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Evans challenges NAACP's tax status

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Jon | 7:23 a.m. May 17, 2008
Well duh. James Evans is Senator Buttars' Lap dog. Any body could have guessed he would try to go after the NAACP for Buttars. James, Buttars is a racist man who has you doing his dirty work for him today.
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SLC-NAACP: WAKE UP! | 7:36 a.m. May 17, 2008
Today is the anniversary of Brown v Board of Education. The Salt Lake chapter of the NAACP should be leading our community in a celebration and recommitment to those principles of equality in education. Not worried about Buttars or whether a drug store is selling dolls of color etc....Hopefully this complaint will help the Salt Lake chapter of the NAACP focus on its real mission -like Education: they should ensure that that children of color 'have access to an equal and high-quality public education by eliminating all education related racial and ethnic disparities. Through advocacy training, policy development and guidance, building collaborative networks, and direct action'.
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Stenar | 8:00 a.m. May 17, 2008
Republicans sure do play dirty.
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about time | 8:05 a.m. May 17, 2008
NAACP has long functioned as an adjunct to the Democratic Party and flaunted laws governing tax exempt status.
If they wish to participate in campaigns, more power to them. However do it within the law and do not defraud American taxpayers who subsidize their operations.
(ps- if the organization really wants to advance the race it will address out-of-wedlock birthrates and fathers who do not provide for their children. Not as glamorous as protests and sit-ins but infinitely more relevant to the well being of the community)
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Grass Roots Repubican | 8:12 a.m. May 17, 2008
This is one more reason to be ashamed of my political affiliation.

I wonder if the party is arrogant enough to believe that this won't hurt Republicans across the county.
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doug | 8:27 a.m. May 17, 2008
Only in utah would the gop challenge the NAACP. Only in utah. The safe state.

what a joke.
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Fair is Fair | 8:38 a.m. May 17, 2008
Does this mean that Evans will be contacting the IRS regarding the tax exempt stauts of the LDS church dues to their numerous forays into politics, the most recent being the California Supreme Court ruling?
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Johny Fairplay | 9:19 a.m. May 17, 2008
If Evans is going to challenge the tax-exempt status of an entity for political meddling, might I suggest he start with the owners of this newspaper.
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Strange and Sad | 9:57 a.m. May 17, 2008
What a strange and sad move by James Evans. Is the GOP sure they want this guy at the helm?
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BobP | 10:00 a.m. May 17, 2008
Something in my memory says that Obama was once head of the NAACP
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Obama as head of NAACP | 10:14 a.m. May 17, 2008
Yes, that was right after his stint as the Arch Angel.

Quite the resume.
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Tax status | 10:28 a.m. May 17, 2008
It is hight time to challenge the tax exempt status of the most politically interfering tax exempt group in the state. Guess who that is?
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Lead follow or get out of the wa | 10:45 a.m. May 17, 2008
The NAACP wouldn't have to work against Buttars, if the GOP would do the right thing and have him step down.

Rules are rules? Instead of going after the NAACP for doing your job, do it yourself.

Lead, follow or get out of the way.
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Don't hide, stand up | 10:50 a.m. May 17, 2008
Rules are rules?

There was a time in the US military when orders were orders. There was no exemption for illegal orders, due to the Geneva Convention as there is now.

In the 1800's an army officer recieved an order to execute Joseph Smith on a trumped up charge. The officer refused. That officer was disobeying the rules and the law. He chould have been put up on charges.

Using rules are rules is an excuse for doing a nasty thing. True greatness and goodness doesn't hide behind rules are rules. Utah Republicans, Instead of going after the NAACP for doing a job you yourself should be doing, start doing your duty in this regard and stop finding excuses for doing stupid things.
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What is the Alternative | 11:04 a.m. May 17, 2008
Several people I know complain about political correctness. I have to remind them that before PC, it was almost perfectly acceptable to call people degigitory names, tell jokes with regard to their race. It happened to minorities starting in elementary school, continuing into adulthood at jobs and everywhere in society.

PC is an appropriate response to see that this type of thing does not continue or if it does to see to it that those who do it are shamed and corrected.

If you don't like PC, if you don't like affirmative action, then learn to treat people as you would be treated. If you will endure internal control, then you will have to endure external control.

The days are past that the full burden of race relations are born by the minorities. Now all people have to bear this burden. PC is part of this, yes it does seem restrictive and burdensome, but what is the alternative?
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"Rolls Eyes..." | 11:19 a.m. May 17, 2008
Fair is Fair 8:38 a.m. Johny Fairplay | 9:19 a.m

You might want to try and hide your double posting a little better next time by picking more variant names.

Thanks also for providing the predictable and obligatory ignorance to the comments section by dragging the LDS Church into the discussion.

Are we to tax institutions for participating in political discussion and for lobbying for issues that are important, while NEVER endorsing any candidate or party?

Get a grip.
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Mark Towner | 11:57 a.m. May 17, 2008
PC, PC, PC What crap. Just look at the hate Mormon, Hate Republicans, Hate Conservatives, being vomited in this comment section. Take away the Tax exempt status of Churches, I'm absolutely positive the LDS Church would continue just fine. I however could not say the same for many so called churches that exist only because of their tax exempt status.

Remove it for one, remove it for all. In fact why don't we just do away with the tax code in the first place so we level the playing field for everyone, and congress can't trade tax breaks for contributions and votes....
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Re:What is the alternative | 12:17 p.m. May 17, 2008
Let's look at it this way. For all of you that have serious feelings of animosity towards the LDS church (for whatever reason): How would you feel towards the church if the government told you you had to hire a Mormon (even if he was less qualified) simple because he/she was a minority? Would you like to "Bear this Burden?" How do you think you would feel about Mormons after being FORCED to accept one into your circle of friends or at your workplace? I don't claim to be an expert in psychology or sociology, but my bet is that you may end up RESENTING this Mormon more by being forced by the government to accept him than letting that relationship be cultivated and developed out of love, respect and mutual trust. My point: the government does a poor job of legislating morality. Also...I think if the Mormon plays the role of victim in society, he does not make many friends. Just my two cents. Take what you learn about treating others with respect, dignity and civility and translate that into your daily actions.
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grundle | 12:44 p.m. May 17, 2008
Good for Evans! We seem to so blinded by our emotions that reason and rule are left far behind. This is evidenced by the numerous comments that are posted about Buttars, LDS church, Republicans, and other topics.
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It's the law, folks | 1:19 p.m. May 17, 2008
The law is the law, after all.

If the LDS church, which falls under the same law, were the target here, most of the defenders of the NAACP here would be clamoring for the very same punishment.

It's quite simple - if you're a charitable organization, you should stay out of campaigns supporting or opposing a candidate or risk losing your tax-free status. You can support or go against ballot initiatives, etc. all you like under the law, but cannot target actual candidates or parties.

The NAACP, in addition to promoting racism in our community, has now decided to flout the law. It should bear the consequences.
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