Thursday, March 18, 2010

Sean Hannity's "Freedom Alliance" charity is a huge scam!

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.

Debbie Schlussel , a conservative radio talk show host, columnist, and attorney has been looking into Hannity's so called "charity" and this is what she found:

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.
 
I guess we should not be surprised considering who Hannity "pals around with".
 
Need I say more?

43 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:26 PM

    That sounds criminal! I hope the IRS and the Justice Department investigate. It's just appalling.

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  2. Said above: ...." charity that makes gazillions and spends very little for the purposes it claims"....

    I wish people wouldn't use the word "makes" in such situations. More correctly it should read "steals" but if that is too onerous, maybe at least "took". "Bilked people of" would also suit. Crooks, IMHO. He and Sarah Scammer alike. How they sleep at night is a mystery to me.

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  3. Gasman7:53 PM

    Well, my, my, my, that sanctimonious asshat Sean Hannity is a thief! I can’t say that I am surprised. Anybody who could continuously spout the bilious lies that he does obviously is an amoral liar.

    Let’s check the FauxNews line-up: we’ve got a sexual predator, an insane megalomaniacal racist, and now a con man as hosts of their three biggest shows. With that bullshit “interview” that Bret Baier did, you can just tell that they ooze professional journalism at every turn.

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  4. Anonymous8:40 PM

    Big news. Thanks.

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  5. Anonymous8:51 PM

    Just recently I ran an auction on eBay where the procedes went to the "Children of Fallen Soulders". Any relation to this scam? I intend on asking eBay also.

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  6. Why am I soooooooo not surprised?

    However, I got error messages when I tried to get to Debbie Schlussel's link. It was weird.

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  7. Anonymous9:04 PM

    I can't seem to get on Schlussel's site, but Googling found this post on DailyKos from 2007 that makes it look like someone was onto him quite awhile ago:

    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/6/6165/93743

    Maybe the fact that an extreme right-winger is publicizing this will draw the attention it deserves.

    Can't wait to hear La Diva's take on her BFF's scam. Oh, who am I kidding. Who's going to ask her about it, Beck?

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  8. Anonymous9:23 PM

    The right wing charity scam circuit goes on and on.
    snakeoil101

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  9. Yep Debbie Schlussel's site is down right now.

    Gee I wonder if somebody wants to shut her up?

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  10. Hannity has been bragging for weeks about how ALL the profits from his new book will be going to the Freedom Alliance, instead of to him. Apparently if that is true, it's apparently nothing but money laundering!

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  11. Anonymous9:43 PM

    So, what else is new?!? We have Grifters par excellence at Faux noise - both Hannity as well as former 1/2 term GINO Grifter $$$arah Palin and family. Who else?

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  12. Anonymous11:43 PM

    Pity that legally only 20% of any income of a "charity organization" must actually be used in charity work for the government to consider it a "charity organization"

    There are many other "charity organizations" out there that are charities... but only by the barest margin. And some of these organizations are some of the most well known organizations out there.

    So, sadly, no... this doesn't surprise me. Wanna make a difference? Send your money directly to a vet.

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  13. Anonymous11:45 PM

    Wow. It's like I tell my kids don't trust those who brag to much about all the good things they do for others. The real people are those who give and don't feel the need to brag.

    OT
    California is going getting funny crazy. First Carly made a ad turning Senator Boxer into a scary blimp floating around California. Now Oily Taints is running for Secretary of State. I wish I lived in a non-insane state.

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  14. sunnyjane1:28 AM

    Gasman: I don't keep up with the shit at Faux. Who's the sexual predator??? Whoa!

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  15. I got to her article both last night and this morning by clicking on her name at the beginning of the article.

    I sure hope this gets a lot of attention. He is such a pompous, lying ass.

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  16. Anonymous2:36 AM

    As of this morning there was no problem accessing this story by Googling "debbie schlussel hannity charity."

    Came right up.

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  17. Anonymous3:10 AM

    Not surprised at this grifting--the rightwing has perfected it.

