NPR: Democrats Say Freedom' s Watch A 'Political Group'

Democrats Say Freedom' s Watch A 'Political Group'

The campaign committee for House Democrats has asked the IRS to investigate the activities of a conservative advocacy group.

There's a special election for an open House seat in Louisiana, and Freedom's Watch is running an ad attacking Democrat Don Cazayoux as a big-spending liberal.

"Where does Don Cazayoux stand? With Barack Obama for a big government scheme. Their plan raises...." the ad proclaims.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee accuses Freedom's Watch of being a political operation, that's getting away with the tax breaks meant for non-partisan organizations.

Freedom's Watch is financed by big donors. Democrats say it's doing work that the National Republican Congressional Committee can't do, because its contributions are down.

But a spokesman for Freedom's Watch says the Democrats don't understand the law.

Freedom's Watch spokesman Ed Patru says the group's tax-exempt status permits some political work. And his organization is careful to stay on the right side of the law.

-- Peter Overby

1:02 PM ET | 04-30-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

It seems, that it is going to take a weighty collapse for America to shake off its torpor and get back on our chartered course towards permanent peace.

Sent by Jody Sol | 1:28 PM ET | 04-30-2008

The Democrats should go after them and go after particular individuals in the group, bring into the open their personal private lives, some amount of ridicule and disgrace would do them good. It is individuals who hide behind such groups or organizations. Therefore the most effective way to deal with them is to go after their personal live styles that they would like to protect get it on you tube/media.If you want to play the rough game you better be clean.

Sent by Christy | 1:34 PM ET | 04-30-2008

Please note the expose that the Center for Media and Democracy did on them. They appear to be a front group run by the White House:

http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Freedom%27s_Watch

Sent by Craig Newmark | 2:22 PM ET | 04-30-2008

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