Exclusive: ‘Pro-Troop’ Charity Pays Off Tea Party Cronies Instead

[DonViejo]

Source: The Daily Beast

Move America Forward has collected millions to send care packages to U.S. troops. But its assets have been used to benefit conservative political consulting firms close to its Tea Party founder.

By Kim Barker, ProPublica

In February 2013, Move America Forward announced an ambitious fundraising goal. The charity, launched in part by one of the most prominent figures in the Tea Party movement, had adopted the 800 Marines in a battalion fighting in Afghanistan and wanted to send them all care packages.

“For some troops, these care packages are the only mail they will receive all year,” the group said in one email solicitation.

The charity later described the fundraising drive as a rousing success: In less than five weeks, all 800 Marines in a 1st Marine Division battalion nicknamed Geronimo were sent care packages and notes in Afghanistan, it claimed.

But that couldn’t have been true. The Marines of Geronimo weren’t even in Afghanistan during Move America Forward’s fund drive. Instead, they were deployed more than 3,000 miles away, in Okinawa, Japan.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/05/exclusive-pro-troop-charity-pays-off-tea-party-cronies-instead.html

[tanyev]

1. Republicans should be the POG - Party of Grifters

[Veilex]

21. Or Grifters of Politics

[hobbit709]

2. Why am I NOT surprised?

If it involves repukes, you know it's crooked.

[Amonester]

4. Yeah, but the suckers who paid always think they are...

their "saviors" hahahahaha

Can't fix stupid suckering.

[jberryhill]

3. well imagine how tired they were...

...after marching all that way from Afghanistan to Japan.

[msanthrope]

5. I am sure they kept good order....

[valerief]

6. There oughta be a law. nt

[cosmicone]

7. It is actually fraud and punishable criminally

but a few of the donors need to make a complaint. Unfortunately, the donors wouldn't care that the money was fraudulently diverted.

[whathehell]

26. "The donors wouldn't care that the money was fraudulently diverted"??

As someone who has donated to active and veteran military, I'm

afraid that you are in serious error.

[cosmicone]

34. I'm afraid most of the donors were tea-liban members

and knew it was a scam ... they also are inclined to believe the money was put to good use.

If there are any donors who genuinely paid for care packages for marines ... hope they come forward and press charges.

[whathehell]

40. Yes, these may have been, but I'm not sure they all knew it was a scam..Those who didn't

certainly SHOULD come forward and press charges -- It's an outrageous con.

[erpowers]

8. Will the Media Pick Up on This

I wonder if this is going to make a big splash in the media. I could be wrong, but I have a feeling if an organization connected to a Democratic group did something like this it would be discussed on most of the major television news shows.

[Fred Sanders]

12. No way for the media to blame or connect Obama, so of course not.

[brooklynite]

30. MSNBC: Conservative military charity faces serious allegations

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/conservative-military-charity-faces-serious-allegations

Took me all of 5 seconds to find the link.

[Fred Sanders]

31. Did they connect Obama?

[Cosmocat]

13. OMG

it would be THE story for months and something that would stick to the Democratic party for decades.

Won't get the first bit of air here and if someone manages to get it out a bit, there WILL be something dug up on Democrats that gives cause for the "they are all the same" default position.

And, of course, the military on average will continue to hate "liberals" and be just ducky with republicans.

[Fred Sanders]

9. Bastards belong in jail. Why is Ginnie Thomas not in jail already for exploiting her husbands name

for personal fortune from the tea people moneybags, for example? Why are the traitors to democracy who try to suppress the vote that these troops protect also not in jail?

Give the fascists an inch and they will take the nation.

"Charities like Move America Forward, which can accept tax-deductible donations, are not allowed to engage in partisan politics. But an examination of the group’s tax returns shows that it is deeply intertwined with its founder’s political enterprises and businesses, paying millions of dollars to him and his consulting firm."

