From The National League of Taxpayers:
A knock at my door.
Standing there will be IRS "auditors" demanding I turn over the name and address of EVERY National League of Taxpayer member and supporter.
And if I dare to refuse?
We will face outrageous fines that would cripple the National League of Taxpayers during this all-important 2014 election year and force us to shut our doors . . .
I wish this were all just a joke. I wish this was just some political horror story from some third-world dictatorship.
But other organizations have seen this kind of thing in recent weeks.
And I’m afraid the National League of Taxpayers will be one of Obama’s IRS’s next targets.
So I’m counting on your IMMEDIATE action.
As you’ll see, I’ve created a special National League of Taxpayers Supporter's Directive.
Won’t you please fill it out IMMEDIATELY?
There’s not a moment to waste.
This is just the next step in President Obama’s all-out WAR on anyone who dares to stand up and FIGHT BACK against his radical agenda.
I know you’ve heard of the outrageous targeting of Tea Party and pro-limited government organizations from President Obama’s IRS ahead of the 2012 election year.
Sadly, that’s FAR from the end of it . . .
For years, the National League of Taxpayers’ members have been in the forefront in the battle to ensure tax-and-spend big government politicians are held accountable.
After all, virtually all politicians CLAIM to be “fiscal conservatives!” Or for “cutting waste!”
But today, our nation is swamped in $17.5 TRILLION in debt due to Washington, D.C.’s out-of-control spending!
So just months ago, President Obama’s IRS concocted outrageous and ultimately unconstitutional new rules threatening the National League of Taxpayers with audits and harassment if we DARED to publish:
“Communications that are made within 60 days of a general election (or within 30 days of a primary election) and clearly identify a candidate or political party.”
Can you imagine how much worse off our national fiscal situation would be if tax-and-spend politicians had no fear of being called out for their votes to RAM through more radical big government boondoggles like ObamaCare?
Fortunately, good folks like you from all over the country stood up and beat back this new IRS rule -- at least for now.
But now Obama’s henchmen at the IRS have come up with a new scheme.
If court action by NLT and other organizations prevail as the courts rule unconstitutional President Obama’s IRS's attempts to stop us from holding their puppet candidates accountable, they’ll just go right after our organization’s contributors!
I’m afraid that’s why the IRS has already gone after other organizations' lists of supporters.
It’s so they can harass and intimidate anyone from even thinking about opposing President Obama’s radical policies or his puppet candidates ever again!
I can hardly put into words how serious this is -- or what horrific ramifications this could have if you and I don’t fight back . . .
That’s why I’ve made the promise to protect the name of every individual contributor and supporter at all cost.
There’s just too much that could go wrong!
Fortunately, both federal law and case law back my position . . .
In fact, I have no doubt that ultimately the courts will rule the IRS’s demands blatantly unconstitutional.
But for President Obama and his ilk at the IRS, I believe this has less to do with winning in Courts than silencing groups like NLT before the Congressional election in November 2014 and the presidential election in November 2016.
After all, court challenges can take years!
And any resources I devote to legal fights these next few years will mean we’ll have fewer resources to devote to holding tax-and-spend politicians accountable this critical election year. Today, that’s really what this is all about.
It’s about crippling and silencing the National League of Taxpayers during this all-important 2014 election year.
After all, President Obama knows the political winds are blowing against tax-and-spenders this election year.
And he will do whatever it takes to hold onto every last bit of power he can!
So I have a decision to make -- a decision I just can’t make today without your direction.
Here are my options . . .
OPTION #1: Do I just write off the November 2014 elections and focus all of the National League of Taxpayers’ resources on the legal fight -- which is probably exactly what President Obama wants;
-- OR --
OPTION #2: I’m not sure I could ever look myself in the mirror again if I did this, but do I just go back on my word and give in to the IRS and turn over individual NLT contributors’ and supporters’ names in order to keep our pre-election mobilization programs going;
--OR --
OPTION #3: Do I make the decision to go ahead and FIGHT back everywhere -- all while knowing I’ll need a massive and IMMEDIATE influx of resources or I could be paving the way for utter DISASTER.
Of course, I know what the right choice is.
But the reality is I can’t fight everywhere without your commitment and generosity today.
That’s why I must ask you to please fill out your National League of Taxpayers Supporter's Directive IMMEDIATELY.
And if the choice you make is OPTION #3, please agree to your most generous contribution right away.
Some people have already given as much as $500.
Others have sent $50 or $100, but no matter how much you give, whether it's chipping in with $10 or a larger contribution of $150, I guarantee your contribution is urgently needed and will be deeply appreciated.
This could not be more serious. Every American citizen who values their freedom has a HUGE stake in this fight.
