Hillary Clinton
is facing a backlash over her paid speeches, with students at the
University of NevadaLas Vegas calling on her to reject the $225,000 that
the school is paying her family charity, and Republicans saying her
lucrative engagements demonstrate that she is removed from everyday
voters.
Mrs. Clinton, a likely 2016
presidential candidate, has been giving a mix of paid and free speeches
since leaving the State Departmentearly last year. She collected
$300,000 for a speech at UCLAin March, a spokesman for the school said
Friday, adding that the money came from a privately funded endowment.
She
has also given paid speeches at Hamilton Collegein New York and the
University of Miamiwhich wouldn't disclose her fees. A Hamilton
spokesman said a private endowment covered her appearance on campus last
year.
The UNLVfee for her appearance this fall will go to the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation
The
dispute at UNLV comes as Mrs. Clinton is making the case that she can
empathize with struggling American families whatever her net worth.
Earlier
this month, she told an interviewer that she and her husband left the
White House in 2001 "dead broke." Yet they had put together the money to
buy two houses in upscale neighborhoods and were never at risk of real
financial distress. In post-presidency,
Hillary Clinton before a speaking engagement earlier this year.
Mrs. Clinton has said she was
"inartful" in describing her wealth, but stressed that she has spent
much of her life advocating for poorer Americans.
Mrs.
Clinton plans to deliver the keynote speech at a UNLV fundraising event
in October. Her appearance fee is $225,000, according to the Las Vegas
Review-Journal. Her office declined to comment on the UNLV speech. A
school spokesman wouldn't confirm the amount but said such fees are paid
through private donations and that no university funds are involved.
That
doesn't satisfy student leaders. Earlier this month, the state's
higher-education system decided to raise tuition by 17% over four years.
Some students said they would like to see Mrs. Clinton donate her fee
to the school.
Daniel Waqar, 19 years
old, a junior at UNLV and a spokesman for the student government, said
students would be sending a letter to Mrs. Clinton asking her to "donate
the money back to students."
"Donating
the money back would be an example of her standing for higher education
and standing for students," Mr. Waqar said. The $225,000 fee is enough
to award 225 students scholarships of $1,000 apiece, he noted.