A tax-exempt GOP rally and hate fest

This isn't exactly breaking news, since I reported on the gathering of nuts when it occurred last spring.

But I've just come across a first-hand description of what went on at the "Future Wisconsin" conference organized by Chief Nut Bob Dohnal. It raises some interesting questions about the "Republican convention" atmosphere of an event sponsored by groups which have tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS is very clear that political activity is not allowed:

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.

Keep that in mind as you read this report from the Wisconsin Center for Pluralism, which sent someone to the conference:

About 250 conservatives gathered March 11 at the Bluemound Gardens Conference Center in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa for the second annual "Future Wisconsin" conference. The event was sponsored by the Wisconsin Conservative Leadership Coalition (WCLC) and its publishing arm, Wisconsin Conservative Digest, with financial support from the corporate-financed Americans for Prosperity Foundation (APF)...

Lashing out at liberals, unions and Democrats, however, was the primary focus of many speakers at the Future Wisconsin Conference, as was a constant undertone of misogyny.

Hillary Clinton was described as a "militant socialist," Gov. Jim Doyle a "liar" and the Wisconsin Education Association Council "vicious." Former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Herbert Grover "was ugly, just ugly." State Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager is "the most petty, unprofessional person" to hold that office. In a misleading attack orchestrated by GOP opponent Paul Bucher, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk (a Democrat challenging Lautenschlager) was repeatedly mocked as "Catch & Release Kate." Liberal women politicians generally, but Senator Clinton in particular, were the objects of continual derision, with the audience clapping and laughing uproariously.

A GOP MINI-CONVENTION

The conference served as an unabashed pep rally for Republican candidates for state and national office. GOP consultant Daniel Schnur warmed up the audience early in the day with a stirring call to arms for the 2008 election. ("Our candidate… Our nominee… Our President…") Gubernatorial candidates Mark Green and Scott Walker (who later bowed out) addressed the crowd as did Attorney General candidates Bucher and J.B. Van Hollen. Green's campaign manager Mark Graul was a panelist, as were Lieutenant Governor candidate Jean Hundertmark and Congressional candidate Terri McCormick (seeking Green's 8th District Congressional seat). Milwaukee's Perfecto Rivera drew cheers when he said he might run against US Rep. Gwen Moore. As the crowd roared, someone seated behind me made racist comments related to Rep. Moore, who is African American.

Campaign literature, political buttons and bumper stickers were placed on all the chairs of the meeting hall, creating the look and feel of a mini-GOP convention. Because both sponsoring groups, WCLC and the AFP Foundation, are classified as 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations, the event seemed to flout IRS rules restricting partisan and electoral activity...

Jessica McBride, journalist and right-wing radio host on WTMJ-AM 620 in Milwaukee, expressed thanks to Ronald Reagan for repealing the Fairness Doctrine, the FCC regulation that required equal time for opposing views on the airwaves. Without its repeal, there might be no right-wing radio today, she said. Vicki McKenna, conservative radio host at WIBA-AM 1310 in Madison, urged the audience to challenge the "left-ended world view" of the mainstream media "until we kill them," she said, "until they are deader than dead."