It’s always nice when someone with means (you know, the people called "the haves") reaches out and helps others in society with less (those people called "the have-nots"), but sometimes things that are done for supposed "have nots" is ridiculous. A classic example is in the news today.
It seems Donald "The Donald" Trump is doing something with his money to help another American couple deal with their personal woes as a result of defaulting on their mortgage. That’s nice, right?
It seems Donald Trump has announced that he will buy the home – which has been for sale for the past two years at what some in the industry say is an over-inflated price – currently owned by Ed McMahon and his wife, Pamela.
In early June, the McMahon duo made their way through various talk shows and other appearances, telling of their financial woes, as well as how they were, at the time, $644,000 in default on their mortgage, obtained in 1990, for around $4.5 million. As a result of a lawsuit over mold growth in the home, Ed and Pamela McMahon were awarded a judgement of seven million dollars.
Now, though, Donald Trump says he is going to buy the home from Ed and Pamela McMahon. After the purchase, says Trump, he is going to give it back to the McMahons.
Trump says he always admired McMahon and that this is the least he could do to help the former entertainer.
That’s where I get fuzzy and confused. McMahon had a career. In fact, he had a long, successful career and most likely raked in a lot of money. As McMahon and his wife have said in the past, they were irresponsible with their money, and as a result, defaulted on their mortgage – meaning they didn’t pay the mortgage.
When the bank was ready to foreclose and seize the home from Ed McMahon, that’s when he decided it was time to take action. The action he and his wife decided to take, however, was something I call grossly inappropriate, especially when McMahon had amassed a small personal fortune and wasted it.
Donald Trump, who many hold with great regard as a wise businessman with financial savvy, would do better at buying the homes of five, six, seven, or perhaps even eight average American families who truly are having financial woes and facing foreclosure.
Buying the homes of these average American families, The Donald would be spending the same dollar amount, yet he would be helping many more people – families – than he is helping, or is it aiding (as in supporting the bad habits of someone who does irresponsible things and expects no repercussions?) as he would spend buying the home of Ed McMahon.
Average American families never amassed personal fortunes of any size, in most cases, so helping those people would mostly likely be remembered far longer, not to mention appreciated far more greatly.
History on Ed McMahon’s financial woes
Despite the money from the judgement, as well as from Ed McMahon’s long career as a TV frontman, selling products for many years in commercials, as well as being the frontman for many years for Publisher’s Clearinghouse sweepstakes. He also served on-air as Johnny Carson’s sidekick on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Back in June, when Ed and Pamela McMahon brought their financial woes to the public, they also admitted to digging themselves into the mess by financial irresponsibility. At that time, I asked if there were any reason for me to feel pity for Ed McMahon and his wife, Pamela. The answer, at least my answer, was:
No. They had a life of comfort, but as she said in an interview, they were irresponsible with their millions, and now, as a result, are in financial trouble.
At the time Ed and Pamela McMahon were on TV shows, whining about their woes. In many media outlets, including on CNN’s Larry King Show, Pamela McMahon said:
We didn’t keep our eye on the ball. We made mistakes. It’s embarrassing to say the least, and it’s sad, because you know, Ed’s worked his whole entire life.
McMahon’s spokesman, Howard Bragman, was also pushing the story, trying to drum up support for Ed and Pamela McMahon. He was attempting to make them seem like "normal American" people, not the former entertainer with a long career pushing products.
Bragman said his client, McMahon, had been unable to work as a pitchman since he broke his neck, now about 20 months ago. What’s interesting, as I pointed out back in June, is that McMahon has been out-and-about, such as to the premiere of The Simpsons Movie in Los Angeles, on July 24, 2007.
If he could go to the movie, what kept him from doing work in front of a camera, either sitting or standing? That’s a good question, and probably the question that neither Bragman, nor Ed or Pamela McMahon, want asked, let alone be forced to answer.
The latest photos of Ed McMahon, however, may hold the truth of the matter: he looks horrible. Sure, he’s old, but he looks absolutely horrible. That could be more the problem with him getting work than anything else.
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