Politics | Michelle Obama Michelle Obama's Trip to Spain for Grieving Friend By Brooke Neal Posted Aug 10, 2010 9:34 AM CDT Posted Aug 10, 2010 9:34 AM CDT Promoted on Newser Aug 10, 2010 10:51 AM CDT Copied Spain's King Juan Carlos, right, welcomes U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha on their arrival at the Marivent Palace, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010. (AP) Michelle Obama's controversial trip to Spain with her daughter has caused quite a stir among Republicans and those who are feeling the brunt of the slow economy and high unemployment. According to Politics Daily, she decided to go with a grieving friend whose father's funeral she was unable to attend. A White House source told Lynn Sweet that Michelle traveled there at the request of Anita Blanchard, a long-time friend and the obstetrician who delivered both Sasha and Malia. "She felt it was important as a dear friend to do this," the source told Sweet, who added that the travel group numbered 7—Michelle, two friends, and four children—not 40, as some news outlets reported. Read the full article. Read These Next A former NFL Pro Bowler has died at age 36. The massive AWS failure exposed a big problem with the internet. A young chess grandmaster has died unexpectedly. A man ended up dead after trying to steal from Spirit Halloween. Report an error