I have come cross a tax-exempt California "pro-family grassroots advocacy group" - with Representative John Doolittle and State Senator Tom McClintock on its Advisory Board of Directors - which may be engaging in illegal political activity.
I became aware of California's
Capital Resource Institute after they mailed out a "Christians vote your conscience" e-mail that was remarkably similar to those
sent by Dobson's Focus on the Family and
others, encouraging people to vote for Republicans without technically using the word "Republican."
When more Christians apply their biblical values at the ballot box, there will be a significant change in our government - more godly leaders will be elected to office and our laws will once again uphold the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage, and religious freedom.
... Just two years ago "Values Voters" made a huge difference in the 2004 election. Together we can make a huge difference in this one too.
It is shameful but not illegal to use religion to manipulate people into following a political party. But looking into this organization I discovered something else.
Their website states, "Capitol Resource Institute is California's leading pro-family grassroots advocacy group." They are a 501 (c)3 : from their donations page:
Capitol Resource Institute, 1414 K Street, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95814. Your donations to CRI are tax-deductible under IRS code section 501(c)3.
The
advisory board consists of Republican elected officials -- and a talk show host. Their
Voter Information asks "Is Your State Legislator Family-Friendly?" and
links to a partisan Republican site: [note - PDF]
http://www.californiarepublicanassembly.com/.... On this scorecard Republicans score high, Dems score low. Duh.
501 (c)3 tax-exempt organizations are prohibited from conducting partisan operations, as Capital Resource Institute appears to be doing. This organization appears to be little more than a front group for the Republican Party, set up in a way to give tax breaks to party supporters. The Christian Coalition's tax-exempt status was revoked for exactly this reason.
(Based on a post at Seeing the Forest.)