Posted on 01/31/2016 5:24:05 PM PST by CutePuppy
Donald Trump announced Friday he raised $6 million for veterans at his fundraiser in Iowa the night before.
But this would appear a significant increase from what he's given to the cause before, according to some reports which questioned whether the billionaire businessman has been a consistent donor to vet groups.
Showbiz 411 reports that the Donald J. Trump Foundation gave a total of $2.6 million in charitable donations in the last three years, but only a fraction has gone to veterans groups. In 2012, Trump gave nothing, in 2013 he gave $6,000 and in 2014 he gave $16,000, according to the report.
The Weekly Standard reports that the foundation donated $57,000 to veterans groups between 2009 and 2013, only a small amount of the $5.5 million it gave in total during that period of time.
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"These reports are not accurate. Mr. Trump has made substantial personal contributions to a number of Veterans organizations as well as in-kind donations," Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks** told FoxNews.com Friday.
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The Weekly Standard reports that Trump's foundation, meanwhile, gave at least $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation.
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(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
> “which is built not far from ââ¬â and thus adding value to ââ¬â his properties, generating great PR for himself and getting in-kind NYC contracts with tax breaks and expedited construction permits, again using veterans for his own financial benefit...”
You are FOS. Trump built the Vietnam Veteran’s War Memorial BEFORE he built anything else nearby.
Trump’s love for America’s vet is genuine and comes from his father who was a great supporter of vets.
And he proves it occasionally, whenever he needs to use them to boost his ego and/or financial, political and PR interests... especially when it can be done with OPM (Other People's Money) and billed as 'charity' so he can take the credit and bask in all the glory... (know any other people like that?)
There are a lot of celebrities who help veterans and other charities with donations or fundraisers, without being ostentatious about it or taking credit, and especially not using them to draw attention to themselves instead of relevant debates, by creating a fake feud with a TV network / TV personality during an event he should have been part of... That is the real issue, and anybody who criticizes Trump for using vets this way should not be calleed a "hater" or "denier" or other names. He could show his love for veterans by doing this fundraiser another time, not setting it up as an "alternative" to debates â many would have happily joined him, and it wouldn't be divisive, internecine, underhanded, egotistical, and event would raise a lot more money and Trump would be much better liked and respected. But being who he is, it's really all about him...
You are FOS. Trump built the Vietnam Veteran's War Memorial BEFORE he built anything else nearby.
You are likely thinking linearly... You have missed a lot of things that had happened BEFORE that... Let me refresh the events in sequence:
..... Trump reportedly benefited in the 1970s from the financially strained New York City government's willingness to give tax concessions in exchange for investment. He proposed reconstruction of the Commodore Hotel in 1976, funding the project with tax breaks ..... ..... Later in 1980, a similar situation would take place ..... Trump Organization soared in the economic highs of the '80s with Donald's own real estate deals in residential and hotel properties. He and Ivana ruled Manhattan society, and his status grew on the contacts he made with politicians and other businessmen. ..... ..... The rail yards along the Hudson River Trump acquired in the 1970s became the basis for a multi-billion dollar housing project, comprised of 5,700 units, called Trump Place. Trump Place expands along his entire Upper West Side rail yard property. ..... He made the move from the outer boroughs into Manhattan's real estate market in the mid-'70s, and instantly won a deal from the bankrupt Pennsylvania Railroad Company for rail yard property on Manhattan's West side from West 30th-39th streets, and from West 59th-72nd streets along the Hudson River. ..... < snip >
> “And he proves it occasionally, whenever he needs to use them to boost his ego and/or financial, political and PR interests”
Here’s proof that you are FOS:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/3330070/posts?page=86#79
First, you completely ignored everything I posted (twice, second time with "feeling"). Probably because it doesn't fit your misguided meme of "Donald Trump raised money for some veterans' organizations and causes, and nobody else who is running raised more, therefore we must vote for him." Nobody is contesting that he can write bigger check than most, that was well covered in this and many other threads, in fact, that's what he extensively brags about. "Hi, I am Donald Trump and you are not."
Second, you provided as "proof" (of what, exactly?) your own puff peace post with lots of pictures of NYC Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza with the misleading phrase "Donald Trump built the New York City Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza"...
We already know that it's not true. This is from New York City Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza: The Making of a Memorial"
..... Built in 1985, the City's first bonus plaza was chosen because it provided a unique, spacious and respectful area in the midst of a supportive corporate neighborhood. In 1999, it was apparent that the Plaza was underutilized and in need of serious repairs in order to respectfully honor the men and women who served in Vietnam. ..... In 1982 Donald J. Trump was named as Co-Chairman of the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission, established by Mayor Edward I. Koch. Their mission was to raise the necessary funds in order to build a memorial in honor of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War, and to create a counseling and employment program for veterans. The commission raised in excess of three million dollars. ..... ..... In November of 2001, the Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Plaza completed the renovation phase by raising $7.1 million from both the public and private sectors. In 1982, New York City Mayor Edward Koch established a 100-member commission to create a memorial that would reflect the conflicting emotions of the Vietnam War (as well as a "living memorial" to assist Vietnam veterans in need of jobs). .....
BTW, the Memorial is under renovation again, should be finished in a few months, but again, that is all non sequitur and missing the points. So, I give up trying to explain the obvious...
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his job depends on not understanding it" - Upton Sinclair
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