By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Tuesday, October 17, 2006

David Kuo , the former White House staffer who claims the Bush administration cynically manipulated evangelical Christians, has plenty of GOP loyalists furious with him right now. They can line up behind organizers of the October 2001 "United We Stand" concert, who say Kuo stiffed them to the tune of $25,000.

Kuo was the administration's point man for the star-studded concert at RFK Stadium (featuring Michael Jackson , Aerosmith, James Brown, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, P. Diddy, Rod Stewart, Destiny's Child ), which was thrown together in the weeks following the 9/11 attacks to benefit the American Red Cross and other relief funds.

Since the principal promoter, Clear Channel Entertainment, was based in Philly, it asked D.C. Republican fundraiser Rob Jennings to help with corporate fundraising. Jennings told us Kuo seized on an idea to hand out 50,000 American flags to the audience and repeatedly assured organizers he could find an underwriter for the $25K cost -- and so the flags were ordered and paid for by the promoter. "It was such a hurried effort that everyone was just trying to do what they could," said Jennings.

The concert came and went -- with all those little flags waving for the cameras -- but the money never arrived, despite Kuo's continued promises. Kuo eventually stopped returning calls, and organizers were quietly asked by the White House to back off, said Jennings. He added that he didn't see Kuo again until he popped up on "60 Minutes" Sunday promoting his new book, "Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction."

"If I did something wrong, I'm sorry," said Kuo yesterday. "That's all I'm going to say, just to save time and apologize to people. I don't want to have hurt anybody."

Kuo said that he doesn't remember much about the concert discussions, but that he regrets if he didn't produce the promised money. He also notes that plenty of Republicans are determined to portray him in the worst possible light right now: "Of course the long knives are out for me. I've had lots of calls from friends about people who are going to 'take me down' or destroy me. I'm not going to back down. I'll confess to whatever it is, so I can keep on talking about what I want to talk about."

Jennings told us he would like Kuo to take the first $25,000 he earns from the book and write a check to the Red Cross. "That would be the right thing to do."

Kuo called us back to ask us for Jennings's phone number so he can apologize.

· Former representative Connie Morella and husband Tony at the KenCen's Family Theater on Saturday night, back in town from her diplomatic posting in Paris to see her actor son, Paul , in the title role of " Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major."

· Former Wizards center Gheorghe Muresan holding court at the annual Meridian Ball Friday night, a dozen black-tie-clad fans craning their necks to chat with the 7-foot-7 star.

· Vince Vaughn , who never officially acknowledged dating Jennifer Aniston during their widely reported relationship of one year, is now threatening to sue tabloids that claimed he cheated on her with a mystery blonde. A statement from his lawyers, reported by People, added that the stars "had not ended their relationship either at the material time or since."