Redstate

Posted at 8:42pm on Apr. 9, 2008 American Idol: Idol Gives Back

By absentee

I don't doubt that many in America have sneers or sarcasm, not dollars, for Idol Gives Back. I further don't doubt there are some here at Redstate that feel this way. I'm not one of those.

Charity is a beautiful force in the world, improving the lives and fortunes of the recipient and giver alike. And the fact that Americans can cross both ideological and popular culture divides and share a common, deep sense of compassion for the less fortunate, both here and around the world, is a bond between us all.

Sometimes charity drives can annoy conservatives when they start spouting liberal tropes and truisms. I know they can annoy me. I hope you can look past that and participate in a worthwhile effort.

Real children experience genuine improvement in their lives, sometimes transformative beyond words, as a result of this Idol charity drive. This is everyone's chance to help those kids.

I urge you to look past your objections and participate with conservatives and liberals, the cool and the uncool, hipsters and dorks and, yes, even celebrities and Maria Shriver. Please take time tonight to donate. If you really object, make this a night to donate to any charity of your choice.


Idol Gives Back

Other Charities:
www.ONE.org
The Red Cross
Salvation Army
Wounded Warrior Project
Soldiers Angels



Feel free to add others in comments.

Please take a moment and make this a night of charity. Somewhere in the world, a small face and a small voice is suffering. Tonight, America is going to answer that tiny cry for help. I hope you'll be a part of it. I know I will.

Update: Feddie here. Absentee was kind enough to invite me to list a few prolife organizations that y'all may want to consider donating money to in lieu of Idol Gives Back. So, here goes:

Feminists for Life

Bethany Christian Services

Priests for Life

Project Rachel: You can donate the money to your local Catholic Diocese.

Or you can, and probably should, donate money to your local Crisis Pregnancy Center

Cross-posted at The Minority Report

Posted in American Idol | Charity | Culture | Idol Gives Back — Comments (22) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 7:32am on Apr. 6, 2008 Clinton Charity Begins At Home

By California Yankee

After I posted about the Clintons becoming the $109 million couple, Dan McLaughlin noted that Hillary and Bill took tax write-offs totaling $10.2 million in charitable contributions. Dan wondered if we know how many of those charities are run by Bill Clinton?

The answer is not exactly. Most of the charitable contributions went to the Clinton Family Foundation, and a portion was even distributed to charitable causes.

This is the same Clinton Family Foundation that Hillary failed to disclose as required by the Ethics in Government Act. The foundation was kept off of Hillary's Senate disclosure forms for six years.

The family foundation is based at the Clintons' Chappaqua, N.Y., home. Bill Clinton serves as its president, Hillary Clinton as secretary and treasurer, and daughter Chelsea as a director.

Between 2001 and 2006, the Clintons put about $6 million into the foundation. The Clintons took a tax write-off for that money even though the foundation only gave away gave away about $2.5 million to other charities.

The Clinton Family Foundation gave $25,000 to the McGovern Library and Center for Leadership and Public Service in Mitchell, S.D., in early 2007. Did that have anything to do with McGovern's endorsement of Hillary in October? According to the Post, McGovern says no:

It was the furthest thought when I decided to endorse Hillary last October.

Posted in 2008 | Charity | Hillary Clinton | tax returns — Comments (3)/ Email this page » / Read More »