In law, the First Lady is regarded as a "Senior Counsel to the President" and she has an office for which federal money is appropriated.

She really and truly is doing a job I'd say approximately equivalent to a Chief of Staff and/or a Deputy Secretary of a cabinet department. Pay her accordingly.

The same could be said for the wives (husbands) of preachers that are considered a "package" deal.

Only the State of Washington seems to be in favor - too much drive-thru coffee?

Absolutely not. She is not required or elected to do anything. So our tax payer dollars should be use to compensate her husband. 

If one does a job, one should be compensated for it.

Again, It is not a Job if she has not been hired to do it. If she chooses to do it, why should we be requiredd to pay her for a choice she freely made?

I didn't vote for first lady so gotta say no on this one.  And what if the president is not married?  What if the presidents spouse is an idiot?  Not saying she is, I know nothing about her.  My spouse doesn't get compensated for attending work related functions, nor does she have round the clock staff available to host such events and cater to her every need.  I'd say all the perks of living in the White House and being part of the 'first family' are compensation enough. 

I would hope that when a spouse chooses to run for President that they discuss it beforehand with their family.  The families decision should then be made on the system that is already in place to make any "concessions" necessary to serve.   I agree with checkerbattery that the perks are already there living in the White House having a full time staff.

Let's see the promo shown for this on the Today show this AM there was a picture montage of the first ladies. They showed Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama. Why they forgot Roselyn Carter. What a joke

The President and First Lady are a package deal.  Yes, she has a lot of added responsibilities but she also has free household help, cooks, a secretary, someone to take her kids to school, etc.

We already pay for all her expenses when travelling on official business with her husband. $400 large and expenses is pretty good compensation for the first family

We already pay for all her expenses when travelling on official business with her husband. $400 large and expenses is pretty good compensation for the first family

Absolutely not. Was the person who even thought up the question intoxicated? Do military wives get compensated? No. Do you know what they go through? Their husbands make a tiny fraction of what the president makes. The husbands leave for months on end. Often, military families are stationed far from home and even overseas... I cannot see why a First Lady would be compensated. She lives rent free in a mansion with servants. If she wasn't up for it, she should have discussed it with her husband prior to the election.

To repeat what I wrote above, with a correction in grammar: "For what? For what reason? The job belongs to her husband, if the household needs the money, let her find a job, locally."

Frankly, if she feels the need to be compensated (which to my knowledge has not been stated by Mrs. Obama) for her time or for her involvement in her husband's activities, including travel and state diners, then in my opinion she should consider passing on all of those frills because any form of payment should be out of the question.

Are the duties and responsibilities of the First Lady actually outlined in the U.S. Constitution or Federal Statute?  And if so, is a specific amount for compensation discussed or stated for the position of First Lady as it is for other positions in the Federal government?

One other question, is the position of First Gentleman, First Dude, First Man, First Whatever, outlined in any Federal Statutes?  If not, it should be.

NO, you get food stamps, a house to live in, laundry free, a car, and an airplane to fly around the world in.  What more do you expect?   $$$$$$$$ NO

Good comments all!  I'd vote yes, if all wives recieved equal pay with their husbands!  and for the First Lady if it would be considered retroactive to all the First Ladies that went before!  If they do decide to pay her, they better write up the rules for First Man (Dude) right away too!  Aren't perks considered part of the pay?  GG 

I voted no because I think her perks from being First Lady are enough.  Don't forget also, that the President's $400.000 is not his only income.  He is a millionare without his pay, so I think he can afford to take care of his wife's needs and wants.  Besides, how much money will he actually spend of his salary when his, and his familys', every need or want is free.  I guess the word free isn't really accurate, we, the taxpayers are supplying the money for their expenses.  With the economy in such a mess, people losing their jobs, houses, etc., I think paying the First Lady would cause a revolution in this country.

Question?  Are the perks taxable?

I think all of the politians make too much money as it is without giving them more!

Absolutly, she should be paid. Ishould come with the territory. Does she work for the country ? Yes. Does she matter in her husband being elected President? Yes. Does she campaign for the election of her husband? Yes. Does she work otherwise after her husband takes office? yes. Can she work outside the white house to make a living? Yes. Would the country view it positively if she were to take a private job? No. Could it cause embarrasment to the President ? Yes. Sooooo she shoudl be paid for being first lady.  A first gentleman shoudl be paid too.  It is just common sense and get over it no free loader allowed in the white house.

If corporate executives do not get their wives paid that is up to their board of directors. Besides they are not elected officials. The idea of people working for free is totally anti American especially given our past misdeeds with slavery and indenture servityde.

Americans should be appalled that their first lady is not paid for the work she does for our country IT IS TIME TO CHANGE THAT. In America, if you value something, you put money into it. We have to come to grip of whether we value the work the first lady/gentleman does for the country and stop being hypocritical about it.  First ladies  and first gentlemen should be paid.

I think the public needs to understand that though we did not elect Mrs. Obama to the White House, she does hold the official "Office of the First Lady" position.

There are official functions that every first lady must conduct in order to maintain the supporting role assisting her husband in every aspect of public life. It is a full-time job that she has each day when she attends official functions.

Unlike other wives, the First Lady doesn't have the luxury of going to work outside the White House. She can't just submit her Resume to an employer and go answer phones or cook, or teach, or practice law as she sees fit.

As such, a compensation should be warranted for the work she does in the interest of state.