IRS Investigating NAACP for Criticism of President

[free]

Isn't this how most dictatorships start out?

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service (news - web sites) has informed the NAACP that it is investigating whether the civil rights organization improperly "intervened in a political campaign" when it posted on its website a speech by Chairman Julian Bond that condemned the Bush administration's policies.


The IRS sent a letter Oct. 8, less than a month before Tuesday's election, to the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People informing it of the investigation. The group has until Nov. 5 to respond.


"I think what's at issue is our right to criticize the president of the United States," Bond said Thursday. "The IRS is saying that because I criticized the president's education policies, his economic policies and his war policies that somehow I placed the tax exemption for the NAACP at risk."

Full Story (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20041030/ts_latimes/irsinvestigatingnaacpforcriticismofpresident)

[Tweek]

:rolleyes: wow
that's... for lack of a better word, uncool

[JohnTheHenchman]

Does the NAACP receive any federal funding? If so, there are definitely grounds for doing this.

[free]

Originally posted by JohnTheHenchman
Does the NAACP receive any federal funding? If so, there are definitely grounds for doing this.

Under the law, nonprofit groups cannot endorse candidates, contribute money or raise funds for them or "distribute statements for or against a particular candidate."

Even encouraging people to vote for a particular candidate "on the basis of nonpartisan criteria" violates tax laws. The federal tax code also says that organization leaders cannot make "partisan comments" at official events.

Jerry Falwell is using his ministry to help re-elect George W. Bush, possibly violating the law. (http://www.alternet.org/election04/19279/)

Date: July 20, 2004, just 9 days after the NAACP speech. So I guess Mr. Falwell got his letter 9 days after NAACP did. :rolleyes:

The Latino Coalition is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C. that supports Bush. (http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38949)

Do you really believe that if the NAACP had gone on about how Bush was doing such a great job, and howwonderful he treated African Americans, the IRS would have done anything about it?

[JohnTheHenchman]

Yeah. I believe that after Pat Robertson ( a conservative) go too involved with this stuff too, he was investigated at the time it happened as well.

I'd say that he treats African Americans fairly well when he appoints them to high government positions, where as Bill Clinton didn't really.

If you really want to believe that this is the right wing conspiracy's way of shutting up african americans or whatever, feel free. But I'm inclined to disagree.

[free]

Originally posted by JohnTheHenchman
If you really want to believe that this is the right wing conspiracy's way of shutting up african americans or whatever, feel free. But I'm inclined to disagree.

Well, I don't believe that, I am just saying I think that the recourse on dissent was handled poorly. I think there is just as much left wing crazies as there are right.

IMO, any group should be able to support any canidate they feel best represents their group.