New Update:
Last week I published a diary under the title above because many people here on DK were bashing Obama for getting paid to speak at a conference hosted by a Wall Street firm. The firm in question is Cantor Fitzgerald, whose history of acting in ethical and community-minded ways is documented below.
I must point out also that, while they are “in talks” with Obama’s staff about the speech — which isn’t due to be given until September— as far as I’m aware, he hasn’t given final confirmation yet. More importantly, the focus of this conference is on healthcare… a topic that President Obama has become a bit of an expert due to his advocacy for the creation and passage of the ACA.
One of the primary arguments that were used against Obama was that he was enriching himself off of having been President. Other prominent politicians, like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, expressed “disappointment” with the potential of Obama doing the speech. In fact, Van Jones — who was once an Obama appointee until withdrawing his name due to attacks by GOP operatives and Fox News, among others — even suggested that Obama should “go on a poverty tour” before considering taking money for any speeches… as if Obama hasn’t already seen poverty, first hand.
Below is my response — originally posted on 4/28/17 — to all of this criticism. But before you read that, please read this diary, which was posted today, by Jen Hayden that gives you an idea of what kinds of things Obama will do with such earnings. I would say it’s a huge eye-opener!
Below is my original diary, republished in it’s entirety, including an update I added earlier containing more information from Jen Hayden’s diary.