Great progressive Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post has concerns about Obama's speaking fee--

[Akamai]

of $400,000.

Whenever Ruth Marcus comes on television, I tell my far, far, far better half, "She is a great progressive."

I sure encourage people to read the article cited below.

But in the meantime, let me cite the last three paragraphs of her article (and certainly is unfair to Obama, but listen to her reasoning):

"some readers will argue there is an unfair racial double standard in accepting that previous presidents have cashed in big time demanding that Obama refrain from doing precisely what they have. "So the first black president must also be the first one to not take money afterwards?" Trevor Noah has to "The Daily Show" Thursday. "He can't be the first of everything."

"Hogwash. This isn't about holding the black guy to a higher standard--his trike told everyone to a higher standard. Times have changed, and what was once placidly accepted as post-presidential business-as-usual may no longer be.

"A wise man once said, "I do think at a certain point you have made enough money." That was Obama 2010, regulating Wall Street. Maybe Obama 2017 could talk to that guy."

(You sure you want to criticize Bernie's insights on this?)

***********************************************

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-60-million-really-not-enough-for-the-obamas/2017/04/28/e0f1fa68-2c46-11e7-b605-33413c691853_story.html?utm_term=.e53c6db72e67

[JHan]

1. It's offensive she believes she can dictate to anyone how much someone should give them

.. for their talents, their reputation or "gravitas", their artistic gifts, or intellect..

Not enough facepalms for all the "outrage"

[Cha]

3. Exactly, JH.. This is about WHERE WHEN and WHY President

Obama is speaking.. please see in #2.

Mahalo

[Akamai]

5. I think you have different ideas of "outrage" and then I do. I want families to make enough money

to support themselves. I wanted a minimum wage to be living wage, I want a cleaner environment, student debt to be much, much, much lower, etc.

if people can't bring that about--and many other issues that Bernie is working on--then I would be outraged that they were in the public arena and pretending that they are for the average person, or the most needy among us.

[JHan]

11. Good lord, what does any of that have to do with Cantor Fitzgerald or Obama accepting 400k?

And still, from what I've read, as far as Wall St firms go, Cantor Fitzgerald is not the one to rake through the mud.

Reread what you typed and ask yourself why 400k is so symbolic for you.

Why do we fall for this time and time again - if your concern is the minimum wage, fussing about 400k is not going to make your wishes a reality. Obama not making that speech or making that speech is not going to make it more or less of a reality. Him accepting money for his speech does not mean he doesn't care about Americans - your envy here has clouded your judgment.

I really hope you were similarly outraged when Obama faced over 300 filibusters from republicans over bills aiming to increase the minimum wage, fix the ACA and invest in infrastructure.

Envy or worse - pontificating - over the money others are able to make as a result of their hard work and effort is offensive.

[Akamai]

13. I truly was and I informed Many People about the Caucus Room Conspiracy.time and again.

truly there was, and there remains, a huge racist objection to Obama. Recent research supports as well. Also, recent research indicates that racism is a major reason why Hillary lost.

Obama was born in the same hospital as my wife, went to the same high school she did, etc., and she was not born in Kenya, etc.

There has been an organized hatred of Obama from day one.

[sheshe2]

22. Thank you.

[Cha]

26. Yes, "pontificating" is a good way to put it, JH..

Why Obama SHOULD Make That Speech - And Take The Paycheck For It Too

snip//

Oh, and by the way — he’s giving this speech at their annual healthcare conference… a subject that Obama cares deeply about — and will forever be associated with since his signature healthcare legislation has been dubbed “Obamacare”. It’s also an issue that Cantor Fitzgerald championed even while still reeling from the losses they suffered on 9/11, by promising to cover the health care of the families of their lost employees for 10 years!!

More..
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/4/28/1657222/-Why-Obama-SHOULD-Make-That-Speech-And-Take-The-Paycheck-For-It-Too

[Cha]

14. BS is too divisive and one glaring example is.. he knee jerked on his "distasteful"

pronouncement on President Obama's talking to Cantor-Fitzgerald in September..

Why Obama SHOULD Make That Speech - And Take The Paycheck For It Too

snip//

Oh, and by the way — he’s giving this speech at their annual healthcare conference… a subject that Obama cares deeply about — and will forever be associated with since his signature healthcare legislation has been dubbed “Obamacare”. It’s also an issue that Cantor Fitzgerald championed even while still reeling from the losses they suffered on 9/11, by promising to cover the health care of the families of their lost employees for 10 years!!

