Comments about ‘Letter: Charity supports Obama’

So corporations are people but charities are not?

To Mr. Beus, the letter writer:

It was the Planned Parenthood Action Fund which made a political endorsement, not Planned Parenthood. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is organized as a 501(c)4, not a 501(c)3 as Planned Parenthood is, and therefore is subject to different rules. . An exempt IRC 501(c)(4) organization may intervene in political campaigns as long as its primary activity is the promotion of social welfare. IRC 501(c)(4) organizations are subject to the tax imposed by IRC 527 on any expenditure for a political activity that comes within the meaning of IRC 527(e)(2). See Rev. Rul. 81-95, 1981-1 C.B. 332. [Internal Revenue Service, 2/8/1999] 

And where does Planned Parenthood Action Fund get it's money?

I agree.

Stop the forced taking money from me and others to support non-governmental groups like Planned Parenthood, religion, charities and other so called “non profit groups”.

Eliminate the personal tax deduction for these groups and make them stand or fall on their own merit.

Go down this road, and challenges will be made about conservative groups. There are a number of churches that have crossed the line, for example.

To Vaughn J 8:10 a.m. June 10, 2012

And where does Planned Parenthood Action Fund get it's money?

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From donations by individuals.

Esquire,
"There are a number of churches that have crossed the line, for example." Where's your courage? Say it if you believe it, but don't condemn by innuendo. The LDS church has been investigated for supporting moral issues, of course not politically motivated investigations, and they have passed IRS scrutiny. Others should undergo that same inquiry.
As the IRS would say, the difference between PP Action Fund and PP is form over function. They should not be exempt.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is required to make regular filings with the FEC (Federal Election Commission) as do other 501(c)4 PACs.

Fine, let Individuals donate to planned parenthood not tax money for support of an organization that promotes abortion. The funds going to PP should go to other organizations that don't promote abortion so the health care can still be achieved, but remove the use of tax money to support the administrative costs of abortion clinics.

Vaughn J.

Complete your thought, remove the use of tax money for all private enterprise religions, charities, businesses profit or non-profit.

Owl -

The LDS Church did not pass IRS scrutiny. The LDS Church was fined for misrepresenting its contributions to the Prop. 8 campaign.

To Vaughn J 1:51 p.m. 6-10-2012

Planned Parenthood does not promote abortion.

Karl Rove wants his superpac to be a 501c3 but there's no complaints from conservatives about that.

Owl, I did not mention the LDS Church (please don't be so defensive) The world is bigger than Utah. But since you raised the Church, it leads us to a topic that needs to be bounced around. Most churches are led by a paid clergy, who need to be careful about political activity. Where the LDS Church is concerned, there is no paid clergy at the local level as volunteers carry out the religious functions. This includes sermons, prayers, counseling, and so forth. If these volunteers dip their toes into political advocacy in church meetings, in their capacity of carrying out religious services, have they crossed over into forbidden territory? Yes, the Church states its neutrality, but how is it any different for a Southern Baptist advocating a certain political outcome to be seen as any different from an LDS worship service prayer or talk that in any way advocates a political outcome? I have heard things like this in church over the years and I suspect we will see more as the campaign season wears on. Or how about the President of the Church saying in Conference that he is a Republican? Interesting questions.