So please at least consider $50.
And if that’s just too much, please agree to $25 or at least $10 right away.
I'm counting on your action today, and I’m anxiously waiting on you to tell me how to proceed.
I’m afraid time is short. So please act at once.
Sincerely,
Gary Paumen, President
National League of Taxpayers
P.S. Other pro-limited government organizations have seen it.
It's only a matter of time before your National League of Taxpayers receives a trumped up demand from the IRS to hand over our member and supporter list -- or face outrageous fines or even imprisonment.
This is nothing more than another outrageous Obama administration scheme designed to cripple the National League of Taxpayers and other groups before the 2014 and 2016 elections and force us to shut our doors.
So I must ask for your IMMEDIATE direction.
Please fill out your National League of Taxpayers Supporter's Directive and agree to chip in with a contribution of $10 or whatever you can afford IMMEDIATELY!
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Tell your representative to defend net neutrality
From the Free Press Action Fund:
The Internet as we know it is under attack like never before. And now, some members of Congress are ramping it up.
Rep. Bob Latta has introduced a bill that would prevent the FCC from reclassifying broadband Internet service as a common carrier. This is the exact opposite of what will protect the open Internet.
Reclassifying broadband under Title II of the Communications Act is the only way to protect real Net Neutrality
A vote for this bill is a vote against the open Internet.
Tell your representative to stay far away from this bill.
The Internet as we know it is under attack like never before. And now, some members of Congress are ramping it up.
Rep. Bob Latta has introduced a bill that would prevent the FCC from reclassifying broadband Internet service as a common carrier. This is the exact opposite of what will protect the open Internet.
Reclassifying broadband under Title II of the Communications Act is the only way to protect real Net Neutrality
A vote for this bill is a vote against the open Internet.
Tell your representative to stay far away from this bill.
Don't let S.J. Res 19 defeat free speech
From the Tea Party:
Harry Reid and Senate Democrats are gearing up for a vote on an amendment to the Constitution to repeal the First Amendment and we need your help to stop them! To find out how you can join Patriots around the country on June 3rd in protesting this outrage.
Some might say the claim that Senate Democrats are trying to repeal the 1st Amendment is over the top. Please check out our explanation of why this effort would permanently damage our right to free speech!
What can you do?
We can stop this outrage, but we need your help! Please visit your Senator's local office on Tuesday, June 3, at noon local time to help us Save Our Speech and save the 1st amendment!
In Liberty,
Tea Party Patriots National Support Team
Or you can contact your Senators and let them know.
Harry Reid and Senate Democrats are gearing up for a vote on an amendment to the Constitution to repeal the First Amendment and we need your help to stop them! To find out how you can join Patriots around the country on June 3rd in protesting this outrage.
Some might say the claim that Senate Democrats are trying to repeal the 1st Amendment is over the top. Please check out our explanation of why this effort would permanently damage our right to free speech!
What can you do?
We can stop this outrage, but we need your help! Please visit your Senator's local office on Tuesday, June 3, at noon local time to help us Save Our Speech and save the 1st amendment!
In Liberty,
Tea Party Patriots National Support Team
Or you can contact your Senators and let them know.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Congress tells the DEA to leave marijuana dispensaries alone
Congress Tells DEA to Stand Down on Legal Marijuana
Congress passed a measure that would deny the Drug Enforcement Agency to spend federal money interfering with state approved medical marijuana businesses. Dan Riffle of the Marijuana Policy Project says the key to getting the measure passed this time was the 49 Republicans who voted in favor. Normally, Republicans see medical marijuana as a liberal issue, but now they are beginning to recognize it as a states' rights issue. California Representative Dana Rohrabacher sponsored the measure. Many California marijuana dispensaries and patients have been raided or arrested by the DEA.
Source
Nah nah nah nah nah hey hey good bye nah nah nah nah hey hey good bye.
Congress passed a measure that would deny the Drug Enforcement Agency to spend federal money interfering with state approved medical marijuana businesses. Dan Riffle of the Marijuana Policy Project says the key to getting the measure passed this time was the 49 Republicans who voted in favor. Normally, Republicans see medical marijuana as a liberal issue, but now they are beginning to recognize it as a states' rights issue. California Representative Dana Rohrabacher sponsored the measure. Many California marijuana dispensaries and patients have been raided or arrested by the DEA.
Source
Nah nah nah nah nah hey hey good bye nah nah nah nah hey hey good bye.
Monday, May 26, 2014
IRS backs down
From Freedom Works:
The IRS Backs Down
The IRS will now delay new regulations that would have stifled your free speech rights.
