New York Sun Investigates Further

FINALLY, FRANKEN SPEAKS

What Took So Long? Is He Credible?







It's taken nearly a week, since the Radio Equalizer's first report on Air America's taxpayer funding diversion scandal, but Al Franken has finally addressed it, thanks to a second New York Sun investigative piece.

Why the delay? If we hadn't pushed this issue, would Franken have ever said a word? Maybe they really are worried at Air America's head office.

Can Franken's contention, that he first heard about the diverted funds a week ago, be taken at face value? How does this second, hard-hitting Sun story by David Lombino, affect Air America's position?

As Michelle Malkin and a whole host of bloggers are pounding home today, the network has further put its reputation in a perilous state, with this:

Mr. Franken said he did not know if money from Gloria Wise had been absorbed by the network and used to finance its operations. He said Piquant's payments to Gloria Wise were scheduled to begin this month but were prevented from going through while the city investigation continued.

A spokesman for the Department of Investigation, Keith Schwam, said that if Air America discovered the transfers before the city probe began, "They neglected to tell anyone at DOI or in the city about it."

So, did Franken carelessly reveal a network cover-up on the matter? They're telling the Department of Investigation one thing, while privately doing something very different.

In the near-constant liberal flak the Radio Equalizer and other conservative bloggers have recently faced, one constant is their contention it's all about a corrupt former manager, who left the network a year ago.

What's overshadowing Evan Cohen's 2004 behavior, however, is Air America's 2005 cover-up. We've had statements that conflict from day to day. Franken may have just accidentally forever blown Air America's remaining credibility to smithereens, not just with bloggers, but investigative authorities who are must be getting tired of these antics.


Why did Franken choose to speak now? Perhaps he realized this just wasn't going to blow over as quickly as hoped. Why sink with the ship, when Al has his own career to maintain?

One question for our Minnesota bloggers: how does this scandal affect his future US Senate chances? Is that Franken's real concern, rather than the relatively unsuccessful radio career?

Since I've been calling on Franken and Air America's other hosts to address this for days now, I don't want to fault him for that alone.

However, his comments don't seem well coordinated with the image the company has been trying to project, that of a rogue former network head, who conned well-meaning people.

I wonder if Franken's words will give the mainstream media the excuse they were looking to cover it, by taking him at face value, helping him project the sense that he really knew nothing about it.

Then, they can take a dismissive approach to our contention that the new owners have been just as evasive as Cohen.

Meanwhile, to whom should the network actually repay the money? Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club, or taxpayers? Some of the best comments on the subject come today from Free Republic contributors, such as "NonValueAdded":

I'd be a little concerned about where this "repayment" is going. The money was stolen from the taxpayers of New York. The Gloria Wise outfit has lost their contracts and has a track record of mishandling money, it would seem. Why give them the money unless there is a mechanism in place for them to immediately pay back the grantors?

The money needs to go back to the city so it can either be returned to the general fund or be directed toward reputable agencies now tasked to carry out the original mission.

I say the city (and state and federal governments if they originated some of the grants in question) should put a lien on Err America's and Gloria Wise's assets until this is all sorted out.
(by NonValueAdded)

I wonder what kind of distraction this is becoming for Air America's on-air people and how soon the rest will follow Franken's lead and speak out to salvage their careers.

Jump, or sink, which would you choose? The S.S. Air America has hit an iceberg.


Franken/AAR graphic by Darleen Click, City Kid$ graphic by George Adair, MSM Silence by Suzy Rice.