A good idea, given to the Bush Administration, will inevitably go down in flames...and investigations. Inspiring a Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day would seem to be something tailored for the wingers, even if Bill Clinton signed the enabling legislation. But no, even such a worthy idea can't be implemented by
incompetent incompetents.
A tiny White House commission has spent the past five years and $1.5 million trying to bring a new American tradition to Memorial Day's barbecues, parades and sales: A moment of remembrance, a sigh, perhaps a prayer. Just a 30-second pause.
The results, so far, are mixed.
Sounds like an eminently worthwhile project, no? So what's the problem? There's more on the flip:
The White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance does have a theme song donated by Charles Strouse, creator of the musical "Annie." There's a logo, pens and coasters, prewritten news articles and television spots. There have been events, like a sand-sculpture display inspired by D-Day.
And a few towns, businesses and organizations have paused silently at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day.
In general, though, the commission's hyper-energetic executive director, Carmella LaSpada, has been somewhat frustrated by the lack of interest.
[snip, snip]
LaSpada has been repeatedly criticized in annual federal financial audits for blurring the lines between her tiny federal agency and No Greater Love, a nonprofit agency LaSpada founded 30 years ago, which operates right next door and has a similar mission.
In July, 2005, an auditor with the Government Accounting Office, the investigatory arm of Congress, wrote that "the distinction between the two organizations could be misperceived." A new financial audit is currently under way, said a GAO spokesman.
LaSpada said she's learning to separate the two.
"Personally, I'd rather play down No Greater Love because it looks like I'm still wearing two hats," she said. "I'm no longer affiliated with any No Greater Love. When you are director of an independent government agency you can't be affiliated with any other group."
As executive director of the commission and White House liaison, LaSpada receives about $165,000 in salary and benefits, according to federal reports. As executive director at No Greater Love, she was paid $13,840 in 2001, the last year she was listed as running that organization, according to the non-profit's tax forms.
Go to work for the White House (this White House, at least) and increase your salary by more than ten-fold.
There's more at the link, including the National Moment of Remembrance commission member, appointed by Bush, who resigned after learning his primary role would be fund-raising. Since 2002, when he left, he says, he hasn't heard a word about the project.
Why does all this seem so familar?