After months of deliberations, the IRS plans to go back to square one and start over on their anti-political speech regulations. Due to the incredible volume of comments you submitted, the bureaucrats at the tax agency were forced to halt their plans. They had no choice but to listen to the voice of the people.
If the regulations passed, the IRS would have suppressed the free speech rights of millions of citizens across the country. Make no mistake: this was a deliberate effort to silence the views of ordinary Americans who want to petition their government.
Patriots like you wouldn’t stand for this radical power grab. You sent over 150,000 messages to the IRS protesting the new rules - a record amount. And you made your views heard.
But the IRS’s new rules aren’t defeated yet. The bureaucrats will go back to work, trying to undermine the Constitution and Bill of Rights. As citizens, it is our job to be ever-vigilant of the government’s efforts to crush our freedom.
Thanks to dedicated conservatives like you, we can defeat the IRS’s regulations for good.
The IRS Backs Down
The IRS will now delay new regulations that would have stifled your free speech rights.
After months of deliberations, the IRS plans to go back to square one and start over on their anti-political speech regulations. Due to the incredible volume of comments you submitted, the bureaucrats at the tax agency were forced to halt their plans. They had no choice but to listen to the voice of the people.
If the regulations passed, the IRS would have suppressed the free speech rights of millions of citizens across the country. Make no mistake: this was a deliberate effort to silence the views of ordinary Americans who want to petition their government.
Patriots like you wouldn’t stand for this radical power grab. You sent over 150,000 messages to the IRS protesting the new rules - a record amount. And you made your views heard.
But the IRS’s new rules aren’t defeated yet. The bureaucrats will go back to work, trying to undermine the Constitution and Bill of Rights. As citizens, it is our job to be ever-vigilant of the government’s efforts to crush our freedom.
Thanks to dedicated conservatives like you, we can defeat the IRS’s regulations for good.
Oppose forced unionism in Michigan
From The National Right To Work Committee:
“This could be a game changer with HUGE national implications.”
I still remember those thoughts running through the back of my head as I watched the Michigan State Legislature vote to make Michigan America’s 24th Right to Work state in late 2012 . . .
After all, Michigan is the United Autoworkers’ (UAW) home turf!
The state has been considered Big Labor’s backyard for decades!
In 2012 it became America’s 24th Right to Work state.
That means no worker, private or public, can be forced to pay union dues or fees to get or keep a job.
But now, less than two years later, I’m concerned it could all go up in smoke.
You see, the union bosses are going all-out to DESTROY Michigan’s Right to Work Law this election year.
And without your action today, I’m afraid they just may succeed.
As I’ll explain shortly, the stakes in this fight could not be any higher . . .
That’s why I’ve just recently set up the Emergency Michigan Right to Work Defense Fund.
And I must ask for your most generous support IMMEDIATELY.
You see, passage of any state Right to Work Law anywhere in the country is always a big cause for celebration.
But Michigan is different . . .
For decades Big Labor ruled Michigan with an iron fist.
And those forced union dues -- stripped from the paychecks of Michigan workers who would be fired if they didn’t pay -- funded a massive chunk of Big Labor’s multi-billion dollar NATIONAL political machine.
That’s right.
Forced dues extracted from Michigan workers not only helped union bosses keep a stranglehold on Lansing, but on Washington, D.C., as well.
Union bosses raided their forced-dues coffers to bankroll the elections and re-elections of union-label politicians like President Barack Obama, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
I know you understand the steep price we’ve paid nationally for Big Labor’s forced-dues racket.
But just consider Michigan’s fall as a national economic power over the past few decades . . .
In 1960, Detroit was the richest per capita city in the United States as manufacturing drove a booming statewide economy.
But when much of the nation was experiencing an economic boom after the recession in the early 2000's, Michigan was mired in a notorious “lost decade,” shedding over 840,000 jobs!
Those lost jobs, fleeing citizens and union-label politicians’ outrageous policies all finally culminated in the City of Detroit being forced to declare bankruptcy.
The good news is, the people of Michigan finally had enough!
And since passing Right to Work -- which simply states that no Michigan worker can be forced to financially support a union as a condition of employment -- Michigan has seen a massive economic turnaround including:
*** Catapulting to second in the nation in manufacturing job creation – just behind Indiana, which passed a Right to Work law in February 2012;
*** An unemployment rate lower than at any time in the past five years as the number of unemployed Michiganders has dropped by 30% since 2010;
*** Surging to ninth in the nation in per capita income growth!
All this has the union bosses steaming mad.
After all, the union bosses know that as more Americans see the economic benefits of Right to Work, the more momentum it creates for passage of a National Right to Work Law!
But since nearly 80% of Americans already oppose forced unionism, the union bosses also know the real key to keeping and expanding political power is their ability to inflict pain at the ballot box.
