ARTICLES - HOT OFF THE FAGGOT

Personal Liberty Alerts

Latest From Bob Livingston June 4, 2012
Who Is Brett Kimberlin And Why Should You Care? Who Is Brett Kimberlin And Why Should You Care? »
The Democratic Party is the party of tolerance. We are told this with regularity. What it doesn't tolerate is free speech. In fact, it goes to great lengths — even engaging in criminal activity — and great expense to ensure that dissenting views are squelched, particularly views from the right. And that's where Brett Kimberlin comes in. More »


On Your Own

Are You Ready To Barter? Are You Ready To Barter? »
When the dollar begins to drop, what will we do? Sure, you can hunt for food and you can filter your own water. But at some point, we will need to build back the communities that we once had and function together. The economy will grow again, but in a different way: by bartering.  More »

Personal Liberty News

Barack Obama And Mitt Romney: An Issues Overview Barack Obama And Mitt Romney: An Issues Overview »
Now that Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has the "magic number" of delegates needed to be named the GOP candidate, Americans will be subjected to five months of red herring mudslinging and distractions from both him and President Barack Obama. Here's where they stand on some of the top issues. More »



Obama To Revise UnConstitutional Health Law? Obama To Revise UnConstitutional Health Law? »
In the event that the Supreme Court strikes down his healthcare overhaul, President Barack Obama is preparing a revised version. According to reports, Obama told high-paying donors at a private event that he has plans to revise the law if it is struck down by the Court. More »

Mayor Combating Obesity Promotes Doughnuts Mayor Combating Obesity Promotes Doughnuts »
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor who doesn't want citizens slurping a sugary soft drink, is OK with the good people of New York City scarfing down massive doughnuts. Bloomberg presented a proclamation recognizing Friday as National Donut Day.  More »

Green Lantern Is Gay Green Lantern Is Gay »
When a new DC Comics comic book comes out, the main character will as well. Wednesday's issue of "Earth 2" depicts the Green Lantern passionately kissing his boyfriend. LGBT groups believe gay superheroes will empower gay youths. More »


Commenter's Corner

Commenting on NYC Mayor Wants To Ban Sugary Drinks,
Steve E says:
June 01, 2012 at 8:27 am
It too bad that most people in NYC do not own automobiles. If they did, they would be able to drive out of the city and see that there are other places you can go where there if more freedom. Thus, they may throw that bum dictatorial mayor out of office.
Reply

Commenting on Thinking Of Fleeing The
United States?,
DaveH says:
June 01, 2012 at 8:32 am
Chuck Schumer said — “Saverin has turned his back on the country that welcomed him and kept him safe, educated him and helped him become a billionaire”.

Sure, Chuck. You kept him safe (?) and educated him with OPM (other peoples’ money). And helped him become a billionaire? How exactly did the Government do that? By regulating him to the point of his stubbornly resisting the obstacles set up to thwart his efforts?

You see, folks, this is how the Progressives work. First they take other peoples’; then they offer you unsolicited gifts; then they obligate you for those unsolicited gifts. Like a guy who buys dinner for a lady with stolen money and then tells the lady she owes him sex.

Beware of Progressives Bearing Gifts.
Reply

 


CNN Admits Ron Paul Might Be The Man America Needs!!!

American Vision News

The Conservative Byte

Today's Featured Article:  
Obama Deliberately Revealing National Security Secrets?

Today's Politically Incorrect Laugh:
Dead Voters ID'd

Today's Politically Incorrect Headlines:

Charitable Group Offers to Pay Your Fines if You Ignore Philly’s New Ban on Feeding the Homeless


