Joe Conanson at Salon reintroduces an old favorite from the Republican scum stables in a shiny new scandal:
A potentially damaging scandal erupted today that implicates Fox News Channel personalities Sean Hannity and Oliver North in the worst kind of charitable fraud. According to complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS, the two right-wing icons have exploited American veterans for personal and partisan gain. The actions filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington accuse Hannity and North of misusing millions of dollars collected by the Freedom Alliance, a charity they promote and control.
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Similar accusations were aired recently by right-wing blogger Debbie Schlussel, who complained that the “Freedom Concerts” sponsored by the Freedom Alliance and headlined by Hannity were not donating all proceeds — estimated at more than $10 million — to scholarships for the children of wounded and killed service members, as advertised. But now CREW, which had been investigating the same allegations independently before Schlussel posted her warning, has completed its own probe and filed legal actions before the two federal agencies.
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The CREW complaint to the FTC charges that “Hannity and Freedom Concerts have engaged in illegal and deceptive marketing practices by suggesting that all money generated by ticket sales for the Freedom Concerts he sponsors each summer goes to scholarships for children of killed and wounded service members.”…
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Not surprisingly, Hannity and North and their allies have sought to refute the charges first lodged by Schlussel. But one of the researchers who worked on this matter says there is much more that will be revealed in the coming days.
Because DFHs are not serious thinkers, the very first comment on Salon’s site starts:
Oliver North diverts money that was given in good faith and uses it for nefarious purposes?
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I just didn’t see him as the type.
stuckinred
9th ID, Old Reliables
Mal Carne
No! I’m shocked! Shocked, I tell you!
Ivan Ivanovich Renko
reads to me as high-grade snark.
EDIT: ermmm… Duh. Excuse the call.
mr. whipple
Seems like a lot of this is going around.
JGabriel
And Ricky Martin is GAY!
The whole world is falling apart before my eyes.
.
WereBear
Is it possible that two right wing media darlings are using orphaned children to line their own pockets?
Urza
OT: The ad at the top, which I know isn’t supported by the site, is telling me that there are no second chances in a gunfight so I should learn how to shoot.
Question for anyone who feels like it, exactly how many gunfights are there in this country on any given day? Now subtract out everything gang related.
I’m pretty sure after that its a number averaging less than 1 per day nationwide. Mind you I assume by gunfights they mean 2 or more people using guns to, you know, fight, not 1 person with a gun shooting someone without one. I might even guess at less than 1 per month nationwide without gang violence involved.
Mnemosyne
@Ivan Ivanovich Renko:
Oh, it’s absolutely snark. I think DougJ’s point is that someone who actually remembers Iran/Contra and North’s actions is clearly a DFH who is not a serious thinker.
Mike Kay
I miss Fawn Hall and her heroin habit. God those were the days, when Sally Quinn’s parties mattered.
Now they’ve been reduced to fake-lesbian dominatrix in LaLa land.
kid bitzer
“given in good faith” by the mullahs in exchange for arms shipments, right.
though why reagan’s traitorous dealings with iran were any less nefarious than his unconstitutional dealings in support of the terrorists in nicaragua is unclear to me.
somewhere out there in a more just replay of america, olly north is rotting in a brig or a federal pen, having been convicted of treason, corruption, money-laundering, and perjury.
MattF
@Mike Kay
Is there a difference that makes a difference?
stuckinred
@Urza: You would not only have to learn to shoot, you also would want to get a gat.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
I truly believe that these fools, along with their tea party brethren and various and assorted wingnuts have convinced themselves generally, that they are beyond scrutiny for being above it all in some kind of Patriot nirvana that looks down from some lofty ideological perch not far from where god rules the heavens.
They are separating themselves from from the treasonous rabble in their small minds, and normal processes of what’s right and wrong is daily being more blurred in a nationalistic fever. And anyone, even the law, that questions them has been corrupted by the litard menace that is now persecuting the believers at whim and will, all the while selling the country’s soul to the devil himself.
I mean, how can anyone as high profile be so stupid as to pull off a scam like this, that was advertised by Hannity himself claiming 100 percent of proceeds from these endeavors would go to dead soldiers kids. That is entering the houses of the holy, not only for wingnuts, but most Americans as well. And you better be 100 percent on the level with all claims of doing good with every cent you raise.
And bullshitting the public on this topic, is like sticking your dick in a woodchipper while whistling The Star Spangled Banner.
Comrade PhysioProf
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHH!!!!!!!!! When I was an undergraduate working in the lab, we listened to the fucking hearings on the radio all day long.