That’s why the union bosses are gunning for Michigan with a massive two-part plan using everything they have in 2014.
FIRST -- Big Labor’s publically stated goal is take out as many pro-Right to Work Michigan state legislators at the ballot box as possible.
The union bosses know that as long as politicians fear a Big Labor-fueled backlash at the ballot box, they’ll cower at the thought of taking on the union bosses’ forced unionism power.
SECOND -- There's also the possibility the union bosses could try to repeal Michigan's Right to Work Law with a ballot referendum. While we've seen little movement from Big Labor on this front, the union bosses have until July 7 to collect the signatures needed to put Michigan Right to Work repeal on the ballot in November.
Back in 2012, union officials were able to gather signatures blocking passage of a Right to Work law in just about three months, but the people of Michigan defeated this effort.
Efforts to repeal Right to Work can happen fast, so you and I must be ready for anything.
Should the union bosses fail, they know more and more state legislatures throughout the country will be emboldened to pass Right to Work.
Their forced-dues political empire could begin to crumble.
Their stranglehold on Washington, D.C. could begin to loosen.
That’s why Michigan is so important.
So won't you please consider making your most generous contribution of $50, $25, $10, or whatever you can afford right away.
Of course, because forced unionism is the law in all areas where the federal government has jurisdiction -- even in Right to Work states -- a National Right to Work Law is the ultimate solution to Big Labor’s forced dues racket.
But state Right to Work laws are a BIG deal. And, as I mentioned, Michigan’s is one of the BIGGEST.
That’s why I recently set up the Emergency Michigan Right to Work Defense Fund -- and why I’m counting on your IMMEDIATE support.
The union bosses are going to resort to every political trick in the book to bring forced-union dues back to Michigan.
You and I have to be there ready to fight back every step of the way, including:
Paying for targeted mail and email to ensure Michigan citizens get the truth about how Right to Work has been an important and massive step forward;
Writing op-eds and conducting statewide media tours to dispel the outright LIES the union bosses WILL be spreading about Right to Work;
Running hard-hitting TV ads reminding citizens of the brutal days during Michigan’s “lost decade;”
Running a full-scale Candidate Survey Program to ensure every one of the union bosses’ radical hand-picked candidates are EXPOSED.
Of course, this all takes money.
And with the AFL-CIO pouring in $60 million, it’s going to take a lot to hold our own against Big Labor.
But really there is no choice. The stakes are just too high.
That’s why the Emergency Michigan Right to Work Defense Fund must be mobilized -- and why I’m counting on your most generous and IMMEDIATE support.
Won’t you please agree to your most generous gift of $50 right away?
I know that’s a lot.
But we simply must have all hands on deck.
But if $50 is just too much, won’t you please agree to $25 or at least $10?
Your generosity today could make a world of difference.
The national union bosses are going after Michigan’s Right to Work Law with everything they have.
You and I MUST fight back.
Please agree to your most generous contribution of $50, $25 or at least $10 TODAY!
Sincerely,
Mark Mix
President
P.S. The truth is, the national union bosses are going after Michigan’s Right to Work Law with everything they have this election year.
The AFL-CIO recently pledged to spend up to $60 million this year in Michigan alone!
This fight has HUGE ramifications for Right to Work supporters all over the country, so it’s absolutely critical you help me fight back TODAY!
So won’t you please agree to your most generous contribution of $50, $25 or at least $10 IMMEDIATELY?
“This could be a game changer with HUGE national implications.”
I still remember those thoughts running through the back of my head as I watched the Michigan State Legislature vote to make Michigan America’s 24th Right to Work state in late 2012 . . .
After all, Michigan is the United Autoworkers’ (UAW) home turf!
The state has been considered Big Labor’s backyard for decades!
In 2012 it became America’s 24th Right to Work state.
That means no worker, private or public, can be forced to pay union dues or fees to get or keep a job.
But now, less than two years later, I’m concerned it could all go up in smoke.
You see, the union bosses are going all-out to DESTROY Michigan’s Right to Work Law this election year.
And without your action today, I’m afraid they just may succeed.
As I’ll explain shortly, the stakes in this fight could not be any higher . . .
That’s why I’ve just recently set up the Emergency Michigan Right to Work Defense Fund.
And I must ask for your most generous support IMMEDIATELY.
You see, passage of any state Right to Work Law anywhere in the country is always a big cause for celebration.
But Michigan is different . . .
For decades Big Labor ruled Michigan with an iron fist.
And those forced union dues -- stripped from the paychecks of Michigan workers who would be fired if they didn’t pay -- funded a massive chunk of Big Labor’s multi-billion dollar NATIONAL political machine.
