Tuesday, May 02, 2017

For those who got worked up over Obama's $400,000 speaking fee, congratulations you were played by the Right Wing media yet again.

Courtesy of Washington Monthly:  

When it comes to the story about Obama accepting speaking fees, it is important to note that the story was launched by Fox Business News. All of the sudden what previous presidents – both Democrat and Republican – had been doing for years was scandalized because we’re now talking about Obama. Our current so-called “populist” president once even bragged at a rally that he used to be paid a lot of money for speeches (as much as $1.5 million for a single speech). 

Of course the folks at Fox knew this would trigger a dust-up on the left because of the fact that Hillary Clinton’s speaking fees had become such an issue in the 2016 primary. And of course, an awful lot of liberals took the bait. 

I’m not saying that all of the arguments about speaking fees are without merit. Perhaps Democrats should have a proactive conversation about whether former presidents should continue to do so. But taking the bait Fox served up and using it to suggest that a particular former Democratic president is threatening our democracy is akin to the kind of circular firing squad for which Democrats have been famous over the years.

The article goes on to point out that before there was ever any mention of this speech that the former  President had already spoken, for free, to young people in Chicago about gang violence, job  skills, and employment opportunities.

Also from the article:  

For the people who think that accepting fees for a speech indicates an erosion of our democracy, they should at least acknowledge that former President Obama is actually spending the majority of his time working with young people on civic engagement as well as reducing violence, poverty and unemployment around the country. Otherwise they are simply getting played by Fox News.

Personally I found it troubling that both Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders allowed themselves to get played by Fox News.

Warren said she was "troubled" by this news, however Sanders went much farther saying he found it "distasteful."  

Do you know what I find distasteful, so called "liberal leaders" who allow the conservative media to pull their strings so effectively.

Remember this is the same thing the Russians did to split the Democrats during the primary, and to convince the so-called "Bernie Bros" that the nomination was stolen from their candidate, which led to many of them skipping the general election in frustration.

A bit of information that was tragically under reported about this so-called Wall Street speaking engagement is that the speech is being given at a health care conference.

How could we possibly expect the President who passed such an expansive health care reform, which was not in such danger of being undermined or repealed, NOT to show up something like that?

No the criticism directed at President Obama concerning this speech is completely unwarranted, and worse yet it is another indication that even the liberals are easily led around by the nose.

34 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:37 AM

    Knowing my president, he will most likely donate it to a good cause, even though he deserves every bit of it. It's nobody's fucking business what he does now, he's a private citizen. And ol' Liz needs to zip it.

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    1. Anonymous2:53 PM

      Oh please. His good cause will be his bank account. You should fully expect the Obamas to be worth 200+ million in twenty years. Not a criticism, but lets not fall into such altruistic ideas like he is going to donate it all lol.

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    2. @2:53 PM: Your cynicism is misplaced, unwarranted, and without foundation. The Obamas are quite altruistic, giving liberally to charitable causes. They have shared their income tax returns, so the information is publicly available. Save your cynical comments for Dolt45*, they are absolutely applicable.

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    3. Anonymous6:42 PM

      200+ million, you can bank on that Marguerite. Obama's speeches will probably command $ more than Bill's.

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    4. Anonymous11:38 PM

      Sorry 4:39, your hero is but human after-all. And he is also simply another politician, just like the rest. Like Slick Willy, he was very gifted at it. And the money will flow.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous11:38 AM

    Bernie Bros are also in court suing the DNC for alleged favoritism. This helps bigly. The Bernie faction taking and running with illegally hacked info straight from Putin.

    Obama's speech is to Cantor Fitzgerald, the firm that lost the most people on 9/11 -- a company that has committed to covering the health care costs of its employees and survivors of those who were lost on that day.

    I'd say they share a passion for people, much like Obama who has every right to earn a living. AND he's not afraid to show his tax returns like a certain someone who seems eager to criticize anyone not named Bernie Sanders.

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    1. Anonymous1:19 PM

      It certainly makes a difference when there's context. When I first read about the fee, I thought there's got to be more to the story. And so t here is. I will always be impressed by President Obama and I do not begrudge him or Mrs. Obama a fine future. They and their daughters sacrificed much for this country and endured eight years of unmitigated hatred from the political right. And Fox and its cohorts would continue it forever if we allow it.
      Beaglemom

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    2. You articulated very well what I've been thinking all along. Thank you Beaglemom. A lot of people are easily swayed and believe everything that pop in the news without vetting the source. Then some leaders will react and opine negatively like Senators Warren and sanders thereby weakening the party's unity. I wish they could avoid critizing Pres. Obama publicly on this non issue because they are just reinforcing the agenda of those who smear our former president.

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  3. Anonymous11:39 AM

    These goddamn Republicans and idiotic Democrats. Thank God, we have the likes of President Obama in our midst.

    Love what CNN did to jerkface Trump in not airing his bullshit thingy about how good he INSN'T! Now he is crying like a baby in spite of his constantly having called CNN 'fake news'! He doesn't know what he wants. Fucking idiot!

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  4. This liberal isn't upset, and those that are need to be reminded of Dumbya charging vets to listen to him speak.

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    1. Anonymous2:17 PM

      I agree, dvlaries at 12:00pm.
      Beaglemom

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    2. Anonymous2:40 PM

      Bingo, dvlaries!

