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

[BobsNotWorking]

Generated publicity at the presidential debate? Really? I didn't hear anything about it, and 'man I'm watchin' ALL the channels' (except FOX of course).

[Jingo]

What a deal. For $200, 20 fraternity brothers can help get the guy elected who will probably draft them for the coming wars with Iran, Russia, etc. Plus they get to meet some recent war vets - excellent opportunity to make those connections for their future military careers.

[silversister]

I wonder if local St Louis media are aware of this little "deal". SADLY, the hawks must be concerned that not enough people actually support the war, to come out in numbers to demonstrate because they actually believe in fighting and dying for oil, and the continuing financial success of BIG OIL.

I would think young people would be coming out in droves and they could have some recruiter there to sign people up for the military on-site to prove how eager our young college students are to be thrown into the meat grinder. After all, the war machine is hungry for fresh meat.

It's SICKENING.­.. and really hard for me to imagine that any EDUCATED young person would support this war. But then, since the average Washington University student has more than modest economic means, it's unlikely they would personally be signing up, they're just there for the beer money...

[GoVeg]

All those pro-war people should sign up and be in Iraq right now.

[HowIronic]

How come they are only asking frat boys? I know a lot of college students who will sell out for $200 and they really need the money.

[larry278]

This reminds me of 5 Sigma Nu's going in to the Last & 1st Chance bar in S Dade Co, Fl where the ex-GI's from U of Miami, aka Sun Tan U loafed & drank. The frat boys were taking up a collection to send goodie boxs to the drafted grunts in 'Nam. That didn't go over with us ex-GI's. We told the Sigma Nu's to go to the Recruiting Stations in Homestead or the Gables if they really wanted to help the grunts, The Sigma Nu's didn't leave so somebody, not an ex-GI, called 911. When the Sigma Nu's wouldn't go, the deptuty, WTFever called for 2 vans & 4 cars with a Sgt & a Lt. The Lt told the frat boys to get into the van, he sent the other van back. When the frat boys said that they would use their cars. The sheriff's people cuffed them, threw them in the van & called tow trucks to take the cars the frat boys used to an impound lot. We went back to drinking. Never saw the frat boys again. I don't think any of the frat boys enlisted but we didn't see them in class either.
Bring on the frat boys; some ex-GI's will ask them to go to a recruiting station & sign up. REMFS, even patriotic frat boys, rile ex-GI's Seeing a frat boy being run down by an exGI in a wheel chair would look good on the 24/7 feed on FAUX.

[Jingo]

That's $200 for 20 plus people. Even a broke college student would have to be desperate to work a "few hours" for at most $10. That's less than minimum wage... no surprise from Republicans. And what college student wouldn't want to hang out with Iraqi war vets. I'm sure many vets who joined the military because they could not afford college or didn't have the grades would get along splendidly with some frat boys who likely spend more time drinking than they do working to pay for college.

[kaipost]

As a student and fraternity member at Washington University in St. Louis(where the debate is taking place), I am shocked and appalled. Not by the fact that people are begin paid for protesting--that is capitalism and business at work. I am appalled by the stereotyping of the Greek Community. We go to a highly competitive University of free thinkers who have very strong political views. To think that Greeks would give up these beliefs for "Beer Money" is ridiculous. Even if we did, why beer money? Why not charity? We are extremely involved in the community and the political sphere. There is much more to being Greek than drinking and partying. Terrible Journalism.

[TKEKOA]

The "night of hazing and binge drinking" comment was really unnecessary.

[Forester]

get phi beta brownshirts, they'll do it, and then maybe send them off to eyerak for some more volunteerin'

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

phi beta brownshirt, isn't that the frat that most Skull&Bones'ers pledge?

[tjwdraws]

Oh my, the McCain camp is so so pathetic. It is kinda sad.

[darthdarcy]

He had an On Golden Pond moment...

I tell you it's Alzheimer'­s...

[theseeker88]

It's pretty sad that McSame needs to PAY kids to come to his rallies...­.

I live in Portland.

When Obama came to town, there were more than 100,000 of my friends and neighbors who came out to hear what he had to say.

I can assure that not any of us were paid a single penny to endure the hot sun, and large crowd. We were there because we want to see somethings change in the way this country is being managed. We wanted to hear the man who would most likely be our next president. We didn't ask for money, we only wanted to hear his ideas.

McSame needs to bribe college students to come out to hold signs. Obama got people from every age group, rich, poor and middle class to come out to rally for his campaign in every city in which he has appeared, and we have all done it for free.

This fact alone speaks volumes about the difference between the two campaigns.

[mugwump67]

A pro-war protest turned frat party? No, that can't be good. Not good at all.

[darker]

We've had FRAT BRATS running the White House! Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld, etc.
It's stunk. WE CAN'T AFFORD REPUBLICANS ANY MORE!!
They're too damn expensive.
NO MORE YEARS.

[Tropiholic]

would those be the same kids he plans to draft?

[SuZy0925]

I was just thinking the same thing! Talk about collateral damage--they would help McCain get elected and in gratitude he would send them to Iraq or Iran (bomb bomb bomb). This is so outrageous, even for Republicans.

[Bush 08]

it's always fun to see protesters who don't believe in the message... i wonder if free lunch means a keg and some chips, that might animate them somewhat.

[OldKnute]

Huffington Staff

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[mtflyer]

Let's hope that if this comes off, the police will use stormtrooper tactics on them like the thugs in Mnneapolis used on peaceful demonstrators and newspeople including those from CNN. That was a preview of what we will see all over if the neocons stay in powe!