*updated
July 12, Mrs Obama gave a speech in Panama City Beach, Florida, during which she said the best thing Americans can do is visit the Gulf and spend money so folks there can send their kids to college.
It’s important for the rest of the country to know that these places are just as vibrant and just as beautiful as they’ve always been. And folks here in Florida and across the Gulf Coast are still depending on visitors and tourist dollars to put food on their tables and to pay their mortgages and to send their kids to college — because everybody’s going to college, right?
College – when sending their kids to the store for groceries is a challenge.
And I know that there have been lots of questions lately about how we can best help people here on the Gulf Coast who’ve been affected by the oil spill. And to be honest, truly, one of the best ways that fellow Americans can help is to come on down here and spend some money.
Just like the Mister – words have no relation to actions. We the taxpayers are paying for barry’s many vacations and I would prefer my taxes go to the folks on the Gulf.
And that’s one of the reasons why I wanted to come this summer. I mean, my husband has been down here several times. But I wanted to shed a light on the terrific people and the great places to come and relax and have fun, because that’s the time of year that we’re in.
So on behalf of my family and the administration, know that we are working on your behalf. We care deeply about getting things right here. And I look forward to coming back down to the coast and getting some more sand in my shoes.
4 days later they’re up in Maine eating ice cream and frolicking in another National Park.
Imagine the impact of this photo if he was slurping a raw Gulf oyster off the half shell.
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*CNN: FLOTUS, POTUS each to make another visit to the Gulf:
The White House announced that first lady Michelle Obama will return to the Gulf region next week to meet with Coast Guard personnel who’ve been responding to the oil spill and to christen a Coast Guard cutter named in honor of Dorothy Stratton, the service branch’s first female commissioned officer. The visit will take place in Mississippi on Friday.
The president expects to return to the Gulf Coast in the next few weeks.
