What does the NRA have to hide?

[rfranklin]

I have been told that the NRA is not an instrument of the gun manufacturers, that all the financing comes from individuals, so I am wondering why the NRA is so desperate to hide the origins of their bankroll--


Deal would exempt NRA and others from campaign finance disclosures
Updated 6:19 p.m.
By Dan Eggen
House Democrats have reached a compromise that would exempt the National Rifle Association and some other nonprofit groups from having to comply with stringent new campaign finance disclosures aimed primarily at large corporations, sources said Monday.

The deal paves the way for a House vote as early as later this week on the legislation, which is aimed at pushing back against a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that freed corporations, unions and nonprofit groups to spend unlimited funds for or against political candidates.

The legislation, spearheaded by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and paired with a companion bill in the Senate, would require companies and organizations to identify themselves on ads that they pay for; disclose information about such expenditures to shareholders and the public; and stand by the message of any ads through statements from a chief executive or other top official, much as political candidates currently are required to do.


--more at--
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/06/deal-would-exempt-nra-and-othe.html?hpid=topnews

[baldguy]

1. Everything

Just like every other RW lobby.

[armueller2001]

8. The NRA endorses

pro-RKBA (right to keep and bear arms) democrats. Never heard of a RW organization who does that...

[mvccd1000]

2. One of us is misunderstanding.

From the coverage I've read, the NRA is not exempt from hiding the origins of their money, they're exempt from publishing the fact that they are sponsoring political campaigns.

As usual, it's the politicians who won't have to admit where their money is coming from, as long as it comes from the NRA (or other organizations who meet the criteria).

[katandmoon]

3. Good question. No one can claim they don't, now.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. It's not about their fundraising.

It's about what they do with that money, and how they give it to candidates, or buy advertising for, etc.

[TheWraith]

5. They're not hiding the origins of their bankroll, nor are any of the other affected groups.

It exempts groups based on small donations from dues-paying members such as the NRA, most low-dollar unions, Audubon Society, etcetera from having to disclose what they're SPENDING their money on.

And the entire language of the exemption clearly states that it only applies to groups where less than 10% of their funding comes from corporations.

[one-eyed fat man]

6. again?

The article says:

"Under the House compromise, first reported by Politico, nonprofit groups such as the NRA would be exempt from the disclosure requirements if they are more than 10 years old, have at least 1 million members and receive 15 percent or less of their funding from corporations, a Democratic aide said."

So this means every organization that, either has no dues paying members, or gets most of its money fronting for a wealthy foundation that would lose it's tax-exempt status by lobbying directly, is howling like a banshee.

That AARP qualifies for the same exemption, gets no ink. Only the NRA is singled out for this vituperation. It's a good thing the NRA is there as a scapegoat for their unthinking hatred or certain self-righteous hypocrites would explode by not having an outlet for their blind enmity. Or maybe that's what some are counting on?

[oneshooter]

10. I wonder how this will affect the

Violence Policy Center?

"So this means every organization that, either has no dues paying members, or gets most of its money fronting for a wealthy foundation that would lose it's tax-exempt status by lobbying directly"

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SteveM]

9. Sounds like you may be hiding something. But we see it. nt

[DonP]

11. Tempest meet Teapot, Teapot meet Tempest

I love how some folks seem to get all wound up and start screeching before they even read a bill, article or letter if the media puts "the NRA" in the headline or first paragraph..

Then they have to tap dance and back pedal to try and not look as stupid as they behaved when they have the real story explained ... using small words and short sentences.

[pipoman]

12. Where'd the OP go?

Seems several people have pointed out the error of your interpretation of what this bill is about, huh?

[benEzra]

13. "What do unions have to hide?" "What does AARP have to hide?"

I sense a bit of selective anger here.

Personally, I think restrictions on political speech, however inconvenient such speech may sometimes be, undermines the First Amendment; if it doesn't protect political speech, what does it protect? But I think it's also silly for the corporate media to feign outrage that the NRA is being treated the same way as other membership organizations supported primarily by membership dues, when the MSM would be up in arms if (say) it was proposed to restrict their in-kind contributions to the gun-control cause.

[Euromutt]

14. Well, that's journalists for you

In their view, "the public has a right to know" just about anything, except who their sources are, or who might have given them certain "incentives" to present a story in a particular way. Quis custodiet ipsos custodies? Evidently, ipsos it is.

[DonP]

15. Ha! - Unions and AARP - Obviously just two more right wing lobbies

... or so some folks would assume. Since only the right wing lobbies are involved I guess.

In the meantime - my Rep Halvorson (D) has the NRA and Illinois State Rifle Assn endorsement for congress with an A rating. Those stupid right wing nut assholes at the NRA ILA keep sending her checks and endorsing her year after year, not knowing she's a Democrat I guess. Maybe she'll learn her lesson and just return all those checks. I hear they do the same "stupid" thing to other people with "D" behind their name, except for Daley of course.

But why ruin a perfectly good, simple minded rant for people that can't seem to think past a bumper sticker and prefer not to look at reality and changed electorate attitudes.