Leelee for Obama
That comment was so delicious, I will forgo dessert this evening.
It will be interesting to watch what arrives in the hopper tomorrow about this particularly nasty bit of business. These two are scummers and scammers and we all know that, but stealing from military orphans while you pat yourselves on the back for your patriotism and call the opposition traitors is really beyond whatever pale was left.
Sometimes I think I’ve lived too long in the political world. I wish I was Amish.
Cacti
Oliver North connected to unethical and possibly illegal activity?
Well knock me over with a feather.
Some Guy
I have a spoon and wait for my extra-large dish of schadenfreude — num-num, num-num.
Leelee for Obama
Now THAT is an image. Which magazine do you guys think would run with that on the cover?
maye
Fawn Hall! Where is she today? Well, I hope.
Cat Lady
G. Gordon Liddy’s gotta be mixed up in this somehow. Also, too.
Linkmeister
I think Major General Secord at least had the good sense to fade into the woodwork after that criminal endeavor; not so Ollie.
Oh dear. Fawn Hall went to the same middle school I did, and attended my high school’s arch rival. I never knew that.
Brian J
Does it reflect poorly on my soul if I hope Hannity’s punished so severely for this that he’s taken off the air (maybe because he goes to prison) or, barring that, becomes such damaged goods that nobody but the lowest of the low will go on his show? (Not that he’s attracting high quality guest to begin with, but still…) I can’t say I hate him, even as I disagree with most if not all of what he says, but I despise his type: the belligerently ignorant and unbelievably whiny. I can see liking someone who I disagree with on almost everything, but from what I remember of him (I don’t watch much cable news at all, much less that steaming pile of shit he calls a show), he seems like an incredible douche.
Cacti
@Cat Lady:
Nah.
Liddy’s specialty is B&E.
Ollie’s the go-to guy for misappropriation of funds.
Some Guy
@Brian J:
MNPundit
That is some grade-A snark right there.
patrick II
You can watch chuck if you want. I am watching dancing with the stars to see what Edyta wears tonight.
El Cid
This is probably all just some delayed whining by Eugene Hasenfus.
Mnemosyne
@Mnemosyne:
D’oh! It’s Anne Laurie’s post, not DougJ’s. That’s what I get for peeking at the internet while I’m at work.
kommrade reproductive vigor
@Brian J: No, it just shows you’re an incurable optimist.
If you listen you’ll hear the rumble of wagons circling to protect insHannity from the latest Soros-lead smear campaign designed to destroy a ReaLAMErican. (Or whatever the fuck the idjits will say).
JGabriel
@Leelee for Obama:
The Regent University Course Catalog.
.
Leelee for Obama
@JGabriel: Priceless!
Brian J
@kommrade reproductive vigor:
Well, let me be clear. I don’t expect anything to come of it, because…shut up, that’s why, to paraphrase the inevitable Republican defense of Hannity.
But a guy can dream, can’t he?
lamh31
I can’t stand KKKlanity. I hope he gets the whole kit and kaboodle thrown at him. Karma’s a bitch!
On a lighter note, this is pretty funny, but sad that it’s seems to actually work:
Some Advice For Closeted Gay Pols
h/t Sully
Mike G
Time for yet another round of IIADDI – Imagine If A Democrat Did It. But stealing money from military orphans is now patriotic when Fox tools do it.
Chad N Freude
Are we talking about this Oliver North?
(Those of you who don’t remember or are too young to remember l’affaire Ollie should read at least the first two paragraphs of the link.)
sukabi
@General Egali Tarian Stuck:
can we get this put on the list of acceptable punishments for wall streeters, bankers, war profiteers and pundits caught defrauding the public in the name of patriotism?
sukabi
@Chad N Freude: so if I ever get convicted of major felonies I should just deny they were wrong and the judge will let me off with a slap on the wrist, because prison would make me more convinced of my righteousness??? Somehow, I don’t think any of us would be afforded that same courtesy… I’m thinkin’ it’s more likely the judge was in the tank.
Chad N Freude
@sukabi: I don’t know what motivated the judge. The point is that Oliver North was (among other things) a corrupt acceptor of “gifts” in 1989, and now, 21 years later . . .
El Cid
Oh, great. Nancy Pfotenhauer, national spokesperson of the winning McCain Presidential campaign, is on Larry King proclaiming how HCR and Democratic arrogance is leading to Republitard victory.
Thankfully Stephanie Miller is simply mocking the Palinistas and other TeaTard nuts.
