Sean Hannity’s Freedom CONcert Scam: Almost None of Charity’s $ Went to Injured Troops, Kids of Fall

[babsbunny]

Sean Hannity’s Freedom CONcert Scam: Almost None of Charity’s $ Went to Injured Troops, Kids of Fallen Troops; G5s for Vannity?

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/

By Debbie Schlussel

****03/19/10: SCROLL DOWN FOR UPDATE: My Response to Freedom Alliance’s/Oliver North’s Weak “Non-Response” & New Lies ****

For the last several years, Sean Hannity and the Freedom Alliance “charity” have conducted “Freedom Concerts” across America. They’ve told you that they are raising money to pay for the college tuition of the children of fallen soldiers and to pay severely wounded war vets. And on Friday Night, Hannity will be honored with an award for this “Outstanding Community Service by a Radio Talk Show Host” at Talkers Magazine’s convention.

But it’s all a huge scam.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I'd like some of the recipients of the charity to go on record about

how much they were promised and how little they received.

[CurtEastPoint]

7. She has those figures and such in the linked article. n/t

[mdavies013]

2. Is that a $400 haircut????

[Orrex]

3. Do we have another source for this?

Debbie Schlussel has cranked out more than her share of hate speech, so I'm reluctant to credit her in isolation, even if I'm not surprised by what she's reporting.


If true, isn't that federal-level fraud, by the way?

[KharmaTrain]

8. She's Got It Pretty Well Covered...

I was as cynical as you are, but she cites their 999s...the tax forms for the 503-C that are made public. This isn't a new story...TPM reported on it back in 2006.

From what I'm seeing, there's not fraud as the "expenses" can be justified...but that's on the surface, who knows if there was cash skimmed off and pocketed...then we're looking at some fraud.

Right now it's fun to watch the back and forth as it's apparent there is no love lost between "Little Debbie" as Atrios calls her and Hannity. She put some damning facts out there, the ball's in Hannity's court to refute them. The longer he ignores the more this will build. I expect Olbermann is salivating at digging at this one once he returns next week.

Cheers...

:hi:

[ProdigalJunkMail]

4. this is now the third time around for this

and while I hate to have to defend Hannity and his group, while the expenses are high, there is over $9 million in the scholarship fund and several million more in funds held by the trust...that is the way all scholarship funds operate...you don't grant all the money in the first year...you keep it invested so you can operate for a long time...

sP

[babsbunny]

5. sorry, 1st time I have seen this

Hope there are others.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

6. not complaining that it is here

heck NONE of us can keep up with all the flow here on DU...but just a cursory glance shows that it is not as bad as DS makes it seem...

sP

[TreasonousBastard]

9. That's true, but Little Debbie's article was more about...

Hannity's burgeoning expenses for the concert series.

Charity Navigator sez they spent 81.5% on program expenses, but that doesn't mean charitable handouts-- "expenses" apparently includes Hannity's Gulfstream ride to the concerts and other perks.

The numbers for the overall operation, not just the concerts Hannity is involved with, may not be that bad, but I'm not going to take the time to look it all up. Let them fight it out amongst themselves.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

10. oh, there are definitely a few perks in there

and even a couple of 'questions' that might need asking...but DS makes it look like they are crooks and they really aren't. I am sure they could do more with what they have been given AND spend less on their perks!

sP