Obama can help himself and the national Democrats NOW if only he clamps down on illegal Rove TV ads

[brentspeak]

Last edited Thu Jun 7, 2012, 06:04 PM - Edit history (2)

Silence from Obama's IRS and Justice Dept for over three years on the blatant 501(c)(4) abuse committed by Republican-funded "issue education" attack groups like American Action Network, Americans Elect and Crossroads GPS. Campaign finance watchdog groups have petitioned the IRS numerous times on the issue. So far -- silence.

Hey, if Obama enjoys being hammered day-in and day-out all over the airwaves by Rove's groups, that's his own choice, however insane that choice may be. But is it fair for every other Democrat in the nation to be the victim of clearly illegal use of 501(c)(4) tax exemption status?

A typically "non-partisan, unbiased" Crossroads GPS "educational" TV attack ad paid for by billionaires' tax-deductible dollars:

[cthulu2016]

1. Perfectly legal (as currently interpreted)

The standard would be urging Obama's electoral defeat, which the ad does not do.

This category of ads always ends with the, "Call X and say you hate him."

Of course everyone knows that those groups really exist for electoral purposes, but that's a determination the IRS will not make here as long as they don't overtly "electioneer."

[brentspeak]

5. It's not "perfectly legal"

The ads demonstrate clear bias with no attempt to promote "social welfare", as stipulated by statue 501(c)(4).

Looking into the matter even more, I've discovered that several Democratic senators have also petitioned the IRS on this very same issue, and even they have gotten the stiff-arm from Obama's people.

[geek tragedy]

6. Yes, Obama loves being the target of rightwing media blitzes.

You sure do have him figured out. He ran for President with the goal of losing!

[sabrina 1]

23. Did you read the links provided for you? Or do you think we should continue to allow the Dem party

to be trashed and discredited without even putting up a fight, which is what the Dems have been doing for nearly two decades now, cultivating these criminals. They love the kind of attitude I am seeing in this thread.

If there are laws with which to go after them, then that is what we should do, or do you think we should just cower in a corner, post little roly poly smiley guys and hope for the best?

[emulatorloo]

2. So Karl Rove is Obama's fault too? LOL

[SidDithers]

3. Hilarious, eh?...nt

Sid

[brentspeak]

7. Ok, Chuckles -- tell us all what Obama's done about this issue

Ball's in your court.

http://www.tomudall.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1026

[Honeycombe8]

10. What issue? Legal ads running that some people don't like?

You want Obama to wave his magic wand and make Rove go away?

Some say they're legal, some say they're not.

[brentspeak]

12. Try reading the links first, then respond

Not the other way around.

[Honeycombe8]

17. I didn't see a link to the DOJ on the legality of it. nt

[sabrina 1]

20. Explain how they are legal. Did you read the OP?

[sabrina 1]

24. Karl Rove is the fault of every elected official who chose to let him off the hook. What happened to

the subpoenas he dodged from Congress eg? Is he immune from prosecution when he sticks his finger in Congress' eye and tells them to get lost? Because that is what he did. It's way past time for someone to start getting tough with these criminals, don't you think? Or would you rather make them even more powerful by letting them do what they want, and then whine about it after they win?

[geek tragedy]

4. This may be th dumbest, most trollish post all week.

Accusing Obama of supporting political groups that attack him.

Do people sit at home thinking "what's the dumbest fucking way I can hate on th President?"

[brentspeak]

8. Since I didn't "accuse Obama of supporting political groups that attack him"

But merely pointed out what other groups and even Democratic senators have noted -- that Obama hasn't done jack squat about the political groups who are violating IRS rules to attack him and other Democrats -- perhaps the "troll" you speak of is the face staring you in the mirror.

[rfranklin]

9. You can bet the Republicans wouldn't tolerate this if the roles were reversed...

They would come up with an answer.

[sabrina 1]

21. Yes they would, but as I pointed out below to Brentspeak, we have some great organizations now who

have been very successful in going after these kinds of issues from the Right. I think this might be something they would take on.

I see a few people in this thread would rather do what made all of this possible, cover their eyes and ignore the war on Democrats without even putting up a fight. That old strategy is what made these tactics fester and grow. When no one fights them, they just keep getting bolder and bolder and have no fear of the law.

I am glad Brentspeak raised this issue.

[dionysus]

14. he's trying really hard to fill BBIs shoes, cut the poor lad some slack!

