FEMA is recommending people donate to Pat Robertson's charity

[Modem Butterfly]

Pat Robertson's charity, Operation Blessing, is on the FEMA recommended charity list.

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473

http://www.patrobertson.com/humanitarian/

M. G. "Pat" Robertson has achieved national and international recognition as a philanthropist and humanitarian. Much of his public humanitarian works have been carried out through Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation, which he founded in 1978. Operation Blessing International is a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid in the form of food, clothing, medicine, and financial assistance to help disadvantaged people and disaster victims throughout the world.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Well, there's already a Federal Office of Faith-Based Initiatives.

Any pretense of a separation of church and state is long gone.

[phantom power]

2. I'm sure that sort of thing is official policy,

under Bush's "faith-based" initiatives.

[mshasta]

3. oh please give me a freaking break!!!

:grr:

[rodeodance]

4. oh my GAWD!!

[durablend]

5. Why does FEMA HATE Chevez?

[Squatch]

6. At this time, who cares?

The SE needs all the help it can get.

[davidinalameda]

9. I want to make sure my dollars go to help the people

not line his pockets

[evlbstrd]

12. Red Cross!

[etherealtruth]

55. Yep, red Cross YES

Pat Robertson NEVER!

[Desertrose]

18. exactly!! Money to where it will be used & where its NEEDED! eom

[Squatch]

22. I see no evidence of that, but you are free to examine their

records. They are a 501(c) org and have to make their financial records public. Here's a link to their annual report: Link

[Booster]

30. Or help him invest in more diamond mines. Fuck Robertson.

[Modem Butterfly]

19. I would agree with you if it were any other Bible-banger

But not this one. I don't think the federal government should support or condone anyone who advocates the assasination of foreign leaders in any way, shape, or form.

[Squatch]

24. Pat Robertson is an ass, to be sure...but

the people working for Operation Blessing do not reflect that. I have a few friends who are invloved with this venture and who are enrolled in Regent Law...they are just as fed up with Pat as we are.

[Modem Butterfly]

27. It's Pat Robertson's organization

He founded it, he claims it, he calls the shots. Given Pat Robertson's ham-fisted attempts at causing a war, I think the feds should have taken him off the FEMA list.

[Squatch]

29. You know what...fuck it...

put your money where you want, but don't smear the good work that the people of Operation Blessing have done and continue to do.

[Modem Butterfly]

32. I'm sure they have done good work

Unfortunately, their founder and frontman just advocated assasinating the elected head of a sovereign nation. I don't think the federal government should be supporting that in any way, shape, or form.

No one is telling The 700 Club, or Pat Robertson, or Operation Rescue, that they can't solicit funds and help out any way they are needed in the gulf. But the federal government should steer well clear of anyone who advocates assasination as a tool of diplomacy.

[Squatch]

34. Correction: "Operation Blessing"...and they *have* done good work

FY 2004 $190Million in aid to 8.4 million people.

Operation Blessing did not advocate assasination, Pat Robertson, the individual, did.

[Modem Butterfly]

38. Pat Robertson, founder and spokesman of Operation Blessing

You know, this guy:

http://www.skeptictank.org/robem2.htm

[Squatch]

40. Operation Blessing, an org that has directly given $943Million in aid

but, you take the words of one individual as basis to smear this organization. Gotcha.

[Modem Butterfly]

41. That "one individual" is their founder, their leader and their spokesman

Yeah, I think I'll take his word for it.

[Squatch]

42. And, since they were founded, they've given $943Million in Aid

but, that doesn't mean shit, does it?

[Modem Butterfly]

43. In this case, no

The federal government should not be supporting people who advocate the assasination of foreign leaders. Period.

[Squatch]

46. You're right. Tell you what...give me the name and address of

your own, personal international relief organization that you founded and I'll stroke you a $1000 check right now.

[Modem Butterfly]

48. Do I have to advocate the assasination of a foreign leader on TV first?

:evilgrin:

[Squatch]

50. No, because that single act alone undoes $943Million in aid

[Modem Butterfly]

51. Of course it doesn't

But it also shouldn't undo what little diplomatic clout we have left in the world, either.

