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EDITOR OF REDSTATE

If You Give Money to the Republican Party, You Subsidize Al Sharpton (Updated and Bumped)

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  April 19th, 2010 at 05:58 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

I don’t have a problem with Michael Steele speaking to Al Sharpton’s National Action Network. The Chairman of the Party must sometimes go where they normally dare not tread.

I have a huge problem using RNC donor money to subsidize the National Action Network.

This is a flat out misappropriation of funds — a gross misappropriation of funds.

One wonders the reaction if donors were told their hard earned dollars that they sent to the RNC to help elect Republicans were instead flowing to Al Sharpton.

I have no faith in MIchael Steele to lead the Republican Party. He knows and I know it would be a bloody fight to remove him and he’d just hurl the race card with impunity.

I maintain my prior position that I am not in favor of forcing Steele out because of the cost in blood, sweat, tears, and money when we should be working to get Republicans elected.

But Michael Steele must go. Surely there is someone who can force this man from office quietly.

And if stories like this don’t make it clear to you that you should not give one penny of your money to the RNC then nothing ever will.

Despite the National Action Network’s program listing the RNC as a sponsor of the event, the RNC’s treasure flat out denies that any RNC money went to the NAN and says it did not happen.

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COMMENTS

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  • JadedByPolitics

    Obamacare to get rid of Pelosi however I had stopped giving to them during the AMNESTY crap but I can guarantee you the RNC will NEVER see another penny from this American. I have decided that all the money that might flow to National organizations will be better served going DIRECTLY to the candidates.

    Al freaking Sharpton’s group getting hard earned dollars from Republicans, if that isn’t the most stomach heaving news one can hear then I don’t know what is.

  • mikedaire

    I only give money to the candidates and never to the party. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hung up on the NRSC and with great pleasure.

  • conservvoter

    This is why I held back on donating when they ran their Fire Pelosi money grab. I’ll continue to give individually to candidates of my choice, not theirs.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    If these phone interviews I’m doing are teaching me anything, it’s that the NRCC is sometimes the ONLY outside group who will support candidates that aren’t either showcases or trendy. And there isn’t anything set up to replace it, the NRSC, and/or the RNC.

  • longwalker

    that you have information about. Make that reliable information. I stopped giving to the Republican party in the late 1960′s. I have only given money and/or donated time to candidates that have been “vetted”either by me or by a trusted individual.

  • earlgrey

    Have a clear conscience about that. What I find most apalling about this is that people like Sharpton hurt African American
    conservatives and republicans more than they do whites. They poison the public debate. I wish we could stand up for those that have the courage to join the republican party despite the drivel coming from
    Sharpton etc. Instead of just thanking them for their service. I am not an expert on these thongs obviously so maybe I am missing something.

  • saltlick
  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    …over the individual state/local GOP organizations? – Because that’s the only way that either the NRCC or the NRC could have stopped the local party from choosing Scozzafava as the nominee.

    Now, if we want to make it the precedent that local decisions have to be ratified by the national organization, then we make it the precedent. Just remember that it’ll be a precedent.

  • kroyall

    I don’t give money to the RNC anymore, as others have said I donate directly to candidates or other organizations. When it is clear the RNC can’t raise money with Steele at the helm, he will be gone.

  • RJD

    nt

  • IJB

    Because there are so many House races, and so many moving parts, and because the NRCC has generally not been mishandled/mismanaged as badly as the NRSC or the RNC, I certainly think people should donate to the NRCC.

    Ditto the RGA.

    But the NRSC and the RNC, at least under Steele, have proven they are completely untrustworthy, and should not get a dime from any of us until further notice…

  • pirate55

    ….must mean something and sadly, many conservative Republicans must make a choice as to whether to support a national party platform that seems to have no direction whatsoever. The National Republican Party (RNC, NRCC, etc.) seem to have a wait and see attitude toward a grassroots Tea Party movement failing to fully embrace the new conservative direction. Exposition of wasteful spending of our hard earned monies contributed by us to the National organizations has been evidenced in my home State of Florida, and nationally elsewhere.

