In the 1970s, Richard Nixon had an enemies list. Nixon asked the IRS to investigate tax returns of those on the list. Liberals were outraged. To be on Nixon’s list became a liberal badge of honor.
In the 1990’s Bill Clinton had an enemies list too. The Clinton administration targeted for IRS audit the National Rifle Association, the Heritage Foundation, the National Review, the American Spectator, Citizens Against Government Waste, Citizens for Honest Government, Concerned Women for America and the San Diego Chapter of Christian Coalition.
Today, Obama has an enemies list. The IRS is investigating conservative political groups including the Tea Party who oppose Obama’s agenda.
Tea Party groups in many states applied to the IRS for recognition as non-profit organizations under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(4) which allows the organization to engage in political debate but does not allow a tax deduction to donors for donations made to the group.
Tens of thousands of such political non-profit organizations exist across the political spectrum, including ACORN, and one much in the news these days: Media Matters, the liberal clearing house for reporters and columnists eager to echo the liberal line of the day.
Just since the first of this year, Tea Party groups in Hawaii, Texas, Ohio, California, Kentucky, and Virginia report receiving inquiries from the IRS challenging their claim to non-profit status.
Up to 80 conservative/constitutionalist groups, including 9/12 Project groups around the country have reportedly received these letters. The IRS letters all come from a single office of the IRS in Cincinnati, Ohio.
