Barack Obama is officially cashing in, lining up speeches to Wall Street bankers for $400,000 a pop.
Bloomberg reported Monday that the former president spoke in New York to clients of Northern Trust Corp. A second appearance at the private equity behemoth Carlyle Group followed.
And next week Obama will speak at a health care conference hosted by investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald.
He famously railed against Wall Street during a ’60 Minutes’ interview near the end of his first year as president.
‘I did not run for office to be helping out a bunch of fat cat bankers on Wall Street,’ Obama said then.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama is cashing in, earning $400,000 each for a trio of Wall Street speeches this month
Obama largely let big banks skate during his administration despite railing against them as the cause of the 2007-2008 financial crisis
‘I did not run for office to be helping out a bunch of fat cat bankers on Wall Street,’ Obama said during a December 2009 interview on ’60 Minutes’
‘They don’t get it. They’re still puzzled why it is that people are mad at the banks. Well, let’s see: You guys are drawing down $10 million, $20 million bonuses after America went through the worst economic year that it’s gone through in decades, and you guys caused the problem.’
His presidency ultimately cooled to the idea of punishing big banks, however.
The Obama Justice Department never prosecuted any of them for their roles in the 2007-2008 financial crisis, and stopped short of heeding liberal economists’ calls to break them up and limit their financial power.
Jeff Hauser, who studies political corruption as head of the Revolving Door Project in Washington, told Bloomberg that since Obama is still deeply involved with the Demorcatic Party, he should ‘forgo a few hundred thousand here and maybe a half-million there.’
The news of Obama’s new paydays comes six weeks before he convenes a Chicago summit under the aegis of his private foundation.
‘On October 31st and November 1st, the Obama Foundation will welcome civic leaders from around Chicago, the U.S., and the world to join us for a two-day immersive event in Chicago,’ the organization’s website says.
‘During this inaugural Summit, hundreds of leaders from around the world will come together to exchange ideas, explore creative solutions to common problems, and experience civic art, technology, and music from around the world.’
The summit will allow liberal thought leaders to rub elbows in much the same way the Clinton Initiative – led by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband, another former president – carried on, drawing criticism for the influence big money had on American politics.
Obama is also hosting a foundation-led ‘summit’ in late October, reminiscent of how the Clinton Foundation’s ‘Global Initiative’ brought liberal luminaries and big-money stakeholders together to rub elbows
Wall Street in New York City is the home of some of the world’s most powerful banks, venture capital firms and hedge funds
Both Clintons also cashed in on Wall Street, adding more than $153 million to their bottom line collectively.
Former UBS Group AG executive Robert Wolf, a member of the Obama Foundation’s board of directors, told Bloomberg that Obama ‘doesn’t stereotype’ big-bank executives.
‘He was the president of the entire United States – financial services are under that umbrella,’ Wolf said.
‘He doesn’t look at Wall Street like, ‘Oh, these are individuals who don’t want the best for the country.’
Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis claims the 44th president has donated $2 million so far ‘to Chicago programs offering job training and employment opportunities to low-income youth.’
Morgan Stanley Vice Chairman Tom Nides, a former deputy secretary of State in the Obama administration, defended the former president too.
‘I love Barack Obama, and if someone is willing to pay him to give a speech, God bless America,’ he said.