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Robert Keith Gray

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Presidential Perks Gone Royal: Your Taxes Are Being Used For Obama's Re-election Hardcover – June 1, 2012

by Robert Keith Gray (Author)

4.4 38 ratings

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From the sublime to the ridiculous to the truly obscene, the various perks and privileges bestowed on our Chief Executive, our self-proclaimed man of the people, include the extravagant foolishness of having twenty-six cabin crewmembers on Air Force One, along with FIVE (5) chefs! In the White House theatre, two projectionists sleep in in order to remain on duty at all times, should a First Family member or guest fancy a film. A dog walker is also always on hand. One was reported to be paid $102,000 a year to walk and pick up after the first-family s canine. On at least one airline trip in the presidential fleet, the only passengers aboard were the First Canine and his handler. In 2009, the military payroll at Camp David was $8,000,000. And these men and women were not there as replacement for the Secret Service to protect the President, but rather to serve the First Family and its guests.

On the political front, we learn that in the first months of his presidency President Obama appointed 43 high-priced czars a number far greater than any previous president, and not one of these professionals voted to office by taxpayers or subject to the approval of any other governmental body or official. During his current term he has also appointed 469 professionals who could be called, assistant presidents. 226 of them are paid over $100,000 a year and 77 of them paid as much as $172,000 a year.

The British spent $57.8 Million on its royal family last year. We Americans spent nearly $2 Billion housing, transporting, entertaining, staffing, our First Family and paying a hefty portion of the president s campaign expenses.

Every responsible citizen wants the President of the United States to be safe, comfortable and happy wherever he is. But the unchecked growth of out-of control perks, bestowed on this duly elected official without oversight by any individual or governing body, are what author Robert Keith Gray views as a dangerous surrender of the democratic process by giving the seated president a virtually insurmountable re-election advantage over his opponent.

Robert Keith Gray, a Washington DC pioneering public affairs activist and political insider who worked within the White House under three presidents and enjoyed close ties with two more, has studied this troubling issue by researching, investigating and drilling down to get to the truth about presidential perks. What he discovered led him to view the Obama lifestyle and administration as our presidency going royal.

Meticulously contrasting current presidential perks an d privileges with past presidencies, factoring in changes in inflation and other changes in the world outside the White House, Gray bravely raises this all-important question: With our current president s billion- dollar lifestyle, can we reasonably expect a president to identify with the real-world problems of his citizens tens of millions of them currently unemployed?

By time you finish reading this book, you may come to agree with Gray that the ultimate perk we the public have unwittingly given this president and all presidents to follow, unless we stop the madness is the certainly unfair, unequal and ultimately unconscionable taxpayer assisted re-election. When you arrive at that place where the invisible has become visible, the solutions he offers will hopefully spur you, and many others to take the appropriate action...before it s too late!

Print length

131 pages
Language

English
Publisher

New Voices Press
Publication date

June 1, 2012
ISBN-10

0974810355
ISBN-13

978-0974810355
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Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a much-needed book with a valuable message - one that reflects the author's unique personal perspective as well as his sound research. I hope it finds its audience in a timely fashion, and causes us all to do something about the out-of-control perks that have so clearly polluted the electoral process while needlessly wasting millions if not billions of taxpayer dollars. --Steven B. Chameides, Esq., Foley & Lardner LLP

Bob Gray has been a Washington powerhouse from Eisenhower to Obama, with longtime personal knowledge and experience from inside the White House and the Oval Office. He deftly leads the reader on a tour of the Royal Kingdom that has grown up around the American President. This is one of the most important books of this political season. A must read for all Americans. --The Hon. John Herrington, Reagan Secretary of Energy and former Chairman, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich publishing company

For over fifty years, Bob Gray has been a keen observer of the White House and its inhabitants - both from the inside and from the outside. From his unique vantage point, in this astounding book, he has depicted the serious danger to America's constitutional government that emanates from the executive mansion. --The Hon. Edwin Meese III, former Attorney General of the United States

About the Author

A close friend to five presidents, Bob Gray was Appointments Secretary to the President and member of Eisenhower's Cabinet. He was active in the campaigns of Richard Nixon, Senator Barry Goldwater, Senator Eugene McCarthy, Governor Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush.

Gray served as National Communications Director of the Reagan/Bush campaign and Co-Chairman of Reagan's 1981 Presidential inaugural. A well-known lobbyist and Worldwide Chairman of Hill and Knowlton, he founded Gray and Company, the only public affairs firm listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He remains active in public affairs.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ New Voices Press (June 1, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 131 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0974810355
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0974810355
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces

Best Sellers Rank: #7,922,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.4 38 ratings

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ReviewLoft

A Must Read for Every American

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2012

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I don't typically read economic/political books, but once in awhile a book comes along that is a "must read." Presidential Perks Gone Royal is one of these. After buying, reading and highlighting mine, I purchased 9 more copies to give to others (and I'll be buying more.)

