Extra Fund-Raising Put Off Statue of Liberty Reopening (NYT)

[VolcanoJen]

There are some very disturbing undertones in this article, including allegations of Interior Secretary Gale Norton, the National Park Service, and the nonprofit Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation playing a little corporate footsie.

Why am I not surprised to learn that it's quite possible Gale Norton sold our Lady to Folgers?

Excellent read. Prepare for disgust.

Excerpts:

Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton said a private campaign to raise $7 million by having Americans send in Folgers coffee can lids and charge everyday expenses to their American Express cards had helped make it possible, at long last, to reopen the statue's base. Wal-Mart had helped, average citizens had mailed in checks, and even Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg had pitched in $100,000 of his own money.

As Folgers had put it, every dollar was "necessary to reopen one of America's most cherished landmarks."

But interviews with two dozen current and former federal officials, fund-raisers and major donors, as well as a review of documents from the nonprofit foundation that is raising the money, show that the statue, the world's most recognizable symbol of freedom, could have been opened much earlier.

<snip>

"I resent the commercialization of it, pretending that we have to go begging corporations for money, when there has been more than enough money all along," said Representative Maurice Hinchey of New York, a Democratic member of the House subcommittee that oversees financing for the Park Service. "As an American citizen, I don't want the Statue of Liberty co-opted by Wal-Mart."

More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/04/nyregion/04LIBE.html?hp

[smirkymonkey]

1. And the reason they needed private funding

in the first place was because the Federal Gubmint refused to provide the $$ for security detail, therefore it was shut down.

This administration is truly sickening.

[neverforget]

2. Of course the Bushies have no respect for Lady Liberty-she's FRENCH

AND a symbol of Freedom. Makes total sense for them to direspect when put in that vain....and a way to help out some corporate buddies in the process! :puke: :eyes:

[Mari333]

3. and they hate females also, dont forget that

playing to their southern baptist base, which is all they have left.

[PartyPooper]

4. As disgusting as it was, I read a link from DU to FR which curled my hair.

One guy recently said, (paraphrased) "We should send the Statue of Liberty back to France."..."The Nazis should have fried the French." I kid you not!

I guess the Nazis should have destroyed Paris and the Louvre while they were at it, too. (sarcasm / )

I'm afraid the Statue of Liberty is tarnished and lost its lustre since Bu$hco stole the presidency in 2000. We have to vote his ass out of there!

:scared:

:eyes: