It is shameful that, since Citizens United, political vultures like Karl Rove and the Koch Brothers can spend limitless $millions influencing elections with ads that are in no way related to the truth. That they can claim tax exemption as social welfare agencies just adds insult to injury.
Every week the campaign dollars pile up, by the tens of millions, by the hundreds of millions, to a level never before seen in American political life. Outside groups now say they plan to spend $1 billion on behalf of Republicans in the November election, which will probably be twice the level raised by groups supporting Democrats. Even the slush-funders of the Watergate era would have been slack-jawed at the number of seven- and eight-figure checks pouring into groups with names like Crossroads and Americans for Prosperity.
The reason for these staggering numbers — and for the growing imbalance between the parties — is that the vast financial power of the business world has been loosed as a political tool by the federal courts. In pursuit of lower taxes and less regulation, businesses, led by the United States Chamber of Commerce, are determined to remove President Obama from office and return full control of Congress to the Republican Party. Executives and companies are the principal source of the unlimited checks that are fueling the rise of these outside groups.
Many of the executives are giving money to “super PACs,” which have to disclose their names. But because businesses usually don’t want the public to know of their political activity, they prefer to launder their political contributions through the Chamber or through “social welfare organizations,” which can keep the names a secret.
The law that permits these undisclosed contributions also puts explicit limits on these organizations’ activities. Tax-exempt social welfare groups, known by their Internal Revenue Code section number as 501(c)(4)’s, cannot be organized for the “primary” purpose of political activity. So far, the I.R.S. is looking the other way.
But if not political activity, what is the primary purpose of a group like Crossroads GPS, the 501(c)(4) organized by Karl Rove, which plans to spend more than $100 million this year? It has already run at least a dozen ads this year, 11 of which accuse President Obama of breaking promises or committing serious policy errors. “Obama added almost $16,000 in debt for every American,” says the latest, a classic in misleading political hyperbole… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
Part of the problem is that the IRS does not evaluate a firms finances and activity until year end. By then, the election will be over, and if Republicans tale the White House, there will be no accountability for these illegal tactics.
If “both parties are the same” as some misinformed people proclaim, Democrats are sure selling out cheap, because 95% of wall street political money goes to Republicans
13 Responses to “Social Welfare? Rove and Kochs?!!?”
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“But because businesses usually don’t want the public to know of their political activity, they prefer to launder their political contributions through the Chamber or through “social welfare organizations,” which can keep the names a secret.”
That these organisations should call themselves “social welfare organisations” is an affront, an extreme insult to organisations that are truly social welfare organisations such as the Salvation Army inner city missions, the United Way, the Union Gospel Mission (Vancouver, BC) and others. The only ‘welfare’ they are interested in is the welfare of the 1% and corporations, the very ones that are raping and pillaging the US and its economy, and indeed much of the world.
“Tax-exempt social welfare groups, known by their Internal Revenue Code section number as 501(c)(4)’s, cannot be organized for the “primary” purpose of political activity. So far, the I.R.S. is looking the other way. “
And why is it that the IRS is looking the other way? The IRS is quick enough to go after individuals who have fudged their tax return, even for a few hundred dollars. And yet these organisations operate with impugnity. The same goes with some churches, for example the Roman Catholic church, which has come out on not just issues, but also political candidates, which is expressly forbidden in the tax exemption rules they enjoy.
Perhaps it is time to set quarterly reviews of these organisations since their proliferation is so rampant. The IRS might argue that they don’t have the manpower to conduct the audits, but can they afford not to? I suspect that the lost tax revenue and subsequent fines for transgressors could cover a great deal of the costs. Perhaps some additional hiring is needed.
TC — “Part of the problem is that the IRS does not evaluate a firms finances and activity until year end. By then, the election will be over, and if Republicans take the White House, there will be no accountability for these illegal tactics. “
Can there be any accountability even if the Democrats take the Congress and the WH? There has to be a political will, but also, Citizens United has to be overturned, and I somehow doubt that will happen with the current makeup of SCOTUS. Or could a Democratic government essentially legislate the CU effects away?
It is past time to put these organisations, their operators, and indeed the Republican/Teabaggers into political oblivion. In Europe, austerity has already been shown to not work and the people are trying to take back their countries and economies — look at France with the election of François Hollande, Greece with a change at the top to a socialist leader, and the significant electoral losses in Germany of Angela Merkel’s ruling party. While the efficacy of the policies of these new governments has not yet been proven, the disasters of their forbears has been. Why would the US, and Canada for that matter, want to pursue this same agenda? The only reason I can think of is that the Republican/Teabaggers, and the Conservative Party of Canada, care nothing for the people who make up the country, but care only for the 1% and corporations. That is their definition of ‘social welfare’.
A big part of the reason that IRS looks thw other way is that Republicans gutted the enforcement wing of IRS during the Bush Regime and have successfully blocked Democratic attempts to refund the agency.
I would hope so.
That Citizen United bill is really biting us in the ass!
…as SCROTUS intended.
Outside legal spheres, the word “traitor” may also be used to describe a person who betrays (or is accused of betraying) their own political party, nation, family, friends, ethnic group, team, religion, social class, or other group to which they may belong. Often, such accusations are controversial and disputed, as the person may not identify with the group of which they are a member, or may otherwise disagree with the group leaders making the charge. See, for example, race traitor.
At times, the term “traitor” has been levelled as a political epithet, regardless of any verifiable treasonable action. In a civil war or insurrection, the winners may deem the losers to be traitors. Likewise the term “traitor” is used in heated political discussion – typically as a slur against political dissidents, or against officials in power who are perceived as failing to act in the best interest of their constituents. In certain cases, as with the German Dolchstoßlegende, the accusation of treason towards a large group of people can be a unifying political message.
A criminal conspiracy exists when two or more people agree to commit almost any unlawful act, then take some action toward its completion. The action taken need not itself be a crime, but it must indicate that those involved in the conspiracy knew of the plan and intended to break the law. One person may be charged with and convicted of both conspiracy and the underlying crime based on the same circumstances.
Seems as tho a conspiracy with the aim of over throwing our system of government may exist here — If indeed a Conspiracy does exist– it may follow such a Conspiracy is treasonous -I am not a lawyer– this is a question that occurred tome as I read this article and the excellent points thus far raised’ .
I couldn’t agree with you more Phyllis! To say, as McConnell and other Republican/Teabaggers have done, that they will make Mr Obama a one term president, is political rhetoric. But to go to the lengths that they have, and to advocate such wholesale radical change, including by some to dump all or part of the Constitution, seems like sedition.
Inside a legal sphere, for treason to exist, the US must be at war. Technically we have never been at war since WWII. But I would have no problem seeing them charged with sedition.
It seems there is no way to remedy this via SCOTUS either 😕
Long term there is. SCOTUS needs a Repiblicectomy.
Yup. SCROTUS really screwed us with their stupid decision in Citizens’ United.
Amen Patty!
This isn’t a screw-up this is a continued blow by the Forces alligned with the 1% to return this Nation to those who Own it.
Welcome to Wage Slavery and Corporate Bondage America it’s been a long time!
Indeed, Gene. Republicans want to change the US to a two class society: owners and owned.