[sabrina 1]

30. And you are derailing a thread on what to do about the Dems being constantly trashed by the far

right. Why are you doing that? Do you not care if Dems lose in November?

[Rex]

40. Missing BBI are we?

.

[dionysus]

45. nah, there's plenty of wannabes fouling the air.

[Number23]

36. Yeah, it's definitely a D- effort

This is a really benign, fairly boring article about a couple of groups suing the IRS trying to get more information. There is no reference to the president anywhere within the article in the OP.

And yet, somehow that gets turned into "OBAMA WON'T STAND UP FOR HIMSELF AND IS HELPING KARL ROVE." It's really quite idiotic, actually. And the fact that the usual zombies are all over this thread in support (and I don't mean "formerly banned poster" zombie, I mean "I NEED BRAINS!!11" zombie) really just cements its D grade status.

[Tarheel_Dem]

37. Dammit #23.

You owe me a keyboard.

[Whisp]

43. hahaha!!!

----(and I don't mean "formerly banned poster" zombie, I mean "I NEED BRAINS!!11" zombie) -----

omg spitting my tomato sandwich out right now.

[rufus dog]

11. Fonzie called

He wants to know if you plan on going water skiing with him.

[Tarheel_Dem]

38. Zing!

You guys are killin' me.

[flamingdem]

44. nice shark!

nt

[dionysus]

13. by now this shit is just funny. keep up that campaign brent!

[SunsetDreams]

15. You're complaining about their tax exempt status but HAVE to show us the video?

Why? Does something in the video prove that they are tax exempt? It doesn't represent your argument.

[brentspeak]

18. The video is just there to illustrate the subject I'm talking about

As for your other question -- it's never been a question or a mystery that Crossroads GPS and the other RW radio and TV attack machines enjoy tax-exempt, non-profit status:http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/ArticleEmail.aspx?id=53289

[SunsetDreams]

26. The video is unnecessary

Like you said " it's never been a question or a mystery that Crossroads GPS and the other RW radio and TV attack machines enjoy tax-exempt, non-profit status". It's also never been a question, or shouldn't be on a place called DU, that Crossroads GPS, et al are Right Wing Super Pacs. So again, your video is unnecessary.

[brentspeak]

27. For those unfamiliar with the subject, an example ad is quite necessary, thanks

And I don't think anyone here is dumb enough to become a right-winger after watching it.

[SunsetDreams]

28. Scrutiny of Political Nonprofits (BY IRS) Sets Off Claim of Harassment

I guess your entire premise of your OP is mistaken.

By JONATHAN WEISMAN
Published: March 6, 2012


In recent weeks, the I.R.S. has sent dozens of detailed questionnaires to Tea Party organizations applying for nonprofit tax status, demanding to know their political leanings and activities. The agency plans this year to press existing nonprofits like American Crossroads, on the Republican side, and Priorities USA, on the Democratic side, to justify their tax-protected status as “social welfare” organizations, a status that many tax professionals believe is being badly abused.

Senate Democrats are readying a fresh legislative push to demand that such groups disclose their donors and attach disclaimers to their political advertising identifying the advertisement’s primary funders. Tax experts are also raising concerns that corporate donors to “super PACs” may be deducting their contributions as business expenses.

The pushback is likely to be just as fierce. Jay Sekulow, a conservative lawyer known more for his stands on religious freedom than for his tax work, said he is representing 16 Tea Party groups that are claiming harassment by the I.R.S., and the number is growing. He said he intended to demand an explanation from the Treasury Department on Wednesday for what he called “McCarthyism” tactics and that he would contact Republican lawmakers this week.

“This is obviously a coordinated effort by the I.R.S. to stifle these Tea Party and Tea Party-affiliated groups, and to stifle free speech activities,” Mr. Sekulow said. “It’s as onerous as what they did to the N.A.A.C.P. in the 1950s, and I plan to make that point.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/us/politics/irs-scrutiny-of-political-groups-stirs-harassment-claim.html?_r=1

[Tarheel_Dem]

39. Thanks for that Sunset. I'm looking forward to the response.

[SunsetDreams]

41. My pleasure

It really wasn't that hard to find the truth

[Tarheel_Dem]

42. "It really wasn't that hard to find the truth". It usually isn't if the truth is indeed what....

one is looking for.

[brentspeak]

46. That article was from three long months ago

November elections are just around the corner; is Obama waiting until after the elections to finally do something about this? The campaign finance watchdog groups are reporting that nothing substantial has yet to be done other than the IRS simply sending questionnaires. What good is a questionnaire going to do?