More..
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/4/28/1657222/-Why-Obama-SHOULD-Make-That-Speech-And-Take-The-Paycheck-For-It-Too

[David__77]

103. I find that calling Sanders "BS" (bullshit, wink wink) is divisive.

...

[emulatorloo]

108. JFK (wink wink). FDR (wink wink) HRC (wink wink)

Bernie primary supporter here. Let's not get too conspiracy mad, it's common to abbreviate politicians names to initials

[David__77]

109. I trust my understanding of individuals' intentions.

...

[emulatorloo]

111. Ok

[Cha]

114. JFK

[Cha]

113. Too bad.. talk to BS about his initials.. tell him they're

as "divisive" as his calling our Well Respected President Obama "distasteful".

[David__77]

115. I'm speaking to intentions - not to his initials.

...

[Cha]

116. lol@the "intentions" police.

[delisen]

56. Why did Sanders not release his tax returns?

[brer cat]

84. WTF does this have to do with President Obama

accepting a fee for a speech? If he declines a fee, will we suddenly have an increase in minimum wage, a cleaner environment, reduced student debt? Your outrage is grossly misplaced. Put it where it belongs: on the backs of the republicans who have done everything they can to block the very issues you care so much about. You might even consider placing some of it on non-republicans who distort reality and incite dissension by promising pie-in-the-sky that can't be delivered.

By pushing this trash talk against President Obama, people are distracting us from the very real dangers we need to be fighting.

[JHan]

88. +++ andThis is how the brand of the Democratic Party is destroyed from within, when it's pointed out

that democrats themselves, or so-called allies to the cause, hurt the brand and hurt the ability of the party to do what it wishes to do, we're told we're not focusing on the right thing or we're sold some argument full of sophistry.

I still remember the filibuster of Obama and the Democrats wanting a min. wage increase in 2014( I think it was 2014, too lazy to check right now)

It was filibuster after filibuster after filibuster covering healthcare, infrastructure spending - it was ridiculous. Obama accepts a fee of 400k and he's suddenly everything he's been trying to fight his entire presidency. Equivocating our leaders with our enemies is not only dishonest and a dumbass strategy, it's the worst dumbass strategy to employ right now.

[emulatorloo]

105. Every DU'er wants those things. So stop implying that they don't.

[AgadorSparticus]

30. +1,000!!! I am so sick of all these holier than thou people! Obama never claimed to be a monk

These people need to get over themselves!

[Cha]

39. Not only that, Agador.. there's so much more to the story.. than $400,000 and "wall street"

Why Obama SHOULD Make That Speech - And Take The Paycheck For It Too

snip//

Oh, and by the way — he’s giving this speech at their annual healthcare conference… a subject that Obama cares deeply about — and will forever be associated with since his signature healthcare legislation has been dubbed “Obamacare”. It’s also an issue that Cantor Fitzgerald championed even while still reeling from the losses they suffered on 9/11, by promising to cover the health care of the families of their lost employees for 10 years!!

More..
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/4/28/1657222/-Why-Obama-SHOULD-Make-That-Speech-And-Take-The-Paycheck-For-It-Too

[Demsrule86]

69. The entire article is offensive.

[David__77]

102. Who's "dictating?"

When does criticism became "dictating?" I'm not aware of anyone using force to compel Barack Obama to not speak to financial firms.

[JHan]

104. So you didn't read the headline and you didn't read the article.

because asking how much money someone should make when it is being offered to them and it doesn't even involve her money is "dictating". If you don't like the word "dictating" I have another one - pontificating. The point is she needs to take several seats.

There is ZERO valid criticism here.

I did not argue anywhere that she was in a position to use force to stop Obama from talking to a firm.

[David__77]

106. I don't agree that this is dictating.

Asking how much money should should make when it is being offered to them and it doesn't even involve his or her own money isn't, in my opinion, dictating.

[JHan]

107. you're fussing over the word I used instead of the glaring stupidity of her arguments.

which don't reach anywhere near any kind of valid criticism. As I said, don't like "dictate"? Fine - pontificate works too.

She is pontificating about how much a firm decides to pay an ex-president and it's not even her money and that ex-president is a private citizen.

[MichMan]

128. So is every CEO...

I find it ironic that people are saying that you shouldn't criticize a private citizen for what someone is willing to pay them since it isn't anyone's business.

Yet CEO of corporations are constantly criticized here for the excessive amounts they are paid by others.

Just replace ex president with CEO in your statement

"She is pontificating about how much a firm decides to pay an ex-president and it's not even her money and that ex-president is a private citizen."

