Team up a carnival barker like Sean Hannity with an illegal arms merchant like Oliver North, give them a "charity" with a patriotic hook, and entrust them with your money - good plan, right?
When allegations came out this week - from another conservative, no less - that Hannity's charity didn't really meet what a person would consider a reputable level when it comes to how much they actually give, the first question might be - is anyone surprised?
After exposing the "charity" as more a way to serve Hannity's vanity than offer the level of support one would expect, conservative Debbie Schlussel, who made the original accusations, solidified the connection to his ego by calling him Vannity.
Freedom Alliance, the organization headed by North and funding Hannity's escapades, issued a fairly lame response. Following is part of what Schlussel had to say after Freedom Alliance's vague and misleading statement:
"In fact, the Freedom Alliance “response” doesn’t answer any of the questions I raised and goes on to lie more. They don’t address why they gave a triple amputee only $200—and in fact there are many of these examples provided in their tax return addendum, but I only cited a few for brevity’s sake. They also lie and claim that they gave a lot more money to charity b/c they categorize it as “program expenses.” But I’m sorry—calling over $3 million in consulting fees, printing, and postage “program expenses” doesn’t change the fact that it still went to their cronies, not to a fund and not the soldiers who only got on average less than $900 apiece. It also doesn’t change the fact that out of the money spent (I didn’t count the money they claim they raised for their scholarship fund in my percentages or the figures would have been even more outrageous against Freedom Alliance), the vast majority of spending goes to those kinds of expenses."
She goes on to detail how Freedom Alliance not only wasted millions serving Vannity, but big losses from bad investments also shrank the amount actually given to those in need.
Of course, taking the word of one conservative over another could be problematic. But her accusations are backed up with numbers, and seem to make sense. Especially when one considers just how bereft of conscience or fact Hannity is overall. And the fact that similar reports, with numbers backing them up, have been available for years.
What this little escapade, and other charity abuses, might do is make people question who they are handing their money to. That's a good thing - as long as they don't lose interest in actually giving to reputable groups.
There are many good examples, like Portland, Oregon based Mercy Corps. Organizations that aren't afraid to open their books to examination are where you should donate. Secular and/or atheist based charities are a good choice, as they are constantly under the microscope from those who want to see them fail. They have to be above board at all times.
Comments
The Freedom Alliance has released a statement to the Hannity forum in which they refute what Debbie says about what they spend the charity money on.
On the Hannity forum, they ban any and all criticism of Sean Hannity, so the topic is off limits for discussion.
However, I've been to the site numerous times myself. It doesn't take long to register, if people want to do so, and try to provide them with a little debate on the matter.
Sean Hannity – A Stalwart Champion for our Troops
Don’t Listen to His Detractors
As America’s largest grassroots pro-troop organization, Move America Forward has been privileged to support our troops and their mission against Islamic terrorism. Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin , Dr. Laura and so many other talk show hosts have given unselfishly to this noble cause.
From time to time they are attacked, usually by leftist anti-war extremists, but sometimes even conservatives make the mistake of joining the circular firing squad against one of their own. There have recently been unfair attacks against Sean Hannity, but we know he has been a total champion in supporting our troops and we are honored to stand with him.
For the record, Sean Hannity, we know to be a tireless worker, and a selfless supporter of our troops. Sean has visited wounded troops at military hospitals, he has organized several trips to Iraq, and most importantly he has consistently honored our troo
Didn't take long for the Hannity trolls to rush to his aid.
Hannity is the troll; Faux News is a cluster Fox.
Just say no.
Man, if I wanted to be perceived as even slightly credible, I wouldn't touch this "is anyone surprised" angle with a ten-foot pole. We'll see how it unfolds, but I would venture to guess that the scenario is NOT playing out as Schlussel intended.
To elaborate, even the infamously lib-biased mainstream media is staying away. And, two (that I know of) out of the small handful of "heavy" alternative-media/blog sites that decided to try and run with this story -- two of them (that I know of, as I said) have issued retractions, apologies, and follow-ups that suggest Hannity's vindication.
What is not surprising is that a LibTard article would re-Publish discredited info.
Party hardy, Bro.
Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org)gives the Freedom Alliance its highest rating -- four stars -- which according to their rating system means: "Exceptional -- Exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its Cause."
She's talking out of her ass. I work in the entertainment business and the cost of renting the venues, insurance, security, union workers, production, flights for crew, etc. Adds up very quickly.
Liberals are Communists.
Obama Sucks.
"Sean Hannity, a supporter of our troops" but never a member of our troops is no better than "shredder Ollie North", a member of our troops dressed up in beribboned uniform stating he is a true patriot even as he does what a true patriot should not do; Defy the laws passed by Congress. Senator Daniel Inouye, a true hero and patriot, calmly, but most assuredly exposed phony patriot Ollie, for the charlatan he was and is. Inouye's brilliant response to Ollie's defense ranks up there with Joe Welch's response to Senator McCarthy, "Have you no shame, Sir, Have you no shame".