Whether you are a Democrat, Republican or just plain an American--you will find this book fascinating. Robert Keith Gray presents a bi-partisan perspective on the perks of being a US President. As readers will learn, he did his homework. From both firsthand experience while working with several presidents in the White House, his work as a lobbyist and as a thorough researcher, Gray shares astounding information with the reader.

Mr. Gray acknowledges that certainly our President should be safe, secure and have a staff that assists him on countless levels as he performs his role. Yet, after shocking the reader with truly eye-opening facts and figures, you may find that you will want to recite, rant and rave over dinner with friends to share the outrage and awe you are likely to experience. It would be unjust to the comprehensive nature of the book to begin listing some of the mind-blowing expenses that the presidency costs us as tax payers, so it will have to suffice to say the book is compelling on so many levels, it is "can't put it down" reading.

Into the upcoming election and beyond, Robert Keith Gray's book will keep intelligent minds wondering...How did the presidential office in the US come to be more lucrative to our leader than any monarchy in history? The answer may be in voting to reform presidential terms to no more than a single six-year term, as Mr. Gray so eloquently concludes.

22 people found this helpful

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Christine Canfora

Good read

Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2020

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I enjoyed this book. It is well written and was quite the eye opener.

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Carmella Sue Lijana

A confirmation of what I expected

Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2013

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All I can say is, God help our country. The audacity of the Obama administration to be living even better than royalty.... on our money. And they say that we have to cut White House tours, teacher jobs, first responders. Obama and his family need to be put on a personal budget. When the money is gone...... no more vacations or parties....... just like us.

Too bad nobody will stand up to Obama and his greedy wife who can't spend the government money fast enough. What about the example they are setting for their daughters........ Most of the entire administration is corrupt. They live like no other while so many people in our country are suffering due to the decisions that were made that have caused so many small business to close and jobs to be lost. Does this president realize that he works for us? NOT!

2 people found this helpful

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molly

Obamadrama

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2014

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I am giving this book five stars but it contains a great deal of information I already knew. The things I DIDN'T know are
interesting and infuriating. I was almost afraid to read and find out tidbits like how the White House has been changed to
accomodate the current residents. I am angry to know that kids are allowed to disrespect places such as the Lincoln Bedroom - (jumping on the bed). One thing which really surprised me is the size of family quarters and that four floors are available. Many of
the ways money is spent to accomodate personal taste and whim is disgusting when those of us in the middle class who have
worked hard all our lives and had NOTHING given to us are struggling. Enlightening.

One person found this helpful

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Sam54

Great Book Written by an Insider

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2013

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For a democracy to work effectively, people must be able to make informed decisions. Presidential Perks Gone Royal speaks to the unfair advantage vested with the encumbent, in a US Presidential campaign. And it provides great insight into how this unfair advantage, may have been used, to unjustly win a second term for Obama.

4 people found this helpful

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Lois Radosky

Very interesting.

Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2013

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An eye opener into the abuse this family and administration has pulled on the American people. By the time the reader is finished with the book he/she loathes the people involved. The family has divided our country by feeling because of their race their time has come. Not one of them was ever a slave and they are just playing that card and have divided this country and been very untruthful in doing it. The book was well written and the facts should be reported to the people every day!

One person found this helpful

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Paul Nemecek

Sloppy research and analysis

Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2012

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Despite the author's claim to be non-partisan, the ideological bias comes through quite clearly. The most egregious fault is the lack of any footnotes or endnotes. While the author assures us that the book is "well-researched" the sloppiness of the research and analysis is illustrated by one point. The author suggests that the Obamas' dog-handler is paid $102,000 per year. This was reported in one New England newspaper and refuted by Snopes.com the very next day. All Presidents and Presidential candidates have an aide known as the "body man". President Obama's aide occasionally walks the dog as one small part of his responsibilities. This is not at all the impression given by the book. The most outrageous claim is the $1.4 billion cost to support the President's family. This is neither sourced nor substantiated. I would call it "wretched scholarship" but it doesn't really count as scholarship.

46 people found this helpful

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Glen White

Very informative

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2012

Verified Purchase

Gives many examples of why the US debt is out of control and why this president is not one of the common man.

As Gorge Orwell in Animal Farm states, "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others"

2 people found this helpful

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