[JHan]

129. Personally, that's never been my focus.

It's a distraction.

We can complain all day about how much CEO's make, every minute spent griping is a minute better spent targeting wage theft, and other unfair wage disparities. Focusing on the numbers in the paycheck of a CEO will be dismissed as class envy more than anything else, which is why those arguments don't usually gain traction. There are ways to better pressure corporations to do better, eg. profit sharing etc. Still, there's a trend at play here - Anything ridiculously out of the norm would understandably raise eyebrows so what's the going rate for ex-presidents these days where speeches are concerned? And for those who have a problem with this, what is the right amount Obama should get, and I'd also like to get from them a list of firms that Obama should talk to and those he should not.

[Cha]

2. BS knee jerked.. This is about knowing When Where & WHY he's speaking..

Link to tweet

Why Obama SHOULD Make That Speech - And Take The Paycheck For It Too

snip//

Cantor Fitzgerald survived both losing the largest single number of employees (658) of any company with offices in the World Trade Center on 9/11 and they also survived the financial crisis because they were NOT engaging in the same reckless behavior as the other financial firms (like Lehman, AIG, et al).

Moreover, Cantor Fitzgerald has done a great deal of philanthropic work in honor of their lost employees. Along with keeping a promise to use 25% of ALL profits they earned for the next 5 years to provide money to each of the original 658 families, they also promised to cover the health insurance costs for those families for 10 years. On top of this, they have continued the legacy of those lost employees, by making charitable donations to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy and of a huge tornado, as well as other acts of kindness.

So Obama, now a PRIVATE CITIZEN, is giving a speech to a firm that survived a horrible tragedy that has impacted life in America in uncountable ways ever since, and who turned their pain into positive action by not only taking care of their own, but helping others as well. They have also recovered as a company, avoided the worst behaviors that led to the 2008 financial crisis (actually profiting in a year when so many larger investment firms folded — and hiring when thousands were being laid off), and continue to invest in smart ways (one current project involves connecting people with their own local “mom & pop” shops).

Basically, Obama is being paid to give a speech to the ONE company on Wall Street that no one should be criticizing. Oh, and by the way — he’s giving this speech at their annual healthcare conference… a subject that Obama cares deeply about — and will forever be associated with since his signature healthcare legislation has been dubbed “Obamacare”. It’s also an issue that Cantor Fitzgerald championed even while still reeling from the losses they suffered on 9/11, by promising to cover the health care of the families of their lost employees for 10 years!!

More..
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/4/28/1657222/-Why-Obama-SHOULD-Make-That-Speech-And-Take-The-Paycheck-For-It-Too

Link to tweet

[ProudLib72]

4. Sorry, but no.

This is the same "We go high when they go low" holding ourselves to the highest of standards that, in the end, will amount to rethugs simply laughing at us. What she should be worried about is tRump raking in millions upon millions WHILE being president.

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. so what is her speaking fee? and does she refuse it if it is too high? another hypocrite

[NRaleighLiberal]

10. I just joined? In 2004? with 40K posts? what the hell?

[Akamai]

16. sorry I am wrong. I was looking at the dates in and I am totally in error. my deep apologies.

[NRaleighLiberal]

17. no worries - and calm down! let's focus on the real enemy....TRUMP!

[Akamai]

19. I was looking at the wrong dates for people joining this Democratic Underground site. My apologies

about that.

[OilemFirchen]

20. Thanks. (n/t)

[muriel_volestrangler]

40. You could delete that post, then, even though you're locked out of the thread (nt)

[LuvLoogie]

18. We support Democrats on the DU.

[brush]

21. You sure you're criticizing the right poster? Someone with 40k posts is not a troll.

Apology in order?

[Cha]

28. Even if he did think he was talking to someone "new".. is

that anyway to talk to a new member just because they don't agree with him?

All they said was.. "6. so what is her speaking fee? and does she refuse it if it is too high? another hypocrite"

[Cha]

23. You need to stop calling People "TROLLS" because

they don't like the same thing that you do.

It's ridiculous the way you go around calling people "TROLLS" all over the Place.

I don't agree with anything you say here.. Now am I one of your insulting "Trolls"?

Hmmmm? Now you're "scewing them and their horses", too?

Alerter.. this is a damn quote from the poster I'm replying to.

[Ninsianna]

41. Well, some of us just discovered this site, and at what point does one

cease being a troll? I assume that everyone here was new once, and thus fit your definition, or is that just those who disagree with your posts who are to be attacked?