[rurallib]

10. Hannity had a "charity" like that a few years back

something to do with raising money for the troop. The troops got @3% and Hannity and his cronies blew the rest. Can't remember what it was or when, i just have this recollection.

Google is my friend - here we go:
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2010/03/crew-sean-hannity-freedom-concert-freedom-alliance

Fleece the Sheep, it is the American way!

[mikeysnot]

16. I was thinking the same thing

What happened to that?

Why is he still on tv? <<<< rhetorical question... I know why he is on tv...

Could you imagine if Rachel or Thom Hartmann did the same thing?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

37. Scams like that say, "100% of the proceeds" without telling you "the proceeds" can be .00001%.

[heaven05]

11. figures

and I'm a vet. Americans love to venerate the vet as some kind of hero and then do something like this. I am getting so sick of the hypocrisy, lies, corruption and ......................move america forward......what a fucking BS charity.

[whathehell]

28. Please don't blame it on "Americans"..My spouse & I give to Veterans' organizations

regularly and never "do something like that".

All Americans who give to vets groups are not Republicans and/or Rip Off

Artists.

Just sayin'.

[heaven05]

38. "Americans" talk the talk

when it comes to vets, but when it comes to walking the walk.......Keep giving and helping, you're one helping. Never said anything about helping, compassionate people. I've done that since 69 when I returned from overseas. Today is a different story. Never said you would do something like that. I am commenting on this 'charity' mentioned in the OP who are americans allegedly helping vets. Too many organizations such as this hurt the vets. Get off my back, I was not/am not on yours. Just saying back atcha!

[whathehell]

39. SOME Americans talk the talk without walking the walk..I doubt most are like this slimey RW outfit.

[alfredo]

14. knr

[TxVietVet]

15. I never give to charities 'supporting the troops' unless I investigate them.

I'm not the least bit surprised that it's a conservanut scam.

[Plucketeer]

19. MANY charities are not what they seem.

Watch out for charities that prey on folks in the name of supporting law enforcement personnel. There's some really low-life charities out there that play seniors on the pretense of supporting cops!

[TxVietVet]

33. Also groups that support FIREFIGHTERS.

They ran a good scam in Wisconsin. They wanted money to pay for firefighters for their education that they got on the job while on duty. Then, if I didn't contribute, the caller would try to shame and insult me.
Firefighters are covered by an insurance with the International Association of Firefighters, IF they belong. There are other charities that pay the survivors of firefighters and cops in the event of death on duty.

[weissmam]

17. isn't that fraud

[progressoid]

22. Probably.

I wonder if any of the donors would be willing to admit they were scammed & file a lawsuit.

[PoliticAverse]

29. If they used the US Postal Service to solicit money it would be mail fraid...

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/financialfraud/CharityFraud.aspx

[mountain grammy]

18. There should be required, multiple public service announcements on Fox news

about this scam. No doubt that's where most of the supporters of this "charity" live.

[TxDemChem]

20. That article was crazy

I hope this story spreads wide and fast

[JohnnyRingo]

23. Even more damning than I expected.

It was lengthy, but and I hope everyone reads it. Those people need to serve time for fraud.

[TxDemChem]

32. It was well worth the read.

I think I'll leave a printout of it in our copy room. The RWNJs I work with will flip their lids

[doxydad]

24. Exactly....

...why I donate to the person directly!

[GP6971]

25. Scum is too nice of a description for these dirt bags n/t

[QuestForSense]

27. A fool and his money are soon parted.

[Historic NY]

35. Another group of scumbags using the military for their own ill-gotten gain..

they should be ashamed and exposed by name.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

36. “And we’re here for you. We’ve got your back.”

So be sure to put your wallet in your front pocket.

[Mr.Bill]

41. Gee, I wonder

if they have tax exempt status.

[Cha]

42. Of course they did.

[emsimon33]

43. Oops!

[SunSeeker]

44. No surprise. The entire Tea Party is an astroturf scam. nt

[Gman]

45. The TP has never been much more than

a money tree for the RW to fleece their base.