Way back when I first started this blog (5 years ago), I wrote about Bush’s faith based iniative for what it was: a money laundering scheme. That’s exactly what it is. The right wing groups help Bush get elected and re-elected, then when he’s in power he directs federal funds back towards them. Nice racket if you can get it.
Under the auspices of its religion-based initiatives and other federal programs, the administration has funneled at least $157 million in grants to organizations run by political and ideological allies, according to federal grant documents and interviews.
Oliver.
A lot of us were on top of this ‘faith based’ bullshit from day, and it seemed a rather obvious scam. It is amazing to me that no one complained, especially the mainstream churches. They probably figured they’d get a nice slice of the cheese for themselves.
I propose a constitutional amendment: the government should not expend taxpayers’ money to support churches. Oh, wait a minute. We already have that amendment.
Jeez. He’s just a loyal friend.
Is there a problem?
Say what? As long as the money is not used to proselytize, the Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that federal money can go to religious organizations.
I’d like to see a comparison of how much money is also going to “socially liberal” organizations:
Now, personally, I think the government has way too much of our money and should not have the role of passing it around to groups we don’t support. The power to take your money and give it to someone else is highly corrupting.
However, unless you can show that “socially conservative” groups are getting more money than “socially liberal” groups, I’m not sure that you have a very good argument against Bush specifically.
For years, conservatives have complained about what they saw as the liberal tilt of federal grant money…
In the Bush administration, conservatives are discovering that turnabout is fair play…
This is a “dog bites man” story.
I give it 4 SO WHATs
And Superman’s a Methodist!
Do Democrats really want to play this game? Not only will they be challenged every time a Dem wants to direct money to a union or “human rights” group, they’re also taking a stand against religious organizations. Not really the best way to win back all those church-going moderates.
SaveFarris, surely you don’t mean to say that being opposed to politically connected religious groups is the same thing as being opposed to religion?
Or do you?
I don’t know about Farris, but I say “Yes!”
How do you feel about liberal politically connected religious groups?
“How do you feel about liberal politically connected religious groups?”
They should lose their 501c3 status as well.
Any non-profit who stumps for political issues and backs candidates
should forfeit their tax-exempt status.
That should put the kibosh on religious political meddling. Tax them.
“See Air America Radio”
Whats that? Never heard of it. Something like Voice of America?
Wait a nminute. Was that the outfit that stole from the children of NY City?
Dugger
nawoods: There’s something in the skin of conservatives — you know, like that poisonous toad?
When their hands are on the money, it becomes evil and corrupt. When it’s Democrats handling not - for - profit funds, who cares? See Air America Radio…
Oliver, I think you may have just discovered how politics works. When you are an elected official, and you control how money is spent, you will spend it in ways that insure you are reelected. This is nothing new to EITHER party. If there were three or four parties in this country things would work the exact same way. What do you think all that congressional pork is about? I am not excusing the practice. I hate it in fact. Its why i distrust both parties, and wish the scope and size of government were much smaller. Want to end corruption? Give these a-holes less money to spend. Its not only campaign money that corrupts, afterall.
…ha-ha-ha. Your “stole from the children of NY City” card cannot stand against my “admin was wrong on Iraqi WMD”, “admin was wrong on Hussein-Al Qaeda link”, and “admin has pissed away hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars on an ill-advised, ill-planned invasion and occupation of a distant, foreign land” cards.
But FM,
They took from the CHILDREN!!! You don’t hate the children do you? When we say ‘children’, progressives are supposed to empty their wallets immediately. Without thought (IE, SOP).
Dugger, I Support the CHILDREN, Do You?
Not to mention the United Nations… Oops!
Interesting about the children -
I wonder how many have died in Iraq due to “dear retards” policies?
In my opinion, I don’t see why people are against the idea of these grants going to non-partisan, non-ideological charaties. That should be an option that would satisfy most reasonable people.
On the other hand, this is obvious politics, so it’s not hard to see why the Bush Administration is doing this. From the article it looks like the other side does it as well, and Planned Parenthood at one time recieved such grants as well. And I’ve got no particular axe to grind against them, I hardly think they’re as evil as some people make them out to be, but do they really [need] federal funding?
On the other hand,giving money to an organization affiliated with a wealthy theocrat who thinks that mandatory abortions in China are only a neccessary evil, and that the former dictator of Liberia was a “good Christian man”, that boggles the mind even more. (Yes, the person in question is Pat Robertson).
On the other hand, whoops, out of hands.
Sundown: We can all think of a person or an organization that shouldn’t receive government money. Jesse Jackson comes immediately to mind.
The people at Planned Parenthood, for example, not only shouldn’t be given government money, they should be stabbed in their heads with big sharp instruments and torn to pieces — but I digress.
Follow The $$$$$
It’s the faith-based money trail. And it runs right through the White House.
Zappa: Nobody does “body count” like Africa, but since Bush can’t be held responsible, who cares?
That’s the Frank_D “give ‘em a taste of what they want to be dished out” stance. I don’t think there are more than a few pro - lifers who would agree with me.
“The people at Planned Parenthood, for example, not only shouldn t be given government money, they should be stabbed in their heads with big sharp instruments and torn to pieces”
Wow. None of my commentary on that is needed. Just, wow.
[...] pages. Oliver Willis pointed out that the Bush administration is using its Office of Fai [...]
The people at Planned Parenthood, for example, not only shouldn t be given government money, they should be stabbed in their heads with big sharp instruments and torn to pieces
wow, indeed. So much for the Pro-Life stance.