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

[glamorous1908]

I had to modify the article below to fit the post word requiremen­ts...sorry for the confusion. The first part of it is at the bottom, then read upwards.... Thanks :)

[glamorous1908]

In April 2003, he voted against a bill that would have provided $1 billion worth of needed equipment for our reserves and nation guard troops.

In October 2003, the senator voted against a $322 million appropriations bill that would have provided safety equipment for those fighting in Iraq.

In March 2004, he voted against a bill that would have closed a loophole that would have provided $1.8 billion for medical care for active duty service personnel.

In April 2006, he voted against a bill that would have helped veterans with out-patient treatments.

In May 2006, he voted against a bill that would build additional military medical facilities across the country.

In September 2007, he voted against a bill that would have mandated longer periods between deployments for our troops in Iraq.

And finally, in May 2008, the senator from Arizona spoke out against Sen. Jim Webb's new GI Bill, a bill that would have given our Iraq and Afghanistan military returnees the same educational opportunities as previous veterans serving in war
time.

It is worth noting that Sen. McCain didn't even bother to show up for the vote on Sen. Webb's bill, and as a matter of fact, McCain only showed up to vote four out of the 14 times that the Senate was voting on legislation pertaining to Iraq in 2007.

All together, Sen. McCain has voted against $5 billion in appropriations that would have helped our troops and veterans during the current conflict.

[glamorous1908]

Veterans deserve better than the double talk given them by McCain

We have watched and listened to Sen. John McCain for the past year claiming to be the only candidate running for president that has the concern and well-being of our fighting men and women at heart.

We have seen him at news conferences in Iraq using our troops as backdrops and telling the world and the nation how proud he was of them and the sacrifices that they are making for the nation.

One would think that a senator who speaks so eloquently about our troops would do everything in his power to see that all that can be done for them will be done. However, what McCain says and the way he voted are entirely two different things.

[LeawoodKansas]

What idiots. All they needed to do was bring the beer.

[SDSL]

Paying frat boys to protest? Please, how low can the Republicans go?

Have the Republicans given some thought as to what this will look like - dumb white elite kids yelling about a Black moderator and a Black Presidential nominee?

I wonder if the St. Louis police will be as diligent as those in Minneapolis? At least the demonstrators at the RNC had good reason to protest the failure of the wars and the economy - brought to you by the Bush Administration and his Congressional Republican lackeys.

[DASChicago]

how low can the Republicans go?

They are working on 8 million cracks in the floor.

[lwfky]

These chickenhawks are so thoroughly despicable that it makes me want to throw up. I want to know how many of these people actually served or have a family member who is serving in Iraq. Frankly, anyone who is willing to carry a sign for these people, should be willing to march down to their nearest recruiting office and sign up!

[firewmn]

** WOW.. 200 for 20 people.. breaks down to 10.00 per person but how mnay hours.. say- 3 (few) hours.. is 3.00 an hour..

LESS than Minimum wage.... .. (WTF..???)
*

[Mikecoatl]

But the GOP doesn't believe in the Minimum Wage, remember?

[MayaPapaya]

200 to 250? that doesn't seem like that much considering all the fees frat boys have to pay.

[Daw8it]

Paying people to demonstrate ....so sad.

[JessWonderin]

Seems 1,000 CITIZENS demonstrating in ANCHORAGE against PALIN . . for FREE in a state with a density of 1.2 people per sq mile . . . again "FOR FREE" . . .

So they are PAYING people to show up? Nice use of "Republican Checkbook Democracy" . . . .

[Daw8it]

lol, here is evidence that they are paying people. and you speculate about 1,000 people "might" have got paid.

Let me guess, you believe the dinosaurs were walking around with humans too.

[rasthedestroyer]

so what else is NEw???

[isadora]

Many's the time, in my years as a crusading Femocrat,, that I've seen, or known of, Republiccans paying various individuals to demonstrate for them, carry signs for them, and even rig a friendly softball game between YD's and YR's in my community. And this is the party that screams about moral behavior and criticizes Democrats ad infinitum and nauseum for being "liberals without morals." To quote the Brodway show "1776" "Tisn't morals, 'tis money that saves." Is this story news? I'd say it's olds.,

[TheIndependenceParty]

I will check the news outlets to see which frats participate, ... and take the blood money to demonstrate. If it is my fraternity, I will not re-up my membership, ... The National offices of all the frats should understand that they represent every political belief, and not just the one with the most cas today.

If I were a frat Office Executive I'd send an e-mail to the chapter presidents at Wash U to let them know their alumni brothers are watching their butts.

Brotherhood is a lifetime consideration. Taking cash to bash a candidate might get you beer money for a week, ... and a bad rep for a lifeime.

Think twice, boneheads!

[midbikecrisis]

I seriously doubt an American University student needs the money. At over $35,000 a year for tuition, it's more likely that they'll do it pro bono for their wealthy right wing mommies and daddies!

[metatron1970]

If they were doing this at the Ole Miss campus I certainly didn't see it when I was there last Friday. If anything, the reverse was true: MSNBC had a tent adjacent to the field where the public (mostly students) were watching the debate from giant projection screens. An attractive woman from MSNBC was handing out Obama "Change" signs and instructing people where to stand behind Chris Matthews so that the pro-Obama messages could be seen on camera. In addition to this, someone from MSNBC working inside the tent was coaching the assembled crowd on how to show proper enthusiasm when the cameras were on. Since I'm already an Obama supporter, I participated without hesitation, though the journalistic integrity of MSNBC could perhaps be called into question since they were not doing anything comparable with McCain supporters.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

What's next, is the RNC going to pay the fellas at Delta House to break into the DNC and steal their donkey, cover it in pro-war graffiti and put it on display on the steps of the Capitol? Is that their big plan for winning this election?