Posted on 02/08/2016 8:43:52 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
The Daily Beast is reporting that a small New Hampshire-based veterans charity has turned down a six figure check from Donald Trump. Liberty House turned Trump's money away because they objected to it being given to them in a public setting: a campaign rally for Trump.
The Beast's Tim Mak has more:
On Friday, Liberty House executive director Keith Howard received a call from a Trump campaign staffer, who conveyed that Trump would like to publicly present them with a six-figure check at a Londonderry rally on Monday, right before the Granite State primary.
It's an enormous amount of money for a small charity. But Howard said he wouldn't do it - risking the entire, substantial donation on a point of principle.
Howard, a 57-year-old Army vet, objected to the use of veterans for political purposes. He doesn't believe that his charity - which clothes the homeless, feeds the needy, and provides housing to 10 formerly homeless vets - should be presented with money by a political candidate at a political rally.
"This is not directed at the Trump campaign," Howard said. "This is about any campaign."
Plus, Howard believed appearing at a political rally could jeopardize his group's nonprofit status - something a call to an expert in the state attorney general's office confirmed. And he found it strange that the call was coming from a Trump campaign staffer, rather than someone related to the foundation that raised money for veterans.
The money generated from Trump's Iowa rally, as the Federalist reported, went to Trump's personal foundation first instead of going directly to the charities themselves. The rally was set up by Trump as an alternative to the Iowa Fox News debate he skipped out on.
Read the whole story at the Daily Beast.
That is good to hear.
You don't know any such thing. The man has already helped at least 10 families. He deserves credit, not opprobrium.
YES! With Donald Trump things usually work out for the benefit of all. Unless you are mean to him. In that case watch out! ;-)
Is Trump violating campaign finance laws here if he is using the gift of the money as a public part of his campaign. Those funds were raised outside of the normal campaign finance laws. So, if they are now distributed as part of a campaign rally does that have legal implications.
The guy is a bit of a nut case.
After months of preparation, Keith Howard’s life in a tiny home has begun.
Once a homeless Army veteran, Howard will spend the next nine months living inside a 160-square-foot cargo trailer nestled in peaceful woods off Harriman Hill Road in Raymond.
It doesn’t have all the comforts of home, but it has all he needs to survive.
The tiny home is part of an experiment Howard created through his work as executive director of Liberty House, a transitional house for homeless veterans in Manchester.
- See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150629/NEWS18/150629074#sthash.IPOwmZM5.dpuf
you ask: “How do the vets feel about that?”
The Vets across the country were upset from the beginning that the huckster would use them for his own political gain - told him ‘no thanks’
Our VETS have honor - and ANYONE who can’t see that Trump was/is using the Vets for his own purposes is BLIND?
‘Hope this doesn’t include you.
(signed - a gramma surrounded by VETS)
Black and Blue Baby Boomer Club.
All submareeners are/were a special breed of sailor.
Way to go ************. You intended to harm Donald. But what you ended up doing was take down what could be an Honorable Charity. Real nice.
Nice post turning the facts on their head.
“Keith Howard has already helped 10 families. He doesn’t have to prove $hit to you (to use your word).”
Larry, are you sure this is the right place for you? If Howard is really intent upon helping vets, and somehow he felt that the “public acceptance” of Trump’s donation would compromise his tax exempt status, he’d have quietly had a conversation with the Trump campaign. Instead, he chose to blow his horn publically about it, so I’m betting this IS about politics and NOT about helping vets!
So my comment stands! But you’re right he doesn’t have to “prove” anything to me, but he should be proving it to the vets.
The Canadian attempted usurper of the Constitution is going nowhere. Nobody likes him. Nobody trusts him because he is sneaky and slimy. He dangled $1-million dollar contribution in front of the Vets and never intended to give it. The money is still in his campaigns pocket. How disgusting. What a poser.
America can be proud again with President Trump. He follows through for the Vets. Unlike poser Cruz.
He already did “prove” it by helping ten veterans (at least).
But it sounds like things have worked out. If you still believe that the man is deficient, take it up with Trump, because it appears they have made up. But maybe you’re smarter than Trump.
And if JimRob wants me gone, fine, but my tenure here, such as it is, isn’t subject to review by you.
That mind set is 'disgusting.'
Our Vets have honor - which includes not being used for some cheap political gain. VETS can't be bought.
How anyone can condone A politician using our VETS for pumping up his campaign is either braindead and/or "disgusting."
The funny thing is that my wife and I have spent a lot of our time helping raise money for veteran’s groups mostly for the USO. A lot of the little groups are fly by night operations who benefit their founders more than the supposed recipients. I am about 99% sure this guy didn’t want the scrutiny that Trump’s money would have brought along with it. It might have meant the end of his little cash cow.
It wasn't offered that way - Trump wants it for a campaign ad just before the vote.
It's not even HIS money - it was donated by others - he shouldn't even have any control over it.
Granted! But, even politicians who are not the Commander in Chief unashamedly use the military to further their agendas. Patty Murray is constantly pandering to the military, and prior servicemen utilizing tax payer money.
Trump put in a million of his own money in the fund raiser.
Okay, you do have a point there, IF he did go out and issue a public press release or some such. The story doesn't make that clear. But this is the sort of thing that could be quietly worked out when such things arise.
correct.. this small charity (nobody had ever heard about before) just missed it’s golden opportunity (that Trump gave it) to get all the free advertising of it’s existence and mission out to the masses it will ever have..
too bad for them and move on
Really? Do you have any idea how many dozens of times I’ve heard about Cruz’s wife working for Goldman Sachs? I’m sure you’ve never “regurgitated” anything about Cruz, now have you?
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