More dishonesty from the press

[vraiblonde]

How Donald Trump Shifted Kids-Cancer Charity Money Into His Business

When you read the story, you find that Trump didn't "shift that money into his business" at all. But the author knows that you aren't going to read the story, you're just going to react to the headline.

Eric Trump held charity golf events at the Trump Golf Course. Apparently Trump used to donate the course for free, then he started charging the event for it. This is a fairly common practice - not illegal or unethical. And it's not even clear that Trump actually charged for use of the course:

"Mr. Trump had a cow. He flipped. He was like, 'We're donating all of this stuff, and there's no paper trail? No credit?' And he went nuts. He said, 'I don't care if it's my son or not--everybody gets billed.' "

This sounds to me like he wanted a paper trail for tax purposes, and that is ALWAYS the case when companies donate to charity.

"I saw that Eric was getting billed," Gillule adds. "I would always say, 'I can't believe that his dad is billing him for a charitable outing.' But that's what they wanted."

And if Eric had gotten a freebie, they'd be bitching about nepotism.

So anyway, here's the outrage du jour and something new for the kiddies to keen and cry about, then get mad and call you names when you try to explain the real story to them.

 

[hotbikermama40]

How Donald Trump Shifted Kids-Cancer Charity Money Into His Business

When you read the story, you find that Trump didn't "shift that money into his business" at all. But the author knows that you aren't going to read the story, you're just going to react to the headline.

Eric Trump held charity golf events at the Trump Golf Course. Apparently Trump used to donate the course for free, then he started charging the event for it. This is a fairly common practice - not illegal or unethical. And it's not even clear that Trump actually charged for use of the course:

"Mr. Trump had a cow. He flipped. He was like, 'We're donating all of this stuff, and there's no paper trail? No credit?' And he went nuts. He said, 'I don't care if it's my son or not--everybody gets billed.' "

This sounds to me like he wanted a paper trail for tax purposes, and that is ALWAYS the case when companies donate to charity.

"I saw that Eric was getting billed," Gillule adds. "I would always say, 'I can't believe that his dad is billing him for a charitable outing.' But that's what they wanted."

And if Eric had gotten a freebie, they'd be bitching about nepotism.

So anyway, here's the outrage du jour and something new for the kiddies to keen and cry about, then get mad and call you names when you try to explain the real story to them.

A better headline would be 'Much Ado about Nothing'

 

[GURPS]

Children and Cancer

 

[vraiblonde]

The new talking point among the durhard set is, "Trump profited off of kids with cancer."



In a few days, or a week, or a month, there will be clarification to this story....which will be buried in the bowels of the internet and seen by about three people.

 

[philibusters]

How Donald Trump Shifted Kids-Cancer Charity Money Into His Business

And it's not even clear that Trump actually charged for use of the course:

"Mr. Trump had a cow. He flipped. He was like, 'We're donating all of this stuff, and there's no paper trail? No credit?' And he went nuts. He said, 'I don't care if it's my son or not--everybody gets billed.' "

This sounds to me like he wanted a paper trail for tax purposes, and that is ALWAYS the case when companies donate to charity.

Too some degree HotBikerMama may be correct that it is a much ado about nothing--however from the rest of the article, it is clear that Trump's son Eric did pay for the golf course.

Crunching the data it said since 2005 the tournament has donated 11 million to children's cancer research which comes out to about a million per year. It further says starting in 2011 Trump began charging $142,000 to rent the golf course for the weekend. Thus about 14% of the money raised each year goes towards the golf course expenses. The charity event has raised a lot of money for science, Trump's golf course has made a little bit of money from the event since 2011, but on the whole a lot of money is going to charity. It is what it is.

For what its worth, the article is Forbes, not the Washington Post or NYT, so we are talking about a publication that leans slightly right. I don't see it as a simple hit piece on Trump. Trump is who he is. He is not Mother Theresa. His son's charity has raised 11 million for cancer research which is admirable. In this process Trump's golf course may have made a little bit of money too. Overall the whole thing is a net positive for society.

 

[vraiblonde]

Overall the whole thing is a net positive for society.

I agree, and this scenario is typical for charitable events. But straight up, if the story is that Trump actually charged full price for renting out the golf course for a charitable event, he's a cheap bastage. A smarter move would be to donate the use and write it off on his taxes. $150k to Trump Organization is like $100 to you or me - it's not money worth quibbling and being miserly over, and the goodwill publicity generated has way more value.

I know the kids like to pretend that Trump is a moron, but that is demonstrably not so, and I have to believe that he took that write-off. We'll see in a few days if this story grows legs or dies quietly.

 

[Clem72]

A smarter move would be to donate the use and write it off on his taxes. $150k to Trump Organization is like $100 to you or me - it's not money worth quibbling and being miserly over, and the goodwill publicity generated has way more value.

