And it took two whole years to figure this out, huh?
WASHINGTON - The NAACP did not violate the conditions of its tax-exempt status when its chairman gave a speech that criticized President Bush, according to a newly released letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the civil rights group.
The IRS began looking into the Baltimore-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People about a month before the 2004 presidential election after a speech by NAACP Chairman Julian Bond that was largely critical of Bush’s policies.
Political campaigning is prohibited under the NAACP’s tax-exempt status.
In a letter, dated Aug. 9, the IRS said a review of video footage of the speech, as well as other information, indicated “that political intervention did not occur.” [...]
NAACP attorneys said the IRS investigation was a “serious threat” to the freedom of nonprofits who may criticize government policies. The group has called the audit a political campaign to silence the organization, a point Bond maintains.
“The information they’ve given us shows that only Republicans have objected,” Bond said.
Call me paranoid but do you really think that the NAACP is the only organization that is under IRS investigation?
How many even know they are under surveillance, investigation, or in the bullseye, so to speak?
How many private citizens (yea,right) have their 4th amendments rights violated regularly because they disagree with the government?