I thought long and hard about rather to post this story. Debbie Schussel is a pretty reliable source, and it sure looks like she did her homework.
In fact, less than 20%–and in two recent years, less than 7% and 4%, respectively–of the money raised by Freedom Alliance went to these causes, while millions of dollars went to expenses, including consultants and apparently to ferry the Hannity posse of family and friends in high style. And, despite Hannity’s statements to the contrary on his nationally syndicated radio show, few of the children of fallen soldiers got more than $1,000-$2,000, with apparently none getting more than $6,000, while Freedom Alliance appears to have spent tens of thousands of dollars for private planes. Moreover, despite written assurances to donors that all money raised would go directly to scholarships for kids of the fallen heroes and not to expenses, has begun charging expenses of nearly $500,000 to give out just over $800,000 in scholarships.
In February 2009, a well-known conservative writer sent me this, about a friend at FOX News:
The guy went on to tell me about Hannity’s “Freedom Concerts,” which are staged across the country with the proceeds going to children of slain soldiers. Of course, as the guy tells it, there’d be a lot more money every concert to go to the cause if Hannity didn’t demand–and get–use of a Gulfstream 5 plane to fly him and his family/entourage to the concerts; a “fleet” (that’s the word the guy used) of either Cadillac or Lincoln SUVs for him and his family/entourage; and several suites at really expensive hotels for him and his family/entourage. The promoter apparently values Hannity’s star demands at well over $200,000 per event. The source says he heard that Oliver North pulled Hannity aside at one of the concerts and told him that this had to stop. But that may mean that, from now on, Hannity has to fly on a G4 instead of a G5, gets only a few luxury SUVs, and two or three suites.
The post gets worse. If true, this would end Sean Hannity's career. The folks who listen to Talk Radio will tolerate a lot from the hosts. Rush Limbaugh's drug addiction is a good example. Willful deception at the expense of our troops and their families would not be tolerated by anyone.
Freedom Alliance's response is here. Debbie Schlussel is right. It's weak, and hopefully will just be the opening salvo in it's defense.
I really don't see why you would even post this. The story comes out on a Friday afternoon, the same weekend the socialists are trying to destroy the medical industry? Come on, man. And I don't see anything "weak" about the figures listed in the rebuttal, either. (And it's even signed by Oliver North, who was mentioned in the story.) But even if there were no rebuttal, I would be hesitant to believe this stuff and even more hesitant to publicize it.
ReplyDeleteHey Drew. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteI really struggled about rather to post it or not, for the very reasons you cite.
Debbie Schussel is no liberal. I wish her timing had been better too, but she posted when she was sure of her story.
Having read it on GTL, I felt that not posting it would have been dishonest. I'm a partisan, but not a dishonest one. Should this story prove to be all hot air (and I fervently hope it is) I'll shout it from the rooftops.
But if it's true, we need to know it, and stop it. After last night's Healthcare vote, there is no room for hypocrites in this war, especially ones of Sean Hannity's stature.