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

[Blk independant]

McCain is trying anything at this point, I guess in his dementia he says what the hell I aint got nothing to lose...I mean WTF are they thinking...now that it's known the media is going to give them all the wrong type of coverage...

[washustudent]

Fraternities and sororities at Wash. U. have strong anti-hazing policies so I resent the comment that "frat boys" would choose to hold signs over a night of "binge drinking and hazing." Greeks at Wash. U. have higher GPAs than non-Greeks and are involved in numerous service organizations as well as their national organization's chosen philanthropy. My chapter is required to put in a certain amount of service hours each semester and many girls often exceed that. If reporters bother to look around this week, you'd find that Wash. U. Greeks don't fit the stereotypical molds you see on T.V. (such as ABC Family's Greek). On Fraternity Row this week, one predominantly conservative fraternity is plastered with McCain signs while another is covered with posters for Obama - and they still tend to get along! We're politically active because we enjoy being on top of the issues and I doubt any of us have low enough morals to compromise our beliefs by being paid to hold a sign. On another note, Michelle Obama was recently inducted into (gasp!) a national African-American sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Does that make her any less of a potential First Lady? Ronald Reagan was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, which also has a chapter here at Wash. U. This incident was unfortunate, but being from Mississippi myself, I know firsthand that we are a lot different from fraternities at Ole Miss. Don't judge before you know the facts.

[fairlyfat]

Now, when we see or hear about one of the McCain/Palin crowds, the question that comes to mind will be: I wonder how much that crowd is costing them?

[CheneysACoward]

I don't klnow ONE comabat veteran who is "pro war" or that would ever join a group like this. " they will get to hang out with a bunch of really cool Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans." These are the wrods of a REMF. REMF and or political wanna be's.

[DebB]

My dad is a Korean war vet and is against any war. He says - they have no idea what war does to a person. He should know.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

When you must pay someone to stand up for your cause, it is already defeated before your march has

begun. When true supporters believe in a cause, they will voluntarily show up in masses. Change We

Believe In is evidence of such.

[DebB]

I attended the Obama rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin a couple of weeks ago and guess how many Pro-McCain or "Anti Obama" supporters there were there "demonstrating"? TWO!!! I actually only saw one who was holding his sign pretty low, I didn't see the other one - but the local paper did interview her so I'll believe them and they even stated "two demonstrators". The week before when McCain/Palin were there there was a large crowd of antiwar demonstrators and they received pretty good coverage on the local news and in the paper.

Now you know why they need to pay people.

[OldKnute]

Yes,,, in some ways the TIDE is turning Deb. But distortions still do occur.

At the State capitol near me, Palin came to give one of her famous Ninja Speaches, Talk and Go. The local Obama team sent folks down with those little Clicker Counters to count the crowd.

One recorded, 1,920, another 1,850 the third, 1,790. people.

That same evening, the local News reported over 5,000 in attendance. They showed footage of long lines of people walking. BUT,,, what they said was that people walking to,,, GET IN,,, to hear Sarah Palin,, were actually footage of folks walking away from the event after Palin had spoken and the groups were dispersing, back to their cars.

NOT GOING IN.

If you were not familiar with the streets and sidewalks, the crowd’s TRUE direction of travel, you would never know that the Local Station was lying.

SEE?

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[macohmz]

Given how the economy has been so damaged by the horrific policies created by the republicans and their CEO pimps (with some help from their democrat compatriots) both vet and fratboy will hard pressed to find a job that pays a living wage. Both will look back at this time with anger.

[megacephalus]

Such a bigoted approach to writing of self-governing student residential groups, often in housing provided from own or alumni member fund is despicable immaturity!

[Querent]

OK, back to bonehead English, meg.

[springsm]

More sleaze...but mind you, I wouldn't be very proud of that fraternity either. One house can really be representing the whole shebang...hopefully they will get into some difficulty with the head honchos. Scuzzy tho...is part of the republican platform. And yoy have to know...somebody will be taking videos or instant pictures of those boys...watch out. Momma...get old of your son/daughter.

[AllenD]

When you have to bribe a bunch of drunken frat boys to carry water for you, you might as well give up.

[OldKnute]

Oh my GOSH!

Look, they used to do this same thing when Martin Luther King would march, like in Chicago. They would hire thugs to throw huge Grenade Simulators,, Flash Bang devices,,,, NOT Fireworks from Mexico,,, but Military grade simulators. We found them unexploded,, improperly deployed,, their firing devices not set properly. They also would break windows, damage cars and make all kinds of mischief.

This was also the case at the Democratic Convention in 1968. Provocateurs from within the crowd, PAID, and starting fires and pushing and shoving, then the police moved in like Gestapo.

Same at the WTO strike in Seattle, there young men in black masks broke windows, turned over trashcans, then ran right through the Police lines and disappeared.

You have to see the Spirit of these things. The HATE and FEAR that drives the people.

NOW,,, I am going to get very stupid here, and tell you the only thing that will work to defend you.

One WORD,,,, LOVE.

You must learn to LOVE these people MORE,,, than they hate you.

AND carry Cameras.

Photograph everything and get it OUT THERE!

But ,,, NEVER,, NEVER let that deepest LOVE you can reach for,,, INSIDE,,, ever falter.

You must learn to love them MORE than they hate and fear you.

That is all you need. That is all we have ever needed.

LOVE.

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB.

[dkerrice2861]

The world would be a much better place if people learned how to LOVE, not hate!!!

[Blue in NH]

Pathetic, just plain pathetic. And more evidence of the moral bankruptcy of the right wing.

[Shiral]

Can we say "GREAT BIG STINKING BRIBE??"

If the army recruiters ARE smart in their own interests, they'll have somebody there waiting to nab gullible guys who have been pumped up by knee-jerk neocons.

Feh, after the swiftboaters, NOTHING about GOP dirty tactics surprises me, anymore.

[superrobot]

What a splendid plan! Frats are well known for there good judgement.

[Quaoar]

Does Vets For Freedom plan to do anything which really supports the troops, such as providing scholarships and money for service people who actually serve in Iraq, not just for drunken chickenhawk fratboys?

Didn't think so.

[qoftu]

Somebody should interview these guys tomorrow night and ask them why they're not in the military seeing as they're so pro-War. Let's let everyone know that their opinions are for sale to the highest bidder.