That’s right.
Forced dues extracted from Michigan workers not only helped union bosses keep a stranglehold on Lansing, but on Washington, D.C., as well.
Union bosses raided their forced-dues coffers to bankroll the elections and re-elections of union-label politicians like President Barack Obama, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
I know you understand the steep price we’ve paid nationally for Big Labor’s forced-dues racket.
But just consider Michigan’s fall as a national economic power over the past few decades . . .
In 1960, Detroit was the richest per capita city in the United States as manufacturing drove a booming statewide economy.
But when much of the nation was experiencing an economic boom after the recession in the early 2000's, Michigan was mired in a notorious “lost decade,” shedding over 840,000 jobs!
Those lost jobs, fleeing citizens and union-label politicians’ outrageous policies all finally culminated in the City of Detroit being forced to declare bankruptcy.
The good news is, the people of Michigan finally had enough!
And since passing Right to Work -- which simply states that no Michigan worker can be forced to financially support a union as a condition of employment -- Michigan has seen a massive economic turnaround including:
*** Catapulting to second in the nation in manufacturing job creation – just behind Indiana, which passed a Right to Work law in February 2012;
*** An unemployment rate lower than at any time in the past five years as the number of unemployed Michiganders has dropped by 30% since 2010;
*** Surging to ninth in the nation in per capita income growth!
All this has the union bosses steaming mad.
After all, the union bosses know that as more Americans see the economic benefits of Right to Work, the more momentum it creates for passage of a National Right to Work Law!
But since nearly 80% of Americans already oppose forced unionism, the union bosses also know the real key to keeping and expanding political power is their ability to inflict pain at the ballot box.
That’s why the union bosses are gunning for Michigan with a massive two-part plan using everything they have in 2014.
FIRST -- Big Labor’s publically stated goal is take out as many pro-Right to Work Michigan state legislators at the ballot box as possible.
The union bosses know that as long as politicians fear a Big Labor-fueled backlash at the ballot box, they’ll cower at the thought of taking on the union bosses’ forced unionism power.
SECOND -- There's also the possibility the union bosses could try to repeal Michigan's Right to Work Law with a ballot referendum. While we've seen little movement from Big Labor on this front, the union bosses have until July 7 to collect the signatures needed to put Michigan Right to Work repeal on the ballot in November.
Back in 2012, union officials were able to gather signatures blocking passage of a Right to Work law in just about three months, but the people of Michigan defeated this effort.
Efforts to repeal Right to Work can happen fast, so you and I must be ready for anything.
Should the union bosses fail, they know more and more state legislatures throughout the country will be emboldened to pass Right to Work.
Their forced-dues political empire could begin to crumble.
Their stranglehold on Washington, D.C. could begin to loosen.
That’s why Michigan is so important.
So won't you please consider making your most generous contribution of $50, $25, $10, or whatever you can afford right away.
Of course, because forced unionism is the law in all areas where the federal government has jurisdiction -- even in Right to Work states -- a National Right to Work Law is the ultimate solution to Big Labor’s forced dues racket.
But state Right to Work laws are a BIG deal. And, as I mentioned, Michigan’s is one of the BIGGEST.
That’s why I recently set up the Emergency Michigan Right to Work Defense Fund -- and why I’m counting on your IMMEDIATE support.
The union bosses are going to resort to every political trick in the book to bring forced-union dues back to Michigan.
You and I have to be there ready to fight back every step of the way, including:
Paying for targeted mail and email to ensure Michigan citizens get the truth about how Right to Work has been an important and massive step forward;
Writing op-eds and conducting statewide media tours to dispel the outright LIES the union bosses WILL be spreading about Right to Work;
Running hard-hitting TV ads reminding citizens of the brutal days during Michigan’s “lost decade;”
Running a full-scale Candidate Survey Program to ensure every one of the union bosses’ radical hand-picked candidates are EXPOSED.
Of course, this all takes money.
And with the AFL-CIO pouring in $60 million, it’s going to take a lot to hold our own against Big Labor.
But really there is no choice. The stakes are just too high.
That’s why the Emergency Michigan Right to Work Defense Fund must be mobilized -- and why I’m counting on your most generous and IMMEDIATE support.
Won’t you please agree to your most generous gift of $50 right away?
I know that’s a lot.
But we simply must have all hands on deck.
But if $50 is just too much, won’t you please agree to $25 or at least $10?
Your generosity today could make a world of difference.
The national union bosses are going after Michigan’s Right to Work Law with everything they have.
You and I MUST fight back.
Please agree to your most generous contribution of $50, $25 or at least $10 TODAY!