    Meanwhile, just heard Howard Dean put down the Republicans bigtime, explaining that the HCR bill is the same as the "Mitt Romney" bill in MA.

    Ha, some serious 2012 exposure! Maybe the RNC will have to run The Grifter after all, 'cause they have NOBODY else w/enough name recognition...and we know how THAT will turn out. Another 2nd term for our President!

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  18. Anonymous3:20 AM

    I hope this story is picked up by the MSM. I plan to start emailing Hannity's sponsors, asking them to pull their sponsorship from his show. If enough people do the same, maybe we can get him off the air.

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  19. Anonymous3:28 AM

    I remember Limbaugh had a similar "Support the Troops" scam. Maybe still does? For $19.99 a month he would send audio copies of his broadcasts and his book to "our proud defenders of democracy overseas".

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  20. You just gotta wonder about these people who actually attend a Hannity Freedom Concert. Well, I guess it's the same fools who donate to SARAHPac.

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  21. Anonymous4:16 AM

    If you read the complete article regarding IRS filings on huge postal expenditures, SarahPAC claims high postage costs. $1,000 to dear dad. One wonders what his consultant fee was!

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  22. Great that it is another extreme conservative who is making this charge.

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  23. Lynne5:06 AM

    It's a big surprise that Sean Hannity is a piece of shit???

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  24. Anonymous5:23 AM

    This reminds me...

    right after 9/11, O'Reilly went after the American Red Cross, making accusations that the monies being donated to the American Red Cross were not going to 9/11 victims...

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  25. LoveAndKnishesFromBrooklyn5:29 AM

    Just heard this news on Stephanie Miller as well. IMHO, with the major cash behind Faux News (and seeing what HRH Queen Grifter continues to get away with), this revelation will end up SO buried in the MSM--if it ever makes it--and it'll mean nothing. The slathering sheeple who can barely afford to feed their families will continue to support these smarmy con artists in the name of **PATRIOTISM**.

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  26. Sunnyjane, BillO had to pay a large settlement to a former employee for sexual harassment. Google Bill O'Reilly falafel" if you have a strong stomach.
    very tidy layout Gryphen, nothing like a little spring cleaning. Thanks for...all of it.

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  27. Anonymous6:46 AM

    everyone needs to constantly send this story to all news outlets. eventually one of them will pick it up.

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  28. pacos_gal7:00 AM

    Actually for a charity to be reputable 75% of its donations should go to the intended recipients and no more than 25% should be spent on administration. This "charity" fails the tests in all aspects of being reputable.
    I find it appalling to use killed and wounded soldiers and their children to Make friggin money. That just pisses me off.
    Absolutely this should be picked up by the mainstream and then while they are at it, lets have the FBI take a look at it for money laundering charges.
    The main ones who need to know though is the military community itself.
    Perhaps Shannyn could get her for an interview. Plenty of military in Anchorage that might be interested to hear about this. Has Freedom concerts come to an area near you? Get the word out. Print of the statisics on contributions vs pay out to soliders and their families.
    I am tired of conservative money grubbing jerks using the military for their personal feed baskets.

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  29. So. What *do* they spend the money on?

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  30. Anonymous7:37 AM

    This is serious. More people like Debbie Schlussel must get involved and get the word out about the scams. Why is no one catching these thieves and putting them in jail? Who do they take advantage of? Our soldiers!

    Support Our Troop groups
    Most advice was being filtered through America Supports You.mil which is the "official" Pentagon sponsored propaganda apparatus that screens troop related charities and fund raising efforts based solely on political ideology. America Supports You.mil is a brain child of former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld and a carry over to the Bush and Obama’s Secretary of Defense Gates that will most likely continue for part of the Obama administration. It remains to be seen if leaders of America Supports You.mil have as close a relationship including meetings with President Obama as they had with President Bush.
    Point is that AmericaSupportsBush.mil IS NOT constitutionally regulated nor monitored by Congress (it is an arm of the Executive Branch), and AmericaSupportsBush.mil IS NOT a watch dog philantropic organizaton or group. In essense who is the Watch Dog over America Supports You.mil when it screens troop and military fund raisers????
    Charities' Costs Sap Aid For Vets
    AmericaSupportsYou.mil Survives Investigation by the Pentagon

    Thank you Gryphen for shining some light on this.

