Some notable liberals are not happy with former President Barack Obama's decision to give a speech at a Wall Street conference.
Obama will be paid $400,000 to give a speech at Cantor Fitzgerald's healthcare conference this September, according to Fox Business. Some of Obama's supporters are upset with the former president who often railed against income inequality and the business practices of Wall Street.
The Washington Post gave four reasons why Obama's $400,000 speech is a bad idea. One of the reasons the article cites is that in President Obama's 2006 book The Audacity of Hope he called arrangements like this a corrupting influence.
Some liberals expressed their frustration and anger with Obama's decision on Twitter.
These people rushing to defend Obama for his $400K are doing Wall Street PR work for free.
— jordan 🌹 (@JordanUhl) April 26, 2017
Is Obama Already Buckraking on Wall Street? https://t.co/0yUwi5zFbx
— Kevin Drum (@kdrum) April 25, 2017
It's great that Obama is so adamant about inspiring young leaders to get involved in politics and community service. https://t.co/wcnb7ULWKV
— Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) April 24, 2017
If true, I'd like to hear what @BernieSanders has to say. Will he call Obama corrupt? Will he contemptuously say, "must be some speech"? https://t.co/4HAjSMoeFk
— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) April 25, 2017
Vox reporter Matthew Yglesias wrote an article titled, "Obama's $400,000 Wall Street speaking fee will undermine everything he believes in." Yglesias argues that Obama should have turned down the speech.
Obama would be suggesting that for an economically comfortable high-ranking former government official to be out there doing paid speaking gigs would be corrupt, sleazy, or both. He'd be looking down his nose at the other corrupt, sleazy former high-ranking government officials and making enemies.
Which is exactly why he should have turned down the gig.
Fellow liberals agreed with Yglesias's assessment.
Very good @mattyglesias on why Obama erred in agreeing to $400K Wall Street speaking fee & should steer a new path: https://t.co/ynViIHq6sv
— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) April 25, 2017
Obama's $400,000 Wall Street speaking fee will undermine everything he believes in // good @mattyglesias piece https://t.co/B1Rx1rcFML
— Conor Friedersdorf (@conor64) April 26, 2017
So baffled
Obama's $400,000 Wall Street speaking fee will undermine everything he believes in https://t.co/k3ZRPk7iKB via @voxdotcom
— Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) April 25, 2017
This is what Obama said literally the same day his $400K Wall Street speech was revealed. The, er, um ... audacity pic.twitter.com/P3hTwOPZ6j
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_Vox) April 25, 2017
Interesting, persuasive @mattyglesias case that Obama is making a huge mistake by accepting Wall Street dough. https://t.co/aWoIHxiTHX
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) April 26, 2017
Barstool Sports noted that Obama's $400,000 payout is double of former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Obama to make $400K for a Wall Street speech (double what Hillary Clinton made)https://t.co/pN3zXMHJtZ pic.twitter.com/d023jGbrag
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 25, 2017