Why is Bill getting paid so much for delivering speeches?

[thewiseguy]

Honestly I found it outrageous for him to get paid 150k to 450k for delivering speeches

Details of the former president's speaking fees were included in Sen. Clinton's financial disclosure report last year. In 2006 and 2007, he earned fees from $100,000 to $450,000 speaking to such corporations as IBM, General Motors, and Cisco Systems, finance giants such as Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers, and trade groups such as the National Association of Realtors and the Mortgage Bankers Association. He also has been paid to speak to nonprofit or charity groups, including the TJ Martell Foundation, which finances leukemia research, Nelson Mandela's Children's Fund and, last March, to the Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080405/ap_on_el_pr/clinton_taxes

Bill has made 52 million dollars alone from giving speeches! Now you can go ahead and take off the 10 million dollar donation and he still would walk away with 42 million dollars. (Neglecting the fact that he was paid by giving speeches to charity groups!)

Why in god's name should Bill get paid for giving a speech to TJ Martell Foundation group that finances leukemia research? This is very wrong...

[OHdem10]

1. R. Regan received 2 Million for one speech in Japan.

Presidents are always paid well. Bill Clinton being a grest speaker
gets many requests. He does make millions a speech.

[thewiseguy]

3. That is a huge waste of money IMO.

These corporations sure know how to throw money around.

[redqueen]

70. Throw money around? Is there no ROI for this? Influence can be provided by ex presidents too

I'd think.

[Yupster]

88. It does look bad

Not Clinton particularly, but any politician who cleans up on money from corporations.

There's no way those corps consider it just a fair amount of money to pay for a speech. They're thinking there's more to it than that.

We may as well get rid of presidential pensions anyway.

They seem like a waste of the people's money when the guy's making twice his annual pension in one day by talking for 45 minutes.

[redqueen]

98. Yes! Not Clinton... ANY politician who does this.

I second your idea on pensions. Hell, not very many of us can count on that... nor do we have the ability to shop ourselves around for high-dollar speechifyin.

[patrice]

2. .

:puke: :crazy:

[intheozone]

4. Ronnie Reagan earned $200,000 for one speech after he left office, probably

more than 20 years ago now. And he was already senile when he gave the speech! So, if Bill is getting $100k to $450k, its not out of line. Check out what other people, who by the way are not nearly in demand as much, and you'll find it's pretty normal.

Why are you Obama supporters so fast and free with your criticisms of everything Clinton

[thewiseguy]

6. I like to see those numbers

Getting paid that much for giving a speech to a charity foundation is just wonderful!

[SoCalDem]

5. He has a senator for a wife..and potentially another "go" at the White House

and he's "connected" to the Bush family through his charity & connection with Poppy.

[PBS Poll-435]

50. So...

Psssst...You know about the "Presidential Earmark?"

Please don't tell anyone...You could get into a lot of trouble...

You might end up at JimRob Academy for Advanced Conspiracy Theory

[PoliticalAmazon]

101. Speech fees are a way to pay off the speaker for political favors they've done. n/t

[mrJJ]

7. Their willing to pay

Nothing wrong with making money from speeches. If organizations are willing to pay the price he quotes so be it. But in ironic twist...

Feb 19, 2008: Hillary Clinton says "speeches don't put food on the table."

Bill's speeches sure as hell put food on their table! $51 Million Dollars worth

Anyone think that Hillary knew she was err lying? or perhaps mis-spoke

[C_U_L8R]

8. It's not like he's getting paid by the word

or for the speech at all for that matter.
They're just semi-legitimized kickbacks.

[thewiseguy]

13. GM announces layoffs but gives that much money to Bill for a speech!

I wonder what the topic of speech was about? Cars? Manufacturing?

[redqueen]

72. Kickbacks?

Isn't that when you overcharge then split the difference with the buyer? A form of embezzlement?

I thought it was just regular ole influence-peddling.

[Whisp]

9. it's probably palm greasing and under the table stuff...

you can't really put a price on a speech so this is the perfect way to 'return a favor'.
same with software - lots of big money goes to software that's knowingly worth shit - it's just a form of money laundering.

[loyalsister]

10. Just imagine how much Obama will get paid eventually!

:wow:

[quantass]

41. Lol! Good point!

[msongs]

11. thank gosh barack obama never gets paid for giving speeches nt

[DJ13]

12. The Clintons are in a unique situation, one rife for kickbacks

Its a situation we've never had to consider before.

We have a former President, with all the DC insider influence that goes with that, who by all rights a private citizen that can make money as he wishes.

BUT, his wife is also a Senator.

So heres the deal......

Corp X "hires" Bill to give a speech that no one cares about and pays him a half a million dollars for a one hour speech.

After the check clears his wife can co-sponsor a bill that includes a sweetheart provision buried within it that nets that same corp X an additional $40 million in tax cuts (if not a government contract).

