Posted on 03/25/2005 5:31:21 AM PST by Liz
Radio's irascible Don Imus went on the warpath yesterday over questions being raised about the charity he runs for sick children at his New Mexico ranch.
Investigators from the NY Attorney General's Office have been reviewing allegations that the cranky talk-show host has been using the 4,000-acre ranch for personal getaways.
Although he took issue with the inquiry, Imus aimed his angriest venom at The Wall Street Journal for a story he described as "a hatchet job" and its author, whom he called "a dishonest punk."
Expenses at the ranch totaled nearly $2.6 million, according to tax papers, but the ranch hosted only about 100 children, the Journal said.
Imus and his family, meanwhile, stay at the ranch for weeks at a time he was broadcasting from there yesterday without reimbursing the charity for the visits.
Imus maintained that he runs the ranch while he is there and saves money by not paying a director. As for using the ranch as a vacation spot, Imus says he has a $24 million waterfront estate in Westport, Conn., that suits his vacation needs just fine.
Imus' charity drew the attention of New York investigators when the organization failed to file its income-tax exemption forms on time........
Sources said such delays, while routine, are often red flags, as was the anonymous letter Spitzer's office received about Imus' ranch visits and the charity's high dollar-to-child ratio.
Dopp said that the review was not an investigation and that Imus and his associates had been cooperative and answered every question. Dopp said there had been no finding of any wrongdoing.
Critics, including rival radio jock Howard Stern, accuse Imus of exploiting his listeners who donate to his ranch, which features sweeping vistas, a rodeo arena and a "Bonanza"- inspired hacienda with crystal chandeliers.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Which perve treats cancer kids better..."twinkles" or "wrinkles"?
Glad you are seeing through this scam. Take a look at Paul Newman's charity takes over 1000 kids a year. And they have horses! They are not forced to pick weeds in the New Mexico summer sun. Oh, and they are allowed to eat MEAT! Not that vegan crap.
Shack Jack or Shock Jock?
A significant reason why the ranch has been able to raise as much money as it has is because of Imus' PR efforts. He's advertising for it, so naturally you're going to hear about it. Nothing wrong with that.
Cheap shots! You got nothin' better?
Nope...sorry; disagree. He could raise the same money by doing things more quietly with his rich friends and corporations. People without their own radio/tv shows can't raise money? I think not.
I know this guy well: everything is about him and his. He's a mean-spirited sumb*tch--tha's why he DOES NOT STOP WITH THIS RANCH 24/7, 365: He's saving himself.
If I'm offending your Libertine-loving, child-labor-law-abusing, Kerry-backing, Dowd-doting, Fonda-friendly, Michael Moore-and-Moveon.Org-spounting, Stern-speaking, left-of-the-radio-dial-dopehead prune-faced buddy ... TOO BAD!
A "charity" not filing it's tax exempt status papers is like a truck driver "forgetting" to renew his license.
C'mon Imus, the charity scam is so easy it's the tool of choice for dimmwitted libs all over the country. It's just a piece of paper for christsake !
I'll add a negative observation. Although it seems poorer kids go too, if you listen to Imus you know this ranch seems to enroll sick children from among the richest and most powerful parents in the USA. Imus plainly uses the ranch, and his contacts with prestige doctors, to cultivate his personal relationship with the rich and powerful.
Typical result of vegie, no meat way of eating. Deteriorating brain capacity, in your face liberalism.
THE BIRTH OF A KENNEDY!
Like I said, got anything better?
Heheh....nice zinger.
If it were a "con game" the IRS would know.
The WSJ has already backed down.
Be nice if he could help 10,000.
But doesn't matter if he's helping 5.
The key word is "helping".
Don't be silly. He's got a loyal audience of some 3.25 million people. People pay lots of money to advertise on his show because their advertising dollars provide them customers and a stream of revenue. The same holds true when he advertises his ranch. It's absolutely insane to think he could reach the same number of people and produce the same results for the same cost, without touching his own audience.
I hope you're right and that Imus is a sincere and honest man.
"Usually, charitable acts are done quietly;"
If that's true, then why do major charitable foundations set up privately, seem to need to include the family name in the foundation? Why does every college campus, every major hospital have a wing named after the charitable donor? Why aren't they insistent on being more "quiet" about it and give it a more generic name?
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