Madoff's Ponzi Case Leaves PETA Cowed

[philw]

so will PETA  now apply for a Government Bail out now as well

also who is Bernard Madoff?  apart from a Banker

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123241817877496519.html

WASHINGTON -- The downfall of Bernard Madoff has claimed a far-flung, new victim: a plan by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to lobby Barack Obama at the inaugural festivities to be a vegetarian.

The animal-welfare organization viewed Mr. Obama's election as a turning point. So when PETA saw that Mr. Obama would win the election last summer, the group began looking for a way to get an audience with Mr. Obama.

Unfortunately, the plan it cobbled together -- which required bidding in an online auction and recruiting a former professional-basketball star/vegan -- also involved an investment firm with ties to Mr. Madoff, the billionaire investor who recently confessed to running a $50 billion Ponzi scheme.

History of Gimmicks
For the past decade, PETA has relied on a range of gimmicks to get lawmakers' attention. It has held free, annual cookouts for lawmakers and aides, where Playboy playmates dressed in bikinis fashioned from lettuce handed out veggie dogs.

Bruce Friedrich, PETA's vice president for policy and government affairs, found a new opportunity to pitch the group's views to Mr. Obama. Searching the Internet, Mr. Friedrich saw an offer on auction site eBay for an exclusive package of tickets to inaugural events, including a private meeting with Mr. Obama.

The Internet listing, called the "2009 White House Full Inauguration Tickets VIP Access," was posted last summer by December Rain, a Chicago-based charity that provides for foster children who have life-threatening medical conditions.

Paul Saulnier, December Rain's executive director, said he hoped to auction the inaugural packets to raise money for the charity. He said he also wanted to bring December Rain representatives to Washington.

Mr. Saulnier said he got the idea from acquaintances who were investors with Connecticut-based investment firm Fairfield Greenwich, a firm which, in turn, invested with Mr. Madoff.

Mr. Saulnier said the Fairfield Greenwich investors told him, "We have access and connections and we can get you inauguration tickets if you want to auction those."

Mr. Saulnier said he paid the investors "hundreds of thousands of dollars" for tickets to about a dozen events.

Meaty Costs
On eBay, he offered seven packages, each with two tickets. The packages fetched between $5,500 and $8,000 each, Mr. Saulnier said. He said he kept dozens of other tickets for December Rain representatives to attend inaugural events.

For $5,500, PETA bought an inaugural package that Mr. Friedrich thought would be an opportunity of a lifetime to pitch the president.

But a week before the inauguration, Mr. Saulnier sent an email to PETA and other auction winners saying the tickets never materialized after Fairfield Greenwich lost billions of dollars investing with Mr. Madoff.

Mr. Saulnier promised to reimburse auction winners. But last week the charity closed its offices because it has received death threats from some auction winners, Mr. Saulnier said.

PETA is trying to find another way to meet Mr. Obama.

Write to Brody Mullins at brody.mullins@wsj.com

[twyacht]

I thought all the Corinthian Leather furniture Madoff had would have gotten PETA riled up. Maybe the Mink.

Excuse me, got to go flip my STEAK on the grill, in my leather Sperry shoes,....

[philw]

I thought all the Corinthian Leather furniture Madoff had would have gotten PETA riled up. Maybe the Mink.

Excuse me, got to go flip my STEAK on the grill, in my leather Sperry shoes,....

your excused mate

I am about to chuck some bacon, snags and eggs  on the BBQ  for breakfast 

[fightingquaker13]

I thought all the Corinthian Leather furniture Madoff had would have gotten PETA riled up. Maybe the Mink.

Excuse me, got to go flip my STEAK on the grill, in my leather Sperry shoes,....

Reminds me of a good Story. Ingrid Newkirk, head Whacko in charge at PETA, wanted to meet the incoming Presisident Clinton. Some poor unsuspecting soul on her staff put her in touch with James Carville (A great American and one my personal or at least profesional heroes alongside Lee Atwater). Carville returns the phone call personally, and invites her to meet with him and Bill, their treat, at the Palms of DC over a steak! You've got to give the man style points.
fightingquaker13