Kansas City News Blog

Troy Newman

​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 Its charity status was revoked in September 2006; without having to report how much money is on his organization's books, Newman can claim whatever he wants.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.