The Washtington Post via COF Professional Advisor Network:
The Internal Revenue Service has threatened to revoke the NAACP's tax-exempt status because the civil rights group's chairman, Julian Bond, "condemned the administration policies of George W. Bush" during a speech this summer, according to documents the group provided yesterday. The NAACP, which is based in Baltimore and is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization, is incorporated under a tax-code section that prohibits participation in a political campaign. The group has long had a strained relationship with the Bush administration. An IRS document dated Oct. 8 said that at the group's annual convention in Philadelphia in July, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People may have violated the restriction on political activity because it "distributed statements in opposition of George W. Bush for the office of presidency."
This is ridiculous in my opinion. It is a free country. This is why the founders of America came here so they could agree or disagree with the powers that be, and be vocal about it. Hello, freedom of speech!
If the NAACP loses its tax exemption status, I hope there is a march, and this little white girl is going to be right up there with them, with a sign, and my marching boots.
This is garbage. Totally unAmerican. Stupid. What else is there to say other than, it is just stupid.
Again
FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!
Posted by: Bilan | November 12, 2004 at 10:45 AM
My sentiments too. But partisan orgs are not supposed to be set up as charities. This could be a battle ground, as more and more charities live in fear of speaking out, while Heritage Foundation AEI, Cato, Hudson and other right wing orgs rake in the big bucks. All we need in this already divided country is to politicize charitable exemptions. Hope that the thinkers on the right speak out for Freedom, rather than lip synching the word. We should be united on this.
Posted by: Phil | November 12, 2004 at 08:47 PM
The government (taxpayer me) should not subsidize political views
Posted by: Ken | November 24, 2004 at 08:48 PM
Who decides what is political? Politicians! NAACP or Heritage Foundation? Which is political? Cutting one another a little slack, or cutting no one any slack would be fair, but using the IRS to hassle political opponents would be a dirty game.
Posted by: Phil | November 27, 2004 at 01:27 PM