Can you tell me where it is I am supposed to send an invoice, and how long my eligibility is? This is like all those Republican congressmen and women who insist that EVERYONE showing up to their town halls voicing criticism must of course be paid?

I think people echoing these lines from the Republicans might be the trolls you are looking for, seems like a good bet, but that's from someone who was just told about this site, though the cliques and the preponderance of Regina Georges was left out.

For the record, I was busy working to register voters, making phone calls, knocking on doors and engaging in activism. Fellow volunteers who read this site but don't bother posting had mentioned it.


How interesting indeed, that these divisive insinuations keep coming from a certain sector. Not really what one would expect from a site that's supposed to be for Democrats.

[brer cat]

70. Excellent post, Ninsianna.

There are indeed many on DU who believe any new poster who disagrees with them must be a troll. It is quite offensive and certainly unwelcoming. I hope you don't hold it against all of us, and that you will remain part of our community.

Thank you for your activism. Those who walk the walk instead of just talk or keyboard, make all the difference.

[Ninsianna]

99. Thank you, brer cat.

For the most part people have been very nice, with notable exceptions. As much as certain people keep railing about trolls, I've noticed that the ones who were later removed by MIRT were not attacked in this manner on another thread where this same tantrum was being thrown.

In that one I noticed two several posters who also seemed new, but since they did not disagree, they apparently were not trolls, according to this poster's standards.

[emulatorloo]

110. Thank you n/t

[sheshe2]

123. Thank you for your post...

And welcome to DU. Glad you are here, Ninsianna.

[LuvLoogie]

9. If someone is willing to pay you $400,000 for your insight

on any subject, you should probably accept. I'm sure President Obama will pay his taxes and do much good post-presidency work.

[Cha]

24. And, President Obama shows his TAX RETURNS.. Also..

Why Obama SHOULD Make That Speech - And Take The Paycheck For It Too

snip//

Oh, and by the way — he’s giving this speech at their annual healthcare conference… a subject that Obama cares deeply about — and will forever be associated with since his signature healthcare legislation has been dubbed “Obamacare”. It’s also an issue that Cantor Fitzgerald championed even while still reeling from the losses they suffered on 9/11, by promising to cover the health care of the families of their lost employees for 10 years!!

More..
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/4/28/1657222/-Why-Obama-SHOULD-Make-That-Speech-And-Take-The-Paycheck-For-It-Too

[50 Shades Of Blue]

25. In the overall scheme of things

So fucking what!!!! Trump is destroying our country. I can't get worked up over a speech fee!!!

[Chevy]

27. Well Obama 2010

didn't have to deal with what Obama 2017 actually did sooo Ruth Marcus can take a leap off her high horse.

[Cha]

29. Oh and, AKamai... Apparently being progressive now means a priv citizen

Link to tweet

[SunSeeker]

35. Yep. Amazing isn't it?

[Cha]

37. They just think they're going to rule the

agenda.

[Demsrule86]

73. This article makes me so angry...how dare she treat our president this way.

It is none of her damn business...we have a president in the white house selling the presidency and enriching himself and his worthless family with taxpayer money...and that doesn't concern her?

[Cha]

77. I know.. and according to the OP.. some "great progressive"

so that's her so-called ticket to insult President Obama.. calling him greedy etc.. She has not one freaking clue what she's talking about.. just venom outta her keyboard.

If that's what they think a "progressive" is.. I want no part of them.

[pnwmom]

31. Obama is "rapacious"? Ruth Marcus appears to be jealous.

No one wants to pay her $400K for a speech.

[bettyellen]

32. And people want to claim he hit some sort of limit on earning when in reality he's just started.

It's clear they think they should sit in judgement with some new fangled "rules" they just made up. It's a total GOP enabling crock of shit.

[Cha]

36. And biting themselves in the ass while they're at it..

Link to tweet

President Obama is use to those type of Emoprogs.

[Cha]

34. So much for "the great progressive".. she sounds like

an ignorant fool.

Link to tweet

But, President Obama is use to those types of "progressives"

[tirebiter]

33. Let's just not bring up that the $60m for his latest book

is mostly earmarked for charity.

