John F. Kennedy: Former President, Democrat, and "Teabagger"?

President John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, once said the following on January 29, 1961, otherwise known as Roosevelt Day.  With such pro-American "violent Tea Party rhetoric," can you imagine what today's Democratic Party would call him?

In my own native state of Massachusetts, the battle for American freedom was begun by the thousands of farmers and tradesmen who made up the Minute Men--citizens who were ready to defend their liberty at a moment's notice. Today we need a nation of Minute Men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of America, cannot succeed with any lesser effort. 

The Tea Party and Charges of Sedition

There are those among the Left who seek to file charges of sedition or inflict physical violence upon those associated with the Tea Party.  I suggest that both sides consider the wise words of former President Theodore Roosevelt, written when many challenged the Wilson Administration's seeming unconstitutional abuse of power during World War I.

Kansas City Star on May 7, 1918:

"Sedition, A Free Press, and Personal Rule

The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."

Apparently, even former First Lady and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seems to agree with this view.

The IRS' Employee Union Historically Gives 90%+ to Democrats

The IRS is accused of targeting Tea Party and similar groups for excess scrutiny when these groups applied for tax-free 501(c)(4) status.  Various reasons for the extra scrutiny is alleged.  However, does the IRS' own public-sector employee union play a role?

IRS employees are organized by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), who also manages employees within other divisions of the federal government.  The Tea Party groups advocate for smaller, more affordable government which is in direct conflict with employees and their union within the federal government.  Is this the reason for the additional IRS scrutiny?

While the NTEU isn't among the bigger political spenders at the national level, historically, they give roughly 90% or more to Democrats.

Targeting the Tea Parties While Obama Allies Remain Tax-Free

There is ample evidence that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigated "Tea Party", "Patriot", and "9/12 Project" groups with "extreme prejudice" when they applied for 501(c)(4) tax-free status.  The excuse for the excessive reviews is because these grassroots groups may potentially engage in overt political activities.  Groups with 501(c)(4) tax-free status can also keep their donors secret while political organizations like the Republican and Democratic parties cannot because they're subject to campaign disclosure laws.

The excess IRS scrutiny, especially over concerns about overt political activity, is especially laughable given the 501(c)(4) status granted to another group, Organizing for Action (OFA).

Organizing for Action (OFA) is the latest incarnation of Barack Obama's Organizing for America (OFA) from the 2008 and 2012 Presidential elections.  Organizing for America (OFA) was a community organizing project of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Organizing for Action is a tax-free, 501(c)(4) "social welfare" organization.  Does Organizing for Action directly advocate for any politician or political party, which might violate its tax-free status?  You decide.

• You can find Organizing for Action on the web at www.barackobama.com. This is the same web address used by President Obama's Organizing for America operation during the 2008 and 2012 election cycles.

• Organizing for Action's stated purpose is to "support President Obama."
  
• Organizing for Action uses the familiar, trademark Obama logo to brand its site.
  
• Organizing for Action is a tax-free 501(c)(4) organization meaning that it can keep its donors secret.

• The official, authenticated Twitter account for Barack Obama is @BarackObama.
  
• The Twitter page includes the President's photo and name.
  
• The profile summary acknowledges that the @BarackObama Twitter account is "run by Organizing for Action staff."
  
• The Twitter feed often includes links to other content found on the Organize for Action web page.

Again I ask, do you believe that tax-free Organizing for Action will advocate on direct behalf of any politician or political party?

How is Organizing for Action anything different than a tax-free branch of the Democratic Party?

How can the IRS, in good conscience, deny Tea Party groups for up to three years but approve of the President's community organizing group?  Need I remind you that the IRS is part of the Treasury Department, which itself is part of the Executive Branch headed by President Barack Obama?

