STFU About Former President Barack Obama’s Paid Speech Already

In the days since it was announced that Barack Obama will give a paid speech at investment bank, Cantor Fitzgerald it seems members of both the media and the left have gone absolutely mad. People can’t stop coming up with hot takes on why Obama shouldn’t be giving paid speeches, it seems.

To those people, I have just one thing to say: Chill.

First of all — Obama is speaking at the firm’s health care conference. Wow. Remember that whole Obamacare thing?

Second of all — damn right he’s getting paid $400,000, why the hell not?

As April Reign appropriately points out, he’s getting paid…

But seriously, why are you coming for Obama? Let’s take a look at some receipts…

“[Former President Ronald] Reagan earned an estimated $2 million for two speeches he delivered in Japan, according to media reports at the time. (That $2 million would total about $3.9 million in 2016 dollars, according to the CPI inflation calendar.)” [Newsweek, 2016]

“Former president [Bill Clinton] gave 637 speeches during that period and earned $132 million.” [Heavy, 2016]

“[F]ormer President George W. Bush makes between $100,000 and $175,000 for every speech he gives and that he has given at least 200 speeches since leaving office in 2009.” [Fortune, 2015]

What about Donald Trump though?

“Trump filed a financial disclosure with the Federal Election Commission, three ACN speeches/appearances from 2014 and 2015 were listed among his income. Trump pocketed $450,000 for each one.” [Salon, 2016]

or

“The Donald earned a staggering $1.5 million per speech at The Learning Annex’s “real estate wealth expos” in 2006 and 2007.” [Forbes, 2008]

It’s not just limited to the United States either. Former government officials the world over cash in on speaking engagements upon leaving office.

“[Former British PM Tony] Blair has been able to make a nifty income, earning as much as $300,000 per speech” [City AM, 2015]

or

“[Former British PM] David Cameron was paid more than £120,000 (approx $150K) for a speech that lasted little over an hour, it has been claimed.” [Telegraph, 2016]

Whether you like it or not, former heads of state and government officials make money giving paid speeches when they’re out of office. Some might say it comes with the gig. And why the hell not? You have invaluable insight in a particular area, you qualify as an expert, why shouldn’t you be compensated for your time?

Please, take your faux-outrage elsewhere. Until you show me how Barack Obama giving a speech for $400K at a healthcare conference differs from any of the above, take a seat. Until you show me how Barack Obama deserves to command anything less than $400K per speaking engagement, take another seat.