The
recent IRS and NSA scandals reveal that the Federal government, during
the first term of President Obama, used the IRS to weaken the political
campaigns of Obama's opponents, and that the NSA collected and stored
personal information on virtually all Americans under the guise of national security.
The IRS scandal proved that Federal agents refused 501(c)3 and (c)4 status to conservative political groups. That tax-exempt status was needed for political groups to receive donations. The Supreme Court has ruled that campaign donations -- to any political group or party -- are free speech. The IRS then, by denying tax exempt status only to applicants who had the words 'Tea Party" or "Patriot" in their names -- denied those groups their First Amendment right to free speech.
Furthermore, these IRS officials also violated the rights of these conservative groups to protection under the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment states that all persons in the United States are guaranteed equal treatment under the law. What is particularly disturbing is that IRS employees gave 95% of their campaign donations to Democrats.
The IRS scandal proved that Federal agents refused 501(c)3 and (c)4 status to conservative political groups. That tax-exempt status was needed for political groups to receive donations. The Supreme Court has ruled that campaign donations -- to any political group or party -- are free speech. The IRS then, by denying tax exempt status only to applicants who had the words 'Tea Party" or "Patriot" in their names -- denied those groups their First Amendment right to free speech.
Furthermore, these IRS officials also violated the rights of these conservative groups to protection under the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment states that all persons in the United States are guaranteed equal treatment under the law. What is particularly disturbing is that IRS employees gave 95% of their campaign donations to Democrats.
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