Anyone hear this Tom DeLay story on NPR tonight that left me sputtering?

[fencesitter]

The story begins about the benevolent and caring Tom Delay building a community for foster children in Texas. Sounds good, but quickly the story points out the reality of the non-profit children's organization as a tool for campaign fundraising to skirt the new McCain Feingold regulations. I first began to groan as he described the charitable community as a suburban community surrounding a chapel. "Bibilical", he intones. Oh great, how about a community surrounding a mosque or synagogue thinks I. He goes on to say how this organization can accomplish what a gov't run program can't do, referring to the Child and Human Services sector. Well, of course if you cut their funding to the bone, what can they do, huh? Then when the story got to the part about fundraising for the community, where large contributors can get up front seats with the hoy paloy at the upcoming Republican convention, well, you gotta hear it!!! Audio link here at NPR.org.

<http://discover.npr.org/rundowns/segment.jhtml?wfId=1585834>

Just click on the headline or the audio icon to listen to the story. You'll need an audio player to hear it, and you can find the right one for your computer at <http://www.npr.org/audiohelp/audioplayers.html>. If you have any problems, please visit the NPR audio help page <http://www.npr.org/audiohelp/index.html>.

[Gman]

1. Delay talked about this on MTP

he got real pissy when Russert asked, in effect, if it was a front for political fund raising.

Has anyone ever even seen this place? Has anyone even met any "children" (if they exist) that benefit from this?

I believe Delay's scam is that 10 cents goes to this "charity" while the other 90 goes to Delay's PAC.

[liberalhistorian]

4. Yeah, the same way that

he'll give you a "National Business Leadership Award" if you pour some sugar in his coffers! My boss is ALWAYS getting those calls, and the perky aide always makes it sound like the greatest honor in the world and saves for last the little, insignificant fact that you have to grease his palm in order to get it and that ANYONE who does so will get that stupid "National Leadership Award."

[fencesitter]

5. It's not built yet...

gotta raise the money, but it's flowin' in for the chillun.

[Nlighten1]

2. Anyone know the name of this place?

On edit:

http://www.hillnews.com/news/050603/delay.aspx

The DeLay Foundation for Kids, to which lawmakers and lobbyists, among others, have contributed, would fund what they hope would be a more stable community for foster children.

[DrBB]

3. Yeah, I heard it. The worse it gets

...the worse it gets. Couldn't believe my ears. Hey, if we're lucky, maybe some day we'll have a choice between the far right, and the really really REALLY far right to vote for for president. I'm imagining, y'know, Bill First versus Tomb Delay. That's after NPR oversees the utter dissolution of the Democratic party and the splitting of the GOP into the Center Right and Right Right parties.

My gag reflex is just about used up.

on edit: b.t.w., that's hoi polloi. Just fyi.

[fencesitter]

6. Sorry, not up on my hawaiian.

n/p

[DrBB]

8. Yeah, pedantic, I know. But

...it actually refers to the great unwashed, the masses, not to the elite (common mistake--it sounds too much like "hoity toity" or something). Greek, b.t.w.

Just a pet peeve of mine. I try to hold back, but it's no use....

[goforit]

7. Yep Tom delay and Rush limbaugh need to take 1-way trip to

sang-sang!!!

[BiggJawn]

9. Was that where he was "playing dumb"

About why people payed big bucks to have dinner with him?

Yeah, I heard it, ignored most of it.

slime ball.

[waywest]

10. Well as for me,

The bullshit alarm went off just as the article was starting. In order to save my radio, I had to change it. I meandered back in time to hear the announcer say that no investigation would take place till after Fall elections. Ho hum.


(that bullshit alarm has been getting a real workout lately)