Tommy Franks paid $100,000 to endorse vets charity that ripped off vets

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/17/tommy-franks-helped-f-rated-vets-charity/

Tommy Franks helped ‘F’-rated vets charity.

images124.jpgIn a House Oversight Committee hearing today, it was revealed that retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks “was paid $100,000 to endorse a veterans charity that watchdog groups say is ripping off donors and wounded veterans by using only a small portion of the money raised for veterans services.” The charities were graded “F” by the American Institute of Philanthropy because so little of the money is used for actual charity projects or services.

[NNN0LHI]

1. There is going to be a lot of this going on

Rat bastards.

Don

[lonestarnot]

2. Fucking faith based initiative crap again?

[midnight]

3. Does anyone know what the name of the charity group is?

You would think if the charity got an F the name would be right next to the grade.

[babylonsister]

4. Help Hospitalized Veterans and the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes Foundation...

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4149437&page=1

[hobbit709]

5. You would think a general would do this as a PSA

In terms of "supporting the troops", especially when he was in on getting so many of them wounded in the first place.

[babylonsister]

6. Yes, one would think. But he's married to the BFEE and all they know

is how to best line their pockets.

[countryjake]

7. kick

[SalmonChantedEvening]

8. Hawking a bad war then cashing in on the soldiers.

:grr:

[SpiralHawk]

9. That's the Modus Operandi of the Republicon CHICKENHAWK

[salin]

10. Paid to be affiliated with the nonprofit? I have a lot of nonprofit

experience - and one does try to get high profile people involved and supportive - one of the nonprofits had an NBA player as a spokes person - but these folks do it for FREE. Just the fact that the charity offered to pay Franks at all - let alone 100K - should have tipped him off to the shady nature of the organization. Guessing it did, but the money spoke louder to him and he took it.

Wonder if he gave any of the $ back (doubtful) when he asked to no longer be used promotionally by the organization.

[KharmaTrain]

11. Another Endorsement Con...

I'd be curious to see if Franks even knew about this "charity" before he took the check and did the endorsement. There's so much of that crap that goes on. Reminds me of a local charity that "hired" a spokesperson...a once well-known actress whose best days had long faded...but with her name on the letterhead it opened some doors and they were sure her endorsement would generate a big response. Would you believe this actress not only wanted a flat fee for doing the endorsement but her agent attempted to get a percentage of whatever was donated.

We need to be diligent of fraudulent veterans groups. Be assured that when this Iraq mess is over, the right wing will revise history and blame us for losing the war and deserting the troops. Now is the time to document not only how we did stand by our troops by demanding them to be withdrawn (or never sent in the first place) and care about their health and well being after serving in that meat grinder. We can't forget, less we get painted as "spitting on the soldiers" again...this time it's obvious whose done the shatting from day one.