[Mountain Mule]

38. Koch Brothers R Us

What I don't understand is how easily people seem to forget that the billionaire class has wrested control of our democracy away from us. Remember Citizens United, folks? Remember how the taxpayers had to bail out Goldman Sachs and how every damn Wall Street CEO responsible for the financial crisis and the Great Recession of only a few years back (and in many parts of the country still continuing) has gotten to skate free of any prison time never mind even being charged with anything? This is not about begrudging Obama making some speaker's fee or being "jealous." As I noted in a reply to a different thread on this subject, the Traitor's base has gone mad with joy over Obama and Wall Street. It "looks" like a sellout and they're all over it like - well, like flies over shit, to be blunt about it. Obama has not helped the cause of the American people or the cause of our democracy by doing this. He IS a sought after speaker and rightly so. He doesn't really need that money but if he wanted he could get very good speaker's fees from any number of other groups without having to have his integrity called into question over it. Sorry, but that's just how it is. Now ya'll can let the hate rain down. I'm tough. I can take it and I call 'em as I see 'em.

[Cha]

42. Maybe you don't see all there is to see about this..

President Obama is giving it in September..

Why Obama SHOULD Make That Speech - And Take The Paycheck For It Too

snip//

Oh, and by the way — he’s giving this speech at their annual healthcare conference… a subject that Obama cares deeply about — and will forever be associated with since his signature healthcare legislation has been dubbed “Obamacare”. It’s also an issue that Cantor Fitzgerald championed even while still reeling from the losses they suffered on 9/11, by promising to cover the health care of the families of their lost employees for 10 years!!

More..
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/4/28/1657222/-Why-Obama-SHOULD-Make-That-Speech-And-Take-The-Paycheck-For-It-Too

Link to tweet

[Mountain Mule]

43. I am sure there is much that many of us don't see

And that is the problem. I actually made a reply on this subject to the rabid cons on the forum I mentioned in my previous post using some of the same reasoning you gave above. Of course, they didn't want to see the logic - they never do. And I still feel that Obama was skating on thin ice over this one. The Wall Street takeover of our democracy is a very real, deeply disturbing reality. It really is better to not even give the appearance of fraternizing with the enemy even if this particular group is actually one of the lambs. It's just too twisted and intertwined and it sets my every hair standing on end. I admire Obama very much but I cannot make myself like this decision of his. He should have steered clear and given his talk in a more neutral forum.

[Cha]

44. Nah, President Obama is doing fine.. it's those on the

sidelines snipping at him for getting paid to talk to Cantor-Fitzgerald in September about Health Care who aren't.

Link to tweet

[Mountain Mule]

46. Well, I think we can agree on this part:

I am deeply worried for the sake of our country, but it's getting late even in my time zone. Maybe I'll feel better about it in the morning.

[Cha]

47. Definitely, Mountain Mule

[JHan]

80. the "optics" here do not feature into it.

The whole bruhahaha is nonsense. Must President Obama factor in the ignorance of his detractors as some sort of guide as to what he should or should not do in retirement?

Why do people feel they should tell private citizens what they should or should not do, or how much they should be given for anything?

Why do people believe that this speaking fee is the reason for all the problems in the world - it isn't.

How the fuck is he a sell out because he accepts a fee from Cantor Fitzgerald -

1) do you know who Cantor Fitzgerald is?

2) The Kochs have been at Obama throughout his presidency, their funding of tea party rabble rousers hamstrung his presidency, and now you are linking the Kochs with Obama because Obama accepted 400k from Cantor? Do you recall what Obama said about Citizen's United?

Yes Trump's base is overjoyed because they're foolish, and we do not help things when we behave foolishly as well.

[betsuni]

87. +1

[Skidmore]

45. The comments on that article are well ẃorth reading.

And ince when has Marcus been a "progressive?"

[Cha]

49. We should pay him half a billion a year and put him back in the White House.

Maisha Grinn

7:48 PM GMT-1000
We should pay him half a billion a year and put him back in the White House.

Mahalo for telling me to read the comments, Skidmore!



I really like this one..

Mjay..

"You know what you can do, Ruth Marcus? You can shut up. Please. Unlike past millionaire and billionaire Presidents, the Obamas had only one house, their townhouse in Chicago. They have mostly rented their vacation houses. They have also stayed in the homes of friends. So what. Obama put in his eight years in the toughest job on earth, one he took very, very seriously. And Michelle worked as hard or harder in her unpaid position as any First Lady before her. They earned the right to add to the family coffers and experience a little down time. President Obama served us well as an Organizer, a State Legislator, a U.S. Senator, and as President. There is no doubt he will contribute even more when he's ready."

Yeah, and doing more takes money to "mentor the next generation of leaders" of tomorrow.

[betsuni]

59. The thing about the Obamas being wildly rich and not needing any money.

WTF.

