IRS removes tax free status from groups that don't toe the Obama line

[Mediocrates]

http://www.solomonia.com/blog/archiv...gr/index.shtml

From news article:

Stop the presses. This is a shocking press release from Z Street (an actual "pro-Israel" organization):

IRS SUED FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T SHARE ADMINISTRATION'S POSITIONS ON ISRAEL

Z STREET, a pro-Israel non-profit corporation, filed a lawsuit in federal court today charging that the IRS violated the organization's First Amendment rights. The suit was filed after Z STREET was told by an IRS official that its application for tax-exempt status has been delayed because an IRS policy requires consideration of whether a group's views on Israel differ from those of the current Administration.

"Not only is it patently un-American but it is also a clear violation of the First Amendment for a government agency to penalize an organization because of its political position on Israel or anything else," said Z STREET president Lori Lowenthal Marcus, a former First Amendment lawyer. "This situation is the same as if the government denied a driver's license to people because they were Republicans or Democrats. It goes against everything for which our country stands."

Z STREET filed for tax-exempt status in January of this year and, despite having met all of the requirements for grant of this status, the application has been stalled. An IRS agent told Z STREET's lawyers that the application was delayed because of a Special Israel Policy that requires greater scrutiny of organizations which have to do with Israel, in part to determine whether they espouse positions on Israel contrary to those of the current Administration.

Z STREET is a Zionist organization that proudly supports Israel's right to refuse to negotiate with, make concessions to, or appease terrorists. Z STREET's positions on Israel and, in particular, on the Middle East "peace process" differ significantly from those espoused by the Obama administration.

If Z STREET had tax-exempt status, its donors would be able to deduct contributions from their taxable income. The IRS's refusal to grant tax-exempt status to Z STREET has inhibited the organization's fundraising efforts, and therefore impeded its ability to speak and to educate the public regarding the issues that are the focus and purpose of Z STREET.
The lawsuit, Z STREET v. Shulman, Commissioner of Internal Revenue, was filed today in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

COPY OF COMPLAINT HERE

If you're not a little disturbed by this, you should be. Z Street is having its status held up to see if they're in line with Obama Administration policy? And the government admits this? It sounds outrageous.

Even more interesting is that this seems to be directly in line with what J Street and other leftists were calling for, just a short time ago, in what appeared to be a coordinated attack against administration critics and those whose ideas of supporting the Jewish State differed from their own.
Though I shouldn't be, I am actually surprised that this leftist fringe desire to silence their critics through the power of the government has apparently made it into official policy. And do any non-Jewish groups whose opinions may differ from the Administration's have to go through the same scrutiny? Apparently not, as according to the press release, this is part of a "Special Israel Policy". Isn't that interesting?

[GratefulFred]

Americans should raise a fuss about this.

The implications go beyond a pro-Israel group. Obama can take out any group he doesn't support.

[GratefulFred]

Here's my video contribution...(unless it gets taken down)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ-sIPZst-o


Maybe this is the issue that can spark the American jews to abandon him? Worth a shot...

[dayag]

The title of this thread is inaccurate. So far, the IRS has delayed granting tax free status to one group. Or did I miss something?

[Mediocrates]

They have thusfar refused to grant 501c3 status to an organization which, based on the legal complaint on 'not being compliant with Administration policy'.

From news article:

16. On July 19, 2010, Z STREET’s corporate counsel called again, and this time spoke with IRS Agent Gentry who advised Z STREET’s counsel that she had two concerns regarding the Application: (1) the advocacy activities in general, and (2) the IRS's special concern about applications from organizations whose activities are related to Israel, and that are organizations whose positions contradict the US Administration's Israeli policy.

17. Furthermore Agent Gentry advised Z Street’s counsel that she questioned whether Z STREET's activities were educational as described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, but instead might be lobbying, or that Z STREET might be an “action organization,” which is the case when the only way to accomplish the purpose of the organization is through legislation. In fact, none of Z STREET’s purposes can be accomplished through legislative action.

18. IRS Agent Gentry also informed Z STREET’s counsel that the IRS will look to the method used by the organization to develop and present its views. She stated further that the method is not educational if it fails to provide: (a) a factual foundation for the viewpoint being advocated; or (b) a developed presentation of the relevant facts that would materially aid a listener or reader in a learning process.

19. To the extent that this concern is actually animating the IRS’s response to Z STREET’s application for 501(c)(3) status, it is baseless. Z STREET’s application provides eminent, factual, proof that the organization’s website, public awareness campaigns, and other activities are educational ones conducted in conjunction with advocacy. The application makes clear and all the evidence supports that Z STREET does and will provide a full and fair exposition of the pertinent facts as to permit an individual or the public to form an independent opinion or conclusion, and that Z STREET’s positions are and will be supported by research, original documents, facts, and opinions from recognized academic and other knowledgeable sources.

http://www.zstreet.org/index.php?opt...id=5&Itemid=30