Posted on 08/06/2009 6:35:58 PM PDT by Maelstorm
The Chicago Diner was joking when it labeled it's tip jar "Palin Retirement Fund," during Market Days Chicago's gay-pride-like festival.
No one would actually expect a GLBT-friendly, vegan business to donate money to the gay-marriage-opposing, moose-shooting former governor of Alaska.
But it seems one blogger didn't get the joke.
A writer at HillBuzz.org approached the manager and demanded to know if the money collected would be donated to SarahPAC, the former governor's federally registered political action committee.
"No, of course not. That's for us," the manager said, according to the blogger.
"Are you a 501(c)(3) authorized to ask for donations to a 'Fund' of any kind? If so, what’s your 501(c)(3) number?” asked the blogger.
"Look, for the last five years we ran a Bush Impeachment Fund, and no one complained," the manager reportedly said. "People here hate Palin, and we've gotten lots of compliments on those jars. People take their pictures with them and everything. So this is the first negative thing I've heard."
The blogger now wants to make a complaint against The Chicago Diner's business license and is calling upon his readers to call or e-mail the restaurant to protest.
Here's a tip for the blogger: Instead of protesting the fake "fund," maybe you should learn how to find the humor in the jar.
Matt Bartosik, a "between blogs" blogger, is starting up a "Save Time" fund.
Here’s a tip for the owner; find something that is funny to EVERYONE not just the left...idiot...
Oh, believe me, boys, I do see the humor here. I’m just not quite sure you saw it.
Yeah it looks that way.
You know who doesn't have a sense of humor, the Internal Revenue Service. And, their friends over at the Federal Elections Committee aren't well known cut-ups either. It wouldn't surprise me if a little birdie or two whispers something in their ear about either fraudulent PACs or unreported income - just a hunch.
So neener neener neener.
You couldn’t pay me to visit Chicago, you’d have to drag me kicking and screaming over there. Why do they use the word “Hate” why would they hate a fellow human being, for what, not agreeing with her politics, for that they “hate” her. They are scum bags, I hope the IRS audits them. They did the same thing to Bush
It is illegal to collect money for something and not give the money to the thing collected for, and if you don’t have a non profit status, then you can’t solicity funds for charity...it’s against the law. And it’s fraud if you are keeping it for yourself.
While I think the stunt the restaurant is stupid, I have to say it is well within their 1A rights to do that.
The world is different now, the tolerant ones are angry.
I hope their bottoms are sued off.
It is time to get on the offensive play.
I’m not sure if the first amendment covers fraudulent trade practices. Unless they actually send this money to Sarah Palin (assuming they collect any) they are collecting money fraudulently.
Perhaps they could cover their rears by having some fine print explaining that it’s a joke or some other way of conveying it’s not real.
Making them give money to SarahPac would be “just deserts” for being so stupid.
Au Contraire, Mon Fraire! The Supreme Court has already ruled that free speech and money are two complete separate animals. Satire and sardonic humor are fiercely protected by the first amendment. But, the collection money, either to be distributed as employee tips or for distribution to charities or non-for-profit organizations is something that clearly falls to the purview of federal, state and local governments.
Now, this is Chi-Town, so this d-bag will be protected by the Chicago political machine. But, in another city, a fine or two could be coming his way.
The Supreme Court is not always right and includes political factors in how they decide cases. Also someone who likes Palin does not think a Palin retirement fund is necessary and someone who hates her would not donate money to it. And someone in the middle would not make a fuss over something or think it is a funny joke.
Jay you have that right. Hate is ok when it comes from the left but basic disagreement from the right is immediately labeled “hate”. It is a game for them which far too many on the right acquiesce to immediately retreating rather than fighting back against the smears. A case in point is the Sotomayor silliness about how opposing a Hispanic because she is a an activist judge is some how hateful or racist.
They are in their rights as long as they are not collecting money in the jar. That would be illegal. ;-)
a tip jar at a GBLT festival? I would be afraid to look at what was inside it.
It should have read Glory Hole paint fund....
No, the Supreme Court isn't always right, but they are always the last word. And, their last word on this subject is speech and money aren't interchangeable values or commodities. And, I wouldn't want to rely on the IRS getting my joke.
In many cities (perhaps Chicago), there are fairly strict rules about how TIP charges must be displayed as well as other collection jars - I'd wager that Chicago has such regulations and this TIP jar probably violates them.
Lastly, if this was an insult directed at Obama, I don't have any doubt that his minions would bring the full weight of the controlling government agencies on the perp.
Wow I didn’t know militant gay activist were hateful.. I mean from the media coverage I thought the militant homosexual movement was full of love peace and harmony. What a shock to discover how hateful they are. I’ve said it before I’ll say it again. Much of success in politics is having the right friends and quite frankly the right enemies. And Sarah Palin definately has the right enemies.
Fag bar.
Yep and they don’t have sex in the streets and drink urine and eat feces either. No they are just as normal as everyone else.
In one sense you are correct. They have every right in the world to put out a Sarah Palin collection jar, but if they are not going to actually give the money to Sarah Palin's campaign fund then the top of the jar must not have a slot in it so that money can be dropped in. This is illegal solicitation of funds, against the law in every state I know of.
Apparently they made money off of fraudulently collecting for George Bush's impeachment also. I hope the IRS and other agencies pay a visit to this fellow. This is no different than putting a Jar in a public place for the solicitation of funds for say "Orphans" and them pocketing the money.
Are you telling me anyone would seriously be fooled by this?
This is clearly a joke, try and lighten up.
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