Obama can have the IRS firmly clamp down on the abuses now, without any mail-in "input" from the guilty parties.

[sabrina 1]

47. Here's a link to ColorOfChange which is a great organization for taking on these issues

especially the Rightwing media. ColorOfChange

I don't see this on their 'campaign' site, but you could email them if you like. They got Glenn Beck off the air, eg, by getting to his sponsors. They are relentless when they go after these kinds of right wing issues, and have a huge following who they get to make calls and sign petitions etc.

Eg, they have been really successful getting Corps to drop their membership with Alec.

I agree that this needs attention. For too long Democrats have ignored these lies from the right although there are organizations now, more and more of them, who are taking them on.

[SunsetDreams]

48. Nice try but you claimed that the IRS has been silent

like they have not done anything at all. "Three long months ago", are you aware of how long investigations can take? They are in fact investigating. Questionnaires are part of the investigations, answers can be used as evidence. While I am not thrilled at times that the legal system takes so long, that time taken can make or break a case. Again, your OP was mistaken.

[sabrina 1]

29. Why is it unnecessary if people like me, eg, are not familiar with Rightwing garbage? Do you think

that DUers are so stupid that they will be influenced by this crap, because I can assure you to put your mind at rest, we really are smarter than the average moron on the right and capable of not becoming a rightwing cultist just because we saw an ad.

I have never seen or heard their ads, so I want to know what they are doing. All this now that I see they ARE violating laws, can be sent to orgs like Color of Change who are among the most successful Progressive Organizations we have currently attacking ALEC successfully, Amazon just withdrew its membership from ALEC a week or so ago, making it the 16 Corp to do so after pressure from Color of Change and a few other orgs.

Do you disapprove of Media Matters who attack the Rightwing Noise Machine every day and which cannot be done without knowing what garbage they are spewing over the airwaves?

What do you suggest we do about them, close our eyes and let them get away, again, with violating the law? I prefer a new strategy, like Color of Changes, pursue them relentlessly until they run, as ALEC is doing. For four decades ALEC flourished in the dark, because no one fought them! A failed strategy.

But you have to know what they are doing in order to fight them. This could be sent to Color of Change eg, with the video and if they have time and resources and start another campaign, something might be done about them finally. But ignoring them ensures nothing will stop them.

[SunsetDreams]

35. Oh I see, glad you got to see it then. nt

[one_voice]

16. *sigh*

[sabrina 1]

19. Do you have a link to the law that these ads violate Brentspeak? If they are illegal, there are

some great Progressive Organizations now that are actually stopping the Right from taking over the country. This sounds like an issue they might be interested in.

Thank you for the post. We need to fight them everywhere. Enough 'Mr. Nice Guy' as Color of Change said when they decided to get Glenn Beck off the air, and now have helped get over 16 Corps to remove their memberships from ALEC.

They are tough and relentless, forget the politicians, we have to do it ourselves.

[brentspeak]

25. Here's an IRS link to 501(c)(4) information

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopici03.pdf

It's long and kind of nebulous, but it does make clear that 501(c)(4) status is to be reserved for organizations which promote "social welfare" only.

Here's a dailyKos article on the issue: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/07/1089423/-Karl-Rove-s-Crossroads-GPS-says-ads-against-Elizabeth-Warren-Tim-Kaine-aren-t-political

[sabrina 1]

32. Thank you, I will read the links. I will say that this is not something the president can do much

about. However, there are several very effective activist groups like Progressives For America and Color of Change which have been very successful at taking on the Right on issues like this.

They have gone after ALEC and have them on the run right now. That organization was working in the shadows for four decades until PEOPLE decided to go after them.

If a lot of people were to send information such as you posted here, to Color of Change eg, they might start another campaign to try to get the law enforced and stop them from abusing it.

[ibegurpard]

22. why should he?

Bill Clinton or Cory Booker will just come along and undercut him again.

[cynatnite]

31. You're implying that Obama likes Citizens United...

Pretty demented logic.

Besides, it seems that this is something that is not within his jurisdiction to do anything about. That would probably be up to either the Justice department or the IRS.

Besides, they've aired bullshit ads like this forever. They're not going away. Remember the swiftboat jerks?

[sabrina 1]

33. Yes, the President can't do anything about this, but if it is illegal and it appears it may be

then there are other avenues to try to put a stop to them. I think the OP is frustrated, as are we all with the lies that flood the airwaves every day, but I agree this is not a job for the President.