Pigford Fraud: Justified By Thomas Burrell
[Guest Post by Lee Stranahan]
It’s one the most troublesome aspects of the Pigford settlement – how could thousands (or tens of thousands) of people knowingly commit fraud to receive a $50,000 check that they weren’t entitled to?
We have the answer in the form of undercover audio that was recorded at a meeting that taught potential Pigford claimants exactly how to commit fraud. The meeting was conducted by a man named Thomas Burrell, the head of the Black Farmers Agricultural Association, Inc. At CPAC in February, we held a press conference where we released a two hour unedited section of audio. Now I’m releasing the first in a series of shorter excerpts that take you through some of the key points. I
There are two parts to the full answer of how such massive fraud could come to be ; one practical, the other ethical. Practically speaking, they were coached. They were told precisely what to say in order for their claim to pass muster with the adjudicator. Who told them? People like who conducted meetings for years throughout the country.
The ethical question is the more troubling part. I believe that thousands of basically honest people were induced into committing fraud by people like Mr. Burrell. How? As you will hear in this excerpt from undercover audio that we recorded earlier this year, Thomas Burrell uses a powerful combination of persuasive techniques including literally invoking the name of God, telling his audience that their ancestors were owed the money and the technique of "social proof", which makes collecting a $50,000 check seem like something many people have done. Stir this together with the basic human failing of greed and frankly it’s a wonder that many more people do not file fraudulent claims.
Here’s the first excerpt…
And if you can’t wait for more, here’s a short excerpt from later in the meeting that shows you how blatant Thomas Burrell was in telling people that if you file a claim properly, nobody can possibly tell whether you were lying or not.
– Lee Stranahan
Well Lee millions of Americans each and every day “take” that which they have not earned at the expense of another American who will get up in the dark this morning get dressed work all day until dark while the moocher has watched The View, Kelly Ripa and Oprah all rail against the “rich” who has given so much of their income in taxes that their asses are watching tv all day. I am surprised that you are surprised, well except that you have been a left of center guy most of your life. There is nothing “fair” in politicians of BOTH parties taking a trillion + in taxes a year from all Americans to give to other Americans. I do not exclude that pikers getting “ethanol” subsidies either, they are just as pathetic as those who have gotten up to work a job while taking welfare from the State.
JadedByPolitics (d652e9) — 4/14/2011 @ 2:50 am“they are just as pathetic as those who have gotten up to work a job while taking welfare from the State.”
That should include the words “not ever” those who not ever gotten up to work a job!
JadedByPolitics (d652e9) — 4/14/2011 @ 2:51 amYou said “technique of “social proof”, which makes collecting a $50,000 check seem like something many people have done. Stir this together with the basic human failing of greed and frankly it’s a wonder that many more people do not file fraudulent claims. ” Sadly, more people do defraud — Geitner, McCaskill, Kerry, to the tune of much more than $50K. ANd these are just the ones we know about. Where did the stimulus money go? I think I know.
Susan D Harms (a33dda) — 4/14/2011 @ 3:48 amThe 50,000 was the way to get people into the tent — the BIG money was made by lawyers like Al Pires, who took in $10,000,000+ by his own admission.
Lee Stranahan (708cc3) — 4/14/2011 @ 3:55 amThe “magic money fountain” mentality is a cornerstone of Democrat populism: There’s a magic money fountain out there, you just have to find it.
Jim (711a33) — 4/14/2011 @ 4:54 amLee – What are people like John Boyd and Tom Burrell getting out of the settlement? Has anybody found evidence of back end agreements with lawyers or other intermediaries?
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 4/14/2011 @ 8:04 amI plant tomatoes in pots every year. Can I qualify as a farmer? I know, that’s being silly about a serious subject. But it has to be equal to what some may have done if that much. Besides, I’m not black, so I can’t qualify.
PatAZ (d09837) — 4/14/2011 @ 10:06 amThis came up on a radio program once… What’s the definition of ‘black’? Is there a genetic test or a government classification system like they had in South Africa? Can you claim to have had a drop of black blood, therefore by the law of the South you’re 100% black and you can get a $50,000 settlement?
luagha (5cbe06) — 4/14/2011 @ 11:08 amYou better believe that if a series of Caucasians did this, that would somehow be worse than the people who lied about their dream of farming.
but hey, people evolved from Africa, right? And Dennis Hopper told Christopher Walken than brown hair like mine can only mean one thing.
Dustin (c16eca) — 4/14/2011 @ 11:14 amWhite people have taken advantage of the Pigford settlement — one trick is to get a black person to partner with a white farmer and use that farmer’s info as bona fides
Lee Stranahan (708cc3) — 4/14/2011 @ 2:47 pm