While members of Congress still battle over the extent of IRS
misbehavior, the New York Times reminds its readers that perhaps the worst
offender of all in the abuse of federal nonprofit status is President Obama’s “grassroots”
political group.
misbehavior, the New York Times reminds its readers that perhaps the worst
offender of all in the abuse of federal nonprofit status is President Obama’s “grassroots”
political group.
After Obama was re-elected, his campaign organization, Obama
For America, morphed into a new OFA, Organizing for Action, and labeled
themselves a “social welfare” group. With their 501(c)(4) status secured from
the IRS, OFA was following the same path taken by thousands of conservative
political organizations, from tiny tea party groups to some of the biggest
Republican-allied fundraising groups.
For America, morphed into a new OFA, Organizing for Action, and labeled
themselves a “social welfare” group. With their 501(c)(4) status secured from
the IRS, OFA was following the same path taken by thousands of conservative
political organizations, from tiny tea party groups to some of the biggest
Republican-allied fundraising groups.
The OFA leaders said the new organization would engage in
grassroots politics to offset the well-financed special interest groups, while
also supporting the president’s initiatives.
grassroots politics to offset the well-financed special interest groups, while
also supporting the president’s initiatives.
David Firestone, editorial page editor at the Times,
points out that OFA kept the same initials, the same circular logo, and it
recruited many of the same politicos who worked on the campaign and in the
Obama White House. In fact, their website is called barackobama.com.
points out that OFA kept the same initials, the same circular logo, and it
recruited many of the same politicos who worked on the campaign and in the
Obama White House. In fact, their website is called barackobama.com.
And now we have learned that OFA has been blatantly
selling access to top White House officials. Those who have taken the bait in a
large way are political players or big-time businessmen who have gotten tangled
in disputes with the Obama administration. In other cases, they just want
a favor.
selling access to top White House officials. Those who have taken the bait in a
large way are political players or big-time businessmen who have gotten tangled
in disputes with the Obama administration. In other cases, they just want
a favor.
NBC
News reported this week that one $100,000 donor to OFA, a New Jersey
businessman who failed to make payments on a federal loan, was given access to
two administration officials once he coughed up the cash. How did that happen?
The director of OFA is Jon Carson, a former White House official who tapped into
his connections.
News reported this week that one $100,000 donor to OFA, a New Jersey
businessman who failed to make payments on a federal loan, was given access to
two administration officials once he coughed up the cash. How did that happen?
The director of OFA is Jon Carson, a former White House official who tapped into
his connections.
According to a blog post written by Firestone today, a fundraiser working
for OFA brought
in a $100,000 donation from a New Jersey doctor who was convicted in 1991
of Medicare fraud and tax evasion. He was seeking a presidential pardon when
someone inside OFA decided that a convicted felon is not an ideal contributor.
The man’s check was returned and once NBC found out about the doctor’s
donation, the group fired the fundraiser.
for OFA brought
in a $100,000 donation from a New Jersey doctor who was convicted in 1991
of Medicare fraud and tax evasion. He was seeking a presidential pardon when
someone inside OFA decided that a convicted felon is not an ideal contributor.
The man’s check was returned and once NBC found out about the doctor’s
donation, the group fired the fundraiser.
These sleazy solicitations fly under the radar because OFA
has that coveted 501(c)(4) status, which allows them to claim that a majority
of their time and money is spent on social welfare activities, not politics.
Free of any campaign restrictions, these nonprofit groups can raise millions of
dollars without revealing their donors.
has that coveted 501(c)(4) status, which allows them to claim that a majority
of their time and money is spent on social welfare activities, not politics.
Free of any campaign restrictions, these nonprofit groups can raise millions of
dollars without revealing their donors.
Under pressure, OFA has agreed to make public their
$250-and-up donors. But that still leaves the media to connect the dots related
to the many individual donors contributing $50,000 or even $500,000 at a time.
As Firestone noted, the West Wing will be keeping tabs, calculating what kind
of special treatment was sufficiently paid for.
$250-and-up donors. But that still leaves the media to connect the dots related
to the many individual donors contributing $50,000 or even $500,000 at a time.
As Firestone noted, the West Wing will be keeping tabs, calculating what kind
of special treatment was sufficiently paid for.
The Times first exposed this nonsense a year ago. At that
time the newspaper’s editorial board noted that when conservative groups first
began using social welfare groups as vehicles for fundraising and advocacy,
Obama denounced the practice. “You can’t stand by and let the special interests
drown out the voices of the American people,” he said in
2010.
time the newspaper’s editorial board noted that when conservative groups first
began using social welfare groups as vehicles for fundraising and advocacy,
Obama denounced the practice. “You can’t stand by and let the special interests
drown out the voices of the American people,” he said in
2010.
Today, the OFA has taken the malfeasance of those eager
to curry favor with the White House to a new level.
to curry favor with the White House to a new level.
The Times concluded: “Corporations and billionaires can
write checks of any size, aware that they are giving to a group with close ties
to the White House, one that is busily promoting President Obama’s agenda. And
now that this White House has torn down the last wall between its needs and
those of special interests, others in the future will undoubtedly do the same.”
write checks of any size, aware that they are giving to a group with close ties
to the White House, one that is busily promoting President Obama’s agenda. And
now that this White House has torn down the last wall between its needs and
those of special interests, others in the future will undoubtedly do the same.”
