Operation Rescue's Troy Newman didn't need to borrow money for his fund-raising mailers (as he claimed in a letter sent to supporters and the media on Monday). All Newman needed was to claim that his anti-abortion organization was "broke" and on the verge "of shutting everything
down if emergency help doesn't arrive soon."
The media -- local and national -- did the rest, broadcasting and printing Newman's plea with dire headlines -- each a variation of the one before, "Operation Rescue says it's broke, may shut down."
There's no way to independently verify whether Operation Rescue is really on the verge of permanently parking its Truth Truck. Its charity status was revoked in September 2006; without having to report how much money is on his organization's books, Newman can claim whatever he wants. His word is all we have.
Newman told the Associated Press that Operation Rescue is down to four paid employees (from nine a year ago) and donations had dropped by more than 30 percent. Newman even claimed that he hadn't been paid in two months.
In his e-mail plea, Newman blamed the Operation Rescue's financial straits on the assassination of Wichita abortion provider George
Tiller and the bad economy. The combination brought "our financial support to
nearly a halt," Newman wrote.
Coincidentally, this "financial crisis" came as Operation Rescue
was on the verge of launching "the most ambitious and most significant
project in our entire history."
Damn the timing.
Newman claimed the project would "devastate the abortion cartel" and
"could even help end abortion in America once and for all."
Sounds big. Tell us more. Newman can't. Gotta keep it a secret. He
doesn't want to tip his hand to the sneaky abortion lovers. He'll
explain everything in his next fund-raising letter. Swear. But first he needs money. Fast.
"Now that we're completely out of money, I'm afraid we won't even be able to launch it ... ever!" Newman wrote.
Did Newman not realize his organization was in such bad financial shape? Just a couple of months ago, he floated the idea that Operation Rescue might buy Tiller's clinic. How could a nearly broke organization afford to consider such a purchase?
Newman has claimed Operation Rescue was "flat broke" before.
When I asked him about it in 2007, he said Operation Rescue just had to
transfer money out of its savings account.
This time, Operation Rescue may well be close to shutting down. It may be hit
harder than ever due to the economy and people freaked out that the
name and phone number for Operation Rescue's senior policy adviser -- a
woman convicted of conspiring to bomb an abortion clinic -- was found
in the car of the man accused of gunning down George Tiller during a church service.
Predictably, Newman is now saying that Operation Rescue's finances are just fine.
Newman is quoted on Religion News Service saying: "Things have improved
dramatically since we sent that letter," he said. "We appreciate the
people that have made it happen."
In his fund-raising letter, Newman wrote: "Our enemies in the abortion cartel would rejoice [if Operation Rescue shut down]. And the angels would weep."
Dry your those tears, angels. And journalists, check your skepticism meters.
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anon -- You're right! When I saw that picture I was trying to think of who he looked like, and it IS Scott Peterson!
dye his hair black, and he looks just like Scott Peterson (the guy who murdered his wife and unborn child a few yrs ago in California).
@The DLC -- Here's Newman's exact quote from the letter on that one:
"You see, this summer has been brutal for Operation Rescue. Not only did George Tiller's death throw everybody in the pro-life movement for a loop (and especially us), but the economic crisis our nation is suffering from has brought our financial support to nearly a halt."
Newman later denied in news reports that Tiller's death had anything to do with OR's financial troubles.
Interesting that the plea for financial assistance identified Dr. Tiller's murder as a cause of decreased donations. Could it be that the subtext of this email is "if you want more abortion doctor murder, send us money"? In other words, he called out the extremists to fiscally counterbalance the rest of the anti-abortion constituency who were horrified by that violent act and distanced themselves from Operation Rescue.
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