DFL: Veterans to Republicans: Do the Right Thing

Press release from the DFL:

Veterans ask those who took fraudulent charity’s money to donate funds to actually help vets

St. Paul (July 23, 2010) — Today, veterans called on candidates and political organizations who received money from the United States Navy Veterans Association (USNVA) to donate it to an organization that actually helps those who have served the country.

“People around the country are grateful for the sacrifice that so many men and women have made to serve our nation, and want to donate to organizations that help our veterans,” said Trista Matascastillo, Chair of DFL Veterans Caucus. “The fact that these candidates refuse to give up the money intended to help our nation’s veterans is disgraceful.”

Yesterday, Tom Emmer refused to disclose whether or not he accepted money from the USNVA, a fraudulent charity that collected money for veterans and gave it to Republican candidates instead.

Emmer joins his fellow right-wing Republicans benefitting from these funds intended to help veterans: Michele Bachmann refuses to give up the money she received from the USNVA. And the Republican Party of Minnesota is still funneling the $10,000 they received from the fraudulent charity to its candidates around the state.

“It’s time to send these donations to the place they were intended,” said Matascastillo. “It’s time for the Republican Party of Minnesota and any other candidate who received USNVA funds to donate that money to an organization that actually helps those who have served our country. I suggest they give it to Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund.”

Background:

Republicans accepted money that was intended to help veterans, now refuse to part with it.

· “Thompson, the mysterious head of a nationwide veterans group called the U.S. Navy Veterans Association, is a Florida resident. But 35 percent of Thompson's more than $100,000 in federal donations over the past four years have gone to Minnesota candidates — primarily Republicans — and causes. That includes a $10,000 donation for a high-profile fundraiser in April featuring Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin. ‘We will be freezing the money pending the results of the investigations," said Gina Countryman, Bachmann's campaign manager, who added that Bachmann does not know Thompson.’” [Pioneer Press, 7/20/10]

· “Thompson's connection to Minnesota is unclear, but he is active in Minnesota politics. His donations include $10,000 to the Palin fundraiser, an event supported through a joint fundraising committee between Bachmann and the Republican Party of Minnesota. He also donated nearly $20,000 to former Sen. Norm Coleman's 2008 re-election bid and more than $10,000 to the Republican Party of Minnesota, including one on May 6 — two days after the Minnesota chapter of Navy Vets was dissolved.” [Pioneer Press, 7/20/10]

It's good to see the DFL making Bobby Thompson and the U.S. Navy Veterans Association an issue - just remember, Karl Bremer broke the story of Bachmann and the MN GOP's connections to Bobby Thompson here first.