Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
As Politico reports, Media Matters admits that it is engaging in an all-out campaign of “guerrilla warfare and sabotage” against Fox News. This includes "assembling opposition research files not only on Fox’s top executives but on a series of midlevel officials."
Media Matters is a 501.c.3 organization, which means that people who donate money to it can use that money as a tax deduction. When an organization applies for 501.c.3 status, it must check one of a number of boxes, describing its primary purpose. The possible purposes include educational, religious, scientific, literary, or an intent to foster amateur sports competition. Media Matters checked the "educational" box.
Yet, I don't see how some of its activities can qualify as "educational." For instance, its efforts to assemble opposition research files on mid-level Fox officials, I believe, are intended to harass Fox employees, not to educate citizens. That is, I believe, the intent of Media Matters was to send a message: "Hey, current and future employees of Fox. If you choose to work for Fox, we're going to make your life difficult."
Seemingly unrelated, but not completely, Democracy 21, a liberal organization, has recently sent a 23-page letter to IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman. It charges that a number of 501.c.4 organizations are violating IRS laws. Specifically, it charges that the main purpose of the organizations is to engage in political campaign activity, whereas the law only allows campaign activity to be a minor purpose of the organization.
Why, I ask, are conservative organizations not doing something similar with Media Matters? Where, for instance, is the 23-page letter from the American Conservative Union or the Heritage Foundation suggesting similar IRS violations by Media Matters?
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Jun '10
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
Because conservatives just want to live their lives and be left alone. Democrats are master politicians. They eat and breathe it. They are disgusting.
Aug '11
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
Of course they are violating the law. So is every black church in America.
Oct '10
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
I prefer the Mark Steyn method of handling Media Matters: laugh at them. Refuse to take them seriously. They are pretty pathetic and laughable people, when you get right down to it.
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
I agree, and it's the same thing with MoveOn.org. I want progressives to like these sites, they're so silly.
Dec '10
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
I think Breitbart's been on this, in his usual style.
Aug '10
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
I'm not sure that the IRS is so incorruptible that they'd follow up on a complaint made by conservatives as readily as on one made by the left.
Jul '10
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
Have you ever read their stuff? Breitbart tweets some of the worst for grins. Soros has no idea how to get value for his money.
In flagrant violation, with no fear of prosecution.
Edited on Oct 3, 2011 at 12:46amMay '10
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
Information is to disinformation as educational is to _________ ?
May '10
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
Should I ask you a question about this from the floor at your speech in Minneapolis in 2 weeks?
Perhaps this should be managed by AEI, where distinguished visiting scholars with significant federal experience could take care of this easily?
Nov '10
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
I think they are educational. They show, every day, the vacuous mind of the progressives. For what is better proof that someone knows they have lost a debate than that they devote all their energies to attacking opponents rather than their arguments? It is likely, in my mind, that organizations like Media Matters are partly responsible for the increasing number of people crossing the floor to conservatism.
Oct '10
Re: Is Media Matters Violating IRS Laws?
nothing laughable about some of their activities:
AndrewBreitbart Fox & Friends Asks: Why Is Media Matters (Which Gives Away Home Addresses Of Its Enemies) Still Tax Exempt? bit.ly/o19D4U @mmfa
AndrewBreitbart Sickos at Media Matters have deviously stooped to posting home address of DOJ whistleblower & author of 'Injustice' Christian Adams. @mmfa
Edited on Oct 3, 2011 at 10:37pm