The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
    William K. Wolfrum's picture

    Debbie Schlussel: 'Sean Hannity’s Freedom Concerts are just a giant con'

    By William K. Wolfrum on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 8:10am | Politics, Media

    What makes these allegations stronger is who they are being made by – unrepentant rightist Debbie Schlussel. And she definitely painted a dark picture of what Fox News Host Sean Hannity is doing with his “Freedom Concerts.”

    “Sean Hannity’s Freedom Concerts are just a giant con,” wrote Schlussel.

    I began investigating these claims, and lo and behold, I discovered that Freedom Alliance gives very little money to the children of slain troops to pay for college and even less to wounded troops. The stories of injuries to troops and how much Freedom Alliance gives them–$200 for a soldier from a poor neighborhood who lost three limbs–is heartbreaking. Soldiers with traumatic brain injuries, severe wounds to the face from disfiguring burns and explosions, and multiple amputations got $1,000 or less, with only a handful of exceptions.

    The tax forms available to the public for the Freedom Alliance–for the years 2006-2008–paint a tragic story, a story of a charity that makes gazillions and spends very little for the purposes it claims, a charity that spends millions more on its small staff and crony consultants than it ever gives in scholarships to the children of the fallen or severely injured troops or in aid to the injured troops themselves. While Hannity’s Freedom Concerts take in millions, only a few hundred thousand go to the claimed intended recipients.

    If a liberal made these claims – even doing the amount of research Schlussel did – they would be discarded and never brought up again. But Schlussel can’t just be waved away by the right. By breaking the story loudly, Schlussel will likely get tremendous support from both the left-wing and right-wing blogosphere.

    A good read from Schlussel, who gives you a look at the research she did to come up with her conclusion. Read it here and perhaps look at Sean Hannity’s schtick in a whole new way.

    –WKW

    Crossposted at William K. Wolfrum Chronicles

    Topics: 
    Politics
    Media

    Comments

    But Schlussel can’t just be waved away by the right.

    Boy, you have been in Brazil a while, haven't you? They'll call her a liberal sympathizer faster than you can say "Boys in Brazil".


    by Nebton on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 11:11am

    "Thank yoo fer yer service, cripples"

    said the right-wing, compassionate conservative, Seanster.

    Seanster, Yew art a super-patriotic, Great unAmerikan.

    Yoo and yer co-Made-offs earned all that money

    the good old fashioned, Lizzie Cheney, way,

    Yew Stole It!!

    Congratulations,

    for Almighty God is surely still on yer side!

     


    by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 3:27pm

    Debbie Schussel is a liar, and she's doing it again.

     

     




    Dear Friends of Freedom Alliance:  (March 18, 2010)


    This week, false and malicious allegations about Freedom Alliance were posted on the Internet and we want to address them with you. We don’t know the motivation for these vicious smears, but we will not allow them to go unanswered.

    First, we want to thank you for your support and assure you that Freedom Alliance’s record of financial stewardship and programmatic achievements not only meets, but exceeds standards of program efficiency set by most charity evaluators. We are extraordinarily proud of our work at Freedom Alliance and stand by our efforts 100 percent.


    False Accusations

    The blog posting accuses our friend Sean Hannity of personally benefiting from Freedom Alliance. This is FALSE. Freedom Alliance has never provided planes, hotels, cars, limos, or anything else to Sean. Sean gets nothing from Freedom Alliance except our gratitude for his personal generosity and for all he has done to help the troops and our organization. We have never had to ask Sean for anything, he always generously offers his help before we have a chance to ask him. But to be clear Sean pays for all his own transportation, hotels, and all related expenses for himself and his family and friends and staff, which over the years has added up to tens of thousands of dollars. He does not use any Freedom Alliance Funds or Concert funds in any way, period.

    Sean Hannity has contributed $100,000 to the Wounded Warriors Foundation, over $200,000 to the Freedom Alliance, and over tens of thousands of dollars to other military charities and individuals. We only make this information public because of the outrageous slander against him. Sean has no management or operational involvement in, or control over, Freedom Alliance. He has been a selfless patriot in his efforts to raise funds for the education of children of armed services personnel.

    The blog posting accuses Freedom Alliance of spending less than 20% of money raised on program activities. This is FALSE. Listed below are the amounts that Freedom Alliance spent for each of the past three years and the categories on which they were spent. The figures are taken from our Federal Form 990 which is filed with the Internal Revenue Service and posted on our web site and audited by an independent auditor using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This financial record not only meets, but exceeds standards of program efficiency set by most charity evaluators.


    In 2008, Freedom Alliance spent a total of $6,745,717. Of that:4.

    79 percent ($5,317,970) was spent on Program Activities•
    14 percent ($945,950) was spent on Fundraising•
    7 percent ($481,797) was spent on Management •



    In 2007, Freedom Alliance spent a total of $7,461,350. Of that:

    81.5 percent ($6,084,474) was spent on Program Activities•
    13.5 percent ($1,011,501) was spent on Fundraising•
    5 percent ($365,375) was spent on Management•


    In 2006, Freedom Alliance spent a total of $7,064,839. Of that:

    77 percent ($5,434,538) was spent on Program Activities•
    18.5 percent ($1,308,414) was spent on Fundraising•
    4.5 percent ($321,887) was spent on Management•


    The blog posting accuses Freedom Alliance of spending money intended for student scholarships on 5. other expenses. This is FALSE. Freedom Alliance has distributed $3.4 million in Scholarships and created a Scholarship Trust Fund with the additional money that we have raised for that program. That fund now contains $15 million, over $10 million of which has been raised by Hannity and the concerts. Our scholarship program is managed with the understanding that it will be needed for at least the next 20 years as there are children who will ultimately receive a scholarship who are now only a few years old. As indicated on our Federal Form 990, these funds are restricted and used only for future scholarships.

    Our Scholarship Fund is one of four programs operated by Freedom Alliance. Supporters may donate to a specific program or for general operating purposes.

    In 2008, Freedom Alliance received $2.1 million in scholarship donations. The same year, we awarded $802,250 in scholarships and applied $1.3 million to our Scholarship Trust Fund. The funds donated by Sean Hannity directly -- or through the proceeds of the Freedom Concerts -- and the support of thousands of Americans are used for these purposes:


    Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund• : Providing scholarships to those whose parents have been killed or severely injured in their service to our Country. There is now over $15 million in the scholarship fund for the students as they come of age.

    Support our Troops• : Many events each year are planned and executed by our staff to show appreciation and provide special opportunities for those actively serving in the military.

    Leadership Academy• : A program for high school students in which they are    encouraged and trained to serve their country.




    These programs would not be possible without the support of Mr. Hannity and many others.

    We are proud of our work and numerous accomplishments. We are grateful to our supporters whose voluntary contributions make it possible and we thank you. While it is discouraging to have our record misrepresented in such a malicious way, our work is important and, with your support, it will continue.


    Respectfully,

    Thomas P. Kilgannon, President
    Oliver L. North, Founder & Honorary Chairman

    Freedom Alliance v 22570 Markey Court, Suite 240 v Dulles, Virginia 20166 v (703) 444-7940


    http://www.freedomalliance.org/images/pdf_and_largepics/freedom_alliance...


    by akw (not verified) on Sat, 03/20/2010 - 9:28am

    Gee. Celery up yer butt. That has to be painful.

    If I were you, I'd see a doctor.

    Above all, don't put that celery in your mouth.

    Oh dear.


    by quinn esq on Sat, 03/20/2010 - 12:31pm