President Obama Jokes About His Post-POTUS Plans
By:
President Obama hinted at his post-presidential plans at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, joking that he would consider giving paid speeches for the investment bank Goldman Sachs.
"If this material works well, I am going to use it at Goldman Sachs next year," Obama said, adding that he would earn "some serious Tubmans."
The joke was a light jab at Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who has come under fire by opponents for taking in about $675,000 for making three paid speeches at Goldman Sachs events.
Her Democratic opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, has called on Clinton to release the transcripts of her speeches, but Clinton has refused to do so until all presidential candidates — both Democrats and Republicans — follow suit. The debate over Clinton's speeches comes amid an ongoing conversation about the role of Wall Street money in politics.
AP/John Locher - apimages.com
"[Until] Clinton gets clear of Sanders, her speeches to Goldman and other banks will likely continue to pose problems," Politico reports. "Some progressive groups say beyond the speeches themselves, the fear is that, as president, Clinton would be too chummy with bankers and rely on Wall Street executives for senior positions like Treasury secretary. The highly paid speaking gigs just make these fears more intense."
Later in his White House Correspondents' Dinner speech, President Obama also joked that he would take advice from former House Speaker John Boehner regarding his retirement plans.
