Air America, the much talked about but hardly listened to liberal radio network, has been caught literally stealing from children. Well, their charity any way. Wizbang reports:

The leader of the Bronx-based Gloria Wise Club, Charles Rosen, reportedly loaned $480,000 in the startup Air America radio network, at the request of Air America chairman (at the time) Evan Cohen. The Gloria Wise Club was to benefit from the interest that Air America would pay on its loan. At the time the alleged transfers of funds took place, Cohen was also board member of the Gloria Wise Club.

Evan Cohen was sacked at Air America, and the was company sold to new investors. No one knows where the money went (though it presumably went right into the kitty of the cash hemorrhaging radio network) , or if any of the money has been ever been repaid. Because the Gloria Wise Club depends heavily on federal and city funding for its operations, New York City's Department Of Investigation (DOI) is investigating the charity for financial mismanagement specifically related to the Air America debacle.

This wouldn't sound so bad, if the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Clubs hadn't had to nearly shut down programs because they were missing funds. And those are taxpayer funds at that. Despite all the free publicity and diverted charity money, Al Franken and Air America are getting skunked by Rush Limbaugh.

According to the Arbitron Spring 2005 ratings survey for Boston, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Washington D.C., Mr. Rush Limbaugh consistently continues to beat liberal talkers. In Boston, Mr. Rush Limbaugh's Persons 12+ audience is 16 times larger than Mr. Al Franken's...

Then again, some liberals put a positive spin on everything.

In Los Angeles, KFI, the station carrying Rush Limbaugh lost nearly 15% of its market share, dropping from a 4.6 to a 3.9. KABC, another conservative talk station continuing the pattern for right-wing radio, fell from a 2.3 to a 2.1. Air America�s brand-new affiliate KTLK, 1150 AM, gained in the first quarter of its existence, going from a 0.3 to a 0.8, an increase of more than 140%.

Let's see, 3.9 vs. 0.8. I bet Rush is quaking in his boots. Still, I wish Air America the best of luck. So long as they repay that charity money.