George W. Bush charged $100K speaking fee to veterans group – KXII

ABC reported Wednesday that ex- President George W. Bush charged a non-profit group for wounded vets a whopping $100,000 for a speaking fee in 2012.

ABC reports that the event raise more than a million dollars, and the charity credits Bush with that success. “It was great because he reduced his normal fee of $250,000 down to $100,000”, said Meredith Iler.

The charity’s lawyer Christopher Tritico seconded that Bush’s presence at the event was likely a factor in boosting their revenue for that year. The nonprofit helps to outfit homes for veterans wounded during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“You sent me to war”, Wright said of Bush, according to ABC. “I was doing what you told me to do”. But it’s kind of a slap in the face.’.

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Ex- presidents routinely face a challenge after leaving the White House: what do they do with their suddenly empty schedule?

Reagan faced outrage – and some admiration – for charging $2 million for two, 20-minute speeches in Japan in 1989.

How did ex-presidents’ fees skyrocket from $10,000 to $100,000 or more? This has reportedly been his plan for a while – as the Bush/Cheney era wound down, the former president told Robert Draper he hoped to “replenish the ol’ coffers”, by making “ridiculous” amounts of money through paid remarks. Bill Clinton got massive speaking fees from entities tied to actions under Hillary Clinton’s purview at State, especially the Uranium One deal but also involving the Colombia trade pact and other actions. On a “handful of occasions” Bush Sr.’s appearance may have been underwritten to cover costs for the charities, spokesman Jim McGrath said.

Ex- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was the featured speaker at last year’s Helping a Hero charity fundraiser and did not charge a fee, according to ABC News. A representative for ex- President Jimmy Carter said he does not have a specific policy but often donates his honoraria to the Carter Center.

The revelation that Bush received money from a charity that assists veterans of wars which he presided over while president was met with strong condemnation by some of those same soldiers.

“I’ve decided to dedicate the rest of my life to helping our vets, to helping those with whom I was honored to serve”, Bush said at a June 24 event. The report said the following year, the gala netted the charity substantially less, about $1,000,000.

He was also provided with a private jet to travel to Houston, which cost the group $20,000.

A spokesperson for the ex- President, Freddy Ford, confirmed the payment but declined to comment on the criticism over the $100,000 speaking fee from the veterans’ charity.

In what could be construed as a jab at Jeb Bush, Trump tweeted that it was “Not nice!” for Jeb’s brother, George W., to demand the speaking fee to address wounded war veterans.