[Cha]

60. I know, wtf, Ruth Marcus.. she's calls

him greedy in so many words as she sits behind her laptop not knowing a gd thing about it.

[OnDoutside]

48. Obama deserves treble that 400k. I do hope though that

the transcript of his speech is released.

[Rincewind]

50. I assume she doesn't get paid

for her work.

[Cha]

51. Van Jones tweet.. you know the guy who thought "The Speech"

made trumphuck a "president".. of bullshit.

Link to tweet

And, Joy's follow up..

Link to tweet

Maybe those like Van Jones should hear what President Obama has to say in September to Cantor-Fitzgerald at their Annual Healthcare Conference and what he's going to do with his money.

[sheshe2]

124. Also Van Jones net wealth is 1.1Million.

Has he gone on a poverty tour recently?

[Cha]

125. Damn.. these freaking big mouth hypocrites.

Excellent point, she.. Mahalo

[Ilsa]

52. Way too much concern over a measly $400k when we have

0 transparency from dt, especially on how much he stands to keep if his stupid tax outline is passed.

I hope that all of our ex-presidents do well for themselves and share generously with others of their time, expertise, and fortunes.

[Cha]

53. Ain't it so, Ilsa.. And, President Obama's shows his Tax Returns.

[lapucelle]

54. But the troubling optics!

Pearl clutching by the press over manufactured controversies helped to put Trump in the White House.

If Marcus is interested in championing a cause, I suggest she start with her colleagues who distort news stories and gin up false controversies all in the service of increased revenue and ratings. Some people never read beyond the clickbait headline or understand that "breaking news" is now code for "irresponsible hyperbole to keep viewers tuned in".

And if Marcus is upset about any influence that that speakers' fees might have on objectivity, she should start her crusade with a call to put an end to money in journalism. Many of her colleagues are offered and accept high speaking fees from a variety of corporate entities and special interest groups. Influence peddling to those who have a first amendment duty to uphold is much more troubling than paying private citizens to keynote.

https://www.allamericanspeakers.com/category/Political-Speakers/Pol-Columnists-and-Journalists

http://www.apbspeakers.com/

[JustAnotherGen]

57. Well done - and written!

[lapucelle]

132. That makes my day!

When grand inquisitor Anderson Cooper was questioning Hillary about her troubling behavior, he never bothered to inform viewers that he himself accepts $30,000+ per speech.

[emulatorloo]

112. Well said, thank you

[phleshdef]

55. I just want to hear what he has to say. I don't care what they pay him.

This speech hasn't even happened yet has it? Maybe people should wait and see if we get to hear the message and if so, if the message is a good one, before passing judgement.

[betsuni]

58. "Great progressive"

[Cha]

61. I was just going to post that same thing..

[Vinca]

62. Oh, for Pete's sake. Another week of Obama's fees and bad Bernie???????

No wonder we lost all the elections in November.

[Cha]

63. This is about some asshole so called "progressive"

sitting up on her stupid high horse calling President Obama "greedy".. acting like she knows shit all about it.

BS wasn't mentioned until you brought him up.

[Vinca]

64. Good. Then I expect I won't be reading about him here ad nauseum in the coming week.

[Cha]

65. That remains to be seen.. hopefully he doesn't say

anything else ad nauseam regarding insulting The Democratic Party or President Obama.

[Demsrule86]

86. The OP brought Sen. Sanders into this...

I think it is wrong to think he would agree with this person...who seems condescending and somewhat of a bigot. This piece was a hit job on President Obama.

[KTM]

66. Except in posts 2 and 14....

"BS wasn't mentioned until you brought him up.'

No, YOU brought him up, on your very first post in this thread. Surprising.

[Cha]

72. Yes, I did.. I totally got that wrong. I forgot about it..

Thank you for pointing it out.

[Cha]

74. My bad I did post about BS' reaction to President Obama's

speaking @ Cantor-Fitzgerald earlier in the thread.

[Demsrule86]

67. I read the article which is spiteful and jealous.

"This is not to argue for a post-presidential vow of poverty. I don’t begrudge the Obamas their reported $60-million-plus joint book deal, of which their publisher has said a “significant portion” will be donated to charity. That should leave plenty for the Obamas to live as luxuriously as they could want."

This entire article is sickening...I don't know what is worse... her attacks on President Obama for doing what every past president has done with little comment... or her condescending attitude. It is a racial attack...and clearly she is a bigot...you should not even bring Sen. Sanders into this... agreeing with someone like Ruth Marcus does him no credit, and you don't know if he even does so let's give Sen. Sanders the benefit of the doubt. It is no wonder if POC don't trust the far far far left...it must be awful to have your guy win and then watch the attacks from the right which are expected and understood (racist as shit the right)...but to watch attacks from the left must feel like betrayal.

