S.C. lawmaker asks Giuliani to repay $100,000 speaking fee

[Rose Siding]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ A South Carolina lawmaker has asked Rudy Giuliani to pay back all of a $100,000 fee he was given by a hospital group for a speech at a tsunami relief fund-raiser two months ago.

Giuliani donated $20,000 of the fee and kept the rest after the Feb. 9 event in Columbia.

The sponsor of the event, the South Carolina Hospital Association, said Giuliani gave back twice what they asked for and the group has no problem with him keeping the other $80,000.

But Rep. Tracy Edge, R-North Myrtle Beach, said he is upset because the speech was widely publicized as a charity event.

"Nowhere was it disclosed that Mayor Giuliani was being paid for his appearance," said Edge, who wants the former New York mayor to repay the entire amount.
.....
"Frankly, his service in New York makes it even more troubling that he would ask for money to appear at an event designed to benefit the victims of one of the greatest human disasters in recorded history," Edge said

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--giulianisfee0402apr02,0,775198.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

[Jilly Beans]

1. Wow! Giuliana criticized by a Republican???

Interesting.

[Dr.Phool]

9. Maybe he's trying to sweep Rudy out of the way

For cat-killer Frist.

[Merlot]

2. Great story...and we know how easily repubs give

back money and admit mistakes.

It's disgusting to know that someone gets paid that much to speak at a charity event. I wonder how much money the event made in total, and how much actually went to victims after event "expenses" were covered.

[aquart]

5. Okay, it was billed as a charity event

But what was it REALLY? Why the need to funnel money to Rudy?

[nodictators]

6. Giuliani got MORE than the tsunami victims

According to the Newsday article, "The benefit raised $60,000, including the $20,000 donation from Giuliani, Kirby said."

So, Rudy got $100,000 as his speaking fee and gave $20,000 to the tsunami victims, which means he netted $80,000. And the victims got $60,000, maybe.

Oh, you're so generous, Rudy (aaarrgh!).

[zbdent]

11. I was wondering how much in the Red they were

after his fee . . .

If this were Bill Clinton, wouldn't there be an investigation into Hillary's "08 fundraising"?

This looks like an illegal donation to Rudy's 08 run . . .

[MiniMe]

3. Republicans, its all about the money. n/t

[kskiska]

4. Just leave it on the dresser, honey.

[smirkymonkey]

13. LOL!

Great pic!

[Stinky The Clown]

7. The *real* story here is that Rudy needs SC if he wants the '08 nod

and he may have screwed the pooch with this stunt.

Let's hope.

[gavodotcom]

12. I don't see how Rudy wins SC anyway.

His opponents just need to keep playing the video clip of him on the Today Show right before the election. He blames the soldiers for the unsecured Iraq weapons cache.

I'm sure that'd go over REAL well all over the state.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. How disgusting that he got more than the victims did.

Let's see how quickly he gives back the money, especially now that it has been made public.....altho the Repukes are notably unembarrassable.

By the way..That IS a lovely picture of the ex-Mayor. He always did seem to enjoy playing dress up.

Here he is as "Mrs Sylvestri" on SNL.
That's him on the right in the blue flowered dress

[kskiska]

16. Here he is as a Rockette!

[Trillo]

10. One of the reasons Heath Care is so expensive.

Gotta pay for all the graft.

"Pay to Play"

[Helga Scow Stern]

14. Bar Bush pulled a similar stunt

back in the 90's in Porterville, a small, poor California town in Tulare County.

My dad was so angry at the time because it was publicized as a hospital fundraiser but she was given $135,000 as a speaker fee. Makes you wonder what the true purpose of these fundraisers are.

[oasis]

15. Compassionate conservatives. Short on compassion, long on conservative.