[Pfukdnhowser is also predicting a likely 1 term Obama Preznitzy because the Town Halls proved that AMERICA WERE NOT SUPPORTING PELOSI’S HELF KUR.]
Julia Grey
This is probably all just some delayed whining by Eugene Hasenfus.
Wow, is THAT a blast from the past.
And now I’m curious. We need an episode of “Where Are They Now?”
El Cid
@Julia Grey:
Most of them recently staffed the Bush Jr. regime. Elliot Abrams, anyone?
Peter J
This attack on Sean Hannity and Oliver North is just a way for Obama’s goons to slander the troops.
geg6
Let’s see how Ollie gets off this time. Hmmmm…methinks his previous defense will not fly. Ripping off the children of dead and injured soldiers? He has no way of splainin’ that away as easily as Iran Contra. And his co-conspirator the Manatee is gonna have to fall back on the old St. Ronnie Altzheimers excuse. Sad,but waddaya gonna do?
Bob K
Glass Houses – let’s be honest. If you’re playing in Rupert Murdoch’s sandbox you have to share Faux Family Values and be able to stomach the smell of brimstone all day long.
Alien-Radio
@Cat Lady:
Is that a reference to Liberality for all?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberality_For_All
If so lots of points for obscurity.
Jager
General;
Don’t believe they make wood chippers small enough, may I suggest a commercial meat slicer? Set on thin slice.
Mike in NC
Any time one of these cockroaches establishes an organization with “Freedom” or “Liberty” in the name, you can bet the proceeds are being channeled straight into their bank account.
asiangrrlMN
Wait, this is news, how? Good lord am I jaded. Now, not even two wetsuits and a dildo raises an eyebrow from me.
Davis X. Machina
They will have their defenders, and principled defenders at that — though the principle may be hard for us to swallow.
When money is your religion, grifters become your high priesthood, working a con is tantamount to missionary work, and a fraud prosecution is a form of martyrdom for the faith.
DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)
Quit picking on Wingnut Welfare! Sean and Oliver said that all of the money is going to support veterans and they are telling the truth! Since Sean and Oliver support veterans on their respective Faux appearances then 100% of the money is going to ‘support veterans’! I am sure that their ‘core’ constituency will soon be making excuses for them while Sean and Oliver will question the patriotism (and support of veterans!) of those who are criticizing them.
It’s a self perpetuating circle jerk. Speaking of self perpetuating circle jerks…
I saw a !Hamsher! diary at the GoS and I just had to wade into the comments because whenever there is a pileup in progress I love to stroll in and be a rubbernecker. Seems that Jane’s two PACs spend almost 100% of the money they raise in donations on…
Jane’s web sites and Jane. Of course Glenzilla gets a cut for ‘consulting services’ too. Seems that there is no accounting for the paid services of nyceve or slinkerwink even though they stated that they were paid for their advocacy. Odd that eh? A fool and their money are soon parted and this shows that there are a lot of fools out there.
1: Gin up outrage.
2: Raise money on said outrage.
3: Profit!
I gotta give Jane credit for figuring out steps one and two so that step 3 pays off.
Mike Kay
@DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal): I didn’t read through the diary, only because it’s hard to wade through 1400 screaming car wrecks
comments.But in a different diary, someone said one of her ex employees posted comments saying she’s a insufferable drama queen. Did you come across the specific comment?
DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)
@Mike Kay:
Not yet (if indeed it is there) but I am still circling the wreckage (so to say) and if I locate something like that you can be sure that I will mention it.
I’m bored today… :)
kommrade reproductive vigor
@asiangrrlMN: How about two wet suits a dildo and a rusty pitchfork?
demimondian
@Chad N Freude: North was acquitted on appeal because he was offered immunity by the Congress, and that rendered the evidence against him essentially useless. He was indeed convicted by the jury during trial.
Mike Kay
@DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal):
I love this part of the diary:
She sounds just like Nixon. I guess she’s gonna hire some “plumbers” to plug the leaks.
Looking at the top of the comments, I can’t believe that hippie meteor blades actually approved the comment that said, she didn’t do anything work with the pacs, when it’s a clear Grifter operation. what a fucking phoney, that meteor blades.
mai naem
It’s all that ScaryBlackMuslimKenyanUsurper’s fault. Also, Rahm Emanuel has his fingers in this. Also too, this is veddy veddy good news for John McCain.
DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)
@Mike Kay:
I am reading just about every single comment (I told ya I’m bored, right?) and I’m not missing much of anything. I too thought the questions from Jane about who rcade had talked to and what was said to be very interesting in a ‘waiting for the other shoe to drop’ sense.
