# Obama's visit to India
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [November 4, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473 "2010-11-04T15:46:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/21 "2010-11-04T18:21:33Z")
Here’s a [1998 GAO report on the costs of three Presidential trips](http://www.gao.gov/archive/1999/ns99164.pdf) that year: a six-country tour of Africa, a visit to Chile, and one to China.
Highest cost, as one might expect, was the Africa trip, due to the more complicated logistics. Estimated cost was $42.8 million. Apparently the advance party was made up of some 1300 people. The single-country trips were each less than half that amount. Advance teams for those trips made up 500-600 people.
The breakdowns make interesting reading. There is no doubt that quite a lot of logistics are involved; not just the primary aircraft transporting the president and his party but literally dozens of supporting cargo airlifts, in-flight refueling, etc.
Nevertheless, there is nothing factual in the OP’s linked article to indicate that this trip is any larger in scale or complexity than the 1998 trips. Based on the above, and allowing for inflation, I think we can safely assume that the India trip will come in at the $30-40 million range, tops.
But of course, Ms. Bachmann clearly thinks we are all fucking idiots, in assuming she can put over the notion that a sitting member of the House of Representatives has no way to find out how much a presidential trip might cost except to read an anonymous report in a foreign newspaper.
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### Author:  [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/22 "2010-11-04T18:26:11Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#):
>
> Its likely 200 million rupees.
The article gives a number for rupees as well as dollars. India has this (I found confusing) habit of not talking in millions and billions, but instead a certain number of lakh (100,000), or crore (10,000,000). Made the paper tough to understand.
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### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/23 "2010-11-04T18:28:01Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#):
>
> Its likely 200 million rupees.
This seems a lot more reasonable. 200 million rupees = ~4.5 million USD. The article in the OP says this is a three-day trip which puts the total cost at ~13.5 million USD. That’s more or less in line with the Chile trip in that GAO report.
The article does mention 900 crore, but that’s got to be the result of a misunderstanding by someone.
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### Author:  [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/24 "2010-11-04T18:29:38Z")
> [@Bosstone](#):
>
> This seems a lot more reasonable. 200 million rupees = ~4.5 million USD. The article in the OP says this is a three-day trip which puts the total cost at ~13.5 million USD. That’s more or less in line with the Chile trip in that GAO report.
>
> The article does mention 900 crore, but that’s got to be the result of a misunderstanding by someone.
yeah, I think there is a misunderstanding somewhere.
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### Author:  [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/25 "2010-11-04T18:51:25Z")
> [@Skammer](#):
>
> I haven’t been able to confirm any of this in the mainstream press, although it has been repeated by the likes of Michelle Bachmann.
I pretty much stopped worrying about it right there.
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### Author:  [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/26 "2010-11-04T19:47:49Z")
> [@Skammer](#):
>
> I haven’t been able to confirm any of this in the mainstream press, although it has been repeated by the likes of Michelle Bachmann.
From what I have seen it seems to have started with her and been masturbated over by wingnuts on social media sites.
At this point, anything that comes from Bachmann is about one step down from getting your information from the homeless schizophrenic who lives under the bridge.
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### Author:  [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/27 "2010-11-04T19:52:15Z")
> [@Lantern](#):
>
> Obama is huge in India as was Clinton. \*\*Bush, not so much \*\*though his role in the Indo-US nuclear deal is greatly appreciated by the kind of people who care about such things.
Bolding mine.
According to the New York Times you are wrong.
> **[India Has a Soft Spot for Bush (Published 2009)](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/weekinreview/11giridharadas.html?_r=1)**
>
> President Bush’s penchant for unilateral deeds, and his moral conviction in favor of democracies, helped raise India to the status of a strategic ally.
> [@](#):
>
> Mr. Singh told Mr. Bush in Washington in September, “and let me say, Thank you very much. The people of India deeply love you.”
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### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/28 "2010-11-04T20:15:49Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#):
>
> At this point, anything that comes from Bachmann is about one step down from getting your information from the homeless schizophrenic who lives under the bridge.
I think you’re being very unfair to Shakey Dave.
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### Author:  [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/29 "2010-11-04T20:22:12Z")
Well, duh. He’s not going to tell the leader of the free world “Mr. Bush, frankly we pretty much think you’re an asshole.”
I travelled in India in 2003, and the general atmosphere was very anti-Bush. People felt he was war-like and potentially destabilizing.
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### Author:  [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/30 "2010-11-04T20:28:29Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#):
>
> From what I have seen it seems to have started with her and been masturbated over by wingnuts on social media sites.
>
> At this point, anything that comes from Bachmann is about one step down from getting your information from the homeless schizophrenic who lives under the bridge.
