In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday, former Fugees star Wyclef Jean has emerged as one of the most prominent advocates for charitable giving in his home country. His nonprofit, Yele Haiti Foundation, has already netted more than $2 million in contributions via text messages. But that charity has a "lackluster history of accounting for its finances," and it has paid at least $410,000 to businesses tied to Jean in past years, The Smoking Gun reports.

Though it was incorporated 12 years ago, Yele filed tax returns for the first time in August 2009, and only turned over records for the period between 2005 and 2007. In that three year window, Yele paid a Manhattan recording studio owned by Jean and business partner Jerry Duplessis $100,000 for the musician to play at a benefit for his own charity, as well as $62,400 in rent. The nonprofit also paid $250,000 for "airtime and production services" on a Haitian TV station that the duo "own a controlling interest" in.

Gawker points out that "one of this means that Jean, Duplessis, and Yele Haiti aren't doing important work in Haiti, or that they can't play a constructive role in responding to the earthquake crisis," but "t does mean that, if the past is any guide, they are unlikely to wisely manage any of the money they are currently collecting from concerned Americans on behalf of the victims in Haiti." To donate to Jean's foundation, text "Yele" to 501501 and $5 will be added to your next phone bill. You can also text "HAITI" to "90999" to donate $10 to the Red Cross. For other ways to donate to the relief effort, U.S News and World Report has compiled a round-up of nonprofits working in Haiti, while the American Institute of Philanthropy gives letter grades to charities based on the "portion of their budget going to program services and their fundraising efficiency."

 sirdroseph wrote:Yeah, one could make the same claim as to Pat Robertson not being a true Christian. Next someone will say that Hitler wasn't a true Fascist. Rush touts himself as the Voice of Conservative America. I have no room to doubt him, as his millions of devout worshipers all agree with him. If someone out on the fringe doesn't like that association, then Occam's Razor says that the person declaiming Rush's being a conservative is, therefore, not really a conservative. Majority rules and all that.

 JustineFromWyoming wrote: 
*bump*
If there is concern about where the money is going, at this link you can choose which fund, including "where it is most needed"... 

 jadewahoo wrote: 

In all fairness to true conservatives, Rush is no conservative, he is a Republican shill, there is a difference.

 musik_knut wrote:The man harms conservatives because he is the unabashed voice of conservatives. 
If conservatives were to change their ways and become less ideologically the pompous hypocrites, then people like Rush would no longer be worshipped as the icon of the conservative movement.
If you think that Rush hurts conservatives because he doesn't represent you, then perhaps you aren't a conservative.

 sirdroseph wrote: 
Is that his replacement for the oxycontin?

 hobiejoe wrote: 

So nice to see your site.  The inn looks wonderful and you have a fishing vessel, too!  Amazing.

 hippiechick wrote: 

Vicadin

 musik_knut wrote: 
How does he sleep at night?

 hobiejoe wrote: 

What a beautiful spot to be...Never knew exactly where until now.  .

 hobiejoe wrote: 

Yea, unfortunately I am a yank so I used the term "someday" quite loosely, almost existentially! I have no problem with folk music though!

 hippiechick wrote: 

I would agree. When will everyone realize Rush Limbaugh is a pompous airbag and a phony to boot. The man harms Conservatives, despite what some Conservatives think or state otherwise.

 PoundPuppy wrote: 

Well $10 but as I'm making a gift aid donation mine will be worth about $6 to the recipient.  Actually I have given to MSF and the DEC.

 MrsHobieJoe wrote: 
I meant we as in you and me. 

 sirdroseph wrote: 
You'll find us here, although you may want to zoom out a tadge to put us in context
 
If you can make it tomorrow night you can join young Callum and his mates for some bangers, mash and onion gravy. Although I have to warn you that folk music may be perpetrated during the course of the evening.

 PoundPuppy wrote: 

Well if you mean "we" as in the US pop as a whole.  $1,500,000,000 approx.

We have slightly different charities in the UK.  The disasters emergency committee is an umbrella org that collects for many UK charities at this time.  That means we can bump up that value of the donation because the government gives them the tax that we have had deducted on the money in our pockets.  I prefer MSF but again by giving to the  UK branch I increase the value of the donation through the tax gift aid.

 PoundPuppy wrote: 
The government is rushing in as fast as they can. There are many obstacles, including a collapsed air control tower and difficulties in pulling ships in.

I love these 3 paragraphs:

Limbaugh agreed with a caller suspicious that the White House website was being used to direct funds to the American Red Cross. "Would you trust the money's gonna go to Haiti?" the caller asked. Limbaugh then said Obama was exploiting the disaster for political ends.

"This will play right into Obama's hands," said Limbaugh. "He's humanitarian, compassionate. They'll use this to burnish their, shall we say, credibility with the black community – both light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country. This is made to order for them."

Limbaugh also warned Americans against donating money. "Besides, we've already donated to Haiti. It's called the US income tax," he said.

There must be something seriously wrong with people who use this horrible horrible tragedy for their own personal gain.

I wonder how much we could help if we all could just spare $5.00 to the Red Cross fund for Haiti ?? We already know we can't count on Governments to rush in.

 hobiejoe wrote: 

Hey hobiejoe, where is your pub located? I would love to visit one day.

Nice. Are there any depths to which he won't stoop?
 
At least the unspeakable slimeball has inspired me to do the obvious thing and make tomorrow nights gig a fund-raiser.