Posted on 07/09/2015 3:22:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Former President George W. Bush is under fire for charging $100,000 to speak to a group of veterans wounded in a pair of wars he started when he was in office, just the latest front in a political battle over speaking fees that has hit both sides of the aisle.
Members of the Texas-based Helping a Hero charity told ABC News that Bush charged $100,000 for his 2012 speech at a charity fundraiser for veterans who lost limbs in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. The former president was also given use of a private jet at a cost of $20,000 and former First Lady Laura Bush was paid $50,000 to speak to the group last year.
The fees infuriated one of the board members, who told CNN Wednesday that Bush should not have accepted any money.
"The point here is that a leader should not charge to speak on behalf of the men that he sent into combat, at any level, let alone the commander in chief," said Eddie Wright, a Marine who lost both his hands in a 2004 rocket attack in Fallujah, Iraq.
Helping a Hero builds houses for wounded veterans. But Wright and others were involved in a legal battle last year accusing some of the group's leaders of siphoning money and forcing veterans' wives to sell beauty products. The criminal complaint and a defamation lawsuit filed in response were settled out of court, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Following the reports, Helping a Hero issued a statement supporting Bush.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
if you wanna see the right way to do a celebrity fundraiser for veterans, take a look at what Jay Leno did back in 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFROqAgqM5Y
the relevant part begins at 18:44, but the whole video is worth a watch if you like the Jay Leno’s Garage series.
This sounds bogus, but even if it’s true...you no one can charge one cent more than the group is willing to pay. This is so until John Roberts orders the group to buy the product or speech.
Boo Hoo Hoo, just look what he’s done to beef up their membership!
I’m not a big fan of Bush, but I didn’t think he’d do this.
This report is from CNN I’ll wait on my comment to see if there is “the rest of the story”.
Look, I understand the “discount.”
And I understand them paying his expenses.
But, why does a charity need him to speak, if not for a very nominal fee? After all, I bet they have to work pretty hard to accumulate 100K, plus expenses, from their donors. Is GWB THAT inspiring to those who hear him? Or (and I hate to say this about him) some influence purchasing going on?
I thought GWB was inarticulate, and a spendthrift as President, but I thought he was a genuinely compassionate guy who cared about the military. Why would he take 100K? He doesn’t need it.
Meester Jeb, he no care for you gringos warriors, essay! He care for us senor!
This story first appeared in today’s London Daily Mail, and if anything, the details in that are worse than the CNN version. GW Bush does not need money; he made a fortune on the Texas Rangers, gets a huge government pension and office rental allowance yearly, and can get books ghostwritten that will earn him millions. I find his conduct appalling; the man takes money from a charity for grievously wounded veterans in a war he started based on false premises. He should model himself after the Max Fisher family, who endowed a series of veterans welcome home centers across the US and Gene Simmons of the rock band Kiss, who has tirelessly donated his time and gobs of money to returning vets organizations for Iraq and Afghan warriors.
Wrong Bush.
I would want to hear more detail.
Not a good thing for him to have done if the story is true as written. But it’s CNN so I expect its not true. Likely false or embellished.
Big damn deal...they raised over 2 million that night....tired of seeing this spammed on the front page already.
Shh...let him run with it.
I’m waiting for the full story.
$3.2 million; not a bad return. I sure someone asked the Board Member who is upset how much they would have raised without President Bush speaking....
This is such a non story. Guess what CNN; this is why they call it a fundraiser. Get the biggest name you can afford so you can raise the most money. Seems like they did well.
Missing a lot of detail. Private donor paid the fee. Raised about $2.5 million which was considerably more than normally received at this type of event. Just trying to distract from the Clinton’s escapades.
...
I hope W fights what CNN is doing.
Please, pay attention! The fee was dsicounted and then it was paid BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL! The Veterans group cleared 2.5 million........they didn’t pay Bush anything!
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Thank you, Techster.
This isn’t a CNN story, it was reported numerous times.
So what. Bush is a private individual. He can’t speak for a veterans charity without getting paid? After eight years of being president and relying on the military.
This is not good. I can’t believe he took that money......I mean God asks him for a loan from time to time. The optics of this are horrible.
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