SC tea party chapters targeted by IRS
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At least two tea party chapters in Greenville Tea Party spokesman Don South Carolina report they have come Rhodes said his organization heard under undue scrutiny from the Internal about the harassment given Belsom and Revenue Service, while other chapters other tea party chapters across the state decided not to pursue nonprofit status and decided applying for nonprofit stabecause they heard of the delays and ha- tus it wasn’t worth the hassle. rassment from IRS officials. “We decided we’d just keep on as we Joe Dugan, chairman of the Myrtle have, paying for things out of our own Beach Tea Party and an official with the back pockets,” he said. state Tea Party Coalition, said the Myrtle Karen Martin of the Spartanburg Tea ParBeach Tea Party ty said her organizacame under scrutiny “On behalf of many South tion has not sought from IRS officials, Carolina Republicans, I nonprofit status. starting in 2011 call on President Obama The Washington through the 2012 to immediately appoint an Post reported this presidential election. week that the Jusindependent counsel and “This had a tretice Department special prosecutor to mendous effect on has opened a crimius,” he told the Jour- investigate the political nal investigation to nal. “It affected our abuses at the Obama IRS.” determine if Interget-out-the-vote SC State Republican Party Chairman nal Revenue Service drives and educa- Chad Connelly employees broke tion programs. It the law when they affected donations. targeted conservaThe IRS was demanding lists of our tive groups seeking tax-exempt status. members, our donors. Not the kind of “The Obama administration using thing you want to give to the IRS, par- the IRS to target political opponents ticularly on the donor side of things.” and silence dissent is beyond reprehenThis affected voter turnout, which af- sible. It is dangerous for our constitufected the presidential race itself, he said. tional republic and must not be toler“The presidential election could well ated,” state Republican Party Chairman have turned on this,” he said. Chad Connelly said earlier this week. Dianne Belsom, chair of the Laurens “On behalf of many South Carolina County Tea Party, said her organization Republicans, I call on President Obama filed for nonprofit status in June of 2010 to immediately appoint an independent and the case is still pending with the IRS. counsel and special prosecutor to investi“The thing just dragged on and on,” gate the political abuses at the Obama IRS.” she said. “The IRS wanted lists of our Also earlier this week, President members, asked for information on our Barack Obama said the allegations closed Facebook page, our donors, just against the IRS are outrageous, if true. CHARLES SOWELL | STAFF all kinds of stuff. So far we have not gotcsowell@communityjournals.com ten the 501-c status.”
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