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Willing to Go to Jail For Feeding The Homeless: Charitable Group Vows to Ignore Phillys New Ban on Outdoor FeedingPhiladelphia’s new law banning “all outdoor feedings of large numbers of people on City parkland” goes into effect Friday, according CBS Philly, and some charitable groups have elected to ignore it.
“I encourage every church, every organization, every individual that has been serving on the Parkway to continue serving on the Parkway, despite this law that is going into effect,” said Altressa Boatwright, operations manager for Chosen 300, a charitable organization which has proudly served Philadelphia’s homeless community for years with “outdoor feedings.”
But why would the city pass a ban on charitable giving?
According to proponents of the bill, including Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, the new law will “protect the dignity of the homeless, cleanliness of the parks, and eliminate food health concerns.” However, dozens of opponents of the law testified at a hearing on Thursday and said the reasoning behind the ban was bunko.
“These regulations are clearly designated not with the intent of protecting the health and dignity of the homeless, but are designed to tuck the homeless in a corner and pretend that the problem does not exist in our city,” Reverend Brian Jenkins of Chosen 300 Ministries said.
The group has established a fund to help anyone fined for breaking the “outdoor feeding” ban, philly.com reports.
“The people are the number one resources of this city, not the Barnes Museum,” said Philadelphia homeless advocate Erike Younge. “Feeding people and serving the needs of the people is a fundamental right. And to ban it or to oppose it and not to work to solve this problem is unconstitutional and inhumane.”
Meanwhile, a group of  students from The Mathematics Civics and Sciences Charter School said at the hearing that they raise about $500 to $1000 each week for food and toiletries for the homeless near Ben Franklin Parkway.
“The food we distribute is prepared in our school cafeteria in the same manner and under the same conditions as the food that is served to the students,” said Gregory Dooley.
Willing to Go to Jail For Feeding The Homeless: Charitable Group Vows to Ignore Phillys New Ban on Outdoor Feeding 
Image courtesy Bloomberg

“It is clear to me that the reason that the Mayor has implemented this new directive is that he does not like the way large groups of homeless people and the public looks to visitors and more affluent residents.”
According to CBS Philly, the ban applies to the Fairmount Park system, “which includes Love Park and the Ben Franklin Parkway.”
No one from the Nutter administration attended Thursday’s hearing.
David Shivel, who volunteers handing out doughnuts and coffee, says “he is willing to go to jail for feeding the homeless,” adding that city officials need to understand they alone cannot help the city’s homeless, philly.com reports.
“You need us,” Shivel said. “You may not know that, but you need us.”
Front page photo source: Emma Lee/for NewsWorks

IRS Lies to Churches about Political Activities

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Church-and-State-Signs[1] Pastors meeting in Washington were warned by officials from the Internal Revenue Service that there are some political activities that could jeopardize their churches’ tax-exempt status. IRS regional manager Peter Lorenzetti told the Faith Leaders Summit that that pastors in their official capacity are not permitted to endorse or oppose candidates, campaign for them, or make contributions to their campaigns. Pastors can, as private citizens, do these things.
Hogwash!
The First Amendment does not prohibit churches from speaking out on any issue including political ones, even if they are tax exempt. The amendment is so clear that liberals almost never cite it:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Rob Boston, Assistant Director of Communications for Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Assistant Editor of Church & State magazine, engages in similar constitutional fiction: “A church cannot link or direct people to an organization telling people how to vote. . . . All nonprofits, including churches, cannot endorse or oppose candidates. The IRS does warn nonprofits about linking to campaign-related websites.”
To prohibit a church from linking to any site for any reason is a violation of the First Amendment. Notice that the First Amendment gives everybody, churches included, the right to speak about religion, write about religion, congregate about religion, and “petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Intimidating churches has been going on for a long time. Barry Lynn, Executive Director of AU, has been monitoring the content of Sunday sermons since 2004. If these self-appointed snitches don’t like what they hear, that is, if what a pastor says is “too political” and contrary to a liberal political agenda, they will send video and audio tapes to the IRS for investigation. If enough churches challenged the supposed prohibitions, the IRS wouldn’t know what to do. At the moment, the fear factor is enough to keep churches in check.
There are no constitutional prohibitions against churches speaking out on political issues or endorsing candidates. We got into this mess when in 1954 a law was rammed through Congress by then-Senator Lyndon Johnson to restrict churches from speaking freely on topics they have addressed for nearly two millennia. The following is from the IRS:
The ban on political campaign activity by charities and churches was created by Congress more than a half century ago. The Internal Revenue Service administers the tax laws written by Congress and has enforcement authority over tax-exempt organizations. Here is some background information on the political campaign activity ban and the latest IRS enforcement statistics regarding its administration of this congressional ban.
In 1954, Congress approved an amendment by Sen. Lyndon Johnson to prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations, which includes charities and churches, from engaging in any political campaign activity. To the extent Congress has revisited the ban over the years, it has in fact strengthened the ban. The most recent change came in 1987 when Congress amended the language to clarify that the prohibition also applies to statements opposing candidates.
This so-called ban is a direct violation of the First Amendment. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law. . . .” In 1954, Congress made a law prohibiting churches from speaking out on political issues and endorsing candidates. The logic is simple. Since Congress passed such a law, then Congress violated the Constitution. This makes the law null and void.
If you are a pastor who believes in the freedoms outlined in the First Amendment and want to challenge these leftist organizations and the IRS, then I have a deal for you. The Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal advocacy group, will defend you.
In response to more than 50 years of threats and intimidation by activist groups wielding the Johnson Amendment as a sword against the Church, ADF began the Pulpit Initiative in 2008. The goal of the Pulpit Initiative is simple: have the Johnson Amendment declared unconstitutional — and once and for all remove the ability of the IRS to censor what a pastor says from the pulpit.
ADF is actively seeking to represent churches or pastors who are under investigation by the IRS for violating the Johnson Amendment by preaching biblical Truth in a way that expresses support for — or opposition to — political candidates. ADF represents all of its clients free of charge.
Don’t be bullied. It’s time to take a stand for Jesus Christ. Your future and the future of your children are at stake. If you want more information, go to the Alliance Defense Fund site at http://speakupmovement.org/church/LearnMore/details/4702