    It has caused myself and others to,for the interim deny contributions nationally and to focus on local political candidates for example Marco Rubio (Senate) and Pam Bondi (Attorney General).

    I have received the mailings from Senate candidates in Pennsylvania, Arizona and California and the Congressional candidates from South Carolina (“You lie”) and elsewhere.

    My message to the RNC and NRCC and the candidates from other states is QUIT wasting time and money and work on organization at your State level instead of asking me for monetary support. I must concern myself with my State first.

    The message to Michael Steele and the RNC and to John Boehner and others is this is now April, 2010. Instead of your countless mailings which cost a lot of money start to exhibit some of the conservative positions you purport to have in the area of FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

    When the RNC gets direction as well as the Republican Party of Florida and other organizations, has a clear purpose, direction and message (Conservative that is) and can demonstrate their use of my hard earned contributions will be used PROPERLY, they will then see my return to contributing nationally.

    If you are not hearing this message you ARE THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE SOLUTION.

  • http://phxg.wordpress.com/ phxg

    a direct payment/contribution/sponsorship to an entity that is actively attacking our people is reprehensible.

    Giving it to a group that willingly uses the race card and through MSM support damages our candidates and positions very effectively is unforgivable.

    Unlike the lock-step Democrats, we are expected to act in good conscious and be better than blindly supporting the “R” behind the name. There is no way I can reconcile this act and still support the activities of the RNC. So while we can’t force Steele out, we can do the next best thing, deprive him of funds till a more adequate leader arrives.

    Where’s Saul when we need him.

  • Scope

    that Steele is trying to hurt the Republican party and the position as Chair at the RNC. From what I’ve read he is not an unintelligent man. It doesn’t take much intelligence to know better than to say that other Republicans are against him because he is black. It doesn’t take much intelligence to know that the large majorities of Republicans do not and never would support the master race baiter Sharpton. It does’t take much intelligence to know that 2010, being the most critical election year in my lifetime, will require as much money as possible, therefore, avoid expensive trips and conventions etc in places like Hawaii. He started out his tenure by knocking Rush Limbaugh, who I believe is Republicans/Conservatives greatest voice of support.

    It feels like he wants to pick fights and create animosities with the Republicans. Each infraction seems to be getting more and more serious.

    I am torn over replacing him now, if it were possible. On one hand it may be disruptive to change the guard this close to an election, but, on the other hand the Republicans are always accused, rightly so, for not recognizing problems within their own ranks, and not correcting them ASAP.

    I give Steele no credit at all for the election of McDonnell, Christie or Brown. The people deserve all the credit for them winning their elections.

    I forget the last chairs name, Mike Something. He and some others, I believe including Rove, have started another shadow republican group. I know Steele spoke out against them, and asked that no one support them. When Kyl was asked about his antics, on a Sunday show, he refused to defend him. The anger against him is growing, and, he has lost confidence within the base. But it is true, he would only scream racist if anyone tried to remove him. He’s already done that once.

  • ahab627

    It appears the GOP chair of Oneida County, NY are again refusing to endorse Doug Hoffman for the coming House race in November. They don’t seem to have learned a thing, repeating their endorsement of another RINO for the seat. There’ a lot wrong with the GOP, and it’s not the electorate. It’s an establishment mentality that takes no heed of what conservatives want in representation. Michael Steele is the poster boy for this level of thinking; but, you are correct in assuming the bloodletting that will take place in attempting his ouster.

    How do we get rid of Steele? How do we get rid of party leaders like those in power in Oneida County, NY, or elsewhere throughout the nation? How can conservatives get a voice when it’s the establishment types of allegedly the party of conservativism that stifle these voices? Who put these people in power and how do we get them out of power? All good questions, I think, with no clear answers. Is a revolt the only way? Start over from scratch? This is the most frustrating of problems we face, an uphill battle all the way. Am I the only one frustrated to the point of anger? Not another dime to the GOP.

  • saltlick

    Perhaps I misunderstood the Scozzafava debacle, but my point was that in that race the RNC backed a certain kind of Republican, who was a Democrat-lite Republican, which — to my mind — undercuts your argument that we have to give to the RNC because it’s the only organization which supports less well-known candidates.

