Posted on 01/27/2016 11:56:38 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Trump's standard line when he is about to storm out of a media event because he doesn't like how it covers him is that he is going to go host an event to raise money for veterans. Thus it was no surprise when he announced that he would be skipping the FoxNews event to hold a separate event to raise money for.... well, "veterans," generally. Of course, Trump did not name a specific charity so that his feet might be held to the fire on this, just "veterans," generally.
Well, there are two small problems. The main veterans group that Trump has used for publicity stunts in the past, the Wounded Warrior Project, was the subject of a scathing CBS report and recently lost their tax exempt status. Besides, if Trump is planning on using them, he hasn't told anyone from the group. Per CNN, the Wounded Warrior Project has not even been contacted by Trump about possibly doing an event tomorrow.
If he is doing it for some other group, they are now lining up to say that they don't want any money Trump might make off of promoting himself, and will reject it if offered.
>>>Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America founder Paul Rieckhoff tweeted Wednesday that he would decline any contributions that came from the event, which Trump has proposed in place of his attending Fox News' debate this week.
"If offered, @IAVA will decline donations from Trump's event. We need strong policies from candidates, not to be used for political stunts," he said.
* * *
Two other veterans' groups also distanced themselves from Trump's announcement.
The Wounded Warrior Project said it was not aware of the candidate conducting any fundraising efforts on its behalf.
Meanwhile, VoteVets.org, which calls itself the nation's largest progressive veterans group, issued a statement titled: "Don't hide from Megyn Kelly behind us."<<<<
Trump has tried to tie fundraising for veterans with debates in the past. He said he had considered skipping CNN debates in September and December unless the network donated to veterans' groups.
Vote Vets is of course a lefty group, but the other two announcements are telling. Money is money, and if groups are pre-emptively declining it, that's a pretty good indication of just how tired of Donald Trump's crap the vast majority of the country is getting.
Of course, all of this assumes that Trump had any plans of giving the money to Veterans in the first place, as opposed to just saying that he was going to so that his temper tantrum would look more noble.
Thanks to our commenter TNGal for finding this story.
"....Trump's foundation began in 1987 and exists to donate money to other charities.
It has no staff, and its annual IRS filings have regularly listed Trump's average time spent on it as "minimal" or zero hours a week. The foundation has given out $3.6 million between 2011 and 2013, the most recent year in which its finances are available.
The overwhelming majority of its recent gifts have been made with other people's money.
NBC Universal, World Wrestling Entertainment and high-end, sporting and entertainment event ticket-reseller Richard Ebers are among the largest donors; Trump made his last significant donation, of $30,000, in 2008.
Until late last year, Trump was described as an "ardent philanthropist" in a biography posted to the Trump Organization's website. That language has since been removed.
As with Trump's politics, his donations do not fit neatly within traditional ideological lines: In 2012, he donated to the Gay Men's Health Crisis - founded by gay rights activist Larry Kramer - and the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, which decries the influence of the "gay lobby" and offers support to people pushing loved ones to "seek freedom from homosexuality."
A sizable portion of Trump's giving appears to be geared toward charities prominently affiliated with celebrities or politicians..................
Trump evades specifics on his draft deferment
"..... "Many years later, Mr. Trump was responsible for the building of the beautiful Vietnam War Memorial in lower Manhattan, for which he contributed a tremendous sum of money," that statement concludes. "He was also responsible for bringing back the New York City Memorial Day parade in 1995, after our military was embarrassed by the previous year's parade where almost nobody showed up. Mr. Trump's parade was one of the largest parades ever held. Today, he remains committed to helping and honoring all of our Veterans."
Progressive veterans group? The same people whose cars have “Veterans For Obama” stickers on them?
Nice try Red Star, I mean Red State. But then again, they seem to quote progressives quite regularly these days.
How many Trump diatribes does dear Leon pen each day? Several are posted here, each and every day.
*YAWN* feeling desperate yet? :)
USO
Ridiculously slanted article.
>> Two other veterans’ groups also distanced themselves from Trump’s announcement.
I doubt the intended beneficiaries would turn away the charity. Furthermore, Trump is, and has been, campaigning in strong favor of veterans’ care.
Trump is very publicly marketing himself - using his support for veterans to attract votes for his GOP primary bid - using the military as a shield against criticism.
So his history is open for review and discussion.
Don’t drink.
Don’t smoke.
Don’t do drugs.
You?
I plan to make a small donation if information is provided on where to
do it. I will give hoping it gets into the right hands of a group that wants
or needs it.
I’m sure there is a group that would be glad to accept donations.
Donationing (time and money) to our veterans is needed, worthwhile and good.
Doing your homework about charities is important.
Many like to personally help someone/groups locally.
It's they they can't write, they can't debate, and they don't have thoughts. So, they turn to prostitution. A haggardly, dumb and worn brothel, though, is this.
Who, I wonder, pays them to suck?
I read the “scathing SeeBS report”. Initially I thought that possibly SeeBS was doing a hit piece on Trump. The *report* said, more or less, that the *officers* of WWP were receiving excessive salaries with little money actually going to actual Wounded Warriors. I then decided that possibly the WWP is just another scam like the Red Cross or other so-called charitable organizations.
However, IF and only IF the salaries are being paid to *officers* of WWP who are actually Wounded Warriors then that might explain why the salaries are high and I would not begrudge them.
Who knows the truth? Does anyone know the truth?
“Don’t do drugs.”
The word, *drug* or *drugs* has such negative connotations.
I like to say, *illegal recreational pharmaceuticals*! ;-)
Don’t you think that that expression has a certain *ring* to it/sounds better? ;-)
I echo your sentiment
Don’t take any Rx.
You?
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