Air America, Cohen Got More Than $800,000?
While Air America's personalities and the mainstream media (MSM) remain silent on the growing scandal, one where it apparently received taxpayer grants meant for a Bronx community center, the New York Sun today discovers far more.
And, the Radio Equalizer is learning of a far bigger, related issue, one that has yet to be published anywhere. Stay tuned for that.According to the Sun, the diversion of money to former Air America honcho Evan Cohen and his liberal radio network from the Bronx-based Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club actually totaled more than $800,000.
They've uncovered a series of transfers that included personal "loans" worth $35,000 and checks to Air America that may have had forged signatures. Given his dual roles with both the network and Gloria Wise, it probably wasn't that hard to pull off a potential caper.
When Cohen was later asked to repay some of the money, he apparently wrote checks that bounced all the way to the moon.
Most members of the nonprofit club maintain they only learned about the scandal last month.
According to the Sun's story:
Ms. Graves (of Gloria Wise) said Air America has agreed in writing to pay back the full amount of more than $800,000 in installments over the next two years.
--- What took so long, if Air America has known about this for some time?
--- When will the first payment be made?
--- If we hadn't made a big stink, would the public have ever learned about it?
--- Why didn't Air America come clean and correct our underestimation of the amount of cash in question?
When we reported $480,000, why didn't they state that it was actually at least $800,000? Notice they never mentioned a dollar amount in their statements. They only comment on what others reveal and give vague, fuzzy answers.
Why the continued silence from Air America's personalities? If it were my career being flushed down the toilet this way, I'd be out in front denouncing the company's ongoing deceptions.
And I don't just mean what happened before May 2004, but their behavior in the last week, where Air America has compounded the errors through inconsistent statements and poor judgment.
Air America Scandal graphic by Martin Archer. Your website may use the graphics seen here, with credit to the artists.
It really is all about you isn't it Brian?
ReplyDeleteWhat a tool.
This does not look good for the kooks on the left.
ReplyDeleteNow it's 800K.
Good work Brian, don't let the rectal chapeaus that resort to name calling bother you.
As the commercial says: Priceless.
Good work Brian, don't let the rectal chapeaus that resort to name calling bother you.
ReplyDeleteYes. It's refreshing that there is no name calling from the right.
You people are really sad.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope Blathering Michael of "blatherwatch" is keeping track of all this deliciuosly scandalous news about the funds diverted to AAR....He was certainly trying his best to make it "much ado about nothing". For those of you NOT in the Pacfic NW, blatherwatch originates in Seattle, I believe and has a link to Brian's "Radio Equalizer" blog.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that reporters on Fox can make up stories(carl cameron) and newspaper reporters can leak classified names(bob novak) and a president can lie us into a war and run us into the biggest debt in history and all the right wants to do is divert attention away from those stories. how about the 9 billion dollars missing from the coalition provincial authority? and you guys are worried about 800grand?
ReplyDeleteWhere's that sack of turds, Michael "Gimme another cheeseburger" Moore? How about a little investigation? You lefty loons and Daily KOS lovers must be popping Prozac like M&M's today.
ReplyDeleteThat's not name calling, right?
ReplyDeleteOh boo-hoo!
ReplyDeleteSorry. Didn't mean to make you cry.
ReplyDeleteBrian, first time at your website. I'm impressed with your review. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you are getting “ATTA BOYS” for all the HARD WORK (where have we heard that phrase used before. . . it’s hard work) when all you’ve done is cut and paste.
ReplyDeleteBy the way what makes you think Air America owes you any explanation about this or anything for that matter.
This is a non story except in the minds of a few.
First, there is NO excuse for corruption and thievery, and the responsible parties need to be (a) fired, (b) prosecuted, (c) pursued civilly for damages and recovery.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I can't help but note the undemocratic nature of commercial radio and of broadcasting generally.
If Vast Right Wing Radio has 1M listeners and they are middle class or UMC, we call that a commercial success.
If Working Class Radio has 1M listeners and they are poor and working class, we call that a commercial failure due to inadequate advertising revenue.
it appears that the check Evan Cohen sent to John Kerry ($2000) cashed in December of 2003...
ReplyDeleteat opensecrets.org
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=Cohen%2C+Evan&txtState=%28all+states%29&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&Order=N
rectal chapeaus
ReplyDeleteCareful, that name is a registered trademark of AssMissile Inc.
Al Gore was on Leno last night promoting his latest time waster, "Current"
ReplyDeleteIn other words, with AAR out of the way he can now go in and rob the widows and orphans.
"Working Class Radio?"
ReplyDeleteJeez, don't you guys ever stop trying out focus group cliches?
1)Republicans have been ripping off the working class for a long time, so your "accidentwaitingtohappen" diversion won't work on me. If Algore robs widows and orphans he should get what he deserves. I'm not going to defend criminal behavior or other wrongdoing no matter who does it. Those who rip off the working class should also get what they deserve, but apparently that's not going to happen until they meet their Maker.
ReplyDelete2) As a proud member of the working class, I promote a working class agenda, which, unfortunately, does not include focus groups because there's no money in my budget for that.
3) I listened once to Air America for maybe ten minutes and couldn't take any more. It was all Iraq this and Bush that. They are so elitist the working class seems to be completely off their radar. I only WISH there were a Working Class Radio. Michael Savage is as close to Working Class Radio as there is. Air America isn't it, and they're not going there.
800k from the boys and girsl club? Thats the right's party line this week.
ReplyDeleteHave you been into Rush's stash Brian. What a loony toon.