    I appreciate your taking the time to respond to me, and I am not totally dismissing your argument, but as I’ve said before, nobody has made a cogent case for why we can’t work around the RNC and still reach our goal. I write that as someone who held his nose and voted for McCain last election because I’m willing to take half a loaf if that’s all I can get.

    If the money we give the RNC goes to candidates who will turn around and then endorse Democrats — if the money we give the RNC goes to organizations like the one Erick cites — just how does that advance our goals? Where in that is our half-loaf?

    Numerous Republicans have told me that if we manage to re-take the House, and the House does not take vigorous action to cut spending, then they are finished with the GOP. The kind of candidates supported by this RNC will not support vigorous cuts, nor will they support repealing ObamaCare.

    There has to be another way.

    Cheers,

  • throwback59

    qualifications primarily because of his race (not in spite of it). To counter that, Republicans did the exact same thing with Steele.
    In both cases it has been a disaster.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    …organizations when the latter come up with unacceptable candidates.

    Let me refresh your memory about that race, because it’s kind of important. NY-23 had no primary: county GOP leaders picked a candidate, and it was the one candidate that the county Conservative party couldn’t hold their noses for. So the RNC/NRCC got handed an official GOP candidate, which they are obliged to support. They did not pull an NRSC and endorse a candidate in the primary.

    I ask again: do you want to change the rules so that the national organizations can override decisions made at the local level? – Because we can do that.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine

    in sponsoring such events and groups and what their explanations have been and wil be now? Access to persuade voters?

  • http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

    The answer to all your questions is to get more conservatives like you to become actual “voting members” of the Republican Party — precinct committeemen. If you were one, you would know this. I’m not criticizing you — a lot of “good, conservative Republicans” just don’t have much in the way of basic civics education.

    Steele: if you want to get rid of him now, the RNC rules govern this. They can be found at www.gop.com at the Counsel’s link at the bottom of the main page. Rules 1, 2 and 5 govern this. Takes a two-thirds vote of all the RNC members (who are elected by the precinct committeemen, indirectly, by delegates they elect to go to the state conventions to elect the delegates (each state chairman is a delegate and each state gets two more RNC delegates — again, the Rules I cited govern this).

    If you want Oneida county to have better, more conservative leaders, then you have to get the conservative Republicans who live there to get into the Party as precinct committeemen. Sitting on the sidelines of the Party and yelling at is as effective as people in the bleachers at a football game yelling at their team. Sounds good, but its the ball players on the field who move the ball. The ball players in party politics are the precinct committeemen. If you want to truly be politically relevant, the BEST way to do so is to get INSIDE the Party so you can CHANGE it from within.

    Go here to learn more: www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com

    And here:

    http://www.redstate.com/coldwarrior/2010/04/03/ode-to-a-high-and-mighty-independent/

    I hope this helps.

    Thank you.
    ColdWarrior, PC
    Conservatives, UNITE! CHANGE the Party and the world by becoming precinct committeemen. NOW!

  • http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com ColdWarrior

    Only the precinct committeemen INSIDE the Party had a hand in getting Steele elected. And half of those precinct committeemen slots after the 2008 election were filled. Those conservative Republicans who desire more conservative leadership within the Party itself, who sit in the bleachers of the Party as “mere” registered Republicans, have themselves to blame. Only those who take the next step and come into the voting ranks of the Party, as precinct committeemen, get to actually vote for the Party leadership. If you want to be a ball player in Party politics, you’ve got to become a precinct committeeman.

    See my post above for more info.

    Thank you.
    ColdWarrior, PC

  • The_Rebel

    With Crist on the cusp of running as an independent, we can thank the NRSC for their wonderful endorsement of him. When he bolts, what will they do then?

    Also, remember they came very late to the table with funds for Scott Brown, only when it appeared that he might win.

    Don’t give one dime to this organization. Save it for the candidates, themselves.

  • http://www.barrypopik.com barrypopik

    Michael Steele must go now. I don’t want him in his position for another minute. I realize that he could operate in his self-preservation interests and try to take the party down with him, but it appears that the bridge of no return has been crossed a while ago.

