Obama Did Not Buy Michelle Rare Gold Ring, Says Spokesperson

UPDATE: The Obama camp flatly denies that Obama bought his wife Michelle a $33,000 rhodium ring as a thank you gift, according to The Chicago Sun Times. "'No ring was purchased,' said [Obama spokesperson Ben] LaBolt." The statement was made in response to a Daily Mail article claiming that he would.

Here is an excerpt from the original Daily Mail story:

Michelle Obama is to receive this £20,000 thank you from her husband for her support during the election.

The Harmony ring is made of rhodium - the world's most expensive metal --and encrusted with diamonds. It is being hastily made by Italian designer Giovanni Bosco in time for January's inauguration ceremony.

Only about 25 tons of rhodium are mined each year, mostly in South Africa, and as a result its price is typically around £5,000 an ounce.

Comments

[HC4BO]

Conflict Diamonds ... ?

I smell a controversy a-brewing from the fringe wing nuts ...

[walk0nwalls]

Bleeeeeeeehhhh I don't like the idea of diamonds

[tel8034]

Then you won't be disappointed ..........­..........­.... Obama is not buying the ring for you

[walk0nwalls]

or for anyone, knew this one was bunk.

[VOTER]

Sarah is calling Chambliss right now & demanding a ring like this as payment
for her campaign stops.

[Trina44]

hahaha...I thought she liked clothes not rings. Don't Todd like silk underwear.

[Freesia2]

Okay. He's spending his own money, right? It's not leftover donation money from the campaign (as in might be my money)? {shrug} Fine.

I'm not a jewelry person. I'm soft spoken and pink so for some reason my husband thought when we were first married that he should buy me jewelry. It always ended up in the drawer. I'd rather have another dog. Or a book. Or ice cream. With sprinkles.

Obama's being nice to Michelle. It may have a private meaning behind it. I'm glad he's thoughtful to his wife. What's the fuss?

[Trina44]

There is no fuss and most likely it's his own money Obama is worth about 4 million at the most. The guy made a killing off book deals and speaking tours so he has his own cash. The true fuss is that republicans want to cry about something and feel they finally found something to twist around and smear on Obama. The usual cry wolf type of stuff.

[Freesia2]

Ah. Republican bellyachin'. I see.

Well if the Republicans want to throw a fit over money, they might want to focus on the trillions of dollars debt wasted fighting the wrong war - in the wrong country. A tanked economy. The need for bailing out what seems to be a company a week. (In this case it is with my money). By Republicans. Frankly before they gripe about dollars they should buy us all a ring. (But I'd rather have the book. And the dog.)

There's an old expression - something about it's the worst cooks who always complain about other people's cooking. The Republicans really ought to hush otherwise a person might get the idea that they're ridiculous.

[VOTER]

This story doesn't "ring" true.

I imagine if Barack was to buy his lovely wife, Michelle, a nice piece of
jewelry, he would insist upon privacy from the broker and not these
headlines. If someone working for the designer or broker gave the
news to the press early, I'll bet he/she was fired.

Also, if the gift was supposed to be a surprise, it no longer can be one.

All in all, a wasted space for a story.

[Indy 44]

30 grand? Doesn't Derek Jeter make that much in like a half an inning?

I'm not impressed.

[Trina44]

LOL...Blam­e it on the recession

[Fongenie]

Or Blame It On The Boogie! Sorry, I was listening to The Jacksons' earlier.

[fcsakes]

This is not fitting in with my idea of Barack Obama - I bet it's a lie.

[Trina44]

Your probably right...Bu­t then again his wife birthday is right around the time he is to be sworn into office. And Obama seems to be madly in love with his wife.

[gbrooks]

Every heard of blood diamonds? The South African precious metal mining system is just as corrupt. Kind of nice, yet kind of not. I lived in SA for a year while my father worked as an engineer at a gold mine. It's not pretty.

[Trina44]

Relax I don't think Obama is buying blood diamonds for his wife....Th­e story could be a fake like all the other lies post about Michelle on the web..Matte­r of fact has anyone seen or heard the "Whitey tape"...th­ought so! Story most likely fake.

[gbrooks]

I'm hardly hyper about it, just saying.

[aznurse]

Shhhh! it's a surprise!

[BartLA]

Guess the ring is not a surprise.

Is this really the type of story to run on HuffPo? C'mon y'all.

[proudem]

What a classy guy.

[IkeChicago]

Michelle Obama went from making 450, 000 a year to nothing, she doesn't get paid as first lady. I think Michelle deserves this ring and more, she is a professional woman that will he asked to do nothing challenging in her new job.

[BeasleysMom]

Don't know or care if it is true or not. If it is, so what? Hasn't the guy got a right to do what he wants? He certainly can afford it. Think how much his books are making right now and they won't have a house payment in the White House or all that pesky maintenance and insurance.

[Trina44]

Your sane and understand that this story is worthless. But to the right all they have is boring tales of what Obama buys his wife to get them through four years.

[kellygrrrl]

this is almost as ridiculous as the story that MO's Loree Rodkin earrings came from Oprah.
Do we really have to do this?

[Trina44]

No, but the republicans will go there over and over. Because they are losers.

[kellygrrrl]

Oh, Good Grief! STOP IT!!!!!!