Schock and Awe: Is Organizing for America "Political"? How Come They Got Their 501(c)4 Easy-Peasy-Lemon-Squeezey?

Sexton writes about this obviously criminal double-standard.

Rep. Shock then pulled up the description of Organizing for Action, a 501(c)4 whose stated mission is to "support President Obama in achieving enactment of the national agenda Americans voted for on Election Day 2012." OFA describes this agenda as including legislation on "gun violence prevention, sensible environmental policies to address climate change and immigration reform." Despite the obvious political overtones, OFA's work is considered within the proper realm of a 501(c)4 activity, i.e. promoting social welfare.

Democrats seemed to have a hard time accepting the idea that other people's definitions of social welfare may differ from their own. This is why none of the Democrats in the hearing expressed concern about OFA or any of the other progressive 501(c)4 groups which engage in political activity. They seem to take for granted that their definition of social welfare--on marriage, gun control, the environment--are the definitions.

Rep. Shock effectively pointed out how myopic this view is. One person's social welfare is another person's political activity.

Link to the video at the bottom of Sexton's post. It's worth a watch.

Incidentally, the Democratic/Media talking point of the day is "Republicans Overplaying Their Hand."

Or perhaps "over the cliffs." You have to mix it up a little bit sometimes.

posted by Ace at 03:31 PM

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