Maybe there’s a reason we haven’t heard former President Barack Obama talk so much about “spreading the wealth around” anymore.
He’s absolutely rolling in dough himself — and like most liberal elites, has no interest in “sharing” HIS slice of the pie!
Barely six weeks out of office, Obama has signed what may be the biggest book deal since Gutenberg started printing Bibles… giving him 65 million reasons to be philosophically opposed to wealth-spreading.
The contract is for both Obama’s book as well as a book by Michelle Obama that Vox reports will be “an inspirational work for young people that will draw upon her life story.”
In other words, a one-sided memoir of the most divisive president in modern history, and a piece of left-wing psychobabble aimed at indoctrinating kids.
But it’s not the words of the former president that’s raising eyebrows. It’s the number of former presidents changing hands, because the $65 million contract doesn’t just eclipse all previous deals.
It’s more than DOUBLE the value of every previous presidential memoir going back to Nixon… COMBINED!
George W. Bush got a reported $7 million for his book “Decision Points,” while Bill Clinton was paid a stunning $15 million for “My Life.”
At least, it WAS stunning.
Obama’s deal changes that.
Prior to that, George H.W. Bush declined to write a presidential memoir (although he did coauthor a book about foreign policy), while Ronald Reagan was given $5 million for two books.
Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford got about a million each, while Richard M. Nixon received $2.3 million for his book – which, given the circumstances of his departure from Washington, was at the time considered a must-read for political insiders.
That’s about $31 million for six presidents… and then Obama comes along and inks a deal for $65 million.
And let’s face facts; it’s a two-book deal, but no one’s paying that kind of money for Michelle Obama’s “inspirational work for young people.”
The bulk of that $65 million is for her husband’s book.
What makes the number even more astounding is not only that there’s so much more cash involved than in any other presidential memoir.
It’s that the number is far higher than even experienced industry insiders had estimated.
Some publishers told The New York Times last autumn that they expected Obama’s memoirs to fetch between $10 million and $12 million. As recently as January, insiders estimated his deal would be worth about $20 million.
Now, suddenly, he’s sitting on top of a small mountain of cash as he vacations with billionaire pals on private islands and vows to never to fly commercial again.
So much for the common touch!
Then again, even without the book deal Obama would be guaranteed one of the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”
He’ll earn millions per year in speaking fees, collect a pension worth more than $200,000 annually (with regular cost-of-living raises) and get a handsome allowance to pay for expenses and hire a personal staff.
He’ll also get healthcare for life – no doubt NOT Obamacare – along with Secret Service protection.
Public service has been very, very good to the Obamas.
— The Horn editorial team