Pretty nice gig if you can get it, and one that could very easily result in a rapid increase in wealth over a few years.

[spindrifter]

14. I'd like to be around when he's "negotiating"

his rates. If a non-profit organization is paying "big" bucks, it is likely a percentage of what they are receiving from donors who attend the Bill event. This still doesn't answer how much the Big Dog is taking in for his presidential library, though.

[Barack_America]

15. It's also about making important introductions...

Between politicians and businessmen.

[Seeker30]

16. Because he was one of the greatest Presidents ever

And there lies your proof.

[thewiseguy]

17. OK?!

[joshcryer]

20. OK is right. :) He's still well respected in the USA and around the world.

He's one of the last great Presidents still alive.

There are only two others, once of which never really had a chance to sit in the Oval Office as leader.

[thewiseguy]

22. I understand that he is respected but that is just too much money for one speech

[Seeker30]

23. And you blame Clinton?

Its Economics 101, you get what the market bears and it shows his popularity.

[PoliticalAmazon]

103. They're not paying for the speech. They're paying for his political favors!...

...Sufferin' Jesus! Do you not understand that these huge speark fees to politically powerful people is a way to pay them off for political favors they've done? They can't pay a sitting president for pushing a bill in Congress or using their presidential power to help a corporation, so they pay them off in "speaker fees."

Both Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton have both received many large "speaker fees" from Indian corporations that profit from the Clintons' eager work to send American jobs to India.

[nebula]

32. Nice way of selling political favors.

In return for X company 'contributing' a large speaking fee, you get your wife to pass pork-barrel legislation favorable to X company. The speech itself is meaningless--it's merely a cover for something else entirely.

[PoliticalAmazon]

104. Exactly! Think of all the favors the Clintons did for these companies to get these fees. n/t

[dogday]

81. Finally a answer to the question... eom

[sam sarrha]

18. SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD ONE... sorry for caps..

[thewiseguy]

19. I get paid 20/hr, Bill gets 200000/hr.

[PBS Poll-435]

65. Obviously NOT Fair

You served two terms and all you got was this stupid t-shirt!

[dogday]

82. Are you a Rhodes Scholar?

It is not like he doesn't have the experience or education... Quit comparing apples to oranges.. It doesn't equate....

[KAZ]

21. Because his wife is running for president. Seems rather obvious.

[Seeker30]

24. Where do you people come from?

Romper Room?

[PBS Poll-435]

33. Nah....The Xanex Laboratories

[PBS Poll-435]

34. Actually...The Marijuana Research Floor at Betty Crocker Laboratories,

Hence the paranoia...

[PoliticalAmazon]

106. ITA. Hillary as president would whore the office for money, just like Bush Jr did. n/t

[KittyWampus]

25. Why is Bill so fucking greedy he had to make even MORE millions by investing w/Burkle?

Using tax havens?

[Buzz Clik]

26. "It's just words. Pretty speeches."

:eyes:

cha-ching.

[thewiseguy]

27. Yes... words never put food on anybody's table.

[doc03]

28. Because people are willing to pay. n/t

[thewiseguy]

29. People are not paying for those speeches buddy. Take a look at the list of his clients.

[doc03]

30. I not going to waist my time I 'm not worried about it

How much did Obama get off that racketeer in Chicago?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

38. Not nearly as much as Bill got from his crooked buddies. Thanks for playing, though. nt

[Skwmom]

31. Maybe they're paying for more than just a speech.

[PBS Poll-435]

35. Right....

Freaking get a clue. Hell, when I am not looking, steal a clue.

You need it more then they do.

[nebula]

36. Bingo!

the companies are buying political favors, namely from his Senator wife.

the speech itself is meaningless. it merely serves as a front.

[PBS Poll-435]

43. Yup. You got them!!!

Wow...Will the NYT and Drudge, ABC & NBC, CBS and MTV, have egg on their face tomorrow!!! You figured it out before anyone!!!

Did you find the clue on the back of a 1 dollar bill?

[nebula]

52. Can you put two and two together?

No one gives you that much coin for nothing more than a glorified speech.

think about it Sherlock.

[PBS Poll-435]

53. You mean no one gives YOU

that much coin for a speech. I agree. You weren't President.

Think about it Sherlock!

[nebula]

54. "NYT and Drudge, ABC & NBC, CBS and MTV"

are you capable of thinking on your own?

or do you require the MSM to spoonfeed you everything?

[PBS Poll-435]

56. Actually I am...

You seem to thing that you figured out this grand conspiracy before anyone else. Your thighs are trembling, I am sure. You just can't wait to tell everyone!

In the real world, however, it is kinda sad.

[nebula]

58. You don't think the influence of money and corruption exists in Washington?

then I don't think you live in the real world.

