Originally Posted By ecdc <a href="http://www.debbieschlussel.com/6938/sean-hannitys-freedom-concert-scam-only-7-of-charitys-money-went-to-injured-troops-kids-of-fallen-troops-g5s-g6s-for-vannity/" target="_blank">http://www.debbieschlussel.com...vannity/</a> Well color me shocked. Sean Hannity has put on a series of "freedom" concerts the last few years to raise money for injured soldiers and the children of fallen soldiers. Great cause, right? Turns out, Hannity's charity gave less than 4% last year to their cause, and the rest went to expenses like private planes for Hannity and his family. In fact, it looks like the most any child got was $6,000, while tens-of-thousands was spent on the planes.
Originally Posted By ecdc I should point out that the above link is from a conservative blogger who crunched the numbers.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan It'll be interesting to see if this story picks up any traction and forces Hannity to comment.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>It'll be interesting to see if this story picks up any traction and forces Hannity to comment.<< If he does he'll just mumble something about freedom, tyranny, and socialism, and his followers (because that's what these guys' listeners actually are - religious followers) will wipe away a tear in pride.
Originally Posted By snappyfun no one here knows if the numbers are right, but I always thought Hannity was a jerk.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Hannity's picture should be in the dictionary next to "smarmy." But I'm not sure that "no one knows" if the numbers are right. From the article: "Keep in mind that a charity is considered reputable if no more than 25% of its revenue goes to expenses and no less than 75% of it goes to the intended charity recipients. Given that, Freedom Alliance’s balance sheets are embarrassing in their shamelessness. According to its 2006 tax returns, Freedom Alliance reported revenue of $10, 822, 785, but only $397,900–or a beyond-measly 3.68%–of that was given to the children of fallen troops as scholarships or as aid to severely injured soldiers. On the other hand, 62% of the money went to “expenses,” including $979,485 for “consultants” and an “advisor.” Yes, consultant/advisors got more than double what injured troops and the kids of fallen troops got. " (snip) "Freedom Alliance’s 2007 tax returns aren’t much better. Out of $12,459,317 it raised that year, only $895,347–or just 7%–went to seriously wounded troops and scholarships for fallen troops. 53% went to expenses, including $1,464,627 in postage and $1,151,428 in printing. $604,995 went to “professional fees” and “consultants.” Out of millions paid for Freedom Concert tickets and raised in fundraisers by Hannity listeners, only $596,500 went to college scholarships for soldiers who died in battle, and only $299,897 went to horribly injured troops. " Those are very specific numbers, apparently taken from tax returns.
Originally Posted By snappyfun <a href="http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=129553" target="_blank">http://www.wnd.com/index.php?f...d=129553</a> "A extensive report charging money donated to the Freedom Alliance and its scholarship programs by Sean Hannity and as a result of his work has been diverted is being blasted by the organization itself. " "A extensive report charging money donated to the Freedom Alliance and its scholarship programs by Sean Hannity and as a result of his work has been diverted is being blasted by the organization itself. In a headline piece on its website today, the alliance refutes a "blog posting" that makes accusations money intended for student scholarships was spent on other expenses, including the personal expenses for Hannity to travel and participate in fundraisers. "Freedom Alliance has distributed $3.4 million in scholarships and created a Scholarship Trust Fund with the additional money that we have raised for that program. That fund now contains $15 million, over $10 million of which has been raised by Hannity and the concerts," the statement, signed by Alliance President Thomas Kilgannon and Founder Oliver North, said. "Our scholarship program is managed with the understanding that it will be needed for at least the next 20 years as there are children who will ultimately receive a scholarship who are now only a few years old. As indicated on our Federal Form 990, these funds are restricted and used only for future scholarships." Some truth might help.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <"A extensive report charging money donated to the Freedom Alliance and its scholarship programs by Sean Hannity and as a result of his work has been diverted is being blasted by the organization itself. " (snip) Some truth might help.> And you expect the "truth" from the organization itself? LOL! The numbers given by the (note) conservative blogger who exposed this were taken from tax returns. If they are inaccurate, please show how. And in fact, in the comments section, some people note the organization's denials, and she responds: " Of course, they claim otherwise. You expected frauds to fess up? Are you that gullible? Hilarious." (snip) "In it, they list how much they SPENT, but not how much they RAISED, or what percentage of what was raised was actually used to benefit wounded soldiers and their families." (snip) "P: In fact, the Freedom Alliance “response” doesn’t answer any of the questions I raised and goes on to lie more. They don’t address why they gave a triple amputee only $200—and in fact there are many of these examples provided in their tax return addendum, but I only cited a few for brevity’s sake. They also lie and claim that they gave a lot more money to charity b/c they categorize it as “program expenses.” But I’m sorry—calling $3 million in consulting fees, printing, and postage “program expenses” doesn’t change the fact that it still went to their cronies, not to a fund and not the soldiers who only got on average less than $900 apiece. It also doesn’t change the fact that out of the money spent (I didn’t use the money they claim they raised for their scholarship fund) the vast majority goes to those kinds of expenses. Also, the “scholarship fund” is really a war chest for something else. We’ve been at war since 2001, when we went into Afghanistan, and we’re winding down in Iraq. Unless the kids were born in 2001 or thereafter, many of these kids are in college now and Freedom Alliance is giving them a pittance toward their college tuition, while they continue to build this massive warchest. With a giant multi-million dollar fund, why aren’t they giving the kids a free, complete ride to college? And how many kids of deceased troops will there be in the future? Enough to exhaust a multi-million dollar fund? Doubtful." Some truth might indeed help.
Originally Posted By snappyfun >>Freedom Alliance is giving them a pittance toward their college tuition<< How much are you giving them?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Oh, but don't think we missed the non-sequitur and attempt to change the subject.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 So now you're clairvoyant? LOL. A 12-year old clairvoyant fringer. Lovely.
Originally Posted By snappyfun >>So now you're clairvoyant? LOL. A 12-year old clairvoyant fringer. Lovely.<< You been drinking?
Originally Posted By snappyfun >>Look up "clairvoyant" if you need to.<< No need, just some people are so transparent.
Originally Posted By Mr X The wingnuts over on the hate site FreeRepublic.com are having a collective anneurism. However, for the most part they are disheartened with and roundly condemning Hannity for this most loathesome scam. Free Republic folks. Keep that in mind, that THOSE people are seemingly more reasonable, when you decide whether or not to continue feeding the resident troll.