Sincerely,
Mark Mix
President
P.S. The truth is, the national union bosses are going after Michigan’s Right to Work Law with everything they have this election year.
The AFL-CIO recently pledged to spend up to $60 million this year in Michigan alone!
This fight has HUGE ramifications for Right to Work supporters all over the country, so it’s absolutely critical you help me fight back TODAY!
So won’t you please agree to your most generous contribution of $50, $25 or at least $10 IMMEDIATELY?
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
IRS battle
From Campaign For Liberty:
The Supporter Ballots we have so far received regarding whether we should pay the IRS’ fine and disclose our top donors’ names or continue to refuse to do so have been tallied up, and I am pleased to report that out of the responses, the overwhelming majority (97%) say fight on!
As we are still receiving new ballots on a daily basis, I’m confident we’ll see an even higher level of support for standing firm. This support is crucial since we could be in for a long battle.
Obviously, losing this battle would have a negative effect on Campaign for Liberty, but it would also have repercussions for the entire liberty movement.
If we lose, it will set a precedent that could, and almost certainly will, be used against other pro-liberty organizations.
The effect, if not the purpose, of such attacks will be to protect the establishment while stopping the significant progress groups like Campaign for Liberty are making in defending and promoting liberty.
Ultimately, the result will be that no one will be able to substantially support an organization devoted to mobilizing grassroots opposition to the administration in power without having their names divulged to the IRS.
We have already seen at least one case where a list of donors to a political cause were leaked to that cause’s opponents.
And history shows that the IRS has a long history of targeting the political opponents of whatever party currently occupies the White House.
Background
Scholar Burton Folsom’s book New Deal or Raw Deal documents how IRS agents in the 1930s served as “hit squads” against opponents of the New Deal. In the 1960s, both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson used the IRS to silence their critics.
While most people think of the Watergate burglary when they recall the scandals that led to Richard Nixon’s downfall, a much more significant abuse of power was his use of the IRS to harass his political enemies. (One of the articles of impeachment drawn up against President Nixon dealt with this.)
During the 1990s, groups that opposed the Clinton administration's agenda were subjected to IRS audits. An IRS agent even told the head of one of these groups, “What do you expect when you challenge the President?”
Of course, few IRS agents are as blatant as that one, nor do they need to be to stifle opposition, as the attacks themselves send a message not only to the organizations but to grassroots liberty activists. The IRS also does not need to demand the names of every 501(c)(4) organizations’ major donors or subject those donors to audits or other harassments.
Just knowing that this can happen and oftentimes does can be enough to chill Americans’ willingness to actively engage in the public process by supporting groups like Campaign for Liberty.
So it’s obvious that using the IRS as a weapon against the political opponents of the incumbent administration is not anything new, with the current administration appearing to just be following in this shameful establishment tradition.
Recent examples include the news that 10% of the donors to certain “Tea Party” organizations were subjected to audits.
There is also a suspiciously high correlation between being a large donor to Mitt Romney and being audited by the IRS, just the latest in a long history of those who oppose the agenda of the administration in power finding themselves “coincidently” subject to IRS audits.
Of course, the most blatant abuse of IRS power is the delay and targeting of Tea Party and other pro-liberty groups seeking tax-exempt status.
Despite the administration’s continued stonewalling, resulting in the congressional resolution holding former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt, new evidence continues to come forward that the targeting was, if not directly ordered, at least encouraged by the IRS’ Washington, D.C. office as well as at least one prominent Democrat Senator.
Court Precedent
Several federal courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld the right of organizations such as Campaign for Liberty to protect their donors’ confidentiality.
The primary example is the Supreme Court case NAACP v. Alabama, where the Supreme Court decided that the state of Alabama’s demand that the NAACP release a list of its members violated the NAACP’s First Amendment rights.
Writing for the majority, Justice John Marshall Harlan stated, “This Court has recognized the vital relationship between freedom to associate and privacy in one’s associations . . . Compelled disclosure of membership in an organization engaged in advocacy of particular beliefs is of the same order. Inviolability of privacy in group association may in many circumstances be indispensable to preservation of freedom of association, particularly where a group espouses dissident beliefs.”
Again, this is only one of several cases upholding the right of groups like Campaign for Liberty to refuse to comply with government orders that they divulge the names of their donors. Thus, we appear to be on solid legal ground in our refusal to comply with the IRS’ request.
However, fighting this in court will take a lot of resources.
The IRS has an inexhaustible supply of resources, so if this went to court, they would be able to drag out the case as long as desired, requiring Campaign for Liberty to undercut our crucial legislative efforts.
Legislative Outlook and Conclusion
With Audit the Fed having once again gained a majority of members of the House of Representatives as cosponsors, there is no reason why House leadership should not hold a vote on this legislation.
