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Looks like RAM might find herself in the unemployment line after mocking Bristol, Mitt Romney and even taking a jab at her own boss.
Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code allows certain types of organizations to enjoy tax-free status. The specific provisions explain that the organization:
“…must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes…and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e. it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.”
In 2008 the IRS created a Political Activities Compliance Initiative (PACI) which sought to remind 501(c) (3) organizations about the federal ban on political activity.
Sarah Palin has appeared across the country giving speeches and charging “charitable organizations” $100,000 per speech. While those charitable organizations probably felt her fees were excessive, the total cost will likely be far in excess of the speaking fees. Because Palin interjected politics into her speeches, her speech alone should result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status.
The IRS explains it this way:
“Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501 (c) (3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office…Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status…”
Palin has established herself as a speaker for pro-life organizations and those geared toward providing assistance for special needs kids. Palin usually insists that the speeches not be recorded. However there has been recordation and reporting of many of her comments. The following two examples are subject to easy documentation.
- Speech in Waco at the Care Net Event
Sarah Palin appeared in Waco Texas at a meeting of Care Net on September 14, 2010, before the 2010 elections. Care Net’s mission is to:
“… (help women with) accurate information, compassionate care and practical support. Accurate information begins with Care Net’s medical director, who discusses options regarding the pregnancy and the risks and procedures of each option”
Money raised from the event was dedicated to the building of a facility to be located in Waco to provide support for women who are pregnant and considering abortion.
Palin speech from that event is posted on YouTube. Palin’s own words justify the revocation of the 501 (c) (3) status of Care Net because of the politically charged nature of many of her comments. Here are specifics:
From the first third of the speech:
Palin specifically made reference to:
- Glenn Beck and the Restoring Honor Rally
- Ronald Reagan
- Shooting caribou
- We eat so we hunt
From the second third of the speech:
Palin specifically made reference to:
- Pro-women groups
- Politicians would erode a culture of life
- Obamacare,
- It is essential to elect a Congress in 2010 to undo the damage of Obamacare
- Corrupt deals and a trail of broken promises and unfunded “band-aid of Obamacare”
From the third part of the speech:
Palin specifically made reference to:
- We will remember politicians that promised to hold firm against federal funding of abortion and caved at the last minute in exchange for a non-binding Presidential order.
- President Obama is the most “pro-abortion President to occupy the White House.” We have to change it.
- The government should work for us…we don’t retreat, we reload.
- Casting votes is how we can reload.
- Republicans passed a law in the House to ensure that there will be no taxpayer funded abortions.
2. Speech at the Exceptional Foundation in Alabama
Recently Palin gave a speech to the Exceptional Foundation in Alabama, a new “charitable” organization. The Exceptional Foundation is an organization whose stated purpose is to provide support for special needs children and adults. In a previous post I have explained the many problems with the Exceptional Foundation and its failure to obtain 501 (c) (3) status before the Palin speech.
However given the political nature of the Palin speech, the Exceptional Foundation should never be approved for charitable status. The local newspaper reported that the following things were included in her speech:
“Palin on Politics
Much of Palin’s remarks veered into politics, particularly during a question-and-answer session following her keynote address. She responded to the foundation’s prepared questions on various issues, most of which dealt with her views on federal government and current affairs. No media outlets were allowed to speak to Palin, and these were the only questions anyone could ask her.
Some of her comments, as expressed directly from the newspaper were as follows:
- She commended President Barack Obama’s order and the Navy Seals’ actions for bringing Osama bin Laden to justice, and credited “the groundwork laid by (former President George W.) Bush.” However, she supported the idea of proving the al-Qaida founder and 9/11 mastermind is truly dead, if only to quell the naysayers, “conspiracy theorists — especially Arab nations — who don’t believe that we won,” she said. “Showing the photos, to me, allows us to say, ‘You mess with the United States military — we gotcha.”
- On foreign relations when it comes to terrorism, Palin said, “We win; you lose, in the words of Ronald Reagan all those years ago.”
- In fact, one of the threads throughout Tuesday’s dinner were quotations from the 40th U.S. president, namely several references to his “Shining City on a Hill” speech that stressed American exceptionalism.
