On Thursday's CNN Newsroom, Brooke Baldwin spotlighted the controversy surrounding a 2012 event where former President George W. Bush charged $100,000 to speak at a gala for a veterans group. However, Baldwin has yet to cover a similar issue – the hundred-thousand-plus speaking fees that Hillary Clinton, and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have charged to other non-profit organizations. [video below]
A June 16, 2015 article by Politico's Kenneth Vogel pointed out that the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach, California had to fork over $200,000 to get Mrs. Clinton to speak at their annual fundraising luncheon. Mr. Clinton headlined the same event in 2007, and "charged the group $150,000, which was reported as personal income — not a donation to the Clinton Foundation — on his wife's federal financial disclosure form."
The anchor previewed her segment with former Marine Sgt. Eddie Wright by underling the "hundred thousand dollars – that was President George W. Bush's fee to speak at a charity – only, this charity was for wounded veterans of the war in both Iraq and Afghanistan." She actually mentioned both President Clinton and President Bush during the lead-in for the interview: "Two former commanders-in-chief – President Bill Clinton and George W. Bush – both will be sharing the same stage tonight in Dallas to speak to Presidential Leadership Scholars, a program they actually launched together. But it's a different speaking engagement President George Bush spoke at three years ago that is drawing some criticism today."
After asking Sgt. Wright about how he lost both of his hands during a 2004 ambush in Fallujah, Iraq, Baldwin noted that the Iraq War veteran "served...on the board of Helping a Hero. You, as a board member...understand the cost associated with bringing in someone to speak – especially someone as high profile as President Bush. He spoke at this event...that paid him $100,000. And I've read that you have perceived that as a slap in the face. Can you tell me why?"
Wright didn't limit his criticism to the former commander-in-chief, but also attacked the non-profit organization:
SGT. EDDIE WRIGHT, U.S. MARINE CORPS (RET.): ...[T]he fact that President Bush was down there helping us raise money – that's terrific. What I don't agree with, though, however, is the fact that he accepted a hundred thousand dollar payment – which they describe as a discounted honorarium. I understand that he's in great demand, but as commander-in-chief, you've got to put some things as priority before money and before payment, and that's – that's the fact that you are – ultimately, are commander-in-chief and our leader, and – and we expect our leaders to lead from the front. And I just see it as a bad judgment call. I would never ask my Marines that I served with, or that I ordered to – you know, go into a house, for example – if they would be injured, I wouldn't ask them to pay me to come raise money for them to help them out.
And, you know, that's – that's just – you know, one thing I may disagree with about President Bush's actions with this organization. But bigger than that and beyond that is the fact that veterans, in general, around the country are being exploited and monetized and objectified by these non-profit organizations that are operating under the guise of caring – and, in particular, in my case and dozens of other veterans, the organization helpingahero.org – and the chairman and founder, Meredith Iler – have contributed greatly to adding stress and taking advantage of us, and causing many hardships, and – and not just my story, but many other veterans can testify to that.
A November 2014 report from WFAA-TV documented how several veterans, including Sgt. Wright, accused Helping a Hero of "lavish expenditures, a lack of accountability, and broken promises." A Thursday article on CNN.com also reported that "Wright and others were involved in a legal battle last year accusing some of the group's leaders of siphoning money and forcing veterans' wives to sell beauty products. The criminal complaint and a defamation lawsuit filed in response were settled out of court, according to the Houston Chronicle."
Near the end of the segment, Baldwin did point out how former President Bush cut his speaking fee by over 50 percent and wondered, "Does that, in your mind – does that account for something for the President?" Sgt. Wright offered some praise for the former chief executive, but repeated his criticism. The anchor also responded to some parting remarks from her guest about some of the problems that he and other veterans have experienced:
BROOKE BALDWIN: I'm sorry that it's happening to you all, and I'm glad you're speaking up and out about it. With regard to the President – you know, you mentioned this discounted speech – and, you're right. You know, apparently, he did cut his fee for this group to speak – down from 250,000 down to 100,000 – not to mention that the head of this group said that he did help raise record funds for several years. Does that, in your mind – does that account for something for the President?
WRIGHT: Well, it's great that – that just his name by itself was able to raise money for the organization and his presence. But what I disagree with – and I know a lot of people justify the actions of paying the President – you know, with the fact that they were able to raise a certain dollar amount of money – but that's a moot point. 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. And I don't mean to bash President Bush. I've met him before. I personally like the man. I may not agree with everything that went down in his presidency. But my job was to be a Marine, and I loved that job, and consider it an honor to have served under him as commander-in-chief.
BALDWIN: It's an honor for me to sit here and speak with you. Sergeant Eddie Wright, thank you so much.
WRIGHT: Well, Brooke, thank you much. Thank you for having me. And I hope that this brings to light the problems that – you know, us veterans down here in Texas are having that, frankly, are due to the fact that people – you know, want to exploit us for their own financial gain; and, perhaps, political gain. I don't know-
BALDWIN: It's unacceptable; it's unacceptable-
WRIGHT: In particular, this organization – yes, ma'am-
BALDWIN: We'll be right back.
It should be pointed out that Baldwin's colleague, Carol Costello, has mentioned the controversy over the Clintons' speaking fees on her edition of CNN Newsroom, which airs earlier in the day. On May 22, 2015, Costello asked conservative columnist S.E. Cupp, "So all these scandals are coming down the pike – not just about this e-mail stuff – right? But also about donations to her foundation – how much she's paid for public speaking fees. Like, any one of these controversies might sink a lesser candidate, but not Hillary Clinton."
