It’s a big problem when Obama does it: Your Say

Letter to the editor:

I find it curious at best and disingenuous at worst that Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, wants to re-examine the amount former presidents are charging for speaking events.

It’s suspicious that the congressman is targeting Barack Obama for agreeing to speak at a health care conference in September for $400,000.

Would have Chaffetz done that to former president Ronald Reagan? Lest anyone forgets, Reagan was paid $2 million for speeches in Japan less than a year after he left office in 1989. Not to be outdone, George W. Bush has been paid more than $15 million in speaking fees since leaving office.

I don’t have a problem with Chaffetz’s call to review the fees former presidents receive. I do have an issue with his focusing on Obama.

Wouldn’t it be fairer to apply any changes to future presidents, not past ones?

Denny Freidenrich; Laguna Beach, Calif.

Policing the USA

Barack Obama, buck raker: Our view

Facebook comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

Barack Obama is not doing anything different than most other modern presidents before him. Why is it suddenly a problem? And you know very well that President Trump will do the same thing.

— Stephen Cooper

Let the former president choose: Take retirement salary and Secret Service protection, or work the speakers market. Now, the current system will be abused.

— James Graves

Funny how these speaking fees are now such a big issue after a woman and a black man started getting them.

Obama’s a private citizen now, and he has a right to make his fortune any way he can. More power to him.

— Linda Rivet

Not a single former congressman or president should be getting any pension or benefits following their tenure. After all, their service was a public service.

— Dennis Weakland