Here is a little background funding info on Truthout.
Truthout is funded by (or affiliated with) a group called SEE (Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs): Once again, it seems all these liberal activists are doing the 501(c) "non-profit" shuffle. Environmental groups aligned with anti-war groups etc.
Here are some things that make you go HMMMMM;
According to their 2001 form 990, available at www.guidestar.org and other companies which provide public records, SEE provided funds to Truthout as well as pressing "environmental" causes as:
1.The World Media Alliance
2.Unprecedented-The 2000 presidential election. An independent "film" (I'd have called it-democrats: how to spin like a top - sans vertigo.)
3.A charming little society called the J20 coalition- which is, and I'm quoting from the SEE 990 here, "a determined effort to dog Bush during the tenure of his illegitimate presidency"- Some info on them here:
http://www.actionla.org/J20/ To see the BBB report on SEE (Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs) AKA- Afghan Women's Mission, American-Soviet Film Initiative-click here:
http://www.give.org/reports/care2_dyn.asp?800 To see the form 990 on guidestar, click here (you might have to register and use truthout in a keyword search, if link doesn't work):
http://documents.guidestar.org/2001/954/116/2001-954116679-1-9.pdf Some info on a few of SEE's board members:
Steven Sugarman
1. California State University grad -MA in research Psychology. (There is another Steven Sugarman in New Mexico who is known for his litigation on behalf of the eco-nuts. I haven't found any documentation linking the two):
http://www.thehabitattrust.org/about.html (info halfway down page)
2. Max Gail
Possibly the actor/activist: based on info here
http://www.lap.org/LAP/Full_Circle/full_circle.html 3.Andrew Beath
Profile here:
http://www.nonviolenceworks.com/snv/snv2002/AndrewBeath.htm O.K., There's the facts, as far as I can determine, now here's the rant.
I'm no Bushbot. I've certainly disagreed with several of his policies. However, I want to know why in the HELL these non-profits can give unlimited amounts to issue advocacy groups (in my opinion, left-leaning groups like truthout and j20 coalition qualify as issue and candidate advocacy) and not be constrained by CFR and their tax-exempt status. Why does a non-taxpaying organization have more leeway and (less regulation) to spend money in political expression and candidate/election advocacy than an individual taxpayer does? (-PAGING JOHN MCCAIN-)
If I, as an individual were to send money overseas, I’d have to account for it. As far as I can determine, these "non-profits" can engage in political advocacy, ship money from one 501(c) to another (each taking a cut) or even overseas virtually unfettered. I don't know if this inequality violates IRS code, CFR, or even the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, but I'm damn sure it is a burden on individual taxpayers and a drag on the US economy.
So the next time a liberal politician whines about "tax-cuts for the rich", and how they want to tax only "ultra-rich" corporations, tell them to start with their OWN DAMN 501(C)"NON PROFIT" CORPORATIONS!
Ranting aside, I hope there is some useful info in here for you.
Great data and thanks for posting it and sharing it with us.
One can only wonder how much Opecker/Oil Blood Money from the Opecker Princes and Thugs has gone to these left wing 501C's the past two decades.
The sharing and comingleing of the funds received is another area of danger for the rest of us.