Oswald in the doorway: the blog of the Oswald Innocence Campaign, by Ralph Cinque

Top US Veterans Charity: George W. Bush Charged $100,000 to speak

Former President George W. Bush charged $100,000 to speak at a charity fundraiser for U.S. military veterans severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, and former First Lady Laura Bush collected $50,000 to appear a year earlier, officials of the Texas-based Helping a Hero charity confirmed to ABC News.

The former President was also provided with a private jet to travel to Houston at a cost of $20,000, the officials said.

One of the wounded vets who served on the charity’s board told ABC News he was outraged that his former commander in chief would charge any fee to speak on behalf of men and women he ordered into harm's way.

“For him to be paid to raise money for veterans that were wounded in combat under his orders, I don’t think that’s right,” said former Marine Eddie Wright, who lost both hands in a rocket attack in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004.

“You sent me to war,” added Wright speaking of the former President. “I was doing what you told me to do, gladly for you and our country and I have no regrets. But it’s kind of a slap in the face.”

Like countless others, I am outraged by this. It is absolutely despicable.  But right now, I need to express my outrage towards someone else, Jonn Lilyea. Why hasn't he acknowledged it on his This Ain't Hell milblog?

http://thisainthell.us/blog/

I don't presume Lilyea reads this blog, but I know his minions do. So, you guys get the word to him. I am calling him out about it. George W. Bush is personally responsible for the crippling wounds and permanent disablement that these men and women have endured. He should have spoken for free and then cut a check before he left to boot.  

Exposing soldiers who claim more valor than they're entitled is all well and good, Lilyea, but it's nothing compared to this. It's peanuts. If you've got any valor yourself, you get something up about this.