[Squatch]

52. So, your problem isn't with Operation Blessing...it's with Pat

Robertson, right?

If so, then what was the purpose of your OP if not to smear the good work of a lot of people?

[Modem Butterfly]

58. My problem is with our government endorsing...

...the advocation of assasination as a diplomatic policy.

It's the same thing I've been saying all along: Let Operation Blessing and the 700 Club and Pat Robertson solicit and collect funds any way they can that's legal. But the government should not be endorsing anyone who advocates the assasination of foreign leaders as a diplomatic policy.

[Squatch]

60. So, FEMA listing contact information for Operation Blessing

a highly rated, very successful international aid organization who can help the tragedy in LA is tantamount to "advocation of assasination as a diplomatic policy."

OK....:shrug:

[Modem Butterfly]

62. Yes it is

Pat Robertson's Operation Blessing is on the FEMA recommended list of charities. Given the fact that Pat Robertson is hip-deep in the organization, and given that he used an INTERNATIONAL broadcast to advocate the assasination of a foreign leader, the US government should steer clear of supporting him, even if that means Operation Blessing has to rely on the 700 Club and Pat Robertson's cult of personality and their own considerable resources to raise funds.

[Squatch]

63. That's a damn-near classic example of an equivocation fallacy

Equivocation

[Modem Butterfly]

65. Only if you ignore just how tightly Pat Robertson is identified...

...with Operation Blessing.

[DoYouEverWonder]

31. Operation Blessing is a front

for Robertson's and the Neocons dirty work.

[Squatch]

33. And I'm sure you have readily accesible proof to back that claim?

:waiting:

[DoYouEverWonder]

45. Oh yes

Goggle Robertson & Ollie North, or Mobutu, or gold and diamonds for a start.

I'll post some links later when I get a chance.

[Squatch]

47. Sure...as long as those links are relevant to Operation Blessing

[davidinalameda]

57. how about this one

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=13994

[Squatch]

59. Can you find one with a little less bias?

"Bill Berkowitz is a longtime observer of the conservative movement. His WorkingForChange column Conservative Watch documents the strategies, players, institutions, and defeats of the American Right."

[texpatriot2004]

7. Um, he is the one who just advocated assassination of Chavez,

right?

[Modem Butterfly]

10. Yes he is

[fasttense]

8. Just another way for brush to give to his supporters, the haves and

have mores. So glad Robertson can make money off disasters.

[evlbstrd]

11. NO!

Red Cross! Red Cross! Red Cross! Red Cross! Red Cross! Red Cross! Red Cross!

[annabanana]

13. What.. and fund a hit squad to take out Chavez? no thanks..

Disgraceful that he's on a FEMA site ("faith based initiative" my ass)

[Triana]

14. Well THAT needs to come off there!

Period.

[lonestarnot]

15. LOL Fuck FEMA!

[Beetwasher]

16. Yeah, He'll Use That Money To Buy Prayer Beads

So everyone can pray real hard for food and health. Oh, that and a new baptismal jacuzzi in the backyard of his multi-million dollar home.

Ahhh, the power of prayer. :eyes:

[ClassWarrior]

17. Email em! Let off some steam and let em know we're out here!

NGU.

[DearAbby]

23. RED CROSS...donate to them, they may also need some volunteer help

no doubt.

[DrDan]

35. I agree - EMAIL them

I just sent my thoughts about this hypocrisy - their email address - [e-mail]

[melissinha]

20. what about the diamond mines?

Its his disregard for human safety and pure concentration on his wealth that worries me..

Not the the Chavez thing is immaterial, but with respect to a charity, I think his disregard for the safety of people in his mines is more pertinent.


Besides, these guys take donations and who knows... do they actually mak it to the victims... I don't trust this guy...

[knitter4democracy]

28. My first thought, too.

His Operation Blessing seems to have been a nightmare in Africa. Where would the money go here?

[Hugin]

21. F**K THAT!

Cripes!

[yojon]

25. Here are some other charities to consider

The Treasury Dept was investigating them as donors to Al Queda but for some reason Shakh Bush shut down the investigation...

