It looks suspicious? Are you fucking kidding me? This is a brazen attempt by the party in power to circumvent the rules for their own purposes. The fact that it occurred a week after Bush’s outreach program isn’t “suspicious,” it’s a smoking gun!
It’s obvious the GOP is doing this because they want to use churches in the election season and, since the rules don’t permit them to do so, they’ll just change them to suit their needs. If we allow a party, either party, to change to rules for their partisan needs then we’re further corrupting an already corrupted process. The system is fucked up enough without people trying to pull a fast one like this.
It’s all a big money game anyway, no matter if the money is coming from dues or donations. At least with unions, there’ used to be a sliver of an honest objective in making a liveable working environment for their members, and forcing dishonest corporations to treat their workers fairly. (not really true anymore though, unions are as corrupt as the gov’t, this coming from a card carrying Teamster)
The problem I have with churches who support politicians is that they try to inject morality into something that defies morality, politics. Churches who mobilize their members to action, ought not have any more protection than protest groups like Greenpeace, yet they often do, your donation to Greenpeace is not tax deductable, yet your donation to St. Michaels, is.
[minirant] This fact alone belies the fact that no matter the political party affiliation, that the only green anyone gives a shite about is money [/minirant]
IMO, it’s not the business of the church to try and influence politics and politicians, it’s the business of the church to insure the spiritual, (and in some cases physical) well being of their congreates, and tending to the needs of the community, rather than being a force for political action.
IIRC, unions are not exempt under the same form. Rather, they file IRS form 1024. Tax exempt organizations are allowed to get involved in political activity if their main purpose is to promote the social welfare.
However, my argument isn’t that churches should or should not be allowed to engage in political activty. Instead, it’s that the GOP is trying to change the rules at the precise moment it becomes advantageous to do so.
You may have something if the Dems collectively renounced all that soft-money and help that comes from the unions and other lefty groups. But since they are up to their necks in AFL-CIO endorsements and NEA contributions and whatnot, fuck 'em. Fuck 'em with a tax-exempt church-group campaign.
Just because I’m not a Bush fan doesn’t mean that I’m a partisan democrat. I believe in full transparency for both political parties. I even believe we need a truth in advertising law for politcal ads.
I don’t believe that either party should bend/break the rules for partisan gain. Rather, the playing field should be even and fair. Now, that may be a daydream - but it’s what I would expect from a truly responsive government - and not this corrupted monstrosity currently in place.
Unfortunately, it seems as though winning is everything for some people - and that’s how people validate their “fuck em” attitudes.
I agree with Buttonjockey that it’s all just a big money game. My only question is how do you know whether a bill was quietly introduced as opposed to loudly introduced?
Did the House’s bill reader whisper this one? Did C-Span’s sound guy cooperate in a conspiracy? Did a Republican operative sneak up to the table while no-one was watching and slip the bill between two other bills? How does that work exactly?
I support Amnesty International. I’ve been a member since about 1987. I organized my college’s first AI chapter and ran it for three years. I worked hard and made some (I hope) good things happen.
Two months ago I stepped up my membership from ‘generic letter writer’ to ‘donation giver’ if you get me. I zinged $100 off and got my little card and everything.
I have receiving a letter-writing campaign since then.
But let me tell you about what I have received…
(Cue Motley Crue music…)
Sitting in my office thinking works a drag
Listening to the gov-ment rap just ain’t my bag
Mailman rings…I know it’s my cue
I’m gonna get request for donation number two!
Giving to Amnesty!
Giving to Amnesty!
Now AI don’t you hit me
Up for some more
Cause everyone knows that
Patience can be ex-hausted!
Looking round the corner sure the coast is clear
Checking out the mail no there ain’t nothing there
Sit down to dinner with Kate and them all
Phone starts a-ringing it’s a donation call!
Giving to Amnesty!
Giving to Amnesty!
Now AI don’t you hit me
Up for some more
Cause everyone knows that
Patience can be ex-hausted!
Oh, I got to work at the media shop
Direct mailing and man I’m bored
Log on to email just to see what’s yes or no
In my inbox it sits there another hit up for some dough
Seriously, in the two months since I gave I’ve been hit up more than 20 times for another donation and haven’t received on action letter.
Yes, I know it’s originally a Brownsville Station song but I’m a child of the 80s and like the Crue version better. How the hell do I do umlauts, anyway?