March 23, 2006
5:20 PM   Subscribe

Keeping it all in the family: "Barbara Bush donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund with specific instructions that the money be spent with an educational software company owned by her son Neil." Meanwhile, Bush's uncle earned $2.7 million in war profits.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy (16 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: posted earlier today



 
Isn't this a dup? http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/50309
posted by inigo2 at 5:21 PM on March 23, 2006


Yes, the first link there is the same as this first one.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:25 PM on March 23, 2006


Ooo you are right. Guess scanning the page and checking the URL didn't work. Well it took 3 years but I finally double posted!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:28 PM on March 23, 2006


Bartender, can I have a nother?
posted by filchyboy at 5:37 PM on March 23, 2006


I've been duped!
posted by hwestiii at 5:43 PM on March 23, 2006


The first link is much ado about nothing, anyway. It's her money to donate and earmark as she wishes -- just like everyone else. I see no scandal here. I'm all for criticizing Bush, but this is trivial.

But the $2.7 million in war profits is another matter entirely....
posted by bim at 5:46 PM on March 23, 2006


It's her money to donate and earmark as she wishes -- just like everyone else.

I'm sure there must be some tax implications to giving the money to her son in this particular way...
posted by advil at 5:49 PM on March 23, 2006


damn you bush family again!

last comment.
posted by shmegegge at 5:49 PM on March 23, 2006


I'm sure there must be some tax implications to giving the money to her son in this particular way...
posted by advil at 8:49 PM EST on March 23

Exactly. She will get a tax write-off. She will also get publicity for having donated to "victims of Katrina." Meanwhile Neil gets his product line in more schools.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:55 PM on March 23, 2006


I am donating $500 to Katrina victims with the stipulation that it be spent on buying me hookers and blow.
posted by Ryvar at 6:13 PM on March 23, 2006


The first link is much ado about nothing, anyway. It's her money to donate and earmark as she wishes -- just like everyone else. I see no scandal here. I'm all for criticizing Bush, but this is trivial.

Bullshit. She's laundering the family money through the Katrina charity.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 6:15 PM on March 23, 2006


Let's just hope the amount was more than 10k!!!!
posted by filchyboy at 6:18 PM on March 23, 2006


bim wrote "The first link is much ado about nothing, anyway. It's her money to donate and earmark as she wishes -- just like everyone else."

Also keep in mind that the corporation itself is a bit shady and not simply a company owned by a family member...
posted by VulcanMike at 6:29 PM on March 23, 2006


Bullshit. She's laundering the family money through the Katrina charity.

Well, monju is a lawyer, so he must be right. But if it were really illegal, why would she do it in such an obvious way?
posted by delmoi at 6:30 PM on March 23, 2006


Worked out rather well for the, uh , over-privileged. Sort of scary really, it’s all so Bush. Neil is taken back to mama’s teat. Uncle Bill picks up chump change.
posted by BillyElmore at 6:32 PM on March 23, 2006


You're right about the tax implications, advil. That did occur to me. I just doubt that her motives were THAT mercenary. But let's take a look. Maybe I'm wrong.

1)BB get's a tax writeoff whether the money was earmarked or not. So the effect on BB seems pretty neutral there. And I really don't think that BB needs or cares about publicity at this point in her life. Get a grip, gravyman. :)

2)If she gave her son an outright gift of money, it appears that anything over $11,000 ($11,000 being "peanuts" to the Bushes) would be subect to the gift tax anyway. So there wouldn't skate on the taxes there.

3)And if the school district buys Neil's software -- using their own money or BB's money -- it's still income for Neil's company and subject to the usual taxes.

...So, hey, maybe there is a tax benefit to the Bushes. I just don't think it's that big and as big a deal as folks would make it out to be. And things WERE pretty f'd after Katrina so if it helps the kids in overloaded classes, that's fine with me. Give it a shot.

As I said, I'm all for Bush Bashing. Sign me up. This country's going to hell in a handbasket. But let's pick and choose our battles. We look silly if we bitch at every minor thing...it's the the boy who cried wolf once too often. There may be some smoke here, but nope, there's no fire as far as this donation goes.
posted by bim at 6:32 PM on March 23, 2006


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