Dec 2, 2009

Ka$ich $till $peaking. Just Not to Ohioans.

Celebrity speaker made up to $120,000 for paid speeches during last two months — including one tomorrow

John Kasich has used his connections on Wall Street and in Washington to build a lucrative career as a celebrity public speaker. He has continued giving paid speeches while running for Governor, with at least three paid speaking engagements in the past two months, including one this week with CHS, an energy and agricultural producer in Minnesota. Based on his advertised speaking fees, Kasich earned as much as $120,000 from these events. Why is Kasich giving paid speeches across the country, but won't answer basic questions from Ohio reporters about what he would do as Governor? Perhaps - like some other celebrities we know - he would talk to the media - if they just paid a little more.

As a public speaker, Kasich commands fees in the tens of thousands.

Kasich Charges $10K-$40K For Speaking Engagements. Websites advertising John Kasich as a public speaker cite fees between $10,001 and $40,000:

• $15,001-$20,000 [Washington Speakers Bureau]
• $20,001-$30,000 [All-American Talent & Celebrity Network]
• Over $20,000 [Dynamic Speakers Bureau]
• $20,000-$30,000 [Keynote Resource]
• $20,000-$40,000 [Brooks International]
• $20,000 to $25,000 [Speakers Platform]
• $15,001- $25,000 [National Speakers Bureau Inc.]

Kasich has continued giving paid speeches even while campaigning for Governor.

Tomorrow, Kasich Will Give Keynote Speech At CHS Meeting. John Kasich will be the keynote speaker at CHS Inc.'s Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Friday, December 4, 2009. [CHS Annual Meeting 2009 Information Guide]

CHS Is An Energy And Agricultural Producer. According to its website, "CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, livestock feed, grain, food and food ingredients, along with business solutions, including insurance, financial and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries/pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products." [CHS website, 11/30/09]

In October, Kasich Gave Keynote Speech To National Association of Industrial and Office Properties Annual Meeting In Chicago. On October 16, 2009, John Kasich delivered the keynote at the closing session of the NAIOP's Development '09: The Annual Meeting for Commercial Real Estate. In a statement beforehand on the event website, Kasich said, "I know… people have a million questions about what's happening with the economy… a whole series of questions that I'm excited to discuss, answers I hope to provide to some of your basic questions, and to talk about some of the root causes of where we are… So I'm excited and I can't wait to see you in Chicago." [NAIOP Development '09 Keynote Previews]

NAIOP Helps Real Estate Developers Network, Lobby Congress. According to the association's website, "NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, is the leading organization for developers, owners and related professionals in office, industrial and mixed-use real estate. NAIOP provides unparalleled industry networking and education, and advocates for effective legislation on behalf of our members." [NAIOP website]

In October, Kasich Delivered Speech For Nevada Development Authority At The Bellagio Casino In Las Vegas. On October 7, 2009, John Kasich spoke to the Nevada Development Authority at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. His speech criticized Americans for ignoring their values, and connected Paris Hilton and Britney Spears to the economic crisis. [Las Vegas Journal-Review, 10/8/09]

NDA Promotes Economic Development In Nevada. According to its website, "The Nevada Development Authority (NDA) is a non-profit agency that works to diversify and improve the economy of Southern Nevada." [NDA website]

But Kasich Refuses to Answer Basic Questions About What Kind of Governor He Would Be When Asked by the Ohio Media.

During this campaign, John Kasich has refused to answer questions for the Cleveland Plain Dealer [6/15/09; 10/1/09], the Akron Beacon Journal [6/15/09], the Columbus Dispatch [1/12/09; 3/29/09; 5/2/09; 6/3/09; 7/20/09; 10/1/09], the Dayton Daily News [6/2/09; 10/1/09] and the Politico [7/29/09].

Kasich: "These Specifics Will Be Answered When I'm Ready To Answer Them, Not When The Questions Are Asked." When asked how he would pay for his tax proposals, Kasich said, "These specifics will be answered when I'm ready to answer them, not when the questions are asked." [Columbus Dispatch, 3/29/09]

Kasich On What He'd Do With The State Budget: "I'm Not Messing In That." After a speech to the Cleveland City Club, when reporters asked Kasich how he'd solve the state's budget problems, Kasich said, "I'm not messing in that… It isn't my job now to be micromanaging this process." [Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/27/09]