I'd like to see Musall's tax returns. Let's see what the communist atheist gives to charity.
Otherwise, this "journalist" uses the word "alleged" in the headline, then convicts the 'suspect.'
This entire incident demonstrates the danger of allowing amateurs to parade around like journalists. For the other side of the story:
frumforum.com/hannitized-is-sanitized
Looks like Debbie will have egged her own face, and both she, and this character Musall will e forced to retract. Will they? Don't hold your breath. Integrity in media is about as rare as a Musall charitable contribution.
Unions are now partnered with big business with no function left but to control the workers. The Unions exploit the grievances of the worker as well as the socialists and progressives. They appeal to factions of gullible millennial youth. Particularly those in Europe and the U.S. that have been groomed by the Union-led cable-news political-machine-conglomerates. Like Obama, they present vague promises open to interpretation. They offer up empty promises. A perfect deception fueled soley by self-imagined eventful futures for a generation of bored, low-acheiving, outcome-based learners with short attention spans. Union exploitation is selective and opportunistic. Their tactics are devoid of concious with no thought as to consequence. Their cause is a crime-spree in progress. Democrats, thirsty for power, trade their ethics for Union "support" to gain power in a "devils bargain". Unions now hold patriotic Americans hostage as they double-cross the witless politicians and take control.
I guess this scam gives new meaning to being "Hannitized".
ANY organization with the sleazeball Ollie North involved can't be good. Hie is after all a traitor to his country, which was proven beyond doubt. He should still be in prison if you ask anyone with half a thought in their head. Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas. Give your money to a reputable charity and avoid these clowns as though they were Chernobyl waste.
Hysterical Donna is making the rounds today ain't she? It would take 1,000 of you lefists to make on Col. North, and even then you'd fall short, you pathetic, whiny little _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
This mirrors the Iran Contra fund-diversion tactics used by the Reagan Administration (how did they avoid jail?).
Can anyone grasp the concept of a panty waste!!!! That is what you liberal butt smooches are. Why don't you crawl back into your mom's womb and curl up in a ball and wait for the end of days. Oliver North was a fall guy for the weak kneed liberal panty waste in our government. He was doing what he was told and you pieces of crap know that. Why don't you intellectual elites do something useful instead of lying and denying. Why don't you start a charity for our troops and spend countless unpaid hours representing your cause.
hannity has no spine! the coward is yet to adress these charges. youd think an uber patriot sike like hannity would be salivating at the chance to defend himself but no. he has the hack michelle fraudkin doing his dirty work. you conservatives who watch fox news and defend this punk are really pathetic. your the same group of scum that thinks george bush was a good president and you nominated us john mcshame. you people suck. and trust me i am way more to the right than sean vannbity. fox news just keeps getting richer and there hosts more money thats all it is. look at sarah palin. to bad the left is way worse.
Hysterical Donna is making the rounds today ain't she? It would take 1,000 of you lefists to make on Col. North, and even then you'd fall short, you pathetic, whiny little _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
I am very sure that most leftists take any and all allegations against Sean Hannity and Col. North as absolute "facts"...in the same way they believe the "facts" about president Obama...like the "fact" he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize....and the "fact" that he is a constitutional scholar, the "fact" that government is going to run health care better then it runs the post office ...or my favorite, the "fact" that he is so brilliant. By the way, what is the name of Maddow's charity???
To all of those on the right complaining.....The author makes money every time you open this article and or comment. Thought you should know.
When are all of you gonna realize that Hannity and his ilk are merely entertainers. I doubt they believe half of what they say and are clever enough to realize that they make their money by riling up the neanderthals.
I'm just waiting for the Shawn and that other faux woman Ann Coulter show up with the news that they really are brothers. . . that found out they were related and separated at birth, after they entered into an affair. . .
Why were air america Radio ratings so low?
Chicken Hawk Hannity....
When you strip away all of the rage, all of the nonsensical loud noises and all of the contradictions, all thats left is race. The tea bagger party is almost entirely about race, and theres no comparative group on the left thats similarly motivated by bigotry, ignorance and racial hatred.
Sean Hannity is a morality bankrupt man. He promoted the practice of water-boarding and other forms of torture. Listening to his program is torture! He deserves to go to prison for fraud.
When you've been "Hannitized" it means your wallet has been sanitized, sucked dry of all its contents. A fool and his money, easily parted.
Whey somebody essentially lies for a living it should come as no surprise they have no problem stealing, too. You gotta love those phony "patriots", they always shoot themselves in the foot. Too bad there are innocent victims in this case - the soldiers.
To tea ball licker - Why do people always throw the race card? I think we need to stop defying a group by using the race card. It is such a liberal minded idiot who can't be open minded enough to look at the group. Every group has whack jobs and losers, but don't discredit a group for a few bad seeds. Again, both parties had their past with racism, so drop the race card... it is 2010 ya know!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!