Not in the same numbers/percentages. The IRS admits this.
I agree, but I don’t believe the original law itself was actually changed. It would take the US Congress to pass a law to change it. Technically all these social welfare groups that participate in any politics are violating the letter of the law.
Well, maybe. For instance, there is much said about the original law and the subsequent variation imposed by the IRS regulations. Succinctly put here:
http://blogs.rollcall.com/moneyline/irs-sued-for-failing-to-revise-rules-governing-501c4-groups/
Now, speaking as a lefty, I am suspicious of money, I seldom find that its best interests and mine are in alignment. If the tobacco companies, Verizon, Citigroup and Monsanto…just to pick some names out of an expensive hat…want to donate money to soup kitchens and scholarship funds for the underprivileged, I am pleased to see such civic mindedness. The monies are sorely needed, and if they are permitted some tax breaks for such as that, I have no problem. I would even be open to revising their post-revolution status from Straight to the Wall to something more forgiving, perhaps six months at the Jane Fonda Self-Criticism and Aerobics Camp. Do them a world of good, I have no doubt.
I am much less sanguine about “political education” with a distinct slant receiving such tax forgiveness. And why would I imagine that the Tea Party is anything but a political organization? Why does anyone join, to find out more about early American needlepoint?
And if I understand the law correctly (though TG, IANAL) as it stands, they are entitled to a tax break so long as their activity is “predominately” non-political. Meaning more then half. Meaning that more than half of their activity could be defined as non-political, bringing in the option of skillful semantic creativity. Its amazing how flexible the English language can be in the presence of Money and its disciples.
The law as written seems quite clear, but it appears that some murk was poured into the crystalline clarity. To benefit soup kitchens? Doctors Without Borders? Poor folks used their political muscle to this end? I’m guessing not, but as I said, I’m suspicious.
And lest partisan concerns be blamed for my attitude, keep in mind I think the Tea Party may prove to be that best thing that could happen to a moonbat like myself, they have seized the GOP ship and are steering it straight on to the rocks and shoals, full steam ahead and chop up the lifeboats for more kindling!
I don’t want my side sucking up to money, and fuck those menshevik Clintonistas. I don’t want the other guys doing it either, I’m quite egalitarian and non-partisan in that regard. Its not good for them, it erodes their good character, especially when successful at it. Wealth and businessmen are welcome to precisely the same political power as I. And not a nickel more.
In the case referenced above, I find for the plaintiffs, and issue a Writ of Fuhgeddaboutit. Tremble and obey.
I share your enthusiasm for the GOP shipwreck, but there’s a couple of things that should be of concern. One is that key states gerrymandering could drop rubber lifeboats from helicopters to the drowning victims of the Tea Party GOP shipwreck and help them survive with the HOUSE until 2016. That gets to a second concern. The Tea Party anti-government starve the beast Congress cretins in the House and in some Governorships across the fruited plains can still assemble enough obstruction to effectively turn the economy back to negative growth and a weak economic outlook with help from the global economy which gives them some chops if not in 2014 but in 2016, to mount a come back. The economy is still the huge driver in politics, and what a small band of rascals like the Tea Party, that will be bitching about the ‘Jackboots of Tyranny’ against the true and only patriots that America has left… may be still a con job in play in the next two election cycles specifically if the economic recovery stalls and turns a trend to negative growth and higher unemployment.
Democrats still need the economy to at least sustain its current recovery pace, and if it goes well, which I feel like it will do, I agree the Tea Party is sinking the GOP’s ship for good.
I don’t know if Texas can turn blue… but if Dems can make something out of recent political news from the Lone Star State… and turn that state a good shade of bluish purple… then I think that would be the marker that the GOP is a goner.
Texas may still be a long shot for Democrats, but the point is that Texas would be huge in the Blue column. If Florida, Pa, Oh, Colo, Mi, Va stay blue or a more dominant blue. If that happens then I don’t think the GOP would have a single state with double digit electoral votes firmly in their pocket. Perhaps a couple. Not sure, have not looked at the map, but we can see where things are headed.