[betsuni]

75. +1

[kcr]

78. The claim that something isn't racism because it happens to everyone is so old and transparent.

And clearly showed her bias. I agree with your take on this article. Some on the left took a right wing smear that started on Fox, and ran with it. And their huge blind spots regarding race, if not outright racism greased the skids. Their claim that it's about the principle is only rationalization.

[pnwmom]

89. And it's factually incorrect. It has been completely accepted that past Presidents

earn livings by giving speeches and writing books. Suddenly, with Obama (as with Hillary), it's an issue. The black man and the white woman are held to a higher standard.

[kcr]

90. Yep. But caring about it all of a sudden right now is totally legit!

And her reasoning is circular. So, they're singling out a black president and the reason it isn't racism is because they're deciding to single him out.

[Demsrule86]

92. And she does the obligatory ...throw the Clintons under the bus

to prove her non-racist bona fides which only makes her more suspect in my opinion.

[Demsrule86]

91. Yeah, my Mom was a Southerner...she was remarkable for her times and marched

with Martin Luther King in the 60's ....she was a white woman with a vision for equality that was amazing in any time but especially for a woman of her age. We were raised on MLK speeches, Langston Huges etc. I can practically recite the" I have a dream" speech from memory. We went to protests and held signs that said 'make a better world for me". We visited her family in the South quite often and one day I remarked on the fact my cousin had more Black friends than I did...she said and I quote 'some people love the race but hate the individuals". I think that is still true today. Can you imagine Marcus telling Bill Gates he has enough money?

[JHan]

81. ++++++

[dalton99a]

82. It really is.

[Demsrule86]

95. Ruth Marcus defends Trump...so concerned for him while trashing the best president of my lifetime

President Obama ( He is black don't you know)...Progressive? I think not.

"Stressing the “huge challenge” that looms for the press to cover Trump “fairly” in coming years, Marcus joined forces with Wall Street Journal editor Gerard Baker, who last week insisted it’s out of bounds for his reporters to call a Trump a liar. (They run the risk of not looking "objective," Baker fretted.)
Weighing in with her Sunday Post column, Marcus agreed that it’s just not fair to label Trump a liar. “The media shouldn’t hesitate to label an assertion false, but it should be cautious about imputing motive,” wrote Marcus, who doesn’t like the “inflammatory baggage” that comes with dubbing the president-elect a liar.

https://mediamatters.org/blog/2017/01/09/faced-trump-s-looming-press-crisis-media-embrace-timidity-and-accommodation/214952

And she is a Clinton hater from way back...what she is not is progressive.

“Liberal Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus says Donald Trump has every right to use former President Bill Clinton’s conduct with woman as a counter-attack against Hillary Clinton’s charges of sexism.
“In the larger scheme of things, Bill Clinton’s conduct toward women is far worse than any of the offensive things that Trump has said,” Marcus writes in her Tuesday column.

http://conservativeintel.com/2015/12/29/liberal-columnist-defends-trump-in-battle-with-bill-clinton-over-sexism-allegations/

[Cha]

68. If US Media investigated #TrumpRussia like they opined on Obama's speaking fees

Link to tweet

[spanone]

71. yes, let's hold President Obama to a higher standard than other presidents, eh?

[phylny]

76. Supply and demand. That's all I got out of economics in college, and it's true in this case.

A company decided to pay him and he decided to take them up on it. Obama is wealthy, but he's not a billionaire. Let him live his life the way he wants.

[SticksnStones]

79. Oh, FFS.... He's a private citizen who will never run for office again

The implication with Wall Street money is that it's used to buy legislative influence.

Barack Obama is a private citizen who will not hold an elected office again.


Geezus, that should be the end of the conversation ~ he can't be bought to do any legislating anymore... (as if he ever could be bought )

Dems...take off the hair shirts and stay focused on real problems not "but what ifs"

[geek tragedy]

83. He's a private citizen now, people need to get a life

[mcar]

85. "Great progressive?" Ruth Marcus?

[Buckeyeblue]

93. 400k not really that much money

The Obama's are in a position where they need to make a great deal of money as I'm sure everday expenses are high for a fomer president. They can't live just anywhere. Holding an actual position in a company is probably no longer feasible, as either one of them would be more of a distraction. So basically, they have two ways to generate income: speeches and books.

