The ACLU is outraged that a group was targeted. Part of the complaint was that the RW groups had to name their diners.
Crucially, 501(c)(4) organizations, in most cases, need not publicly disclose their donors. That policy is driven by the same concerns that prompted the Supreme Court in a civil rights-era case, NAACP v. Alabama, to prohibit that state from forcing the NAACP to out its members as a condition of operating. The court reasoned, rightly, that such disclosure could lead to violence against existing members and would dissuade potential members from joining at all.
Non partisan is a cheat, that we all use. Progressive and RW. The standard is that you can't endorse a candidate for office, or say vote against a candidate for office. You can highlight individuals statements or votes, while being careful not to say vote for. Groups affiliated with our ideology were approved. Without the same requirements, illegal requirements, that the Tea Party were told they must meet.
Attorney General Holder has said yesterday, that the Justice Department is investigating. Today,
the former head took the 5th Amendment refusing to testify. CSPAN is of course, covering this.
I would be surprised if this did not violate the civil rights of the Tea Party groups. If so, there may well be some criminal charges for those involved. Most often, regulations are in place because there are laws prohibiting certain actions. If those laws are criminal, which is to say that the violation can result in jail as well as fines, then the taking of the 5th today makes absolute sense. That is what I encourage everyone to do, make the Government prove that you violated the law.
But politically, it is the worst thing you can do. People assume you are guilty of something. So again, my love of Principle has this simple thing to say. I absolutely encourage Lois Lerner to exercise her rights under the 5th Amendment. Merely because a case is very public does not mean you sacrifice your rights. The Bill of Rights means we are all protected, always.
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