Dems turn fire on conservative third-party groups' advertising

Dems turn fire on conservative third-party groups' advertising
By Shane D'Aprile - 10/03/10 10:00 PM ET


Facing a barrage of ad spending from conservative-friendly third party groups, Democrats are upping their attacks on the outside influence that threatens to drown out their messaging ahead of November's midterm elections.

Several House Democrats are demanding some of those outside ads get pulled from the airways and one senior Democratic senator wants an investigation into whether such groups are violating federal tax law.

On Wednesday, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, penned a letter to the IRS asking it to look into whether outside groups organized as 501-c4's, 5s and 6s are in compliance with the federal tax code.

Groups like American Crossroads GPS, Americans for Prosperity and Americans for Job Security, all of which have spent millions on ads in 2010, are among the targets.

At issue is whether the nonprofit groups, named for the sections of the tax code that govern them, are primarily engaged in political activity. In order to keep their donors anonymous and hold their tax-exempt status, the group's primary purpose cannot be political, according to federal law.

Still, the groups have poured millions into some of 2010's top Senate and House races, leading Baucus to question whether they're operating within the tax code.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/campaign-ads/122285-dems-turn-fire-on-conservative-third-party-group-advertising

Related:

Midterms: $80M spent so far by outside groups, conservatives outspend Dems 7 to 1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9250955

But therein lies the half empty/half full views. The Republicans drag us over the economic cliff while the Democrats actually stop that mementum but it still isn't a reason to vote for the Democrats?

That blanket broad brush condemnation is willful blindness.

Yes, investigate the groups. Tax codes have taken down bigger fish than these wingers.

K&R

Or if can be connected with those groups.

And if he is then he needs to be removed.

If he is, it would be buried deep.

One is called "Revere America" and there are a couple of others. I'd like to put these fools out of business, but there's no way to even find out who they are - most have a generic PO Box or an address to nowhere. It's criminal in my opinion and if the law won't deal with it, I think the people should (i.e. a real tea party.)