Seeing all these posts in enthusiastic support of Obama receiving $400,000 in exchange for a speech for Wall Street Bankers got me thinking. He has every right to give the speech and to be paid every dollar he’s earned for doing so. In truth, were I offered $400,000 for a speech for the Wall Street crowd I can assure you that I’d sure as hell give it—but I wouldn’t feel great about it.
Obama is a smart guy. He knows that the optics on this would be poor but he took the money anyway. Again, I’d do so myself but let’s reconsider some of this effusive praise in favor of this. He is, to say the least, a high-profile democrat and this speech isn’t good for a party pledging to fight against Wall Street interests. There is much to admire in Obama; however, this is not his finest hour.