    Al Shaprton was on Glenn Beck recently and on Bill O’Reilly just the other day. O’Reilly spoke before the National Action Network. Sharpton is an equal opportunity race hustler who wants to be bought to shut his mouth. He’s done the same shakedowns with businesses, such as Burger King. This is playing with fire. Perhaps, if Sharpton doesn’t go after all Fox News advertisers like Color of Change has attacked Beck, Fox News thinks that Sharpton’s worth paying off.

    The RNC has no business being near the guy.

    In my lonely 20-year quest to honor the African-American stablehand who called New York City “The Big Apple,” my doorman suggested that I write to Al Sharpton–he helps people. I sent amazing stuff to the National Action Network. No one wrote back.The African-American is still unhonored.

    Whenever federal authorities want to look at the Al Sharpton’s National Action Network’s books, there’s always a convenient fire that destroys all records.

    Appeasement never works. It doesn’t work with Islamic terrorism and it doesn’t work with Al Sharpton. The United States gave Hamas almost a billion dollars–did that do anything? Does it help if we don’t say the word “terrorism” and use “overseas contingency operations”? It’s a joke! Does anyone believe that money to Al Sharpton is going to help matters? No–next year he’ll want more shakedown money to keep quiet.

    We love freedom and liberty and should fight for it. We should not be making deals with the snakes.

  • E Pluribus Unum
  • saltlick

    I ask again: do you want to change the rules so that the national organizations can override decisions made at the local level? – Because we can do that.

    Do “the rules” you are referring to require the RNC to support all candidates chosen by local organizations? As I’ve mentioned, I’m a veteran campaigner, but never paid attention to activities above my precincts and local exec committee.

    Can’t the RNC pick and choose where it sends money? Or do “rules” require RINO’s get the same support as conservatives? Can someone “in the know” explain?

    And apropos of other comments, I plead “mea culpa” to dropping out in the Dubya years and bearing some of the blame for Steele and Company. I was burned out after fighting Clinton and wanted my life back. That McCain was our nominee in 2008 was my first clue about what had happened to my party.

    Cheers,

  • IJB
  • snarkybasterd

    I give to the candidates that best represent Conservatism, locally and nationally, but I NEVER give money to the RNC. Not that I’m against lesbian bondage clubs … I’m just against RNC people spending donated money at them.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    …mostly because I was yelling about it myself behind the scenes at the time, the national organizations are expected to support whomever they’re given to work with. if you like, I’ll email somebody I know over at the NRCC (who were not thrilled to be working with Dede, especially since it’s overshadowed what has been a great recruitment cycle) to confirm.

    As to amounts: did they spend too much on the race? Yup. Just like the Democrats spent too much on Coakley. Or like we would have on Christie, if he had lost – or been the squish that a bunch of people were expecting/gloomily forecasting. Failure magnifies this sort of thing.

    Moe Lane

    PS: Thank you for doing local campaign work, by the way. We need more people doing that.

  • saltlick

    but no need to spend time on it.

    I’ve gotta go, but will say I’m mindful that ugly bargains need to be struck at times. Especially mindful when Obama is still polling 48% favorable.

    We must all hang together, or we shall most certainly hang separately.

    Cheers,

  • http://www.laborunionreport.comandhttp://www.laborunionreport.blogspot.com LaborUnionReport

    Al Sharpton’s racist-extortionate-make-you-feel-guilty-because -of-your-skin-color bondage club. Regardless whether it is $5k or $100K, being a sponsor is nothing more than the RNC trying to buy peace with the NAN, so they don’t keep calling the GOP racists. Like a sponsorship is going to stop that? Puhleeeeze!

  • http://www.barrypopik.com barrypopik

    “Al Sharpton?s racist-extortionate-make-you-feel-guilty-because -of-your-skin-color bondage club.”

    That’s what it is.

  • NoDoze

    we will hear that Steele is supporting Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition with Party money — or whatever Jackson calling his extortionist organization now.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
  • SteveLA

    Neil

    Did you ever get your Google problem fixed? Yes a small thread jack sorry.

