O'Reilly: Charge Red Cross With Fraud

NewsMax.com ^ | 10/30/01 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

Fox News Channel star Bill O'Reilly on Tuesday night accused the Red Cross of deception and fraud and expressed outrage at the millions being spent on "community outreach."

"This is an outrage! They should be charged with fraud!" he thundered, calling for a government investigation into diversion of funds solicited for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"People don't know any better. They were snookered here."

The organization refused to have a representative appear on "The O'Reilly Factor."

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[kcvl]

They make me sick! I e-mailed our local Red Cross about this and they are stupid. They told me that the Red Cross has never charged for anything. That's NOT what I have read or heard about them. I doubt all these people are lying and the Red Cross is the only one telling the truth. Fat chance!

[xJones]

I feel snookered. I helped raise $1000 for the Red Cross in one 4H fundraiser and we assured the donators that every cent would be going to the Red Cross and it would be for the NYC disaster. We believed that. Obviously now, we were lying.

I wasn't in charge or I would have preferred the Salvation Army. They have a low overhead and most of the money goes directly to the distressed. Live and learn.

[backhoe]

Hullo, kat- well, good! Maybe if a "mainstream guy on TV" like O'Reilly makes this charge it will wake up the sheep out there!

The United Way is another organization which, IMHO, is rife with fraud and coersion- maybe he'll investigate them next.

You only have to look at the Blood Trail stories to see how questionable the ARC is....

[Mike Darancette]

millions being spent on "community outreach."

Community Outreach=Advertising.

They are taking 911 money to promote the Red Cross. That is fraud.

[borisbob69]

I switched from supporting the ARC to donating money to the Salvation Army over 30 years ago...because I saw the SA giving away various food items at a disaster while the ARC was selling them!

I wouldn't contribute a penny to the ARC because I have never trusted them to be honest with their handling of contributions.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Good morning, kattracks. If any thing good has come out of this, it is that the Salvation Army will hopefully benefit from this very public nation-wide unmasking of a crooked organization called the Red Cross.

[defeat_the_dem_igods]

The Blood Brokers

Red Cross: $550m won't be used for victims

Big Charity Like Big Government

[spectre]

And we all should remember the bell-ringers of the Salvation Army this year. They stand out there and ring their bells, sometimes in freezing weather, always with a "God Bless You" for as little as a quarter dropped in the bucket.

As for the Red Cross, we have been double crossed. Not another dime from me to them...ever.

sw

[2Trievers]

Let's let Mark Levine and Landmark Legal at the RC. Grrrrrrrrr...

[NY Cajun]

The United Way is even worse than the Red Cross. Twenty five years ago they were donating to communist and leftist organizations and I dropped my contributions. Their unaccountability of millions of dollars is worse than the millions unaccountable by that other leftist organization, Greenpeace. But The United Way is worse than Greenpeace because their donators believe that their contributions are going to victims. Only Fox News would dare to ask the tough questions. Don't ever expect these organizations to be questioned by CNN, et al.

[RandallFlagg]

A buddy at work said that once he got into an argument with someone from United Way seeking donations. It started with him asking, "Well, do you get paid for this?" She said yes.
He concluded that companies that have payrolls for their fundseekers are fraudulent and sticks with The Salvation Army.

Aparently, this United Way employee couldn't justify the fact that she made $80,000 per year..

[openotherend]

I agree. I am convinced my money will only go to local charities. My church, the Salvation Army and the local Rescue Mission.

[Dante3]

This is inexcusable.

I've read that victims of United Flight 93 are excluded from aid by the scores of agencies set up to provide relief to the families. I hope this is not true.

[defeat_the_dem_igods]

Amen, Cajun. The only "United" aspect of the United Way is the manner in which it "unites" the self professed do-gooders in each community.

These are folks that feel a need to network with other business professionals for self-aggrandizing ($$$) purposes.

It's never the common folk that become UW community leaders, volunteers, and goal-setters - just watch your local newspaper, note the names and faces.

[NittanyLion]

MSNBC reported the other night that community outreach efforts include diversity education. I'll try to find a source.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I watched this last evening...he was hot! He is truly sincere in his beliefs on this issue and I say "Go for It".

I have given money and have also put my loose change into the jars around town. I have given in the belief my money will be used to help those affected by 9/11. (be it victims (citizens or not), rescue workers, displaced families, etc) I have not given so that rescue workers will be charged for the coffee they drink or the food they eat.

If asked, I would say YES, if a portion of the monies go to "blood readiness." However, I am apalled that money given to help the victims of 9/11 is earmarked for an upgrade to the telecommunications system.

From now on, it is the Salvation Army--the charity leftist America loves to hate seems to be the one truly helping without trying to fatten their own coffers..

[Psalm 73]

You know the sayings:
"There is no easier, softer way"
"If you want something done right - do it yourself"
If one takes the time to research charities before a check is written, and/or one gives money to individual charities that you are personally involved with instead of just writing a check and trusting someone else to do it for you, then...
ie: we write checks out every few months for a variety of charities and political/social action organizations. It is not as easy as having $$ taken out of my pay check and sent to "where ever", but I know the money goes were it is supposed to, and not eaten up in "administrative" expenses.

[Publius6961]

The United Way is another organization which, IMHO, is rife with fraud and coersion- maybe he'll investigate them next.

You got that right.
The Boy Scout controversy should have awakened everyone.
This group of flim flam artists might as well call them selves the perverts collection society.
They seem to find every AIDS and pervert-related scam to fund.

[spectre]

So I went over to the Red Cross web site. Obviously they have covered their arses...I quote the following:

"If you wish to make a contribution to your local Red Cross chapter, please mention the Local Community Services Fund when calling in your donation. To donate to our disaster relief operations, please mention the Disaster Relief Fund when donating by phone. And to make a donation to an international crisis, please mention the International Response Fund when donating over the phone. This will ensure your contribution goes directly to your choice of funds."

Nearly ALL the fund raisers I have seen, were CLEARLY labeled as an effort to collect money for disaster relief for the victims and their families. It's a no- brainer.

sw