What he did makes the most sense from a business perspective. You donate (and take a full price write off) the things people will use, but can't (or won't) pay for. If they will pay full price, you take the cash. I.E. you may give your best advertisers a percentage off your base rate, but if you are donating add space for a charity (that otherwise would not purchase at all), you take your write-off at 100%. If the charity offers you 100% you take the money.

 

[Sapidus]

While you may be technically correct it is still pretty scummy move to tell people that the event the are going to is for one charity and then redirecting funds to a charity that you run or that is different than what is advertised.

How would you feel if you went to a cancer benefit and then the organizers decided to donate the money to planned parenthood?

"Forbes reports that more than $500,000 was taken from St. Jude and re-donated to other charities connected to the Trump family or their interests — many of which had nothing to do with cancer research"

 

[Gilligan]

T The charity event has raised a lot of money for science, Trump's golf course has made a little bit of money from the event since 2011, but on the whole a lot of money is going to charity. It is what it is.

That's what I pulled from it.

I yawned, shrugged my shoulders, and moved on.

Maybe the Trumps should just close all of their charitable orgs. You know..so hand-wringing lefties like Sappy will be satisfied.

 

[Sapidus]

That's what I pulled from it.

I yawned, shrugged my shoulders, and moved on.

Maybe the Trumps should just close all of their charitable orgs. You know..so hand-wringing lefties like Sappy will be satisfied.

Isn't that what you were screaming Bill and Hillary should do with their foundation? But now its "can you believe these lefties care about this?"

You are such a hypocrite.

 

[Wishbone]

Isn't that what you were screaming Bill and Hillary should do with their foundation? But now its "can you believe these lefties care about this?"

You are such a hypocrite.

Shrillary taking Bribes is equivalent to Trump taking a business deduction?

 

[vraiblonde]

While you may be technically correct it is still pretty scummy move to tell people that the event the are going to is for one charity and then redirecting funds to a charity that you run or that is different than what is advertised.

That happens all the time, too. Typically it's a related charity - not apples and oranges (like cancer research and Planned Parenthood). If Eric Trump Foundation holds the event, the proceeds will be given to whatever charities that organization supports, and that is usually specified in the promotional materials. If St. Jude's holds the event, one can presume that all proceeds will go toward their endeavors (unless otherwise specified).

My understanding is that the golf event benefits Eric Trump Foundation, which then directs the proceeds to charity, with their primary cause being St. Jude's.

I question this statement:

"Forbes reports that more than $500,000 was taken from St. Jude and re-donated to other charities connected to the Trump family or their interests — many of which had nothing to do with cancer research"

What does that mean, "taken" from St. Jude's? As in, they gave the money to SJ and then took it away? I highly doubt that. This whole story is written obliquely and jumps around a lot. That tells me that they're spinning a tale.

 

[Sapidus]

That happens all the time, too. Typically it's a related charity - not apples and oranges (like cancer research and Planned Parenthood). If Eric Trump Foundation holds the event, the proceeds will be given to whatever charities that organization supports, and that is usually specified in the promotional materials. If St. Jude's holds the event, one can presume that all proceeds will go toward their endeavors (unless otherwise specified).

My understanding is that the golf event benefits Eric Trump Foundation, which then directs the proceeds to charity, with their primary cause being St. Jude's.


"Forbes reports that more than $500,000 was taken from St. Jude and re-donated to other charities connected to the Trump family or their interests — many of which had nothing to do with cancer research"

What does that mean, "taken" from St. Jude's? As in, they gave the money to SJ and then took it away? I highly doubt that. This whole story is written obliquely and jumps around a lot. That tells me that they're spinning a tale.

Unfortunately the Forbes website is behind a paywall or maybe my adblocker won't let me access it so i can't look at the documents but I assume and I could be wrong was that the "taken" implies it was earmarked for them from the funds raised at the event and then the Trumps decide they would use it for other charities that could perhaps do them a favor in return or get them some press

I question this statement:

 

[Sapidus]

Shrillary taking Bribes is equivalent to Trump taking a business deduction?

Do you have proof of that?

 

[Wishbone]

"but I assume and I could be wrong"

Caught before the impending retraction.

 

[Hijinx]

Isn't that what you were screaming Bill and Hillary should do with their foundation? But now its "can you believe these lefties care about this?"

You are such a hypocrite.

I bet if Sappy goes to a church dinner that charges $25,00 a head he writes them a check and takes it of his taxes instead of paying cash.

 

[Midnightrider]

I bet if Sappy goes to a church dinner that charges $25,00 a head he writes them a check and takes it of his taxes instead of paying cash.

where is the evidence that trumps business donated the fees to take a tax break? Has anyone from team trump even said they did?