The story of the day is the roughly half-mil in money intended for inner-city youth programs that was instead "invested" in the dismal failure Air America radio. For links, Malkin, Captain's Quarters, and La Shawn Barber all have you covered. For the best overall read on the subject, check Brian Maloney, who describes the situation very well.
In a nutshell, the Bronx-based Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club was almost forced to shut down major programs because almost $500,000 of public grant money was instead diverted to Air America radio.
In response to the story, Air America has responded that it happened under the leadership of Evan Cohen, who is no longer with the network, and since the network is under new management, somehow Air America is not at fault.
On MAY 24, 2004 the newly formed PIQUANT LLC acquired the principal assets of AIR AMERICA RADIO from the prior ownership entities. PIQUANT has owned and operated AIR AMERICA RADIO since that time. The company that had run AIR AMERICA RADIO till then no longer had anything to do with the network.
PIQUANT had no involvement whatsoever with funds from GLORIA WISE BOYS &GIRLS CLUB. PIQUANT neither received nor expended any of the sums that are the subject of the City's investigation of the CLUB.
I guess that gets Piquant off the hook, but says nothing about Air America's responsibility, which certainly was inherited by Piquant upon acquiring the black hole of talk radio.
I think there is a larger issue here though, that everyone is missing. The idea that the "cause" would be better served by handing the money to Air America instead of where it can do the most good directly is very typical liberal logic that applies to so many other issues as well.
For instance, instead of giving up the SUV and riding a bike to work, the liberal instead works to have SUV's restricted or shells out money to causes that encourage draconian environmental measures. Instead of getting directly involved with south American countries, through missionary work, adopting children etc., they buy "fair trade" coffee. Instead of supporting the direct removal of a ruthless dictator like Saddam Hussein they support vague decades long human rights efforts that have absolutely no impact on the situation. Instead of giving money directly to charity, they spend money in support of political measures that would force contributions through tax dollars.
In other words, the liberal mentality has no time for doing "small" things that could actually impact someone's daily life, but prefer instead sweeping gestures that, while certainly making them feel better about themselves, have very little impact on the problems they give voice too.
How does that apply to Air America and Evan Cohen? Well, it is clear today that they are not too sorry about the revelation that they took money directly away from individuals and instead diverted it too the "larger" picture. In fact, I would wager that, from management down, most of the folks at Air America aren't even sure what the big deal is.
Maloney hints at this idea in the following passage:
The money, intended as a loan to be repaid with interest, was agreed to by Rosen after being sold on the idea of stretching their grant money further, according to one account. Part of the deal included promotional consideration of Gloria Wise's activities on Air America's programs.
They were serving the "greater good" you see. While the half-mil may have helped a few kids or Alzheimers patients through the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club, the liberal mentality dictates that it could do much more for the "greater good" at Air America, the collection of do-gooders with a national voice. If a few random folks lose a program in the Bronx, that is simply the price that has to be paid to "change the world."
Given that, I wouldn't expect any semblance of remorse from Air America in the near future. They were just following liberal protocal. Exchange the few for the "many" and personal gratification, and in the process help no one.
Also posting: Kerfuffles, Wizbang, Museum of Left-Wing Lunacy, Llama Butchers
No comments:
Post a Comment