Right-Wing Front Group “Catholic” League Violated Tax Exempt Status

Right-Wing Pundit Bill Donahue, president of tax exempt political group, the Catholic [sic] League, may have violated the IRS laws forbidding such religious non-profit groups from interfering in political campaigns. Donahue has appeared in many TV and radio shows in his role as president of the group demanding that presidential candidate John Edwards fire two members of his campaign. Furthermore the “Catholic” League used its official website to pressure Edwards to fire the pair as well. It worked. One of them resigned today. However by interfering in a political campaign Donahue has technically forfeited his group’s tax exempt status.

Now as an American Donahue is free to use his right of free speech anyway he sees fit. But he can’t get out of paying the taxes that all other Americans pay. The law is clear that 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations, as Donahue’s group is, cannot interfere in political campaigns. And the evidence that Donahue’s group did just that is overwhelming.

The IRS is under President Bush. He is legally bound to have the IRS investigate Donahue’s group and pull their tax exempt status if they find evidence of violating the 501(c)(3) tax laws. Evidence that is amply available.

Previously President Bush used the IRS to go after a church in California that preached against war based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Bush Administration is still threatening to remove their tax exempt status. Although it’s obvious he is simply punishing them for being anti-war.

Let’s see if Bush does his constitutional duty to enforce the tax laws in the case of the “Catholic” League. If he does not, he is violating his oath of office and it will become further grounds for impeachment.

I’m not holding my breath that he’ll uphold his oath of office and enforce the law.

UPDATE: The second targeted Edwards Campaign staff member has resigned citing pressure from Donahue and the "Catholic" League's ideological attacks on her. Well done, Mr. Donahue. You've broken the law! Let's see if Bush has the balls to enforce the law. I'm thinking...NO!

Proof Oil Companies Purposefully Lowered Gas Prices In Run Up To the 2006 Election

A new study by a consumer watchdog group found that Exxon, Shell and Marathon Oil slashed fourth quarter refining profit margins to temporarily lower pump prices in the run up to 2006 General Election. Exxon dropped margins 18% in the run up to the election. Shell dropped theirs by 23%. In addition the oil companies flooded the market with extra oil to drive the prices down before the election. The prices went back up after the election. These same Oil Companies contributed far more to Republican candidates than to Democratic candidates.

Also after the election President Bush thanked the Oil Industry by introducing new policy that would increase the price of gas. He doubled the amount of oil that the government buys to keep in surplus resulting in a huge drop in supply sending prices (and oil company profits) skyward.

More analysis of the oil industry collusion that resulted in lower gas prices before the election and increased prices after can be found here.

Consumer Advocate Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, had this to say:

Now, the oil industry claimed pump prices fell because crude oil prices dropped. But gas prices dropped far more steeply than crude oil. Crude oil comes in barrels. There are 42 gallons in a barrel and the price of each gallon was down 10 cents this October over last. But gas prices fell 61 cents a gallon over the same time last year. In other words, in the run-up to the election, oil companies cut gasoline prices 500 percent more than their raw material cost fell. And it wasn't because refining and distribution costs rose. They're relatively stable. Oil companies simply took less profit from their refineries for a short period of time. Could it have been to influence a political outcome? Well, right after election day, the price of gas suddenly rose after two months of sharp decline. Post-election, refineries have slowed down, inventories are shrinking, and gas prices are climbing.

I hope the new Democratic led Congress will investigate what amounts to election tampering on the part of the Oil Industry. There is evidence that the industry has done this in previous elections as well. Even if no law was broken the American people deserve to know that the Oil Industry has been manipulating the price of gas to change the outcomes of US Elections.

Bush Administration Lying About Number of Wounded US Troops in Iraq

The Bush Administration has found a perfect way to reduce the number of casualties in Iraq…They have changed the definition of “nonmortal casualties” which means troops who have been wounded, but not killed, so that the number of casualties is lessened by 16,164 troops. Yes, that’s right. The Bush Administration has found by changing what “casualties” is defined as they can lie to the American people about the number of American men and women injured in the Iraq War. The definition that has been on the books for generations is now modified to hide 16,164 men and women and make the Iraq War seem less dangerous. They have already subtracted the 16,164 troops from the official counts.

This will make any comparisons to prior wars comparing apples and oranges and bias any comparisons in favor of the Bush Administration.

In addition it conceals the real cost of the Iraq War. Paul Sullivan, director of research and analysis of Veterans for America and formerly a project manager at the Department of Veterans Affairs, said that the department was not prepared to provide the health care that returning veterans would need for mental and physical disabilities.

Don’t you feel safer? Neither do I!

Impeach Bush and Cheney NOW!