[PBS Poll-435]

59. Well....I know that you didn't make hella coin

giving a pretty speech...but really.

Obviously money and corruption exists in D.C. What I can't figure out is how you get 37.5 out of 1+1.

You must not live in the real world.

[nebula]

60. Rest assured

it shall all come out in due time.

[PBS Poll-435]

63. Something like

KenStarr-mas?

[nebula]

66. Yes, an early Christmas present for McCain

if Hillary is the nominee.

which she won't be.

[PBS Poll-435]

67. Then why are you so worried about it?

Why do you keep bringing up RW shit if it isn't going to matter anyway?

Obsessed? Seriously. If your guy has it locked up, then go outside. Take a walk. Steal some candy from a toddler. Do what makes you feel good again!

[nebula]

73. Hillary needs to be held accountable for her actions

regardless of who gets the nomination.

[PBS Poll-435]

76. Ahhh....So that's what it is all about, isn't it

You have serious problems that need real solutions.

I am not going to put you on ignore because that is childish and counter-productive.

I do feel bad for you though...so here is a gift:










ETA: Fix Title Error

[Maddy McCall]

48. Like what?

[MonkeyFunk]

37. because people will pay that much to hear him

why does Julia Roberts get $20 million per movie? Cuz somebody will pay that much.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

39. No way in hell they're charging that much for admission to a speech.

Those speeches are being "subsidized" if ya know what I mean.

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PBS Poll-435]

46. You said there was ancillary benefits of Bill's speeches.

What else were you hinting at?

BTW...Bill still has more power in his pinky then Hillary has right now. The benefits of being a former President.

[Maddy McCall]

47. Honestly, I don't know what you mean.

What do you mean?

[PBS Poll-435]

51. Well...I guess my theory was wrong! I got yelled at :-(

[Maddy McCall]

45. Supply and demand.

I guess the people who are criticising him for this have never had a basic economics course.

[PBS Poll-435]

49. They Don't Teach Economics at...

The Creationist Museum

[redqueen]

74. There's a difference, MF. With Julia, people are paying to see the movie.

The studios get a return on their investment.

What are these corporations getting as a return on this investment?

[MonkeyFunk]

77. Another smear-by-innocent-question

I think it's a lousy way to argue.

Last week it was "OMG! They won't release their taxes! They must be hiding something!" That smear was based on nothing - just an accusation with nothing behind it.

This week now it's "What are the corporations (gasp!) getting in return?" Again, an accusation with nothing behind it.

Do you understand why I get so frustrated with this type of argument? It's the same thing the right-wing did to them throughout the 90s. In fact, 90% of the arguments I read here against the Clintons are straight out of the Freeper playbook. It pisses me off to see these tactics used here so readily, and to see them used by people who should know better.

[redqueen]

79. It's not, though.

This is the same kind of shit we've been railing at republicans for doing, and nobody ever defends them here with the whole 'butbutbut... there's no PROOF!' line. Not here.

It's not the same the right wing did in the 90's. It's the same thing EVERYONE does when they see numbers that don't make any sense and demand explanation. It's nonsense to say "but they all get paid lots"... it's logical to ask WHY.

[MonkeyFunk]

80. But there' s nothing about the numbers

that fails to make sense.

Other highly sought-after speakers make the same kind of money. That's life on the top tier of the lecture circuit. Just noting that Bill makes a lot of money gets turned into an accusation, and I think that's a piss-poor way to argue.

[redqueen]

83. What other speakers get that kind of money?

I have heard Reagan's name thrown out there... and obviously he had a lot of clout with the party.

I'd like to know what kind of person who *doesn't* have a lot of influence somewhere gets paid this kind of money to talk.

Nobody gives away money for nothing. With charities, I guess they epxect to increase their donations... but it seems like a dumb way to do it. If that's their logic I'd like to see the bottom line on their ROI as well.

[MonkeyFunk]

84. The highest-paid speaker of all time

was Nicole Kidman

http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/Nicole+Kidman-4968.html


Is it fair or reasonable to presume the sponsors were expecting her to use her vast power to help them? Hell, it's not like she's even married to Tom anymore!

Donald Trump makes a fortune:

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/donald-trump-lands-million-dollar-speech-speaking-contract-1001523.php


Is he using bilderburg connections to help his sponsors?

Colin Powell, Henry Kissinger, George H. W. Bush - all make >50,000 per speech.

Yes, people do make a lot of money giving speeches.

There's no reason to accuse the Clintons of exchanging favors because of Bill's speeches - it's just an accusation based on nothing.

[redqueen]

97. The speech Nicole gave required attendees to pay:

"Business execs are paying £2,500 each to be there and they expect big names"

I'm sorry if I'm still just too cynical MF... but there just aren't very many instances where these groups pay money for no reason. There is a reason. In this case, they paid her because the people attending had to pay to attend... and they apparently paid so much cause they expected to see big name stars.