  • JadedByPolitics

    PLEASE give to Senator DeMint’s PAC because if there is one thing WE all know that man is one heck of a Conservative and he has BOLDLY supported the Conservative in every race except McCain’s however he is not supporting EITHER candidate in that race.

  • throwback59

    “Steeleing”?

  • throwback59

    file republicans don’t vote for chairman.
    Me, I’m a registered Conservative in NY, so I really get no say in the matter.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    .. not when there are 435 house races to watch.

    Please include the NRCC in your plan for giving. Also the Senate Conservatives Fund to cover the Senate.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Which just proves this was political and not technical.

  • http://phxg.wordpress.com/ phxg

    nt

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    The NRCC is not the RNC

  • http://phxg.wordpress.com/ phxg

    n/t

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    I mis-read your reply to me as disagreeing with me then. :-)

  • Scope

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/04/14/2010-04-14_rnc_chief_michael_steele_hails_al_sharpton_a_pal_but_likens_some_gopers_to_eleph.html

  • http://phxg.wordpress.com/ phxg

    That sheriff joe fella

  • Xasteius

    Steele is a cancer that will only destroy the party. When he does leave, he’ll cry ‘racist’ either way, so we need to get rid of him NOW so that we can get back to our business of saving the country. If he can be persuaded quietly to leave, so much the better.

    BTW, do you know of a Professor Gerald Cohen? He taught an etymology class at Missouri S&T and the origin of ‘the Big Apple’ was one of the topics he covered.

  • E Pluribus Unum

    And vastly prefereble to squishy race-confused Steele.

    But it still should have been Dawson.

  • http://www.examiner.com/x-1597-Charlotte-Law--Politics-Examiner Mike gamecock DeVine
  • http://www.barrypopik.com barrypopik

    I’ve contributed to his “Comments on Etymology” and his “Studies in Slang” series. We’re preparing another edition of his 1991 monograph on the “Big Apple,” with additional information included.

  • thebelle

    Eventually, Steele will leave on his own and go back to Fox news. This will be a good thing. Even he, canot ignore the pressure for the next 7 months.

  • pamdale

    Just send your hard-earned dollars DIRECTLY TO THE CANDIDATES. They are easy to find, research and support.

  • graykp

    Republican groups years ago. Probably 2002 -2004. I could not hold my nose tightly enough to support the likes of John McCain, Olympia Snowe or George Bush for that matter; and y’all know the rest of the gang.

    My modest means are used to support libertarian/conservatives in Republican primaries.

    If I’m the only one doing this it probably doesn’t matter much but I encourage every one I know who has ever contributed to Republicans to follow my model or something similar of their own.

  • tlhanger

    I see many other Republicans are doing just what we are doing by supporting individual canidates. I had never done that before. We have a wonderful Republican who is as smart as they come down here in Georgia, who just happens to be black-which doesn’t make any difference with me. It is Herman Cain. He can talk circles around the Democrats because he is just plain smart! Hope he gets support from outside too. He ran a business and understands business.
    Anyway, my thoughts on Michael Steele are that he has helped me to pick canidates that I like, because I’m not sending any more money his way.

  • ihateliberals

    and the Republican party. i fear that Bill Clinton is going to be right in his prediction for the Fall elections. With the Dems invading the Tea Parties and the RNC’s Michael Steele killing the party i don’t think we wilt be able to hold it together until Fall. Here is a Blog about Michael Steele: http://steeletheweakestlink.blogspot.com/

  • pamela1631

    You’ve been naughty and will not be getting any more cookies (money), so go stand yourself in the corner.

    Should you refuse to learn from your misguided actions, the next course of action will be stern.

    You will be shunned.
    A rather harsh practice, but necessary in certain cases.

    I’ve found direct donations are more prudent.

  • Bill S

    we would have reason to even find it believable. Given Steele’s track record, it is quite believable.

    And that’s why he must go. Now.

