Bush and the Veterans: Free Speech or Talk for Bucks?

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Flound
Date: July 12, 2015 at 11:33 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

George W. Bush under fire for charging $100,000 to speak to veterans charity in 2012
Former President George W. Bush is taking some heat in the U.S. for his decision to charge $100,000 to speak to veterans wounded in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, U.S. media outlets report.
Bush charged Helping a Hero charity the $100,000 for a speech in 2012 to raise money for soldiers who lost limbs in those two wars, Fox News and CNN are reporting.
A private jet to transport Bush cost another $20,000. Former first lady Laura Bush charged the same group $50,000 to speak in 2014.
Eddie Wright, a U.S. Marine who lost both his hands in a 2004 attack in Iraq, has been front and centre in criticizing Bush in the various U.S. media outlets. “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,” he said.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/w...g-100000-to-speak-to-veterans-charity-in-2012

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: bigskinny22
Date: July 12, 2015 at 11:37 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

real question is who is paying to actually listen to him speak?

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: redd1
Date: July 12, 2015 at 11:38 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

Every public speaker does it, they knew how much he was charging when they agreed to bring him in.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: CD816
Date: July 12, 2015 at 11:44 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

Did George pocket the money, or did he turn around and donate it? Like to Jebs campaign?

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Flound
Date: July 12, 2015 at 11:46 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

redd1 said:
Every public speaker does it, they knew how much he was charging when they agreed to bring him in.
Click to expand...
He's not every public speaker, is he? He's the guy that sent them into combat. This charity helps those soldiers that lost limbs in military actions he ordered.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: redd1
Date: July 12, 2015 at 11:48 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

Flound said:
He's not every public speaker, is he? He's the guy that sent them into combat. This charity helps those soldiers that lost limbs in military actions he ordered.
Click to expand...
That was the job they agreed to when they put their name on the line.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: redstar
Date: July 12, 2015 at 11:51 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

Eddie Wright is in no position to be pointing fingers at anybody.
*edit*
Alright, I know I'm going to hell for that.
Bush is a criminal, responsible for the most heinous war crime(s) of the new millennium.
How the fuq on earth ANYONE would ever ask him to speak (on anything) is beyond me.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Flound
Date: July 13, 2015 at 12:00 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

redd1 said:
That was the job they agreed to when they put their name on the line.
Click to expand...
Not sure how that changes that he's not just a regular public speaker, but has a hand, however indirect, in them getting hurt.
I don't think they're complaining about signing on the line or that they regret doing it, either. The complaint, which seems quite clear, is that he is taking money from people he has pledged to help.
If you don't think it morally or ethically sketchy, that's fine, but trying to obfuscate the complaint itself with extraneous bits seems strange.
Bush isn't the only one. The Clintons did it, too. Seems dodgy to me, regardless of who does it.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Gnarcore
Date: July 13, 2015 at 12:29 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

He could charge them 100k and then donate his time to the charity and use that as a write off. Many high paid public speakers go that route when speaking to charities.....

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: coreymb
Date: July 13, 2015 at 12:32 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

Gnarcore said:
He could charge them 100k and then donate his time to the charity and use that as a write off. Many high paid public speakers go that route when speaking charities.....
Click to expand...
For sure. Its all circumstancial though. Id feel wrong taking money to do a speech for the veterans, regardless of what was raised.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Gnarcore
Date: July 13, 2015 at 12:33 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

coreymb said:
For sure. Its all circumstancial though. Id feel wrong taking money to do a speech for the veterans, regardless of what was raised.
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I think it is a scumbag move myself but hey they agreed to pay it....

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: coreymb
Date: July 13, 2015 at 12:38 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

Gnarcore said:
I think it is a scumbag move myself but hey they agreed to pay it....
Click to expand...
Tis true. Im sure they raked in cake with donations, so i guess all is good in the end.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: abc0331
Date: July 13, 2015 at 11:47 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

Flound said:
He's not every public speaker, is he? He's the guy that sent them into combat. This charity helps those soldiers that lost limbs in military actions he ordered, on false information.
Click to expand...

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Sapper
Date: July 13, 2015 at 12:19 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

Don't really have an issue with it. Most of the Vet charities are scams anyway. All high paying executive jobs where little money goes to the Vet's.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: thedarkwingduck2k11
Date: July 13, 2015 at 12:44 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/bush-and-the-veterans-free-speech-or-talk-for-bucks.66811/

fry da mofo