Pro-War Group Offering Cash For Frats To Demonstrate At VP Debate

In hopes of organizing a robust demonstration for the vice presidential debate this Thursday in St. Louis, the pro-Iraq War (and ostensibly pro-McCain) organization, Vets for Freedom, is resorting to offering local college fraternities hundreds of dollars if their members come and hold signs.

In an email obtained by the Huffington Post, Vets for Freedom field staffer Laura Meyer offered a fraternity at St. Louis University a "sizable donation" - plus free lunch - if it could use their pledges to demonstrate outside the VP debate.

"I was emailing you today," wrote Meyer, "because I am trying to find people who would be willing to hold up signs for a few hours in the afternoon this Thursday outside the VP debate site. It's only for a few hours and you can gain a lot from it.... first off, lunch for any guys who agree to volunteer will be on me. Secondly, they will get lots of media attention! My organization did a similar thing in Mississippi last week and a ton of them were on TV. Meaning, the guys could wear their [REDACTED] gear while holding up our signs and get attention for their frat. Also, they will get to hang out with a bunch of really cool Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.

"Lastly, and here's the kicker.... if you guys can get us at least 20 volunteers for those few hours, my organization will make a sizable donation to your fraternity. If you use pledges you could look at it as 'free money and free publicity'. If this sounds like something you may be willing to help us out with, please let me know ASAP!"

Reached by phone, Meyer said the total amount of cash the frat could earn was between $200 and $250 for organizing 20-plus members. She also noted that the program was a success in generating publicity during last Friday's presidential debate.

Judy Mayka, a spokesperson for the national chapter, said that the practice of paying for demonstrators had been going on without their knowledge and would subsequently end.

"Obviously this was not a direction from national and we have contacted the Missouri staffers and volunteers and told them it is not appropriate in our policy," she said. "And those who choose to attend the vice presidential debate should not be compensated."

As for the payments made for volunteers during the Mississippi presidential debate, Mayka added: "We will be looking into that."

The practice of paying volunteers is perfectly legal, and having scores of rowdy pro-war supporters cheering on the backdrop of TV sets can be an effective way for Vets for Freedom to disseminate its message.

But keep in mind, some of the people demonstrating outside the VP debate had a choice to make: take the money from Vets for Freedom or subject themselves to a night of hazing and binge drinking. On Thursday, we will see how many chose the former.

Comments

[Progress08]

Dudes. Heres what we do bro. We show up but hold up Obama signs instead... Fashizzle Brohab.

[HHarvey]

That would be so great! Call them and tell them you will do it. You won't get paid until the end so don't expect anything, but it would be funny.

[CostaMesaJoe]

Pretty pathetic.
They realize how absurd their message is and know no one with any real sense is going to assist their bull $hit cause; so they start handing out cash and ham and cheese sandwiches in desperation.

[keepemhonest]

let me get this straight. The frat punished those that did NOT attend in Mississippi? There should be legal consequences for that.

[ProudLiberalDemocrat]

Vets for Freedom should be supporting Obama.

McCain has voted to cut Veteran benefits more than anyone in Congress.

[Progress08]

Oh they're not a real vets organization. What they are is a Neo-conservative swift boat group.

[wolf58]

So true

[AlexeiJ]

Politicians frequently don't write their speeches. Unions pay homeless to picket. While it may seem somewhat odd, it seems fine to use whatever tactics are available to bring an end to this war.

Take a look at this video for a personal look at the heavy toll that the Iraq war has exacted on both Americans and Iraqis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPDJtS_BWuE&fmt=6

Largely ignored by the mainstream media is the fact that as many as ONE MILLION Iraqis have been killed since the start of the invasion. Lieutenant General Tommy Franks, who led the invasion of Iraq, famously remarked, "We don't do body counts." As the Guardian newspaper notes, however, "even though the Americans were not counting, people were dying, and every victim had a name and a family." "Wedding parties were bombed by US planes, couples driving home at night were shot at checkpoints because they missed a flashlight warning them to stop, and hundreds of other unarmed civilians were killed for no legitimate cause."

DO SOMETHING! Register to vote NOW (deadlines fast approaching) and vote early in states that permit early voting!

http://www.voteforchange.com/

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Draft them all.

[sg096]

great idea!

[FloridaShutterBug]

"Lastly, and here's the kicker.... if you guys can get us at least 20 volunteers for those few hours, my organization will make a sizable donation to your fraternity. If you use pledges you could look at it as 'free money and free publicity'."

...and all it will cost you is your soul.

[Progress08]

A donation in the form of Rohypnol

[RepublicansHateAmerica]

Does anyone know which Fraternity they proposed this too? It can be shut down from a National Level real quick if it's a large fraternity.

[robXdion]

LOL!! Pay some punk college frat boys, who AVOIDED military service to hold signs in support of the war? Do these idiots understand they are advocating a future draft and they will be prime candidates?

[protagonia]

Like getting a real chicken to hold up the sign in front of a KFC.

[CostaMesaJoe]

lmao

[atila]

unfortunally there are ignorant kids willing to do this just for the money,i can bet if they go,you'll see army recruiters around them too....

[Progress08]

Recruiters can't be there in uniform. It's violation of the UCMJ

[TheDeRanger]

And so?...

[argent1]

Yea, get the Frats out there to hold up signs supporting the war - after all they are not directly involved in the war, have not joined the service because that would slow their assent into the business world where they can have a bright future. Good idea. Perhaps when they are holding up the signs, Chris Matthews will be pointing it out --

[Tobiasism]

Yeah. The guys could get attention for their fraternity being out of touch with America.
Maybe they should stay home and watch the debate so they can vote with some margin of reason.