Gordon Bishop on the Issues
Grassroots tea party organizations played a big role in helping the Republicans take control the House of Representatives (Congress) in November, 2010...so obviously, Obama would be nervous about what role they might play in the 2012 elections!
But rather than let democracy work in America, Obama is ruling as a dictator and intimidating his opponents.
Months ago...even up to a year-and-a-half ago...many of these tea party organizations wrote to the IRS and applied for nonprofit 501(c))(4) status.
They waited. And waited. And there was no reply.
Until January and February of this year...which, of course, is a presidential election year.
But when they finally heard from the government about their applications, it was to be given approval...instead, these groups from Virginia, Ohio, Hawaii, Texas and other states were being asked to provide detailed information on their donors, activities and websites.
And, after waiting months and months to hear something from the IRS, they are being given TWO WEEKS to comply with these new onerous requests.
Jamie Radtke, the former president of The Richmond Tea Party (RTP), is calling Republican Darrel Issa to investigate unfair treatment of tea party groups by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The Tea Party supports this call for an investigation! Why are tea party groups being targeted by the Obama administration.
Congress must get behind the call for Chairman Issa to investigate.
Political affiliation shouldn't matter. If Obama is allowed to play Chicago thug politics with our free speech and right to assembly, he will set a dangerous precedent that will affect freedom in American for years to come.
The IRS must be investigated!
Tell Congress to defend political freedom in America and end Obama's dictatorial rule!
The RTP applied for tax-exempt charitable status in December 2009.
After waiting two-and-a-half-years for approval, the IRS recently communicated a new set of overly-burdensome and invasive demands for information that exceed the scope of the IRS Code.
The Ohio Liberty Council is another conservative grassroots group that has waited a year-and-a-half for tax exempt. They also recently received a letter asking for answers to 34 separate questions.
The IRS has asked these groups for the following:
. A hard copy print out of the website, including all of the web pages accessiible only to members.
. A list of all social media outlets being used, including hard copy printouts of EVERY POSTING.
. Details of members, including names, addresses, and roles in the organization.
. Time, location, and detailed description of every event and program conducted by the organization since a certain date.
. Copies of handouts at these events.
. Names and credentials of the event organizers.
. Speeches or forums, and the names and credentials of the speakers or panels.
. The amount each speaker was paid.
. The IRS has also indicated they will make the information provided PUBLIC on the
Internet.
Americans need to know if the IRS is operating under specific instructions to delay granting tax-exempt status to these conservative groups.
Tell Congress to support an investigation by Chairman Issa and keep political freedom alive in America!
Remember, ACORN -- Obama's corrupt operation -- is not being operated for voter fraud.
The New Black Panther Party engaged in voter intimidation and had their charges helpfully dropped by the Obama Administration.
Media Matters is a nonprofit organization, but they are not being investigated...nor is anyone looking into those close ties with Obama's White House.
The only organizations being investigated are those with conservative viewpoints who disagree with President Obama's agenda.
Ohio Liberty Council and executive director of the Portage County TEA Party spokesman Tom Zawistowski says,
"I defy any American to read this list of demands by the IRS and not be outraged. This is the kind of personal information that this government is going to be demanding from your church, you doctor, your hospital, your business and your favorite charity."
The IRS is the new darling of the Obama Administration. He just proposed a budget that includes $1.1 billion in new funds for the agency, which translates into over 5,000 new union hires and a 5 percent expansion of enforcement operations.
Will they come for you next if you dare disagree with his policies, or attend a meeting of conservatives.
Will you choose to remain silent for fear of an audit?
Obama is turning America into a Communist country where central government clamps down on workers (including unions).
God Bless America!
(Gordon Bishop is a 'Who's Who in the World' national award-winning author, historian, syndicated columnist and New Jersey's "First Journalist-of-the-Year--1986/New Jersey Press Association, founded in 1857.)