MB was one of the many reasons I dove out of that place back in 2005 though I do think he is a good fit for the way that place is run. ;)
daryljfontaine
@Alien-Radio: LOL at this from the discussion page there:
D
Nellcote
@El Cid:
Another war criminal. It’s a sin that he still walks free. I really, really, really hate that guy.
Mike Kay
@DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal): what did he do to drive you out?
DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)
@Mike Kay:
My problem with MB was the way they dealt with the problem of people hide rating something they disagreed with. If they were someone MB agreed with it was less likely they would be called on it and vice-versa. To be honest about it MB wasn’t the only culprit there. I like MB’s advocacy and spirit but the ‘community’ actions left quite a bit to be desired IMO. Between the ratings abuse, the stupid idea of even rating comments in the first place (wtf is with that anyway, do you need the approval/disapproval of anyone in the community to ‘matter’ in the discussion?), and comments disappearing I just got sick and tired of participating in the mosh pit of stupid.
When I gbcw’d (my first and last…lol) I had more than a few people there pissed because they felt that I walked out on them (they supported me) but I just couldn’t see wasting my time there if whole portions of the conversation were going to be missing because of some bullshit or other. When I left I didn’t hang around to respond as my habit in life when I leave something is that I leave it for good (in this case, participating there). I ‘scrambled’ my password and walked away and though I could email them to recover it I have never felt the inclination to.
It’s a good place to find stuff but I wouldn’t want to post there anymore. I got sick and tired of lots of crap there like being told that since I am in the middle of the road on most issues then to expect the far left to run right over me in their pursuit of progress. Nice way to engage in conversation…lol! Believe it or not I was actually insulted for having the audacity to change residences (really) and a bunch of other really stupid shit.
I prefer the abuse here, it’s much friendlier. :)
Mike Kay
@DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal):
Think about it, if we found out some wingnut blogger (whom ever) had raised several hundred thousands dollars from their readers with the express purpose of electing candidates in tune with their values, and then we found out not a dime was spent on a single candidate, with all the cash going to the underlying wingnut blogger and the bloggers’ friends, everyone in the Progressive blogosphere would be calling out the Grifters and the scam. But because it’s cutie-pie Hanoi Jane, the Bloggorati give her a pass, even though she’s bilking our side.
Wile E. Quixote
I love that Debbie Schussel is going after them. And in her latest blog post she also goes after Erick Erickson for posting a response to Schussel’s accusations and accuses him of being an anti-semite. Go Debbie Go!
Wile E. Quixote
@Alien-Radio:
Dude, have you ever checked that POS out? It is the gayest comic book ever written? Seriously, if Dr. Frederic Wertham were alive today and embarking on his anti-comics jihad he’d hold up an issue of Liberality for All as being evidence that comic book heroes were living and promoting a homosexual lifestyle.
Wile E. Quixote
@Mike Kay:
What! What! What! First I find out that Ricky Martin is gay. Then I find out that Ollie North is engaged in shady, underhanded and unethical dealings. Then someone says that Jane Hamsher is an insufferable drama queen. When will the madness end?
Mark S.
@Wile E. Quixote:
The crazy just keeps coming: we also learned that militias want to overthrow the government, the Roman Catholic Church thinks it’s the victim in the sex abuse scandal, and young Republicans like lesbian bondage sex.
DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)
@Mike Kay:
I think we’re at the point that you can say something and no matter how wrong or insane it is there are people who are ready to rally to your ’cause’, left or right there are dipshits who will believe anything.
@Wile E. Quixote:
She is picking on Erickkk? Good for her. I was glad to hear that she was going after Hannity and North on their scam and now that CREW has filed a lawsuit I am sure that Hannity will be in full attack & CYA mode.
The right needs to clean up the right and it’s about time someone does something.
catclub
Well, at least Hannity and North weren’t trying to register poor folks to vote. Now there’s a crime worth pursuing.
Geeno
Well after Ghorbanifar reared his evil head a few years back, I suppose it was only a matter of time.
It’s been like old home week for the Iran-Contra alumni lately hasn’t it?
Alien-Radio
@Wile E. Quixote:
I went hunting for that other icon of Bush Era conservative comics, the solicited and never published American power.
http://www.comicsbulletin.com/busted/images/060502/americanpower.jpg
On the way I stopped by the Dixonverse message boards. I used to be a regular more than a decade ago but the wingnuttyness of the place drove me away. I wanted to see whether it was rationally realigning or not post Obama. It wasn’t lots of fact free talkingpoints in evidence. Any comics fans fancy doing an Arkon DougJ on the place?