Wasn't some RW whackjob in the House after the Red Cross

[Skidmore]

a few years ago? Didn't the RW try to gut that organization? I may be wrong about this but it just struck me, while listening to all the press conferences from yesterday re: Katrina, that those Rs are all of the sudden relying on the RC alot. Singing their praises even.

What is wrong with these people?

[hlthe2b]

1. Re: Red Cross

slightly off topic, but my sister reminded me that my parents never thought much of it and I finally thought to ask her why. Apparently, early on (WWII period) Red Cross used to charge for services. ....

[rhino47]

2. My great uncle in ww2 said the same thing.

He would never donate a penny to the red cross because of them charging for donated supplies.

[punpirate]

3. Perhaps you are thinking of its former director...

... Elizabeth Dole, who is now US senator from North Carolina. There were many stories of mismanagement of the Red Cross after her departure, but I think they were more along the lines of excessive spending on executive suites, etc., than any overt attempt to destroy the organization.

The right is extolling the virtues of the Red Cross, because it's not government--the continuing theme of Republican government, ever since Reagan, is that government can't solve problems because it is the problem--foisting government responsibility onto private charity has been a long-term goal of the right.

[izzie]

4. I do not recall that but I do recall them trying to get rid of the weather

I could not believe the man when he said that people could get their weather off the TV like every one did. Like the TV made up the stuff and did not get the information from the weather department the first place. I do think people were mad at Red Cross because of the money that was giving to them after 911 and the money they spent. It is hard to take that Dole became very rich running the Red Cross plus her pay was 1 million a year. This Congress does not seem to like our infrastructure for some reason even if a country like ours needs it.

[annabanana]

5. on the new head of the red cross

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4641225&mesg_id=4641225

(has the donation page been scrubbed?.. I can't open it)

[charlie]

6. Congress was all over the Red Cross after 911

for diversion of some donations into a set-aside fund for future catastrophes.