Yep. What you have to understand about Michelle Bachmann is that a) she’s full of shit and b) she’s someone who would take a dump on the American flag and wipe her ass with the Constitution if she thought it would help her make a point about how evil Obama is. So, no, I wouldn’t put too much stock in this faux-outrage.
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### Author:  [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/31 "2010-11-04T20:36:36Z")
> [@Tahssa](#):
>
> Bolding mine.
>
> According to the New York Times you are wrong.
>
> [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/weekinreview/11giridharadas.html?\_r=1](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/weekinreview/11giridharadas.html?_r=1)
Not really. As I mentioned there is a certain appreciation among the Indian policy elite for Bush’s role in pushing the Indo-US nuclear deal. That is what the article is talking about. However there was never remotely the kind of widespread acclaim that Clinton got when he visited or Obama will receive when he visits. Fundamentally the Indian middle class prefers the Democrats and have for decades going back all the way to at least Kennedy. Part of it is because Democrats are generally perceived as being less bellicaose and Indians have always been wary of what they consider American imperialism. Part of it is that Democrats seem more tolerant and inclusive and the Christian Right in particular is a major turn-off. It didn’t help when Indo-US relations reached their absolute nadir under Nixon during the Bangladesh war.
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### Author:  [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/32 "2010-11-04T21:39:31Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#):
>
> Why couldn’t he have flown coach to Istanbul and hitch-hiked from there? And what exactly is wrong with the Mumbai Red Roof Inn anyway?
Better yet, he could just pick up the phone and call White House tech support and chat with them for awhile.
> [@Skammer](#):
>
> But here is the best (and most amusing) debunking article I’ve found yet: [Michelle Bachmann Outraged Over Made-up Cost of Obama’s India Trip](http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/bachmann-outraged-over-made-up-cost-of-obamas-india-trip-video.php?ref=fpb) (includes video of her with Anderson Cooper). Gah, she makes my head hurt.
From the article.
> [@](#):
>
> [Factcheck.org](http://Factcheck.org) calls the claim “highly doubtful,” and points out that the entire war in Afghanistan currently costs about $190 million a day
Obama’s going to invade India. :eek:
No blood for rice!
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### Author:  [@Apollo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollo)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/33 "2010-11-04T23:23:40Z")
Un-fucking-believable, here I thought the discussion would be about a major state visit to India that is considered to be a major steppingstone in forging and strengthening new ties with the 21th centuries next superpower which will have very real economic, military, political and diplomatic consequences. Not the least what it will mean to US relations with China and Pakistan. Instead people are arguing about the travel expenses of the President of The United States. :smack:
Rome isn’t burning, its fucking burnt.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/34 "2010-11-04T23:44:21Z")
> [@Apollo](#):
>
> Not the least what it will mean to US relations with China and Pakistan.
Good Lord, he is courting India as an ally!
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/35 "2010-11-05T04:45:16Z")
Well, yes, that’s why he feels he has to curry favor.
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### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/36 "2010-11-05T04:47:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#):
>
> Well, yes, that’s why he feels he has to curry favor.
Men have died for less.
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/37 "2010-11-05T04:53:36Z")
He may even want to start talks about a naan proliferation treaty.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/38 "2010-11-05T04:57:18Z")
> [@Lantern](#):
>
> Not really. As I mentioned there is a certain appreciation among the Indian policy elite for Bush’s role in pushing the Indo-US nuclear deal. That is what the article is talking about. However there was never remotely the kind of widespread acclaim that Clinton got when he visited or Obama will receive when he visits. Fundamentally the Indian middle class prefers the Democrats and have for decades going back all the way to at least Kennedy. Part of it is because Democrats are generally perceived as being less bellicaose and Indians have always been wary of what they consider American imperialism. Part of it is that Democrats seem more tolerant and inclusive and the Christian Right in particular is a major turn-off. It didn’t help when Indo-US relations reached their absolute nadir under Nixon during the Bangladesh war.
An Indian acquaintance in Thailand, one who generally seems to know what he’s talking about, once told me Bush maintained an 80% approval rating in India throughout both terms and that he could probably win the election if it were somehow magically possible for him to run for the Indian presidency. Said India had benefited greatly from Bush’s policies, such as the nuclear assistance.
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### Author:  [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/39 "2010-11-05T05:14:00Z")
80% approval rating among whom? I doubt that the average landless peasant in rural India had any kind of opinion, good or bad, about Bush. Many of them had probably never heard of him. What your friend may have been referring to was a poll number about the Indo-US nuclear deal but I highly doubt even that. The deal was hugely controversial in India and nearly brought down the Manmhohan Singh government.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-visit-to-india/559473/40 "2010-11-05T05:16:45Z")
No, he wasn’t talking about any specific deal, but rather general approval rating throughout his presidency. I’m not sure what population group he was referring to, but he himself was and is a middle-class newspaperman.
Such was his story, for what it’s worth.
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