Tom DeLay is a Scumbag

Salon does their own DeLay analysis this morning. It basically goes into his "charity" events, and speculates that his charities may be trumped up extracurricular politicial action committees, that fall outside the purview of campaign finance laws, so he can grab as much money and gifts as he can get his grubby little hands on. As evidence they present that all of the leaders of his non-profit charities are all former or soon-to-be political advisors and operatives. They also mention this little nugget:

But so far, tax records show that DeLay's foundations have spent far more on golf fundraisers than on programs for children. (There are two foundations: The DeLay Foundation for Kids is one; it raises money for a second foundation, Rio Bend, a housing development under construction for foster children.) Over the past four fiscal years, DeLay's foundations have spent almost $600,000 on golf fundraisers at exotic retreats. That is more than seven times what DeLay has so far handed out to unrelated organizations that are actively helping kids, according to tax returns through the most recent filings of June 2004. Golf retreats are the only fundraising activity apparent on the foundations' tax returns.

The asshole loves golf, especially free golf at fancy courses, so he starts up a charity for kids to get him what he wants. This man knows no decency.

I'm particularly offended as someone who works in the non-profit sector. During the election season last year, we had to have a special meeting so they could lecture us not to even use the phones to plan going to a rally with your friends, or the copy machines to make funny pictures of Bush because we could lose our non-profit status. It's pretty bullshit that this guy is using his non-profit agency to get free golf and give bigwig fatcats access to his legislative agenda.

All for the CHILDREN!