Posted on 03/24/2003 12:06:38 PM PST by Drango
Edited on 04/22/2004 11:48:30 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
A few weeks ago, Amy Goodman played master of ceremonies at a peace rally in Washington. Later that day, she attended a different antiwar protest, involving many of the same people, this time doing interviews for the show she hosts on Pacifica Radio -- and wound up getting arrested outside the White House.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
A Commentary by Saul Landau - Broadcast January 17, 1996 - Pacifica Network News
With the Cold War over, the new born Faust latched onto the French government, emerging as the ghost of Charles DeGaulle, or ghost writer for President Chirac, feeding antiquated lines about France's need for a force de frappe.What's a few dead fish and some limp plankton, Chiarc argued to justify nuclear 1995 and 1996 tests. What's a little inconvenience to South Pacific natives compared with French security? Outraged Australians, Japanese and New Zealanders protested. Tahitians rioted. US and European publics forced governments to object.
This is news?
They're also the antisanity voice...and the little voice in all peaceniks' heads :o)
As a 501c3 charity, they are limited in their role as advocates. Has anyone contacted the IRS on their violations (I know that the local Pacifica station in Houston had Green Party literature in their pamphlets kiosk).
KPFT is a part of the California based Pacifica Network. In recent history there was a coup that overtook the station and increased the political activism and programming on air (away from local and syndicated music programming). Some FReepers have expressed concern when I say that KPFT's tax status needs to be examined by the IRS because they like some of the music programming (so do I, I have friends on the air on music programs there) but their activism may be in violation of their 501c3 exemption:
KPFT - ABOUT - FAQ - Who Owns KPFT?KPFT is licensed to the Pacifica Foundation. Pacifica was founded by Lew Hill in 1949 and pioneered the concept of listener-supported radio as an alternative to the market-driven media of the time. Pacifica's programming is not supported or controlled by advertisers. The Pacifica Foundation is a non-profit corporation and is an IRS 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.
IRS - Charities and Non-profits: Exemption Requirements
To be tax-exempt as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes set forth in IRC Section 501(c)(3) and none of the earnings of the organization may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate at all in campaign activity for or against political candidates.
The organizations described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to under the general heading of "charitable organizations." Organizations described in IRC Section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with IRC Section 170.
The exempt purposes set forth in IRC Section 501(c)(3) are charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and the prevention of cruelty to children or animals. The term charitable is used in its generally accepted legal sense and includes relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged; advancement of religion; advancement of education or science; erection or maintenance of public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening the burdens of government; lessening of neighborhood tensions; elimination of prejudice and discrimination; defense of human and civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.
To be organized exclusively for a charitable purpose, the organization must be a corporation, community chest, fund, or foundation. A charitable trust is a fund or foundation and will qualify. However, an individual or a partnership will not qualify. The articles of organization must limit the organization's purposes to one or more of the exempt purposes set forth in IRC Section 501(c)(3) and must not expressly empower it to engage, other than as an insubstantial part of its activities, in activities that are not in furtherance of one or more of those purposes. This requirement may be met if the purposes stated in the articles of organization are limited in some way by reference to IRC Section 501(c)(3). In addition, assets of an organization must be permanently dedicated to an exempt purpose. This means that should an organization dissolve, its assets must be distributed for an exempt purpose described in this chapter, or to the federal government or to a state or local government for a public purpose. To establish that an organization's assets will be permanently dedicated to an exempt purpose, the articles of organization should contain a provision insuring their distribution for an exempt purpose in the event of dissolution. Although reliance may be placed upon state law to establish permanent dedication of assets for exempt purposes, an organization's application can be processed by the IRS more rapidly if its articles of organization include a provision insuring permanent dedication of assets for exempt purposes. For examples of provisions that meet these requirements, download Publication 557, Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization.
An organization will be regarded as "operated exclusively" for one or more exempt purposes only if it engages primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of the exempt purposes specified in IRC Section 501(c)(3). An organization will not be so regarded if more than an insubstantial part of its activities is not in furtherance of an exempt purpose. For more information concerning types of charitable organizations and their activities, download Publication 557.
The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, such as the creator or the creator's family, shareholders of the organization, other designated individuals, or persons controlled directly or indirectly by such private interests. No part of the net earnings of an IRC Section 501(c)(3) organization may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. A private shareholder or individual is a person having a personal and private interest in the activities of the organization. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any managers agreeing to the transaction.
An IRC Section 501(c)(3) organization may not engage in carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities. Whether an organization has attempted to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities is determined based upon all relevant facts and circumstances. However, most IRC Section 501(c)(3) organizations may use Form 5768, Election/Revocation of Election by an Eligible Section 501(c)(3) Organization to Make Expenditures to Influence Legislation, to make an election under IRC Section 501(h) to be subject to an objectively measured expenditure test with respect to lobbying activities rather than the less precise "substantial activity" test. Electing organizations are subject to tax on lobbying activities that exceed a specified percentage of their exempt function expenditures. For further information regarding lobbying activities by charities, download Lobbying Issues.
For purposes of IRC Section 501(c)(3), legislative activities and political activities are two different things, and are subject to two different sets of rules. The latter is an absolute bar. An IRC Section 501(c)(3) organization may not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office. Whether an organization is engaging in prohibited political campaign activity depends upon all the facts and circumstances in each case. For example, organizations may sponsor debates or forums to educate voters. But if the forum or debate shows a preference for or against a certain candidate, it becomes a prohibited activity. The motivation of an organization is not relevant in determining whether the political campaign prohibition has been violated. Activities that encourage people to vote for or against a particular candidate, even on the basis of non-partisan criteria, violate the political campaign prohibition of IRC Section 501(c)(3). See the FY-2002 CPE topic entitled Election Year Issues for further information regarding political activities of charities.
Do the hours and hours of Noam Chomsky speeches, Amy Goodman's "Democracy" Now!, and Michael Moore rallies violate this?
They were the same a week or two ago, but now they have a different FM frequency. Could be using Pacfica studio and equipment?
LOL...I get asked about this every time I post it...Here is my response from an earlier thread.link
Easy to see that Pacifica recieved about $1.3 million of your tax dollars from the CPB. Check out the Pacifica web site (go to page 13 of this pdf file) go to page 13
If you have time, you can go to the CPB page and cross reference this.
What I am thinking is that if she gets more specific in terms of reporting ongoing US troop movements, on the open airwaves, then I think this station could be investigated as a national security threat, and could be taken off of the air. I listen from time to time, just wondering how far they are going to push the envelope.
It already is 'aid and comfort to the enemy' type stuff. When it gets clearly seditious and becomes threat to the safety of US troops, with "May Ling (sp?)" reporting in from Baghdad Pacifica's Amy Goodman on the line over a live relay with sensitive stuff, I think it is time for a "LET'S ROLL" by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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