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  31. mlaiuppa: they spend it paying off the families of mistresses, for one.

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  32. It goes without saying, of course, that thousands upon thousands of dollars of tax-free donations have flowed to this scam, thereby adding to the deficit.....

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  33. Anonymous9:01 AM

    This is actually old news, but it's good that it's finally getting out there.

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  34. sick and tired9:48 AM

    Anonymous 8:51,
    Thank you and please let us know if eBay has anything worthwhile to say. They participate with all the same characters and crooks that run these operations. They are tied in with the conservative radio hacks and book sale scams.
    There is nothing new about these scam artists..
    Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Savage and Laura Schlessinger
    Limbaugh is an old pro at eBay auctions.
    video: "Trust Us, We're Experts"
    Pentagon mixed propaganda with PR, report finds
    O’Reilly must be watched. He made a fool of himself trying to dis the USO, to redirect donors to his preferred "charities."
    O’Reilly ‘Bitches’ And ‘Whines’ For Military Charity To Send Dr. Laura To Meet With U.S. Troops and O'Reilly and Schlessinger also did the USO attack.
    Keep this in the open, the public might get sick and tired of being sick and tired.

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  35. honestyinGov10:24 AM

    The Huffpo picked up the story last night if you wanted to do an Update. Don't have the link handy at the moment. It was on an ' off page ' under some strange category. " Living " or something? Many trolls defending InSanity were there and putting down Debbie as a lefty... etc... etc..more nonsense about her FACTS were wrong... look at the data....one word CROOK! And SCUM!! That's two.

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  36. Doesn't SarahPac give about the same percetnage to charities and politicians? Give $500 to a candidate and $50,000 to "consultant".

    I call hannity's show "radio vomit".

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  37. $499 canteen box2:11 PM

    Limbaugh is notorious. I will never forget these boxes that suckers could buy and send to soldiers.
    "History is about to be made – and you can be a part of it."
    Rush Limbaugh and Nancy Reagan, it must be history and legitimate!
    Sometimes fools would pay hundreds to send regular canteen, free advertising for corporate products and you could be a patriot like the radio flacks who had a war to sell. "From the Frontlines"
    "I’ll start things off with the purchase of a $499 “The Deluxe Platoon
    Pack,” which contains:
    Containers of SPF30 Ultra-Sweatproof Sport Sunblock
    Sticks of Delon Intense XL Deodorant
    ChapX Lip Balms

    Packs of 100ct. Baby Wipes with Aloe and Lanolin
    Bags of Jelly Belly “Candy Diplomacy” packages
    Diana Nagy’s new CD feat. “Where Freedom Flies”

    Remember the "phony soldier" letter eBay auction?
    After Rush Limbaugh referred to Iraq war veterans critical of the war as "phony soldiers," he received a letter of complaint signed by 41 Democratic senators. He decided to auction the letter, which he described as "this glittering jewel of colossal ignorance," for charity, and he pledged to match the price, dollar for dollar.
    When the eBay auction closed yesterday afternoon, the winning bid was $2.1 million.

    Limbaugh's "phony soldier" letter eBay auction was a set up that reminded me of Sarah Palin's eBay dinner auction with money. Btw...did that lady get her dinner yet? Limbaugh's set up was crazy, the woman who paid the 2 million survived a car bomb, it was just a little family problem. I don't care that a rich nut and their money is soon parted. What burns me is the malarkey like those "boxes" and suckers getting taken in under the guise of being "patriotic" like conservative pundits.

    I am glad to learn about Debbie Schlussel , a conservative radio talk show host, columnist, and attorney taking an interest in the huge scam.

