Posted on 10/28/2004 7:31:27 PM PDT by icecold
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Internal Revenue Service has begun reviewing the NAACP's tax-exempt status, citing concerns over a speech given by its chairman at its annual convention last July in Philadelphia.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
In a letter dated Oct. 8 and released Thursday, the IRS told the NAACP it had received information that chairman Julian Bond conveyed "statements in opposition of George W. Bush for the office of presidency" and specifically "condemned the administration policies of George W. Bush in education, the economy and the war in Iraq."
The letter reminded the NAACP that tax-exempt organizations are legally barred from supporting or opposing any candidate for elective office.
Bond's speech on July 11 included a long section that sharply criticized the Republican Party, Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for their positions on an array of issues important to black Americans.
Bond defended his remarks Thursday, saying they focused on policy, not politics. "This is an attempt to silence the NAACP on the very eve of a presidential election," he said. "We are best known for registering and turning out large numbers of African-American voters. Clearly, someone in the IRS doesn't want that to happen."
He added, "It's Orwellian to believe that criticism of the president is not allowed or that the president is somehow immune from criticism."
IRS officials said they could not discuss the specifics of any case. But IRS commissioner Mark Everson issued a statement denying that the agency's interest in the NAACP was politically motivated.
"The IRS follows strict procedures involving the selection of tax-exempt organizations for audit and resolution of any complaints about such groups," Everson said.
"Career civil servants, not political appointees, make these decisions in a fair, impartial manner. Any suggestion that the IRS has tilted its audit activities for political purposes is repugnant and groundless."
The NAACP did not endorse a presidential candidate this year. Bush declined to speak at the group's last four annual conventions. Democratic candidate John Kerry spoke at this year's gathering.
U.S. says election terror threats quieted
Federal officials say the level of information picked up about an election terror threat has ebbed somewhat recently, but they still believe the danger posed by Al-Qaida has not waned.
Ohio GOP files appeal on voter challenges
The Ohio Republican Party asked the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower-court ruling and allow hearings on about 23,000 voters who it challenged around the state.
The party says that mail to some of the voters came back undeliverable, which raised the possibility of fraud. Democrats say the GOP is trying to keep poor and minority voters, who change residences more often, from casting ballots Tuesday.
State Attorney General Jim Petro also filed an appeal similar to that of the Republicans, saying Wednesday's order "has just thrown Ohio's electoral process into disarray, and has opened the door to voter fraud."
Justice defends 2000 election decision
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Thursday he would prefer not to face another election-related lawsuit, but defended the high court's decision to get involved in the dispute over the 2000 presidential vote in Florida.
"What are you supposed to do when somebody brings a lawsuit?" he asked University of Kansas law students in Lawrence. "You hear people say the Supreme Court jumped into the last election. I find it very ironic that the very people saying judges are interfering are bringing lawsuits.
"What do you think? Donald Duck is going to decide it?"
When asked about the prospect of more litigation over the 2004 vote, Thomas said, "I would prefer not to have to decide it, but that joins a long list of things," adding: "It's my job."
Appointed to the court in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush, Thomas was part of a 5-4 Supreme Court majority that ended a recount in Florida four years ago, allowing George W. Bush to claim the White House instead of Democrat Al Gore.
oh no..poor jesse
It's about stinkin' time!
Its about time the IRS stepped in.
But, look for the naacp to spew out lies that Bush has had them attacked by the IRS.
one million dollar fine that Soreass will pay with his
pocket money.
one million dollar fine that Soreass will pay for them with his pocket money.
This is AWESOME! Take it to them!!!
I can't believe they are allowed to use tax payer $$$
Beat me to it!
ABOUT dayum TIME!!!
Jesse Jokeson and his crowd need to be run out of America and the NAACP along with them.....they are NOTHING but the Klan with a Tan...
LAWS are only for the poor people.
Shall we unspin this?
Appointed to the court in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush, and subsequently confirmed by the US Senate, Thomas was part of a 5-4 Supreme Court majority that ended an illegal recount in Florida four years ago, a recount aimed at deligitmizing Florida's already duly selected Presidential electors, allowing George W. Bush to claim the White House instead of Democrat Al Gore.
Ah. That's better. I've wanted to do that for four years now.
Baloney -- squared, but for reasons opposite to what you may think.
Bush has threatened to do away with the IRS by replacing the income tax with a national sales tax. The timing of this is the IRS's attempt to prevent that possibility by promoting Kerry's election.
Between this and the CIA's treasonous behavior, Bush will begin to echo Ronald Reagan: "Government is not a solution to our problem. Government is the problem."
They give their whole race a bad name. Time for them to learn otherwise about that, too.
A good start. Will the IRS also investigate the ACLU?
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