- The Tea Party movement — which she described as “not obsessively partisan; full of common sense” — inspires her, as does Abraham Lincoln.
- She picks her battles when the media attack her. Though erroneous media reports irk her and require her rebuttal, tabloid “potshots” — such as rumors of infidelity in her marriage — don’t faze her. Tending to Trig’s needs “taught us that that nonsense … may seem important to other people but at the end of the day, none of that stuff amounts to a hill of beans in our world,” she said.
Palin also echoed recurring themes in her other public appearances across the country including:
- The negative effect she believes the federal government’s “uncontrollable” $14 trillion debt will have on future generations.
- That she believes the U.S. needs to “drill baby, drill” domestically for oil production.
- That she still believes the Obama administration’s 2010 health-care reform — which she termed “Obamacare” — was “rammed down our throats” and will result in health rationing “death panels” — two words that drew heavy criticism when she mentioned them on her Facebook page in 2009.”
As of this morning the Exceptional Foundation is still not listed as being a 501 (c) (3) organization.
Sarah Palin, through her political rhetoric, rather than her charitable spirit, has compromised the tax-exempt status of these two organizations. Perhaps these organizations should ask for a refund for their $100,000 fees paid to Palin, if they explained to her that the speech should not be political in nature.
******
UPDATED INFORMATION
Bob Callahan Sr. is listed as “Chairman of the Board” for the Exceptional Foundation. His number is listed as 251-928-1559. I called this number this morning, and the woman who answered the phone answered by saying “Callahan and Associates.” I explained that I was trying to determine if tax exempt status had been granted for the Exceptional Foundation, and was told that only Melanie could answer that question, and she was out of the office today. In going to the Exceptional Foundation web site, under the tab entitled “contact us” you are referred to a screen that references Bob Callahan Sr. and the only web site mentioned is that of Callahan and Associates at http://callhanandassociates.com. When you click on that web site you see a lot of information about Callahan and Associates, but noting about the Exceptional Foundation. I wonder if this is what the IRS meant when they referred to an individual who benefits financially from the organization? If so that would be an additional reason that the “Exceptional Foundation” would not qualify for tax-exempt status.
“Neil” left a comment on the blog to alert me to over 100 people associated with the Ronald Reagan administration that were convicted, indicted or were the subject of official investigations for misconduct and criminal violations. Based on the sheer number of corrupt officials, Reagan’s administration was the “worst ever.” Here are just a few of my favorites:
• Lyn Nofziger–White House Press Secretary – Convicted on charges of illegal lobbying of White House in Wedtech scandal.
• Michael Deaver, Reagan’s Chief of Staff, received three years’ probation and was fined one hundred thousand dollars after being convicted for lying to a congressional subcommittee and a federal grand jury about his lobbying activities after leaving the White House.
• James Watt, Reagan’s Secretary of the Interior was indicted on 41 felony counts for using connections at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help his private clients seek federal funds for housing projects in Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and he admitted that he personally had received at least $500,000 from clients who were granted very favorable housing contracts after he had intervened on their behalf.
• John Poindexter, Reagan’s national security advisor, guilty of five criminal counts involving conspiracy to mislead Congress, obstructing congressional inquiries, lying to lawmakers.
• Richard Secord pleaded guilty to a felony charge of lying to Congress over Iran-Contra.
• Elliott Abrams was appointed by President Reagan in 1985 to head the State Department’s Latin American Bureau. Working for Oliver North, Abrams coordinated inter-agency support for the contras and helped solicit illegal funding from foreign powers as well as domestic contributors. Abrams pled guilty to two charges. He was sentenced in 1991 to two years probation and 100 hours of community service but was pardoned by President George Bush.
• Robert C. McFarlane, Reagan’s National Security Advisor, pled guilty to four misdemeanors and was sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service. He was also fined $20,000. He received a blanket pardon from President George Bush.
• Alan D. Fiers was the Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Central American Task Force. Fiers pled guilty in 1991 to two counts of withholding information from congress about Oliver North’s activities and the diversion of Iran arms sale money to aid the Contras. He was sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service. Alan Fiers also received a blanket pardon for his crimes from President Bush.
