exceed existing U.S. Department of Agriculture meal standards, but they appear to have created negative impressions of healthy foods among many students.

"They want us to eat healthy food, but the food has no flavor," sophomore Jacob Hernandez said as he picked at unsalted rice and beans at North-Grand High School. "Last year, they had a yellow Puerto Rican rice. But this year it's all dry, and you can tell they put a lot of stuff in there, but what's the point if there is no flavor?"

Angry Teabaggers Interrupt Andrew Cuomo Speech

Oh, it was a bunch of Democrat thugs calling for taxes on the evil rich? Never mind.

A defiant Gov. Cuomo renewed his no-tax-hike pledge last night after a former campaign foe disrupted his speech before the state Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators with chants of "Tax the Rich!"

Cuomo, speaking to reporters as participants continued pro-tax chants in the halls after his address, reiterated his call to let a 2-year-old tax hike on New Yorkers making more than $200,000 annually expire at year's end.

"I don't believe in increasing taxes," Cuomo said. "I believe it's counterproductive for the state. I believe more people will leave the state and you'll have less revenue."

The governor was seconds into his speech at the state Convention Center when City Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), who had made a quixotic third-party run against Cuomo last year, led a small band up the center aisle chanting, "Tax the rich" and, "Shame on you!"

Of course Barron is too dense to realize the "rich" are fleeing New York in record numbers.

Barack Obama's buddy, the very wealthy tax cheat Al Sharpton, also joined in with the class warfare rhetoric. Ironically, Cuomo's budget calls for massive cuts in education spending, but oddly enough, Obama isn't sending in his union goons to protest, as they are in Wisconsin.

The Sacrifices Michelle Obama Makes for Us

Hey, you're paying for it, so you may as well get a glimpse of the luxury hotel Queen Michelle is staying at while she skis in Vail on your dime.

Such sacrifice.

President Obama has been accused of having double standards after appealing for Americans to sacrifice their holidays just days before his wife and children went on a costly skiing trip.

First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha are on a ‘private family trip’ to Colorado for Presidents' Day Weekend.

Mrs Obama and Sasha, nine, were pictured waiting in line at the Eagle Bahn gondola to the top of the mountain today.

President Obama has been accused of having double standards after appealing for Americans to sacrifice their holidays just days before his wife and children went on a costly skiing trip.

First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha are on a ‘private family trip’ to Colorado for Presidents' Day Weekend.

Mrs Obama and Sasha, nine, were pictured waiting in line at the Eagle Bahn gondola to the top of the mountain today.

Nationally lampooned Obama vacation: The First Lady and daughter Sasha, 9, get their tickets scanned at the Eagle-Bahn Gondola before heading up the mountain to ski for the second day Sunday in Vail

Nationally lampooned Obama vacation: The First Lady and daughter Sasha, 9, get their tickets scanned at the Eagle-Bahn Gondola before heading up the mountain to ski for the second day Sunday in Vail

The First Lady puts her arm around her daughter as they head for the gondola at the resort of Vail, Colorado today

Family time: The First Lady puts her arm around her daughter as they head for the gondola at the resort of Vail, Colorado today

The First Lady's cream ski jacket was open, perhaps indicating that temperatures are not as bitter as they are in other parts of the country.

A light snow appeared to be falling on Mrs Obama and her daughter, who herself was clad in fluorescent pink snowboarding pants and a sky blue puff jacket.

Both wore gloves and hats. They were not carrying skis.

The family appear to have flown there on Air Force Two.

They are staying at the upscale Sebastian Hotel on Vail Mountain, where rooms start at $650 a night and range up to more than $2,400 for multi-bedroom suites.

The trip came just days after the President tried to sell his cost-cutting budget to the American people by asking them to stay at home.

‘If you’re a family trying to cut back, you might skip going out to dinner, or you might put off a vacation,’ he said.

While Mr Obama is staying put at the White House, the rest of his family headed to Colorado – rather than visiting slopes closer to Washington in Virginia or Pennsylvania.

Their trip came despite previous criticisms over the family's extravagant vacations, including a trip last summer to Spain.

Mrs Obama also raised eyebrows when she left earlier than her husband for their annual Christmas holiday in Hawaii, incurring additional expenses estimated to be more than $97,000.

When she said "Let's Move," who thought that meant "let's move" to a new luxury hotel every month?

In August it cost taxpayers an alleged $375,000 for her security detail - and two flights on Air Force One - on a holiday to Spain with her daughter, Sasha, and 40 friends.

Although the Obamas will pay for a portion of the skiing trip, taxpayers will still shoulder many of the costs.

A motorcade of about a dozen vehicles, including at least 15 police officers, travelled from Eagle County Regional Airport to Vail on Friday night when the presidential party arrived.