  • pilgrim

    I would like to see him find an office that he wants to be elected to, resign as the RNC Chair and run for it. I was not finding it so believeable, and I am glad it is not true. I do think that he is not the right type of personality to be RNC Chair. I would prefer that it be somebody no one has ever heard of who does not like the limelight, but rather prefers to work quietly in the background collecting and distributing money. Michael Steele is not a bad evil man. He is just serving in a position that is not best suited for him..

  • Scope

    from a Patriotic American that gets it. I couldn’t agree with him more. Republicans have a way of keeping the wrong, and the dead wood far longer than they should. I like Neil’s position- replace Pelosi in November, and, then Steele in December.

  • Bill S

    The guy doesn’t know when to shut up. As the RNC Chair, that’s bad. As a politician, that’s even worse.

    He’s not bad, evil. He’s incompetent.

  • snowshooze

    Target your money where you want to.
    DO NOT support any bureaucracy, the RNC or RNSC..
    Those people are on the full time payroll. Their objective is not to support conservative ideals…nope. They need to take the long view and support their employment by underwriting “R’s”
    Any Republican will do. RINO’s are apparently especially attractive as they draw from multiple parties. That in their view = $ and a secure no-stress long term job.
    Well…BS
    Give them nothing.
    Ok…
    ” You cannot trust somebody Else’s employees to do anything right”
    Not even handing out money. ( Really, I have to PAY someone to do that?!?) ( It’s so hard, this work I do…)
    First, they want a chunk for the fine job they are doing for you.
    You get the Employee mentality. ( We’re here ’till 5 !!! ” )
    Then they hand it out to all comers…
    ” Golly, well he IS a Republican…” ” Seems lika really nice sort ”
    So…screw the RNC, RNSC, I just roll up my sleeves and support those I believe are best for the job personally.
    So make your support personal, and do not send it through the laundry where 45% gets skimmed right off the top. Get your hands dirty and call your own shots, it isn’t rocket science, you know…
    Mark

  • Scope

    Steele needs to look for another position that would excite him. He may be a very nice man, but, the head of the RNC calling the race card, when the Republicans are being constantly attacked as the racists, it was his most egregious faux pax to date. I believe that at one point Erick had said that it would be difficult to remove Steele, if it were even possible, because he would scream the race card if it happened. Joining up with Al Sharpton almost seems like he needs affirmation from the black community, and, he didn’t get it. By his position alone, as RNC chair, he is viewed as “Uncle Tom.” I really think that Steele will do whatever he needs to do to retain his position, even if it is against Republicans. Steele is an embarrasment for the Republican party, particularly the conservative wing of the party.

  • pilgrim

    You would not vote for him. I get that. For you to say that he is too incompetent for him to be elected is proven false by history.

  • snowshooze

    I forgot to add…
    ” If it cost less to win with this candidate…that’s our boy.” ( We can go hang out at the bar now and piss away the winnings! )
    The priorities are against me. All for the machine.

  • Bill S

    He’s definitely incompetent as an RNC chair. I suppose I could compromise that there is less competence required for an elected official…

  • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

    make copies and distribute them at our Texas State GOP Convention in June.

    I heard the dispicable Watkins interview over the weekend, and then this?:

    “until our children are born thinking the American dream is their birthright, it will remain that way.? … it will remain that way until the children have access to fair and affordable housing, access to credit and capital, and voting machines that work

    Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/04/15/michael-steele-visits-al-sharpton-at-the-nans-national-convention/#ixzz0le4YMoVT

    He just deligitimized every Republican election across the nation in the minds of every “Where’s my American Dream?/Where’s Mine?” African American and minority voter.

    What’s next? Credit entitlements?

    Individual personal responsibility.

    Is that less than a pseudo-party platform now?

    Boo to Steele: You suck.

  • concernednancy

    Maybe Sharpton’s group is using the Alinski tactic. Maybe the group just put that RNC was donating on their website to make us turn against the RNC. Think about it. Don’t believe things the Democrats tell you.

  • http://www.scragged.com petrarch

    Sharpton’s thugs are easily evil enough to have done as you suggest, and lied about RNC support to get them in trouble with their base.

    The problem is, the RNC is easily stupid enough to have actually shelled out Danegeld to the Racist Rev.

    Which to believe?