Yet House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor will need all the “encouragement” we can muster to schedule a clean vote.
And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has yet to reverse his refusal to allow a full Senate roll call vote on the legislation, meaning we will need to not only ramp up our campaign to persuade House and Senate leadership to hold a vote on Audit the Fed but also sustain that intense amount of pressure.
Last year’s revelations of the extent of the National Security Agency’s wiretapping on the American people provide us with our best opportunity since the passage of the “PATRIOT” Act to rein in the surveillance state.
However, as I write this, House leadership is preparing to pass phony “reform” that does not go nearly far enough. If this legislation gets through the House and Senate and is signed by President Obama, politicians will use it to claim they do not need to pass legislation regarding the NSA because they already addressed it. Preventing the passage of a phony NSA “reform” bill will require us to keep the heat on Congress.
And while we have so far been successful in stopping progress on the National Internet Tax Mandate in the House, the representatives who are carrying water for the special interests and revenue-hungry governors have not given up.
In fact, one of the representatives working on a House version of the mandate recently revealed their plan when he said that the legislative calendar “resets” after November.
So the forces in favor of increasing government control over the Internet are planning a push to ram this bill into law during the lame-duck session of Congress, when representatives and many senators are safe from the voters’ wrath for another two years.
We need to be prepared to thwart this attempt, and if it does come during the lame-duck session, even more resources will be required, as it’s harder to reach and mobilize opposition during the busy holiday season.
Like the National Internet Tax Mandate, there are indications that House leadership is determined to bring legislation creating a new biometric ID card, tied to a national database, to the House floor in November - under the guise of so-called “immigration reform.”
So far, we’ve been successful in halting this legislation, but it could gain considerable post-election momentum.
These are just some of the offensive and defensive battles Campaign for Liberty must continue dealing with in upcoming months.
If we are forced to divert significant resources to the battle with the IRS, we could lose our best chance to pass Audit the Fed, begin reining in the NSA, stop the National Internet Tax Mandate, and prevent the National ID system from passing into law.
If we lose any of these battles because of stopping the IRS attack, the statists will have gained a big victory — even if we eventually win any legal battle with the IRS.
Winning any potential legal battle with the IRS while pushing ahead on our legislative agenda will require raising enough resources to stay active on multiple fronts simultaneously.
But the outpouring of support from our members and other grassroots activists has been incredible and encouraging, and I believe Campaign for Liberty’s commitment to making 2014 a landmark year for liberty can stay strong with their continued help.
To Sign Petition and Donate
The Supporter Ballots we have so far received regarding whether we should pay the IRS’ fine and disclose our top donors’ names or continue to refuse to do so have been tallied up, and I am pleased to report that out of the responses, the overwhelming majority (97%) say fight on!
As we are still receiving new ballots on a daily basis, I’m confident we’ll see an even higher level of support for standing firm. This support is crucial since we could be in for a long battle.
Obviously, losing this battle would have a negative effect on Campaign for Liberty, but it would also have repercussions for the entire liberty movement.
If we lose, it will set a precedent that could, and almost certainly will, be used against other pro-liberty organizations.
The effect, if not the purpose, of such attacks will be to protect the establishment while stopping the significant progress groups like Campaign for Liberty are making in defending and promoting liberty.
Ultimately, the result will be that no one will be able to substantially support an organization devoted to mobilizing grassroots opposition to the administration in power without having their names divulged to the IRS.
We have already seen at least one case where a list of donors to a political cause were leaked to that cause’s opponents.
And history shows that the IRS has a long history of targeting the political opponents of whatever party currently occupies the White House.
Background
Scholar Burton Folsom’s book New Deal or Raw Deal documents how IRS agents in the 1930s served as “hit squads” against opponents of the New Deal. In the 1960s, both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson used the IRS to silence their critics.
While most people think of the Watergate burglary when they recall the scandals that led to Richard Nixon’s downfall, a much more significant abuse of power was his use of the IRS to harass his political enemies. (One of the articles of impeachment drawn up against President Nixon dealt with this.)
During the 1990s, groups that opposed the Clinton administration's agenda were subjected to IRS audits. An IRS agent even told the head of one of these groups, “What do you expect when you challenge the President?”
Of course, few IRS agents are as blatant as that one, nor do they need to be to stifle opposition, as the attacks themselves send a message not only to the organizations but to grassroots liberty activists. The IRS also does not need to demand the names of every 501(c)(4) organizations’ major donors or subject those donors to audits or other harassments.
Just knowing that this can happen and oftentimes does can be enough to chill Americans’ willingness to actively engage in the public process by supporting groups like Campaign for Liberty.
