Wed
Jan 14 2009
08:43 pm
Just the facts - costs of the Inauguration past and today
By: Pamela Treacy

What do you think of this?

Cost of past inaugurations and current expected cost.

$160 million for Obama
$42.3 million for Bush in 2005
$33 million for Clinton in 1993

Data from the Hollywood Insider show today.

Topics:
WhitesCreek's picture

I think it's mostly bullshit

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Wed, 2009/01/14 - 9:37pm.

There are other estimates of the cost at less than $50 Million. I'll post my sources when you link yours.

Pamela Treacy's picture

I saw it on Hollywood insider

Submitted by Pamela Treacy on Wed, 2009/01/14 - 9:57pm.

so maybe it's bad info. It just took me by surprise. Let me know what you find out.

reform4's picture

The cost includes

Submitted by reform4 on Wed, 2009/01/14 - 10:35pm.

.. ALL the private parties. When you have 2 million people celebrating, it's probably going to be a bit more when you have a popular president with broad appeal, rather than a few 10s of thousands celebrating.

That being said, since this was a headline story on Limbaugh today, I figure the statistic is probably complete bullhockey, and probably includes an estimate of all the bar tabs in the DC area over a 5-day period.

Lack of a credible source doesn't prevent it from being endlessly laundered by the 24-hour news idiots, though. Any sane person would remember the 2001 and 2005 inaugurations and ask themselves... "hmm, how could it possibly be $100 million higher than that extravagance?"

It's called Journamalism. Too bad it's dead.

michael kaplan's picture

i suppose the question is:

Submitted by michael kaplan on Wed, 2009/01/14 - 11:07pm.

i suppose the question is: where's the money going? it would be interesting to see an accounting ..

Brian A.'s picture

Eric Boehlert's response at

Submitted by Brian A. on Wed, 2009/01/14 - 11:10pm.

Eric Boehlert's response at Media Matters.

In short, the 2009 estimate is wildly inflated, and security costs aren't included in these estimates.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

Bbeanster's picture

I'd put this estimate in the

Submitted by Bbeanster on Wed, 2009/01/14 - 11:38pm.

I'd put this estimate in the same category as a blog entry that appeared here just before the election wondering whether blacks would be more likely to riot of Obama were elected, or if he were defeated. This crap bubbles up from the right wing blogosphere and appeals to some, I guess.

sugarfatpie's picture

Of course that was just an innocent and "objective" question

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Thu, 2009/01/15 - 11:13am.

Just trying to spur debate right? NOTE SARCASM HERE.
-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

Pamela Treacy's picture

My right wing source

Submitted by Pamela Treacy on Thu, 2009/01/15 - 1:57pm.

My right wing source was the Hollywood Insider who didn't source it any further. If what you say is true, it is just ridiculous as Steve said that media does this. Making up this story doesn't help bring our country together to move forward.

Trooper's picture

Costs Are No BS

Submitted by Trooper (not verified) on Tue, 2009/01/20 - 8:25am.

The costs published are not complete BS! Sorry to tell you, but (verified by ABC news on 1/20/09), security alone is $120 - $125 million. You figure out the totals, they're astronomical!. This is costing the tax payers more than 4x more than any other inauguration.

R. Neal's picture

The Obama inaugural

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2009/01/20 - 8:54am.

The Obama inaugural committee pays for all its own activities and all the money is from private donations, same as Bush's last inaugural. Government pays for the security. The total cost is about the same as Bush's last inauguration.

KC's picture

ANY Republicans who get on

Submitted by KC on Tue, 2009/01/20 - 8:46am.

ANY Republicans who get on here and have the nerve to complain about the costs oof the inauguration need to remember two things:

It's a spit in the ocean compared to what the years of deregulation and lack of enforcement of our financial industry have cost taxpayers, retirees, and employees.

Whatever the cost of an inauguration, the costs of not having such inefficient events as elections and inaugurations would be unbearable for all freedom loving Americans. At least for this American.

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