• Thomas G. Clines: convicted of four counts of tax-related offenses for failing to report income from the operations.
• Carl R. Channel – Office of Public Diplomacy , partner in International Business- first person convicted in the Iran/Contra scandal, pled guilty of one count of defrauding the United States.
• Richard R. Miller – Partner with Oliver North in IBC, a Office of Public Diplomacy front group, convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
• Clair George was Chief of the CIA’s Division of Covert Operations under President Reagan. He was convicted of lying to two congressional committees in 1986. George faced a maximum five year federal prison sentence and a $20,000 fine for each of the two convictions. Clair George received a blanket pardon for his crimes from President George Bush.
• Rita Lavelle was indicted, tried and convicted of lying to Congress and served three months of a six-month prison sentence.
• Philip Winn – Assistant HUD Secretary. Pleaded guilty to one count of scheming to give illegal gratuities.
• Thomas Demery – Assistand HUD Secretary – pleaded guilty to steering HUD subsidies to politically connected donors.
• Oliver North – He was indicted on sixteen felony counts and on May 4, 1989, he was convicted of three: accepting an illegal gratuity, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and destruction of documents (by his secretary, Fawn Hall, on his instructions). He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell on July 5, 1989, to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines, and 1,200 hours community service. His conviction was later overturned.
Given the corrupt nature of the Reagan administration, it is amusing that Palin works so hard to associate herself with Reagan. Palin doesn’t have any of the favorable qualities,
but she has all the bad.
Ron Reagan Jr. is offended by Palin’s comparison of herself to his father.
George Carlin shared his views about the Reagan Administration. Don’t watch this video if you are a fan of Ronald Reagan.
If you are old enough to remember Reagan, as I am, these will make you laugh…because you really can remember when…
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleybaccam/funny-vintage-ronald-reagan-ads
For as long as we have heard the name “Sarah Palin” we have heard her attempt to compare herself to Ronald Reagan. In speeches, books, and even in her TLC show she mentions the name of Ronald Reagan. The comparison is offensive and demeaning to Reagan. She is slated to give the speech at the event today honoring Reagan. Who picked her to do this; somebody who didn’t know Palin very well. Ronald Reagan served and completed two terms as Governor of one of the most populated states in the United States. Palin couldn’t complete one term in one of the least populated states in America. Ronald Reagan attended one college, and served as the President of the Student Body. Palin attended 5 colleges and didn’t hold any offices. Reagan was a distinguished athlete. Palin scored a total of 6 points in three games in her basketball team’s state championship games. Regan served as the President of our Country. Palin lost as the potential Vice President. Reagan favored nuclear disarmament, and Palin can’t pronounce the word. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/malia-litman/sarah-palin-stars-in-bad_b_531117.html; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHKwPrkwqUk.
Even Ken Duberstein, Reagan’s Chief of Staff, explained that Palin was unfit to serve as the President or Vice President.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CMwGPpcKQ4
Today, on a day when Reagan’s children should be proud and honored, they are disappointed with the attempt by Sarah Palin to use the memory of their father for her own political gain.
Ron Reagan Jr. explained that he doesn’t see anything in common between his dad and Palin. “Sarah Palin is a soap opera, basically. She’s doing mostly what she does to make money and keep her name in the news,” Reagan said. Ron Reagan Jr. is an independent but even he thinks “She is not a serious candidate for president and never has been.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_reagan_palin;_ylt=Ajv8q_hcnTm4CaYj8nylzxkUewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTJvbzNpMW52BGFzc2V0Ay9zL2FwL3VzX3JlYWdhbl9wYWxpbgRjY29kZQNwemJ1cgRjcG9zAzcEcG9zAzcEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawNyb25yZWFnYW5wYWw-
Whatever your opinion of Reagan, surely you would agree that he was much more intelligent, capable, and experienced than Palin. Whatever you think of Sarah Palin, surely you would agree that if Reagan’s own son doesn’t respect her, she should not be giving the speech at the ceremony today paying tribute to him. Hopefully someone will be sure to tell her right before the speech begins that Reagan did NOT go to college in California. http://alaskadispatch.com/blogs/palin-watch/5810-palin-blunders-on-reagans-education
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