This is going to be interesting. Right now,
Republicans are trying to smear Democrats with the fact that Bernard Madoff, the philanthropist, gave campaign contributions to Democrats and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
We say... that his philanthropy was the most redeeming quality he had and the fact that he considered the Democratic Party as being "the kinder, gentler" party is a testament to the party.
But, to be fair, Bernard and his wife Emily, also gave to Republicans. [smile]
According to the "New York Times",
"For Bernard L. Madoff, there was also his multimillion-dollar private foundation that doled out money to hospitals and theaters. Indeed, through his charity work at places like the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation or his public service at institutions like Yeshiva University, where he served on the board, Mr. Madoff seemed to have created a stainless persona of integrity and trust.
From the start, in fact, a motto of his business captured this image of simplicity and directness: "The owner's name is on the door."
and also from that article - called: "
Standing Accused: A Pillar of Finance and Charity" By ALAN FEUER and CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY December 12, 2008, they write:
"He was thought of as a great philanthropist, a pillar of the community, the chairman of Nasdaq--all of that stuff," said one hedge fund executive who knew him. " ...
"As Mr. Madoff's success increased, so too did his interest in philanthropy, which was often handled, much like his business itself, as a family enterprise. He sits on the board of trustees for Yeshiva, whose officials issued a statement on Friday saying they were "shocked" at the news of Mr. Madoff's arrest. And with his wife, Ruth, he runs the Madoff Family Foundation, a $19 million operation that last year gave money to Kav Lachayim, a volunteer group that works in Israeli schools and hospitals, and to the Public Theater in New York. '
'It is perhaps a testament to the family's importance in Jewish philanthropic circles that when a nephew of Mr. Madoff's, Roger Madoff, died of leukemia in April 2006, paid death notices appeared in newspapers from charitable organizations ranging from the Gurwin Jewish Geriatric Center to the Lauri Strauss Leukemia Foundation to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum."
Let us not also forget, he defrauded people from both parties.
Read article about Madoff at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/nyregion/13madoff.html?_r=1Regarding Madoff's campaign contributions, go to:
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/donor_lookup.php?name=madoff
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