Sure Looks Like Media Matters Violating Maryland Solicitation Law

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Stand aside, Sherlock Holmes: the inquisitive Conservative Belle is at it again. After catching David Shuster out over his inquisition of Rep. Marsha Blackburn, the blogging belle trained her sights on Media Matters's fundraising practices. And now, a response she has received from an investigator at the Maryland Secretary of State's office, and reproduced in her blog of today, strongly suggests that Media Matters is in violation of the state's laws on soliciting contributions.

CB, as we like to call her, had initially raised the question in this post of October 6th. Media Matters has been sending out emails containing links to its fundaising page. This would clearly seem to constitute a solicitation. Yet as per CB's digging, Media Matters had not complied with all the registration requirements in Maryland, and under the state's law, would be prohibited from soliciting in the state.

To test her theory, she sent an email to the Maryland Secretary of State's Office, and today received this reply:

The organization needs to submit their board of directors list with alternative business addresses in order to complete registration with our office. An organization should not be soliciting without first completing its initial registration. Solicitations for charitable contributions sent via email to Maryland residents count as soliciting charitable contributions in the State of Maryland.

I cannot say for sure what exactly we would do with the organization if it were in violation of the Maryland Solicitations Act. It depends on the situation and all facts involved. We would want to solve whatever the problem may be though.

Michael P. Schlein
Investigator
Office of the Secretary of State
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401

Now, I suppose it's possible that Media Matters is not including the fundraising link in emails to its Maryland subscribers. But that would seem unlikely.

Granted, Media Matters's violation of Maryland fundraising law isn't exactly Grand Theft Auto. It's of a technical nature. Even so, if the organization is this cavalier about the law, might they not be similarly blasé when it comes to reporting the facts?

[PeterPrinciple]

I cannot say for sure what exactly we would do with the organization if it were in violation of the Maryland Solicitations Act.

---

huh?

[hophead]

“I cannot say for sure what exactly we would do with the organization if it were in violation of the Maryland Solicitations Act.”

He is not sure because he needs to make a final determination of the leanings of Media Matters. If it is determined it is a leftist group, nothing will be done.
This my friends is Maryland politics.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Conservative Belle [from her site]:

Site URL: http://conservativebelle.blogspot.com/2007/10/update-media-matters-is-violating.html

[jdm]

Media Matters is partisan?

/sarc

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Media Matters violating Maryland law? Looks like it. Ping to Today show list.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I hear you, but I’m actually pleasantly surprised that Conservative Belle got a response to her inquiry to the MD Sec. of State’s office at all!

[Philly Nomad]

It looks like the only thing holding up media matters is they haven’t sent in their finalized BoD list with alternative business addresses to the State of Maryland. In terms of paperwork, that seems pretty far down the list. I don’t know what else Maryland requires, but I just can’t see anybody really caring about that.

This is one of those things we must really be careful about, it makes us look really, really petty. It looks like we can’t debate them on the issues so we focus on bureaucratic paperwork.

[maine-iac7]

I cannot say for sure what exactly we would do with the organization if it were in violation of the Maryland Solicitations Act.

While thinking to self: "I have to be careful. Hillary helped get Media Matters up and running. I'm not sure I'm ready to "commit" suicide."

[ConservativeBelle]

The point is they are in violation. They are soliciting money for a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Yes, it may be minor on the technicality scale.

If this were a church, Salvation Army, etc... the media would be all over it - DEMANDING that those funds received (while in violation) be returned to the donors.

It’s about the hypocrisy.

[Philly Nomad]

Just because they are a bunch of hypocrites doesn't mean we have to be.

If this were a church, Salvation Army, etc... the media would be all over it - DEMANDING that those funds received (while in violation) be returned to the donors.

This is a good idea, I've looked through the database and I found a few dozen Church related charities that seem to have the same limitations as Media Matters.

For example CATHOLIC ANSWERS ACTION, a pro-life, anti-stem cell group, OPEN GATE MINISTRIES, INC. and ABUNDANT LIFE HARVEST FELLOWSHIP seem to have the same problems as media matters with Maryland. But a quick Google search hasn't brought up any problems with these guys from the State.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Philly Nomad]

One more thing, I do appreciate what you are doing. We have to make sure they are playing by the rules, but what you found just isn’t a big deal. If we make everything big and important, then nothing becomes big and important.

But just because you didn’t catch a big fish, doesn’t mean your work was in vain. It was a shot across the bow of all those leftist-anti-Americans saying “We’re watching you - you screw up, we’re going to nail you.” Even though, they know they’ll get a free pass from the MSM, they have to worry about great Americans like you.

Heck if you really want to p*ss them off, you should send media matters a nice note telling them that they might be in a technical violation and breaking the law. Nothing makes those liebrals madder than a nice, polite conservative.