Tag Archives: IRS

The IRS War Against The Tea Parties Spreads

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The IRS War Against The Tea Parties Spreads

Nixon and Obama, similar tacticsIn my last post, I revealed that the IRS war against the certain Tea Parties has taken the form of foot-dragging on tax-exemption applications. Both the Richmond, Virginia Tea Party and the Ohio Liberty Council have released communications from the Internal Revenue Service that include extensive questionnaires that go far beyond previous fact-finding by the service.

Officials from tea party groups in Hawaii, Texas, California and Kentucky have come forward with documents that are similar to those received by the organizations in Virginia and Ohio.

At least 80 conservative/constitutionalist groups, including 9/12 Project groups around the Obama's Greek Chorus against the Tea Partiescountry have reportedly received these letters.  The IRS letters all come from a single office of the IRS in Cincinnati, Ohio.

As the spreading IRS war spreads, so to has the publicity and the facts surrounding it. We now know that six senators sent a formal request to IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman that “requests that the commissioner investigate 501(c)(4) groups to determine whether they are engaging in substantial campaign activity, including opposition to any candidate.

Who signed this letter? Senators Charles Schumer (NY), Al Franken (MN), Mark Udall (C), Jeanne Shaheen (NH) , Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Jeff Merkley (OR) and Michael Bennet (CO). They all have one thing in common, they’re all Democrats.

The Taxman is watchingTheir goal is to use the IRS and the tax code as clubs with which the Obama administrations and the Democrats can intimidate the tea party groups and distract them during the coming election season.

It appears that the Cincinnati, Ohio office has been designated by the IRS Commissioner as the point office for these reprehensible fishing expeditions by the tax service.

They are continuing to send out letters to groups that have requested tax exempt status under section 501 (c) (4) of the federal tax code. This section grants tax-exempt status to certain groups as long as they are not primarily involved in activity that could influence an election, a determination that is up to the IRS.

It appears that the size and the scope of the information sought by the IRS is designed to stymie these groups from achieving the tax-exempt status that the are seeking. “It’s intimidation,” said Tom Zawistowski, president of the Ohio Liberty Council, a coalition of tea party groups in the state. “Stop doing what you’re doing, or we’ll make your life miserable.”

The intimidation of political enemies is not new. Richard Nixon had his enemies list of political groups and individuals. Nixon’s list included well-known individuals, such as Paul Newman and Rep. John Conyers.

Bill Clinton had a list of political group that he classified as “enemies”, including such well-known groups as the National Rifle Association and the Citizens Against Government Waste.

It now appears that the Obama administration and their allies in the Congress have adopted the “Chicago Way” of political intimidation and revenge against those who they perceive are their enemies. They have settled on using the IRS and political-appointee commissioner as there primary weapons in this political war.

 

The IRS’ War Against The Tea Parties

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The IRS War Against The Tea Parties

Apparently unreported, until recently, was the IRS’ war against the Tea Parties when it comes to application for tax-exempt charitable status for chapters around the country.

Demonstrating at an IRS OfficeThis past Tuesday, Jamie Radtke, a former president of the Richmond (VA) Tea Party asked asked California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa to investigate what she said was unfair treatment of tea party groups by the Internal Revenue Service.

It seems that the group applied for tax-exempt status in December 2009. After over a two year wait, they recently received a communication from the agency that asked for answers to “12 additional questions in 53 separate parts.” The Richmond Tea Party was also ordered to hand over a list of all its donors and volunteers.

The intrusive nature of the IRS’ inquiry set off all sorts of alarm bells at the Richmond Tea Party. Radtke, who is running in the Republican primary for the open U.S. Senate seat in The Taxman is watchingVirginia, immediately called for Rep. Issa’s assistance. Issa chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

A previous inquiry had been made by the IRS in a letter dated September 10, 2010.The earlier letter contains 17 separate requests for information, including “copies of your materials on Face Book [sic]” and “copies of any sponsorship agreements.”

In addition to the questions in the newest letter, dated January 9, 2012, the IRS’ latest requirements include copies of “all the [web] pages that are accessible only to your members,” along with an accounting of all ”donations, contributions, and grant income for each year,” including “names” and “amounts” of every contributor.

No Political Correctness...PosterIf that wasn’t enough, the agency also asked for “the time, location, and detailed description” of every event and program the Richmond tea Party has conducted since October 22, 2010, along with “copies of handouts”; “the names and credentials of the organizers”; “detailed contents of … speeches or forums, names of the speakers or panels, and their credentials”; “the amount … each person” was paid; and “the names of persons from your organization and the amount of time they spent on the event or program.”

All of the information had to be submitted in two weeks after a wait of a year and a half. Do you get the idea that the agency is attempting to block this local chapter’s legitimate use of the tax code to further their mission?

And it’s not just the Richmond organization that’s been targeted. The Ohio Liberty Council said on Feb. 16 that it had received a similar letter from the IRS after waiting for 18 months for the agency to approve its application for the same non-profit tax status. That letter, dated Jan. 26, included 34 separate questions for the organization to answer.

The question must be asked, “Is the Obama administration using the IRS for political Soros Chartassaults on their opposition?” I seem to recall that President Richard Nixon used a similar approach against his opponents. Is history repeating itself?

Meanwhile, in a clear case of the double standard practiced in America, Media Matters for America has full tax exempt status. The left-wing attack organization has the tax-exempt status of a charitable organization as a Section 501(c)(3) group. It therefore pays no Federal income taxes whatsoever. Donors are afforded the opportunity to deduct their contributions, a very clear advantage for fundraising.

However, it may not “attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities” or “participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.” And as we know, Media Matters clearly has tried to do both.

Remember, the left will always tell us who they are most afraid of and in this case it appears that they are really concerned about the impact of the Tea Party Movement on the November elections.