___________________________________________________________

Saudi Arabia Link Among Suspect Islamic Charities
Wednesday, April 03, 2002
By Carl Cameron

WASHINGTON — Islamic charities and similar groups in northern Virginia recently raided by federal officials all have something in common — Saudi Arabia.

Investigators are looking into the Safa Trust, the Saar Group, the Wafa Humanitarian Organization, and 16 other Islamic charities with ties to the Saudi royal family.

The Saudi's have pledged to help choke off terrorist financing. And publicly, U.S. officials say Saudi Arabia is trying to be part of the solution

"We're fully satisfied with Saudi Arabia as we work together on the important financial aspect of the war against terrorism," State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said.

Privately, however, investigators complain that powerful factions of the Saudi government are part of the problem because they're associated with — or look the other way — when some Islamic charities funnel cash to terrorists.

The Treasury Department's terror financing investigation, Operation Green Quest, has raided nearly four dozen American Muslim organizations with ties to Saudi officials.

They include offices of the Muslim World League, the International Institute of Islamic Thought and various others groups. In addition, hundreds of other warrants, raids and arrests have been conducted by other federal agencies across the country.

In the United States, more than 1,000 Islamic centers, mosques and schools operate, many legitimately, and are both furious and heartbroken that terrorists are giving Muslims a bad name.

But the problem is pervasive, cash donations are almost impossible to trace or control. Donations could be paying for sandals for orphans or explosives for suicide bombers.

The FBI has investigated several militant Islamic groups over the last 15 years but few if any charges have ever been filed. But now, two lawsuits have been filed against the United States, alleging that investigators blew it.

One suit sites a federal official's affidavit in Florida that the Clinton administration halted terror-financing investigations linked to the Saudi royal family and Palestinian extremists.

Another suit alleges that fundraising for Usama bin Laden's Al Qaeda had been discovered by a separate federal investigator but his evidence was ignored.

Bush administration Justice Department officials are giving the Clinton administration investigations the benefit of the doubt, saying before Sept. 11, the world and the laws were different.

In fact, they say many of the recent raids and arrests were not possible seven months ago, because the Patriot Act, which gives investigators greater authority to pursue terrorism, did not exist until six months ago. Since then, those investigations are being pursued with vigor.

_______________________________________________________________

pursued with vigor until BushCo stopped them and fired Paul ONeill...

btw.. I never thought I would cite Faux News as a primary source...

[Nikki Stone 1]

37. Gimme some email addys for CNN etc. WE gotta let people know about this

.....

[Media_Lies_Daily]

26. Sh**. Piss me off.

[MelissaB]

36. Unbelievable! n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

39. FEMA is a full of shit agency originally set-up for black ops. Ollie North

even worked for it.

[ck4829]

44. Operation Blessing is a Front for laundering blood diamonds.

There, I said it.

[theHandpuppet]

49. Operation Blessing fraught with major FRAUD!!!!!!!!!

http://www.skeptictank.org/robem2.htm
http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2013161.html
http://www.workingforchange.com/printitem.cfm?itemid=13994
http://www.deism.com/patspage.htm

[Squatch]

56. Yeah, OK...

:eyes:

Operation Blessing

vs

Red Cross

Just take a look at how their CEO's pay compare. The CEO of the Red Cross makes more than the PUSA!

[WiseButAngrySara]

53. I'll donate to Pat....Raw sewaqe from the streets of NOLA!........n/t

[kweerwolf]

54. I hate to sound like a Republican ...

... who'd let 99 families starve just to make sure one "welfare queen" didn't get undeserved benefits, but NOT ONE FUCKING CENT should go to ANY organization with ties to a scum-sucking piece of shit like Robertson.

[Eloriel]

61. Operation Blessing + Diamonds

google search:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Operation+blessing+Diamonds&sourceid=mozilla-search&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

[mvd]

64. Oh my

FEMA has gone even further downhill than I thought under Bush.

[Zuni]

66. After all that has happened lately, I just have to laugh at this

:rofl:
This is too funny, and too ridiculous. What are they going to do, picket flooded abortion clinics?

[sundog]

67. quel surprise

:puke: