Posted on 08/15/2008 7:37:29 AM PDT by Between the Lines
A public-interest law firm wants the Department of Justice to investigate a new liberal political group that is allegedly threatening donors to conservative advocacy organizations.
The official-looking document comes on the letterhead of "Accountable America" and begins with the large, ominous word "WARNING" in all capital letters. The document goes on to promise public exposure and criminal investigations of those who financially support conservative political action committees, even though their anonymity is protected by federal law.
Tom Fitton, president of the public-interest law firm Judicial Watch, says intimidating voters or political donors is illegal. Fitton says his group believes the letter may violate a key, federal civil rights law, popularly known as the "Ku Klux Klan Act," that was passed in the 1870s.
"[That law] essentially prohibits anyone from conspiring to intimidate any citizen who is lawfully entitled to participate in our elections from working to support or advocate anyone who is running for federal office," he explains. "And we believe these letters are designed to intimidate those who may want to participate in this year's election or support conservative groups otherwise."
According to a New York Times interview with Accountable America leader Tom Matzzie -- one of the individuals behind the liberal MoveOn.org -- Accountable America is planning to "confront donors to conservative groups, hoping to create a chilling effect that will dry up contributions." Fitton says such intimidation is illegal, and he wants the Department of Justice to investigate.
"I think the DOJ needs to take enforcement action now," the Judicial Watch leader says. "I mean, this letter to me is enough to begin a federal civil rights investigation into this [group]."
"Why is it that this group is able to send a letter out to intimidate people from participating in federal elections? This is what the Ku Klux Klan did in the late 19th Century and this is what that law was designed to prevent. And it's a shame in this modern era that there's a group mimicking these intimidation-like tactics, which is threatening people if they participate in our politics."
Fitton was asked if Accountable America is disclosing who their supporters are.
"I don't think they are -- [but] they're not required to under the law, and neither are the groups on the other side who are conservative," he acknowledges. "They're essentially just making threats up out of whole cloth in terms of accountability."
And Fitton has no problem with demanding accountability -- provided it is done in a lawful and proper manner, he says. "[I]t's one thing to demand accountability, and it's another thing to intimidate people from participating in our elections as they're able to and entitled to under our U.S. Constitution," he states.
On its website, Accountable America describes itself as a "non-partisan, non-profit" group that does not seek to elect or defeat candidates or endorse candidates for federal office. "Accountable America works to stop the outrageous policies of right-wing and special interests in Washington," it says.
However, one conservative fundraiser said his donors are "not going to be intimidated by some pipsqueak on the kooky left."
Wasn’t the KKK Act targeted at Democrats in the first place? Seems fitting doesn’t it. Same old same old.
Even sheeple can’t liberals anymore—someone wake me up, please!
No shocker...the KKK was the terrorist wing of the democrat party at it's origin.
I e-mailed that jerk Tom Matzzie and told him i was making a contribution to McCain simply because of his efforts. I hope they sue the snot out of this asshole!
/sarchasim
The KKK was moveon.org democratic party arm of the 1860’s. They lynched both blacks and republicans. Their reign of terror was to intimidate newly freed slaves from voting Republican. So no...nothing has changed.
LOL If I got this silly ‘warning’, I’d just roll my eyes and toss it. Liberal posturing is meaningless to me.
Ah yes. Another fine example of tolerance brought to you by The Left-Wing.
If you get a chance, read a book called “We Have Taken the City”.
Its about the democrat coup in Wilmington NC in 1898.
No. The KKK was formed to support Democrats by intimidating, terrorizing and quite often killing both blacks and white Republicans in the South. It was the terrorist arm of the Democrat party .
The Ku Klux Klan was the military wing of the DemocRAT Party.
Democrats...the party of Slavery, Segregation, Sodomy, and Sedition
No. The KKK was formed to support Democrats by intimidating, terrorizing and quite often killing both blacks and white Republicans in the South. It was the terrorist arm of the Democrat party .
Which is EXACTLY WHY the KKK Act was targeted at Democrats to stop these activities.
Sorry. I missed your intent.
Not mine; Tarpon’s. At first I read his post the same way but then I took a second look and realized what it actually said.
But...but...aren’t ‘progressives’ in favor of all our democratic rights including free speech (which includes political donations as the courts have extended First Amendment protection) and voting rights, and...
Oh, I see now, those rights only belong to the ‘progressives’ because we aren’t enlightened enough to use them as they decree.
EXACTLY! This is a form of voter intimidation. That is why the KKK was formed; to intimidate newly registered Black voters in the mid-to-late 1800s.
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