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KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 12:44 PM Jul 2015

Fact-Check: Bush Keeps Speaking Fees While Hillary Donates Them To Charity

http://www.occupydemocrats.com/fact-check-bush-keeps-speaking-fees-while-hillary-donates-them-to-charity/

George W. Bush may have been keeping out of the public eye since the end of his catastrophic presidency, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy. While FOX News, the right wing echo chamber, and Republicans love to harp on about Hillary Clinton’s imaginary “Clinton Cash scandal”, they conveniently fail to mention the fact that Hillary Clinton donates her speaking fees to charity while George W. Bush puts them in his personal bank account. Michael Kruse of POLITICO revealed this week that since 2009, Bush has given over 200 paid speeches, charging $100,000 to $175,000 for his presence. Bush told author Robert Draper that after the presidency, he intended to “replenish the ol’ coffers” making “ridiculous” money through public speaking- and has made good on that promise, racking up some $15 million dollars for his bank account.

Bush tends to restrict his speaking to private affairs, enjoying the luxury that the Republican donation base are accustomed to, in convention centers and hotel ballrooms, resorts and casinos, but has also stooped to such events as the “Work Truck Show” and the 2014 International Bowl Expo, where Mr. Bush offered up such nuggets of wisdom like “bowling is fun.” But in general, his movements and audiences are hard to trace; his post-White House irrelevance shielding him from public interest. But he travels and speaks, from investment summits in the Cayman Islands to a McKinney, Texas charity for the homeless, which he was paid $100,000.

Unlike Hilary Clinton, who donates her speaking fees to the Clinton Foundation, for use in philanthropic work around the world, Bush’s staff assured POLITICO that “none of what he makes when he does get paid goes anywhere other than his own bank account.” As the right wing FOX “News” propaganda machine zeroes in on creating a firestorm of lies and exaggerations about the finances of the Clinton family, they are hypocritically silent on the subject of Mr. Bush.


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Shrike47

(6,913 posts)
3. Politifact discussed this issue and came to a different conclusion from the author of the article.
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 01:08 PM
Jul 2015

They said she donates some, not all, of her speaking fees. Her tax filings show she keeps some. I wish this article indicated the source of its information.

Anyway, Politifact rated this article as untrue, for what it's worth.

misterhighwasted

(9,148 posts)
4. " hypocritically silent on the subject of Mr. Bush." Heres another reason the GOP hides Bush's Fees
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 01:16 PM
Jul 2015

and scapegoats Hillary's speaking fees.

Its the same old "Look over there" game the RW plays all the time

HERE:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026960510

Jeb’s South Korean sugar daddy

Bush gave 10 speeches for firm that reaped more than $1 billion from his brother’s administration.



 

Dems to Win

(2,161 posts)
5. Laura Bush is not running for president. W's fees are not a campaign issue.
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 02:11 PM
Jul 2015

Hillary Clinton donates part, not all, of her speaking fees to the Clinton Foundation.

Hillary Clinton IS running for president, and has known for years that she would be doing so. I am as insulted by Hillary making $250,000 for each of 2 speeches to Citibank as I am by Holder's new job. Both express utter disdain for the Democratic base, the working people who have suffered so much at the hands of Wall Street. I'm pretty disgusted that she cashed in for a while and is now expecting us to hold our noses and vote for her anyway.

George H. W. Bush made lots of money in speaking fees, too. I raised my eyebrows at those reports, but he and Barbara never attempted to return to the White House, so they weren't a campaign issue for the couple.

Jeb Bush's speaking fees are a relevant campaign issue, however, and I hope they are covered in detail.

If it's a Clinton vs. Bush race, I suppose the dirty whiff of corruption, infuriating speaking fee issue will cancel itself out since both sides do it, at least for the voters who show up at the polls. For many others, it will compound their disgust at the pathetic Bush vs. Clinton choice offered by the major parties, and they will stay home in droves. I seriously believe a Clinton vs. Bush race will be the lowest turnout ever for a presidential year, and I don't expect the Democrats to win that low turnout race.

Go Bernie Go!

Sing it, O'Malley!


 

Dems to Win

(2,161 posts)
10. "Jeb Bush's speaking fees are a relevant campaign issue, however, and I hope they are covered in
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 02:32 PM
Jul 2015

detail."

Quote from my post, above

 

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)
7. You are "insulted" by her speaking fees? You mean if offered $250,000 to speak you wouldnt take it?
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 02:14 PM
Jul 2015

Be honest now.

 

Dems to Win

(2,161 posts)
9. No, I most definitely would NOT take it then ask workers making $7.25/hr to vote for me.
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 02:30 PM
Jul 2015

I am not a typical American. I believe there is such a thing as 'enough.' I have enough stuff. I don't need anything more in material goods.

Hillary knows that the Democrats cannot win without the votes of the Occupy Wall Street young people and their supporters. Young people need to enthusiastically turn out at the polls in large numbers if we're to win in November 2016.

Even if Hillary wanted the money badly, she should have had enough self discipline to turn down these speaking opportunities that are insults to the millions of working Americans who had their homes fraudulently taken by these banks. Now she is asking for the votes of people who have suffered at the hands of the banksters.

As I said, I don't see that winning for the Democrats in November 2016.

restorefreedom

(12,655 posts)
13. we are all in the position
Fri Jul 10, 2015, 02:55 PM
Jul 2015

unfortunate in my view, of having to deal with two political family dynasties, one in each major party. all of their activities will be scrutinized as well they should. former presidents have a right to earn money, but the perception is that they are part of the financial ultra elite while the rest of us are dealing with unemployment or long hours or crappy wages.

this only increases the credibility of bernie's fight for the middle class.

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