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Charitable Chicanery at the GOP Convention

Filed under: Imported

Most of the reporting on attempts to circumvent new campaign finance laws has been focused on 527s, such as Moveon and SBVFT. But a different means of funneling contributions to politicians in order to gain access and influence is on blatant display this week in New York.

Since McCain-Feingold passed, it seems, Republican lawmakers have discovered a burning passion for helping poor kids with cancer, fighting the spread of AIDS, and other heartwarming causes.

Last year, noted Texas humanitarian Tom Delay founded Celebrations for Children, a nonprofit organization that supposedly raises money to assist "abused and neglected children." It just happens to be staffed by Republican political operatives (as well as Delay's daughter). The "charity" drew immediate scrutiny, with watchdog organizations like Common Cause imploring the IRS to reject their applications for tax-exempt status.

Celebrations for Children initially had big plans for the GOP convention. In return for a $500,000 contribution, the group was offering donors a week-long convention tryst with Delay and other Republican bigwigs. These philanthropists would get a private dinner with Delay, a cruise on a yacht with the House majority leader, and a luxury suite from which to listen to the President's acceptance speech, among other perks. Delay was finally shamed into putting the kibosh on this money-for-access scheme after repeated criticism.

(A similar event was slated to be hosted by Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln at the Democratic convention, but was also cancelled.)

But other charitable scams are still going forward. Most notably, there's tomorrow evening's World of Hope fundraiser at Rockefeller Center. World of Hope was formed in 2003 by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to raise money to fight AIDS. For a mere $250,000, donors will get 10 passes to a VIP reception at Rockefeller Center with various senators, as well as 50 tickets to a larger concert that will feature Brooks & Dunn. (Lord knows they're not paying $250,000 because they want to see that dull-ass hat act.)

How much money will actually trickle down to the causes that are supposedly benefiting (most of which are run by folks with close GOP ties) is impossible to tell. I know from my years as a reporter with The Chronicle of Philanthropy that even legitimate fundraising events often have overhead costs that swallow up 70 percent or more of the proceeds. My guess is that the charities will be lucky to see five percent of the money hauled in.

The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, a non-partisan watchdog group, issued a statement today condemning the event. The NCRP notes that the charitable organization is merely a front to allow wealthy donors to buy access to lawmakers. It further alleges that World of Hope is in violation of laws prohibiting nonprofits from getting involved in electoral politics.

Posted by Paul Demko at August 31, 2004 3:34 PM

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