Comments on: Thanks, Orphans!

Thanks, Orphans!

XQUZYPHYR — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 15:20:37 -0800

Tom DeLay thinks of the children. The GOP House Leader is attempting to create a charity fund for abused and neglected children. Oh, the fund also pays for "late-night convention parties, a luxury suite during President Bush's speech at Madison Square Garden and yacht cruises" during the 2004 GOP convention. Unlike election funds now restricted by Campaign Finance law, donations to DeLay's semi-charity will be tax-exempt, and of course completely unreported to election officials. (NYT Link)

By: Ignatius J. Reilly

Ignatius J. Reilly — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 15:22:55 -0800

Well, if Dean gets to be McGovern, then Bush gets to be Nixon, right?

By: fenriq

fenriq — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 15:26:40 -0800

Stupid subscription required by the Times to view their news. Oh well, I'll base this comment on what you've excerpted. Oh wait, this is what Google News is for. Here's another link to the story. Okay, so Tom DeLay now has a special room waiting for him in hell. What a scumbag to exploit people's emotions so that he can have a juicy luxury suite. Twenty five percent of all money raised will be used for purposes other than helping the children? Nice work.

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 15:44:21 -0800

Twenty five percent of all money raised will be used for purposes other than helping the children? Nice work. It is "nice work." Check out most charities today, 75% return is a really high return, not that I think 75 cents are going to the kids. The real question to be answered, knowing the value of the charitable gift given: What % given actually goes to the children. This is how you judge them. Focus on this, because they will say these %s were operating costs or incentives. Lot of charities the % is below 50%.

By: tingley

tingley — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 15:48:09 -0800

NYT does not require a subscription. The accounts are free and essentially pseudonymous.

By: rushmc

rushmc — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 15:59:06 -0800

It is "nice work." Check out most charities today, 75% return is a really high return I hardly think that overhead costs associated with operating a charity are comparable to "late-night convention parties, a luxury suite during President Bush's speech at Madison Square Garden and yacht cruises."

By: specialk420

specialk420 — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 16:08:05 -0800

"If Tom Delay is acting out of his Born Again Christian convictions in pushing legislation that disadvantages the poor every time he opens his mouth, I'm not saying he's not a Born Again Christian, but as a the Lord's humble fruit inspector, it sure looks suspicious to me." [ previously linked ]

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 16:15:46 -0800

not that I think 75 cents are going to the kids. I hardly think that overhead costs associated with operating a charity are comparable to

By: palancik

palancik — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 18:03:45 -0800

Mr. DeLay's charity, Celebrations for Children Inc., was set up in September and has no track record of work. Mr. DeLay is not a formal official of the charity, but its managers are Mr. DeLay's daughter, Dani DeLay Ferro; Craig Richardson, a longtime adviser; and Rob Jennings, a Republican fund-raiser. Mr. Richardson said the managers would be paid by the new charity. Mr. Richardson said the goal was to give 75 percent of the money it raised to children's charities, including some in the New York area. He said the charity also planned to hold other events at the Super Bowl. . . . Mr. DeLay will never have to account publicly for who contributed, which campaign finance experts say shields those who may be trying to win favor with one of the most powerful lawmakers in Washington. Note: the *goal* is to give 75%. That doesn't mean it won't be 7.5%. And the point of the article (and post) is that this is a "creative" way around campaign finance laws. And DeLay is engaging in this administration's favorite sport of nepotism (vide Michael Powell at FCC, Neil Bush's $1 mil. favor for the Taiwanese president, etc., etc.) in putting his daughter in charge.

By: poopy

poopy — Fri, 14 Nov 2003 18:21:44 -0800

thanks XQUZYPHYR! corrupt ~~conservative~~ politicians. wow.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Sat, 15 Nov 2003 17:01:18 -0800

DeLay strikes again.