[GoCubsGo]

94. GMAFB.

The current administration is made up of nothing but former Wall Streeters, save for a couple of ex-generals. But, this jackass is more worried about one damn Obama speech, which he has yet to make, and has not even indicated where the money will go? We're on the verge of losing our fucking planet. I don't give a bloody shit about Obama's goddamn speaking fees.

[Me.]

96. She Just Can't Stop Critizing PBO Can She?

She and A. Mitchell have stuck the knife into PBO & HRC on a daily basis for the last 4 years.

[Cha]

117. That's their bread and butter.. too bad it's

moldy and rancid.

[Me.]

120. Do You Remember The Day She Said

"egads, I agree with trump"...What a cheap sellout

Butter (rancid) wouldn't melt in her mouth as she runs from tv appearance to another

[Cha]

121. No, I don't.. was that Ruth or Mitchell?

[Me.]

127. RM Wrote The Piece

Which Then Became Her Segway Into Booking Herself On All The Shows... not to mention AM's show which she was on nearly every day, when the 2 of them would slap around PBO and HRC. He was weak and she had emails.

“Trump is right: Bill Clinton’s sordid sexual history is fair game”

“But Hillary Clinton has made two moves that lead me, gulp, to agree with Trump on the “fair game” front. She is (smartly) using her husband as a campaign surrogate, and simultaneously (correctly) calling Trump sexist.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-is-right-bill-clintons-sordid-sexual-history-is-fair-game/2015/12/28/70a26bdc-ad92-11e5-b711-1998289ffcea_story.html?utm_term=.c1d4406ed610


I had to research this as I couldn't quite remember the what and why, only that she so totally annoyed me it stuck in my mind for 2 years

[Cha]

133. Thank you for doing the research, Me.. I don't

even have a tv and stopped all corporate bullshite in 2002.

It's a wonder Hillary got 66 Million votes and President Obama is so popular with the ongoing hate industry of the corporate hit squad.

I'm guessing the OP had no idea what he would unleash with the "Great Progressive" being set up as a reason to get behind BS' pot shot @ President Obama.

[Me.]

134. Shoot...We Haven't Even Talked Fournier

And his rabid hatred of HRC and often unkindness about PBO

[Cha]

135. I know about Fournier too.. I still

see their work on DU.. and remember their names.

On the whole the US has lazy, incompetent, manufacturing, manipulating.. and is a ratings chaser(in lieu of investigative reporting) "news" industry.

Unlike the old days with real reporters and journalists as the norm.

[okieinpain]

97. couldn't sen. sanders found a better use for his

family inheritence, couldn't he have gave that money to a local charity did he really need a third home.

http://www.snopes.com/2016/08/10/bernie-sanders-buys-summer-home/


wait a minute, how is chelsea clinton worth 15 million dollars, what the hell is this.

http://heavy.com/news/2016/07/chelsea-clinton-net-worth-house-job-salary-wedding-cost-speaking-fee-husband-marc-mezvinsky/

lol, i was going to try and bring auntie maxine into this mess, but its obvious she isn't doing something right in dc.

http://static.latimes.com/how-much-are-they-worth/maxine-waters/

i'm being sarcastic by the way. love ya.

[ismnotwasm]

98. Holy Fucking Shit this is stupid

Hogwash. This isn’t about holding the black guy to a higher standard — it’s about trying to hold everyone to a higher standard. Times have changed, and what was once placidly accepted as post-presidential business-as-usual may no longer be.

"I'm not a racist but" number 4365.

[sarah FAILIN]

100. your chastisement went over like a sack of bricks, but..

I'd like to know how such a great progressive feels about Jill Stein selling out to Putin with Flynn.

[6000eliot]

101. This is stupid. He's a private citizen and can make whatever money he can get.

Period.

[frankieallen]

118. What was that great saying.......

Follow the money? Ya, that was it

[Cha]

119. "Follow the money"? Do you even know what you're

talking about?

[Blue_Tires]

122. The owner of the WaPo is worth $79 BILLION

Until I see the piece calling him out, she needs to STFU

[DiverDave]

126. Who?

I'll say it. IT'S NONE OF HER, OR YOUR BUSINESS
pretty simple

[Adrahil]

131. He gets his money honestly. Fuck her "concerns"

We have a criminal in the White House and she is "concerned" about a man getting money honestly?

That's not fucking "Progressive." I'm completely SICK of this bullshit. It's like these folks WANT us to remain divided and remain in the minority. For fuck's sake...