Van Jones is the Source for "Koch Plantation"

At a Tea Party counter-union rally in Jefferson City, Missouri, a MoveOn.org counter-counter protester responded to a sign proclaiming "Liberty, Not Slavery" by telling the Tea Party members that "You're on Koch's plantation." The incident was reported by Gateway Pundit and later on the The Blaze. The reference was obviously to the supposedly "evil" Koch Brothers, who fund Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a major ally of the Tea Party. Oh, and David Koch also funds NOVA on PBS (scroll to the bottom of the PBS page) so you know he must be evil, right?

That phrase, "Koch's plantation," sounded familiar. Where had I heard it before?

In January 2011, the Koch Brothers held a secretive meeting in Palm Springs for the ultrawealthy and the well-connected on the Right. Many from the American Left were there to protest (and protest they did).

The "Koch plantation" reference comes directly from a Van Jones speech, at a meeting sponsored by Common Cause to protest the Koch Brothers' event.

The "plantation" line is at about 6 minutes, 55 seconds ([6:55]) into the video.

"We will not live on a national plantation run by the Koch Brothers."

The remainder of the speech is classic Van Jones partisan, class-warfare rhetoric with a few quotable moments.

[0:22]

"I was born in 1968 ... that was the year 'They' assassinated hope in America."

Hmm, so who is this nameless "They" for whom Van Jones cannot mention? Is he aware of some conspiracy that he dare not mention? There were many prominent political figures assassinated in 1968, including political violence throughout the United States.

• Martin Luther King: April 4, 1968 by James Earl Ray, a long-time criminal and white supremacist. The assassination sparked riots across the United States, including in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Baltimore, Louisville, Wilmington, Kansas City--many of which were most damaging to black communities themselves.
• Robert Kennedy: June 5, 1968, carefully premeditated by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian immigrant.
• Violent protests at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. The protests were held by groups to the left of the Democratic Party at large, including Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Some SDS members later went on to form the Weather Underground domestic terrorist organization.
• There were protests by Left-wing organizations around the globe.

Van Jones seems fascinated by '68, the year of his birth. His Twitter account is @VanJones68.

[0:39]

"... and 'They' tried to assassinate hope in our country."

Again, who is "They"? Misguided white supremacists? Palestinians? The Democratic Party? Rioters?

[0:50]

Speaks about 40 years in the Wilderness.

[4:47]

"Our political process has been hijacked by people who are only interested in their own gain, who are only interested in their own profit, and are willing to tell any lie, and spend any amount of money, to prevent America's government from coming to the rescue of the American people."

Unfortunately, many Americans feel that government has become the problem--not the solution. I do not want to be "rescued" by a government that wishes to dictate every matter in my life. Nor do I wish the government to confiscate my wealth to pay for other's follies.

[5:15]

Talks about Tea Party and their concern about Liberty. But, there are two threats. Over-concentration of political power. But there is a greater threat. Excessive concentration of economic power.

[9:12]

"If you want to know what side to bet on, ... big money mean people ... or little people with the truth on their side ... look over there in Egypt"

... attendee ...

[9:33]

"Bring Egypt here!"

I find it amazing that the Left is so worried about the Koch Brothers and is evidently is not bothered or worried about the spending by the likes of Stephen Bing, Peter B. Lewis, Fred Eychaner, Haim Saban, Peter Angelos, George Soros, etc., etc., shown here and here. Or, how about those well-connected, ultrawealthy from the Left, many from outside of California, that attempted to impose and formally institute one-party rule in California by passing Proposition 27? Even Common Cause, who openly fights the secretive ways on the Koch Brothers, fought against the alliance of well-financed backers of Proposition 27. For that, I give Common Cause some credit.

See also ...

"Capital Rivals: Koch Brothers vs. George Soros"

www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/09/opensecrets-battle---koch-brothers.html

"Koch Industries Continues to Expand Political Influence"

www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/10/koch-industries-continues-to-expand-1.html

"California Proposition 27, Elimination of Citizen Redistricting Commission (2010)"

ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_27,_Elimination_of_Citizen_Redistricting_Commission_(2010)

"Proposition 27 Revealed!"

soquelbythecreek.blogspot.com/2010/09/proposition-27-revealed.html