Free Speech: The IRS scandal is not only not over but is getting worse, with a call by New York's senior senator for the already-politicized agency to use its power to tax to destroy the conservative grass-roots movement.
"It is clear that we will not pass anything legislatively as long as the House of Representatives is in Republican control, but there are many things that can be done administratively by the IRS and other government agencies," Schumer said in a speech before the leftist think tank Center for American Progress.
Calling for the IRS to use its powers to resume war on the First Amendment and free speech he doesn't like in the hopes of electing more Democrats, Schumer said: "We must redouble those efforts immediately."
Schumer was the author of the 2010 Disclose Act that failed to make it through Congress but would have required the disclosure of corporate donors to tax-exempt organizations, and membership and donor lists of the groups running "issue" ads.
"The bill was designed to embarrass companies," Schumer admitted, and its "deterrent effect should not be underestimated."
Advocating the use of government power to harass and intimidate political opponents is nothing new to Schumer. Along with Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Tom Udall of New Mexico and Al Franken of Minnesota, he sent a similar letter to IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman in February 2012 asking the IRS to investigate 12 conservative groups he accused of violating their tax-exempt status and engaging in coordinated political activity.
This effort to use government power to fundamentally transform our political system more along the lines of the Venezuelan model includes new IRS rules for 501(c)(4) organizations that would redefine "candidate-related political activity" and make virtually everything such tax-exempt political groups do a taxable activity.
Washington, D.C., attorney Cleta Mitchell, who represents a number of the Tea Party groups targeted by the IRS, says that under the new rules candidate-related activities would cover just about everything a 501(c)(4) typically does, including candidate debates, guides for voting, lobbying at the grass roots, issue advocacy as well as any public statements by officers of 501(c)(4)s that reference incumbents and candidates.
Schumer's call for government to punish its political enemies comes at the same time the IRS is conducting a Hollywood witch hunt openly targeting for "special scrutiny" a group known as the Friends of Abe. Named after Abraham Lincoln, it has about 1,500 members involved in various aspects of the film industry who meet to discuss politics and listen to conservative leaders.
The group doesn't engage in overt political activities or endorse candidates. It functions as a sort of a conservative support group for Hollywood conservatives in that liberal bastion and seeks to keep its members' names secret for fear of career consequences.
Jeremy Boreing, executive director of Friends of Abe, insists his organization has "absolutely no political agenda" and exists only to "create fellowship among like-minded individuals." What bothers the IRS is the fact the group, which has applied for tax-exempt status, invites largely conservative speakers.
The ability of people to peacefully assemble to petition their government for redress of grievances is under attack as the IRS and Democratic senators continue to ask, "Are you now, or have you ever been, a conservative?"
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While the implications are indeed frightening, I don't see where in the article it specifically mentions "pro-Israel Jews." Of course, those of us who are pro-Israel and conservative need to be aware of Scmuky's influence in the House.
ReplyDeleteWhen Schumer attacks Tea Party conservatives, he's including the same groups that the IRS already attacked, including pro-Israel groups ("Their applications for tax-exempt status are routed to an antiterrorism unit. ").
ReplyDeleteThis mandarin clown and his kind are heading for a bloody revolution. By making peaceful redress of the wrongs of tyrannical government impossible they make violent revolution inevitable.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of fools.
They are destroying the best thing on God's green Earth.
#1, Schumer's a pro-Israel Jew, he supports Israel's pro-life (for Israeli Jews) movement w/US tax dollars & Israel securing it's borders and deporting even legal immigrants. I am no longer supporting Israel, learning it was allied with the Saudis it always claimed was it's mortal enemy, both snapping orders at the US, as though our troops and ourselves are Israel's slaves was the limit for me. No more allowing Israel to come first, and the anti-American, open borders zealots neo-cons at IBD can get stuffed. They hate the teaparty, but aren't averse to trying to piggyback on us. Some may not like hearing it, but I think Israel isn't in danger so much as they are serving the hate America Islamists, the same way Sephardic Jews served the Islamists of the caliphate, betraying Christians. We need to cold shoulder the treasonous pigs of AIPAC, and tell them to have Israel borrow money from China. It's a burden we've carried for too long, let Israel and it's duplicitous government fall, the world would be better off.
ReplyDeletejews support lying obama .. nuff said
ReplyDelete