A "Santa" in Tennessee at the center of controversy

The headline at DefendingSanta.com loudly proclaims:

Celebrate Santa Fractures on Charges of Corruption

portions of the article reads:

“Santa Joe” Moore and his wife, “Mrs. Mary Claus” Moore, owners of the Jolly Old Elf Company and Celebrate Santa, are documented in a web of conflicting stories that have led to mass defections of all Celebrate Santa’s 2009 chairpersons

The problem centers around some plaques sold to benefit a charity;

Joe Moore is hesitant to discuss the situation on the record. “The issue with the plaques is a private matter between us and the vendor,” Joe Moore said.

A private matter between him and the vendor? We Wonder why Joe Moore posted about it publicly then;

Over the months, the Moores have delayed or explained away delivery of the plaques and accounting for the funds. Shortly after the convention was over, the Moores committed to deliver the plaques by the end of April. Then on May 6th, Joe Moore posted a note on Clausnet.com, the popular Santa forum online dedicated to professional Santas, indicating that the plaques were “still being worked on”.

Mary Moore says the hold up is the charity's fault;

On July 17th, Mary Moore told the vendor in an email “Indeed we are waiting for Santa America’s portion of the plaque payment which they assure me will be here shortly”. Santa America denies any involvement in the collection of funds or obligation to the vendor for the plaques.

There will be more news being published apparently;

In our next article in this series: What Joe Moore Really Thinks of the Santa Claus Oath 

Go read the article for yourself;
http://defendingsanta.com/?p=63

Remember just like our other posts, we are not creating accusations, nor are we originating these events, we are simply bringing them to your attention. Most of our posts are in the "santas" own words, or they are articles that have made the news, as in this case.

You won't believe the emails we get.

You won't. We could publish the emails, but you just wouldn't believe them. We say that based on the emails that we get. HUH?

Well it seems most of the emails we receive are from the people featured on this blog. Emails from the so called "santas" that are reported on here. They claim we are making this stuff up. They claim we are "taking their comments out of context".

Yet, we are only posting THEIR words. We even provide screen shots of their posting when possible.

You won't believe what they say. They say, get this, they say that it is HORRIBLE of us to post their words here. They say that we are tarnishing the name of "Santa" by taking their foul words and hateful statements, and displaying them here for you to see.

They are shocked and appalled that a site like this exists. Well, we are shocked and appalled that posts like theirs exist. You would think if they were really shocked and appalled, they would remove their message boards that contain these shocking and appalling posts. You would think they would not have posted them to begin with.

By the way, take a look at the counter on the right. Many of the "santas" we report on check us out every day. Is a "santa" from YOUR town listed here on this site? Is Ric Erwin the person you are trusting your child with? Remember him, he posted a video that showed "how Santa got his yule log back", because of a (north) Pole Dancer? This video was also titled "Santa's Girthday Party"

What about Allen Keeney? He posted;
"Be careful when you scratch the surface of our lifestyles. I know of many things among our fellow Santas of which we do not speak. Even XXXXX* would not identify a child molester by name. We have gay Santas, swinger Santas, ex con Santas, Santas that cheat on their wives, religous (sic) nut case Santas. You name it we have it. Sorry but that is life."

So let's see, is this site horrible for letting you know that Allen Keeney said that kind of thing? or is it Allen Keeney that is horrible for saying that to begin with?

We realize that this post does not contain anything new.... for the most part, it is because they have stopped posting extremely hateful posts on their site they call "SantaTalk" and have hidden it behind the other site called "SantaTalkATT". SantaTalkATT is now password protected so that the average public cannot see it... however the same vile talk still continues, just hidden from view.

Now we ask you... Do you feel that your child is now safe, because they are HIDING their vile natures? Oh wait, you say that is not the same as removing or repenting of their vile nature?

Oh Sorry... they only hide their filth now, they didn't stop it.

How long will SantaCheck continue? As long as people like that are trying to be with your children.

Cynical Santa?

No.. we take that back, this person certainly is cynical, but Santa? No, we don't believe so.

Just read this posting;

Even Nickypoo Vacations in Branson

Message #2079 of 2080 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SantaTalkATT/message/2079

Finally some word on Nick Ning about the Branson Convention, er Conference, er
Gathering. That's it Gathering.

Now I hate to sound cynical... No actually I mean to sound cynical but is it the
season for Summer reruns?