If the people in the audience at these speeches he gave had to fork over lots of cash, that would explain it.

I just want to understand why. I'm not on a mission to destroy or smear.




And on edit, Donald Trump was paid for *classes*. I'm figuring those classes weren't free.

[PBS Poll-435]

40. Cuz Maibe Hee Bringes Inn Donnors To Donete Moneyes Fer

Reeseserching Some Stemp Sells.

Holy 'S'. Are you really sure you belong here? And not only to agitate...

[PBS Poll-435]

68. Dang...I was really clever last night

;-)

[Rosemary2205]

55. Because he can - and if you could you would too.

Only a fool would pass up a chance like that.

[WCGreen]

57. Probably because, in the case of the charity events, he brought in

far more money that he received as payment...

[FrenchieCat]

61. I thought when he spoke a lot of those times, he was representing his

Clinton Foundation.....but I guess not.

There's a fishy smell in there somewhere. We will get to the bottom of it. Don't mind us!

[MonkeyFunk]

62. LOL

No you won't. You thought you thought the tax returns were behind withheld for nefarious reasons - now it's out and all you learned is that the Clintons made a lot of money, paid a lot in taxes, and gave a lot away.

It must be killing you.

[DemVet]

64. More power to him if he can pull in that kind of cash for a speech.

[goldcanyonaz]

69. Will you be bitching when Obama collects this type of money?

Doubt it. But, carry on with your hatefest.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

71. Because he's Bill fucking Clinton? n/t

[MonkeyFunk]

78. LOL!

I like that answer!

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

94. Seriously.

Asking "Why does Bill Clinton get paid so much for giving a speech?" is akin to asking "Why did Michael Jordan get paid so much for playing basketball?"

[redqueen]

99. No, it really isn't. Fans pay to see Michael Jordan.

The income generated by the fans and advertsiers provides the ROI that justifies that expenditure.

What justifies the expenditures on these speeches?

There is no evil intent in asking... I will be just as suspicious if/when Obama starts capitalizing on this practice.

[spooky3]

75. The top business consultants and other speakers earn at least this much.

And most of them are people you've never heard of. Corporations have TONS of money to indulge their tastes for speakers, and you can hardly find one that more people would probably like to listen to than a popular ex-President who is a great speaker. $7MM or $8MM per year for speaking ($52/(7 or 8 yrs.)) would not be out of the question at all.

I can't imagine how much Warren Buffett and Bill Gates would be paid, though I know Buffett sometimes waives the fees for universities.

[L. Coyote]

85. D'OH! Because HE CAN!

[thewiseguy]

86. Yes he sure has done everything that he could do :)

[onenote]

87. al gore gets six figures for speaking gigs -- are we going to condemn him too?

[MonkeyFunk]

89. And people often forget

that for a LOT of these speakers, they charge the big fees to those who can afford them so that they can give more speeches for free for charitable organizations.

[thewiseguy]

90. If you come here with a claim then post a link

[onenote]

91. here ya go

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0717071gore1.html

And if you take a moment to do some research on your own, you'll find plenty of stories indicating that Al's speaking fee rate is sometimes even higher.

[thewiseguy]

93. That is on the low end of what Bill is getting

and I doubt it if Al Gore has made 52 million dollars since 2000 for giving speeches.

My point in this thread was not that Clinton should not receive huge sums of money for giving speeches because he can't.

If you start getting paid by the millions from corporate America it is kinda hard to see you fight for the little man's cause.

[onenote]

96. You don't think Al wouldn't get more if he could?

His going rate is in the 100,000 to 175,000 range if articles on the internet are to be believed. Bill's rate is higher. But there is no reason to think Al wouldn't charge more if he could get it.

And I have no problem with that at all.

[doyourealize1]

92. This is typical for all celebrities

Maybe Clinton is more expensive than most, but he is the FORMER PRESIDENT.

If you have ever tried to have a celebrity -- actor, singer, motivational speaker, etc. speak at your conference, then you would find out that they are extremely expensive.

[redqueen]

100. How do corporations justify that expense?

No amount of money is spent without some expectation of how it will be of some benefit.

[billyoc]

95. Wait until you see how much George W. Bush gets paid to make speeches.

I'll wager that he'll set new records for speaking fees. :puke:

[redqueen]

102. That'll be hilarious, considering his 'talent' for speechifyin.

:rofl:

[billyoc]

107. I know, what a mess he is. But after presiding over the largest looting of a national treasury

since humans have been minting coins, his backers will insure that his retirement is the most lucrative ever seen in order to remind people how profitable it is to side with them.

[hedgehog]

105. I know! I know! It's because he and Hillary are so good at telling stories! nt

[Orsino]

108. Because he's a great speaker with tons of charisma.

He attracts money--for better or worse.