President George W. Bush has dedicated much of his presidency and post-Presidency to helping our vets, especially those suffering from injuries sustained in battle.
Now the former president is under fire for charging a $100,000 speaking fee to the group Helping a Hero, a Texas based organization that was hosting a fundraiser for those who lost limbs in Iraq or Afghanistan.
In addition to the $100k speaking fee was a fee of $20,000 for a private jet and an additional fee of $50,000 that was given to First Lady Laura Bush the year before.
When asked for comment, Helping a Hero stepped up to bat for Bush saying, “We are proud that President Bush attended the Helping a Hero Gala. The event raised unprecedented funds that are putting our nation’s heroes into specially adapted homes throughout the United States. His presence was appreciated by the veterans and supporters of the organization.”
Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter have both said they do not accept fees from organizations that help our vets. No word has yet to come from Bush’s team.
__________________
Washington (CNN)Former President George W. Bush is under fire for charging $100,000 to speak to a group of veterans wounded in a pair of wars he started when he was in office, just the latest front in a political battle over speaking fees that has hit both sides of the aisle.
Members of the Texas-based Helping a Hero charity told ABC News that Bush charged $100,000 for his 2012 speech at a charity fundraiser for veterans who lost limbs in the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. The former president was also given use of a private jet at a cost of $20,000 and former First Lady Laura Bush was paid $50,000 to speak to the group last year.
The fees infuriated one of the board members, who told CNN Wednesday that Bush should not have accepted any money.
“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,” said Eddie Wright, a Marine who lost both his hands in a 2004 rocket attack in Fallujah, Iraq.
What do you think of this story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