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  38. Schlussel has posted an update --
    UPDATE, 03/18/10: "Just as I expected, the liars and frauds at Freedom Alliance want to keep the gravy train going for them and their cronies. So they’ve issued a “response,” which doesn’t refute a single fact in here and frankly provides no hard evidence of anything . . . because they don’t have any. One of the 'prominent bloggers' who posted the phony response is Erick Erickson, a guy who supports Rand Paul and the other 9/11 Truther Paul, and who defended Emily Zanotti, the lunatic who has been stalking me for four years and who praised Muslim death, rape, and torture threats against me and my family. Yes, sadly, there are a growing number of anti-Semites on the right, and Erick Erickson is one of them. And the anti-Semites are now the defenders of this rip off of our seriously wounded troops and the kids of our fallen heroes."

    http://tinyurl.com/ycvsawp
    Also, I'll point out that Eric Erickson was hired by CNN this week.

    This is a strange story. Ellen at News Hounds was on this July 29, 2007, and Marine Retired did a diary on Kos August 4, 2007, then DaveFromQueens did another Kos diary Aug 6, 2007.
    The Aug 6 diary is pretty detailed, and for me seemed to clarify the scam better than Schlusser did.
    http://tinyurl.com/yz3ay46
    I don't know anything about Schlusser as I don't keep up with the players on "that" side at all. The tone of her update has caution flags waving on my end. I can tell if she's trying to claim to have broken this story or not - it sounds like she is - but she's about three years too late to play that game. If HuffPo has picked up on this, I'm going to go post the Kos links.

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  39. $499 canteen box6:24 PM

    Hoken,
    I am concerned for Debbie Schlussel. I am reminded of Martha Mitchell when she tried to talk. It will be interesting to see what happens next.
    Debbie and Hannity in better days.
    Cuddling with Sean Hannity again.

    I never heard of her until today. Debbie Schlussel (born April 9, 1969) is an American (Detroit, Michigan) attorney, film critic, political commentator, and a blogger who focuses particularly on Islam and American Muslims. Her writing frequently targets the largely Muslim population of Detroit suburb, Dearborn, Michigan, which she refers to as "Dearbornistan". Her columns are often provocative and controversial, specifically those detailing what she considers the unsavory elements of Islam and objectionable activities of American Muslims, illegal immigrants and liberal & faux-”conservative” politicians.
    Le bouc de Judas Sean Hannity reçoit le grand Jim Traficant
    She knows how to provoke and get attention around the world.
    Is the above picture that of the infamous Arab-hater Debbie Schlussel? But she is dressed in the Muslim clothing known as the hijab. Why is that?
    Schlussel ended her update with "I will be posting more on this and on more fraud at Freedom Alliance, in the coming days. Stay tuned." She is not finished with Hannity if she has her way.

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  40. AnneNC6:41 PM

    No wonder $arah and $ean get along so well, they probably share their ideas for scamming their fans and which company they lease their G5 from to fly from one event to another. After all, you can't expect them to actually go through security and sit with the "little people".

    I remember reading the same thing about $ean's scamming about 3 years ago and was surprised it didn't get any airtime. I hope it doesn't magically disappear again. We know that FAUX isn't going to let their viewers know about his shitty conduct but the rest of the MSM can.

    There needs to be some major changes made if a corporation wants to title themselves as a "charity" because these figures are never going to cut it.

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  41. Anonymous7:47 PM

    Hannity’s Freedom charity is ‘huge scam’: conservative blogger By Muriel Kane
    Friday, March 19th, 2010

    Update: Freedom Alliance responds to allegations

    Fox News commentator Sean Hannity is routinely mocked by the left for his conservative positions, but now he has become the target of far more serious accusations from a fellow-conservative.

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  42. Anonymous8:27 PM

    Here are two sites which give "Freedom Alliance" ratings of F. You may look at the list of other charities at these sites as well.

    http://www.aarp.org/community/groups/displayTopic.bt?pageNum=1&groupId=1492&topicId=3194802

    Freedom Alliance (F)

    http://www.military-money-matters.com/charities-ratings.html

    Freedom Alliance (F)

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