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.
Good point.
The man has ALREADY helped at least 10 families. He has nothing to prove to you. Now you can go out and help 10 families if you like but give this man his due for what he has done so far. Sheesh.
Always a caveat on things.
They’re being called political snotty ingrates by half of those commenting.
If so then kudos to Trump for acceding to the organization’s wishes.
Your welcome! BTW, while I am a Baby Boomer, I was not on Boomer submarines. Actually, our op tempo was the same as a Boomer, but we did it with only one crew. Over 2 1/2 hears we averaged 4.5 knots, including all in port time. We called ourselves the “Black and Blue” crew.
Maybe someone should tell Trump he's going to destroy the groups he's trying to help by running it through his campaign.....so we can see if he cares.
Yeah, I see.
I think some of the best-run charities are small, local organization with little overhead. From what I can glean (and I could well be wrong), this particular charity is small, local and well-run. Maybe it is exactly the correct size now. $1000 here and $5000 there would be nice, but a sudden infusion of $100,000 isn’t always a good thing, depending on the context. But if Trump thinks this particular organization can use a boost, he can meet with the directors and make a quiet donation to help them out. No need to make it an event.
Very well said. I attend the Trans Siberian Orchestra Christmas show most every year. They have a local organization there at every show and give one dollar of ticket sells to this organization. I have never stopped to question if it was a scheme to pack their show or get Brownie Points for how generous they are. They are helping others.
Some Trump supporters (not all, just some) are deranged.
I am sure there are other vet organizations that would welcome the contributions. This group is more interested in pushing a political agenda than in helping vets.
Trump is a candidate not president IE Commander In Chef
Bill Kristol and company would mow down Trump AND Cruz with a bush hog if he could get away with it.
I thought he was going to cry on ABC when Rubio went down in flames during he debate. It was awesome.
Why read deeper and get the facts... ?
A partially informed screed is much appropriate for an internet forum
/s
Well, the ones saying bad things about this Vet's organization are deranged, IMHO
I'm willing to believe that Trump may not have considered that handing out checks to the Veterans at his Londonderry rally could endanger the people he is trying to help. I was NOT being facetious in saying someone needs to tell Trump.
Good idea. Obviously that guy’s main goal is not to help vets.
CW let her anti-Trump mania get ahead of the actual story. You can’t tell a story from the headline! ;-) Liberty House will get the money. Trump will have a campaign event. This is The Art of the Deal.
- - - - - - -
Trump supporter and New Hampshire State Rep. Al Baldasaro called Howard, telling him the mogul would present the check to Baldasaro, himself a vet. The state representative would then deliver the check to Liberty House after the primary in a more subdued way.
“Liberty House was told by an attorney they could lose their nonprofit status it they are on the stage with Trump... I disagree but respect Keith’s wishes. The check will be presented to me on Monday at the event and I will set up a time to come to Liberty House or do it at the Hall of Flags on behalf of the Trump Foundation,” Baldasaro told The Daily Beast.
“Liberty House got the mountain to move to us, instead of us going to the mountain of cash,” Howard told The Daily Beast. “I can take pride that we maintained our position. I am glad that the Trump campaign has found a way to follow through on what it promised to do.”
Good point.
I can believe that, too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.