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  5. I am a liberal---and we can be easily led and reactive. Thus the term---knee jerk liberal.

    Frankly, I don't give a good goddamn if President Obama gets two million dollars per speech. He is a private citizen and he has a right to make as much money as he can. I love Elizabeth Warren but she can STFU when it comes to someone's private life. And Bernie can shut up too because his wife has some shady money making crap in her background.

    Conservatives will never leave Barack Obama alone and liberals and progressives will continue be hysterical and complaining when Obama isn't washing someone's feet.

    Screw 'em.

    The best revenge on stupid, hateful and easily manipulated people is to do well. And it seems President Obama is doing so.

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    1. Anonymous1:28 PM

      The far left is exactly the same as the far right. I'm finding it difficult to listen to either side these days, as the far right think things are A-okay, but the far left is just about ready to build bunkers to hide out from all of the shit they make up to be afraid of.

      This 8 years is what it is, and hopefully in 2020 there can be nice middle of the road candidate that will bring things back around to "normal" again.

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  6. Anonymous12:15 PM

    That is some real nice spin you are trying to spin. Obama will be raking it in just like the Clintons from here on out. And that is not a criticism, more power too him. I would.

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    1. Anonymous1:44 PM

      More power to him, indeed!

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    2. Anonymous4:08 PM

      President Obama deserves every bit of money he makes - especially after the two terms of crap the Republicans put him through. It still galls the Hell out of them that he was reelected! Mitch McConnell tried to bring him down and failed miserably! Screw ugly Mitch, the Republican majority in Congress and the Republican party!

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    3. Anonymous8:15 PM

      Are you somewhere around 8 or 9 years old 4:08?

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  7. Anonymous1:25 PM

    Both Warren and Sanders are pretenders that love to express far left outrage and then have to walk it back. Thank goodness that neither one of them will ever be POTUS.

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  8. Anonymous3:00 PM

    Fuck Bernie Sanders!

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    1. Anonymous5:02 PM

      In your dreams, sweetie.

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  9. Anonymous3:07 PM

    Ronnie Raygun went to Japan, delivered a speech and was paid ONE MILLION $$$ for it! I would rather listen to President Obama than Saint Ronnie anyday. They expect democratic politicians to live by stricter rules.

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  10. Did you hear that his wife was under FBI investigation during the primaries? Which makes her/him vulnerable to Kompramat. Bernie put pressure on the lender to lend the money. Can you say corruption? You were right about him.

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  11. Anonymous3:58 PM

    Dayum, wasn't the best offered the Tundra Turd $100K? Even that fell bigly and fast! Bet she's wee wee'd up.

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    1. Anonymous5:06 PM

      I took great pleasure in showing people articles from Sarah's first screech in 2009 showing that she was paid $300,000 to show her new plastic surgery face to a bunch of Hong Kong bankers.

      The fact is the bankers just wanted to peer at her in the flesh but they began to leave long before she was finished because all she did was talk about herself and they'd heard all that moose shit before and they'd rather look at their phones.

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  12. Anonymous4:23 PM

    Larry the Cable Guy gets $400,000 per appearance too; where's the Republican outrage with that ?

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  13. Anonymous10:43 PM

    Another smug title? Will you ever stop being so perfect?

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  14. Hillary's Wall St. speech fees were a part ( a PART) of the reason she lost.

    It was seen as a bit hypocritical, a tad "in the pocket of" and alienating to the very base that Trump was playing too. It's is part of that YUUUUGE blind spot the DNC had during the entire campaign.

    Not saying the fee wasn't fair or the going rate.

    But it's a Caesar's Wife thing. It tarnishes an image that needs to be squeaky clean and beyond reproach.

    It also rubs the nose of the unemployed, low income workers, etc. who already consider the Democrats to be elites. It also ignores that people, ALL people of ALL different political persuasions are still MAD AS HELL that no one on Wall St. was held accountable for the melt down. No one was indicted. No one went to prison.

    So talk all you want about being played by the right wing news media.

    That doesn't change the basic facts.

    (He could have easily given a speech at the health care conference for free too. It's not like he needs the money.)

    Is that entire $400,000 speaking fee being donated to a charity?

    If not, then I think Elizabeth Warren is right to be troubled by the image it paints.

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  15. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-9-billion-witness-20141106

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  16. Anonymous3:18 PM

    President Obama is still a young man, and he's got a lot of life ahead of him. What should he do to earn money? It's not like he can go to the nearest Wal-Mart and apply for a cashier job--anywhere public he'd go, it would draw huge crowds and nobody could get anything done. So, he writes books and gives speeches; good on him! Unlike many Republicans, President Obama is a great speaker. And he picks a great company to speak to.

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  17. Anonymous3:38 PM

    At least Obama knows about health care. So giving a speech at a Health Care Conference for 400K would at least be within his area of expertise.

    Paying a teenager 300K to promote abstinence who already had a child out of wedlock, something she obviously knew nothing about, is much more disturbing!

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  18. Anonymous3:41 PM

    Ridiculous!! Moral outrage when every other CEO, Politician, celebrity or athlete regardless of political affiliation, does the same thing! The double standard is more disgusting than anything else.

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    1. Not Jimmy Carter,Not Harry Truman. If you what to see why Obama's pay-day, bribe was $400.k try goggling "Rolling Stone- Nine Billion dollar witness".

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