Nick posted he ran into a "Make a Wish" child and that he is feeling under the
weather. Where have we heard this before?

Also it's not about the numbers. "As I've told you before in my opinion AORBS
successes are not measured by the numbers who attend," I guess when you go from
325 RBS in 2006 to 25 in 2009 you have to explain it somehow.

Get well Nick. Yeah right.

Phantom Santa
Haunting AORBS and now Haunting the new improved AORBS.ning.

How lovely.
"Get well.... Yeah right" ?????
"Nickypoo"??? ..... Childish!

Such talk for a "santa" in North Carolina.

Is this "santa" Jac Grimes from High Point North Carolina?

Tim Connaghan, who teaches not to allow Santa to be caught in a questionable situation....

To all the people from Skagway who "responded" to our post, who claim they are responding to our denigrating of the ladies in the photo...

And to the totally UNPROFESSIONAL posts from the photographer who, in his post, liked to use "professional" phrases like, "you really need to get a grip"...

We will NOT publish your posts. Get over it.

We did not originate this story, we simply reported that this story happened and that it was upsetting Santas. And we reported that Tim Connaghan teaches to not allow Santa to be presented in a bad light.

This story of Tim Connaghan allowing himself and his students, who come to him to learn how to be Santa, to be photographed as "Santa" in a situation that other Santas thought was a bad light, IS a story that has merit, BECAUSE of his claiming to know what is correct behavior.

WE added the part about Connaghan stressing to always have both hands visible. Our addition of the story was pointing out that Connaghan did not do that. We said NOTHING about the character of the ladies involved. Your complaints that we did are WRONG. Our posting was about Connaghan.

Your arguments are "straw men" and will not be propped up for you to knock down.

The issue is Connaghan excersizing judgment that OTHER Santas are already upset about and calling "bad judgment".

And THAT is where this issue will stay.

Naughty Traveling Claus Clan Shames the Name of Santa

Here is a story that is starting to make the rounds of the news sites.
We have excerpted part of the story here, as it appears in the following URL
http://defendingsanta.com/?p=33

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Naughty Traveling Claus Clan Shames the Name of Santa
June 25th, 2009

PHOTO REMOVED AT THE DEMAND OF ANDREW CREMATA: although this photo clearly showed Tim Connaghan at the brothel museum.

Summer is clearly not Santa’s season. For the third year in a row the off-season behaviors of a clan of professional Santa Clauses is grabbing headlines and causing jaws to drop. This year, they traveled by cruise ship to Alaska, where they stole headlines everywhere they went — including Skagway, Alaska where this group of Santas posed at a famed brothel museum:

The group, being tutored at a “School4Santa” sponsored by the International University of Santa Claus, were supposed to be learning the delicate art of representing Santa Claus and living up to the industry-wide standards set out in the “Santa Claus Oath”.

The schools, led by Santa trainer Tim Connaghan across the United States, teaches professional Santas the history and business of professional Santas.

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End of Excerpt. It seems that the International University of Santa Claus, according this article has a 3 year history of trouble.

We have a feeling that having Santas pose at a Brothel Museum may be a new low.

Here is another version of the same story from http://www.skagwaynews.com/;
HO HO HO's

PHOTO REMOVED AT THE DEMAND OF ANDREW CREMATA: although this photo clearly showed Tim Connaghan at the brothel museum. You can click the links in this article to see the image of Tim Connaghan at the brothel museum however.

You can view the archived image and headline here.

A Santa convention showed up on a ship last week and posed with the ladies at the Red Onion Brothel Museum. They also sang “Jingle Bells” in the Christmas Store and generally made themselves noticed everywhere they went.

Photo by Andrew Cremata

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We did a little research on the "Red Onion Brothel Museum". The Red Onion Brothel Museum is housed inside the "Red Onion Saloon". This is not a restaurant that happens to serve alcohol, this is a BAR. So even if this Mr. Tim Connaghan can figure out a way to explain why a Brothel Museum is the correct venue for Santa, why would he plan an entire trip around going to a BAR?

Isn't anyone else upset by this?

Tim Connaghan supposedly teaches a Santa School, where one of the subjects of instruction is;

What Qualities do Great Santa's Possess - A Santa of Character

Tim Connaghan, who is standing just to the right side of the woman in the top hat, and has his left hand on the shoulders of the woman in front of him, also teaches to always have both hands showing so there is no accusation possible later on. Now.. Where is his right hand?