So it’s obvious that using the IRS as a weapon against the political opponents of the incumbent administration is not anything new, with the current administration appearing to just be following in this shameful establishment tradition.
Recent examples include the news that 10% of the donors to certain “Tea Party” organizations were subjected to audits.
There is also a suspiciously high correlation between being a large donor to Mitt Romney and being audited by the IRS, just the latest in a long history of those who oppose the agenda of the administration in power finding themselves “coincidently” subject to IRS audits.
Of course, the most blatant abuse of IRS power is the delay and targeting of Tea Party and other pro-liberty groups seeking tax-exempt status.
Despite the administration’s continued stonewalling, resulting in the congressional resolution holding former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt, new evidence continues to come forward that the targeting was, if not directly ordered, at least encouraged by the IRS’ Washington, D.C. office as well as at least one prominent Democrat Senator.
Court Precedent
Several federal courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld the right of organizations such as Campaign for Liberty to protect their donors’ confidentiality.
The primary example is the Supreme Court case NAACP v. Alabama, where the Supreme Court decided that the state of Alabama’s demand that the NAACP release a list of its members violated the NAACP’s First Amendment rights.
Writing for the majority, Justice John Marshall Harlan stated, “This Court has recognized the vital relationship between freedom to associate and privacy in one’s associations . . . Compelled disclosure of membership in an organization engaged in advocacy of particular beliefs is of the same order. Inviolability of privacy in group association may in many circumstances be indispensable to preservation of freedom of association, particularly where a group espouses dissident beliefs.”
Again, this is only one of several cases upholding the right of groups like Campaign for Liberty to refuse to comply with government orders that they divulge the names of their donors. Thus, we appear to be on solid legal ground in our refusal to comply with the IRS’ request.
However, fighting this in court will take a lot of resources.
The IRS has an inexhaustible supply of resources, so if this went to court, they would be able to drag out the case as long as desired, requiring Campaign for Liberty to undercut our crucial legislative efforts.
Legislative Outlook and Conclusion
With Audit the Fed having once again gained a majority of members of the House of Representatives as cosponsors, there is no reason why House leadership should not hold a vote on this legislation.
Yet House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor will need all the “encouragement” we can muster to schedule a clean vote.
And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has yet to reverse his refusal to allow a full Senate roll call vote on the legislation, meaning we will need to not only ramp up our campaign to persuade House and Senate leadership to hold a vote on Audit the Fed but also sustain that intense amount of pressure.
Last year’s revelations of the extent of the National Security Agency’s wiretapping on the American people provide us with our best opportunity since the passage of the “PATRIOT” Act to rein in the surveillance state.
However, as I write this, House leadership is preparing to pass phony “reform” that does not go nearly far enough. If this legislation gets through the House and Senate and is signed by President Obama, politicians will use it to claim they do not need to pass legislation regarding the NSA because they already addressed it. Preventing the passage of a phony NSA “reform” bill will require us to keep the heat on Congress.
And while we have so far been successful in stopping progress on the National Internet Tax Mandate in the House, the representatives who are carrying water for the special interests and revenue-hungry governors have not given up.
In fact, one of the representatives working on a House version of the mandate recently revealed their plan when he said that the legislative calendar “resets” after November.
So the forces in favor of increasing government control over the Internet are planning a push to ram this bill into law during the lame-duck session of Congress, when representatives and many senators are safe from the voters’ wrath for another two years.
We need to be prepared to thwart this attempt, and if it does come during the lame-duck session, even more resources will be required, as it’s harder to reach and mobilize opposition during the busy holiday season.
Like the National Internet Tax Mandate, there are indications that House leadership is determined to bring legislation creating a new biometric ID card, tied to a national database, to the House floor in November - under the guise of so-called “immigration reform.”
So far, we’ve been successful in halting this legislation, but it could gain considerable post-election momentum.
These are just some of the offensive and defensive battles Campaign for Liberty must continue dealing with in upcoming months.
If we are forced to divert significant resources to the battle with the IRS, we could lose our best chance to pass Audit the Fed, begin reining in the NSA, stop the National Internet Tax Mandate, and prevent the National ID system from passing into law.
If we lose any of these battles because of stopping the IRS attack, the statists will have gained a big victory — even if we eventually win any legal battle with the IRS.
Winning any potential legal battle with the IRS while pushing ahead on our legislative agenda will require raising enough resources to stay active on multiple fronts simultaneously.
But the outpouring of support from our members and other grassroots activists has been incredible and encouraging, and I believe Campaign for Liberty’s commitment to making 2014 a landmark year for liberty can stay strong with their continued help.
To Sign Petition and Donate
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