The claim being made by the right wing media is that three times more was spent for Obama’s inaugural than was spent by Bush in 2004 – 42 million by Bush as compared to 150 million by Obama.  This is false and another example of the dangers in believing that because one hears it on television it is automatically true.

The facts are that the Obama inaugural did indeed cost 150 to 170 million.  What is not true is that the 2004 Bush inaugural came in at 40 million.  That figure does not include the costs of security, transportation and other costs which add another 115 million to the Bush inaugural total.  The cost being cited for the Obama inaugural includes all costs related to the event.

The Washington Post reported in January 2005…

“…the $40 million cost of the [Bush] inaugural celebration, which is expected to become the most expensive in history. The $40 million does not include the cost of a web of security, including everything from 7,000 troops to volunteer police officers from far away, to some of the most sophisticated detection and protection equipment.”

The New York Times reported on January 5 of this year…

“In 2005, Mr. Bush raised $42.3 million from about 15,000 donors for festivities; the federal government and the District of Columbia spent a combined $115.5 million, most of it for security, the swearing-in ceremony, cleanup and for a holiday for federal workers.”

So, some uninformed individual listening to Sean Hannity on Fox or Lou Dobbs on CNN, would walk away believing that Obama was reckless in spending 150 million for his inauguration as compared to Bush’s 42 million in 2004 when in fact the total cost for the two inaugurals in question are almost identical.

This is just another case of the conservative media misleading its listeners with lies and misinformation.  Nothing new there.