Exemption Requirements - Section 501(c)(3) Organizations

 
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.
Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.
The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.
Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. For a detailed discussion, see Political and Lobbying Activities. For more information about lobbying activities by charities, see the article Lobbying Issues; for more information about political activities of charities, see the FY-2002 CPE topic Election Year Issues.
Additional Information
Application Process Step by Step:  Questions and answers that will help an organization determine if it is eligible to apply for recognition of exemption from federal income taxation under IRC section 501(a) and, if so, how to proceed.
USCTitle 26Subtitle AChapter 1Subchapter FPart I › § 501 (c)(3)
 
(c) List of exempt organizations
(3) Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office. 
 
(h) Expenditures by public charities to influence legislation
(1) General rule
In the case of an organization to which this subsection applies, exemption from taxation under subsection (a) shall be denied because a substantial part of the activities of such organization consists of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, but only if such organization normally—
(A) makes lobbying expenditures in excess of the lobbying ceiling amount for such organization for each taxable year, or
(B) makes grass roots expenditures in excess of the grass roots ceiling amount for such organization for each taxable year.
(2) Definitions
For purposes of this subsection—
(A) Lobbying expenditures
The term “lobbying expenditures” means expenditures for the purpose of influencing legislation (as defined in section 4911 (d)).
(B) Lobbying ceiling amount
The lobbying ceiling amount for any organization for any taxable year is 150 percent of the lobbying nontaxable amount for such organization for such taxable year, determined under section 4911.
(C) Grass roots expenditures
The term “grass roots expenditures” means expenditures for the purpose of influencing legislation (as defined in section 4911 (d) without regard to paragraph (1)(B) thereof).
(D) Grass roots ceiling amount
The grass roots ceiling amount for any organization for any taxable year is 150 percent of the grass roots nontaxable amount for such organization for such taxable year, determined under section 4911.
(3) Organizations to which this subsection applies
This subsection shall apply to any organization which has elected (in such manner and at such time as the Secretary may prescribe) to have the provisions of this subsection apply to such organization and which, for the taxable year which includes the date the election is made, is described in subsection (c)(3) and—
(A) is described in paragraph (4), and
(B) is not a disqualified organization under paragraph (5).
(4) Organizations permitted to elect to have this subsection apply
An organization is described in this paragraph if it is described in—
(A) section 170 (b)(1)(A)(ii) (relating to educational institutions),
(B) section 170 (b)(1)(A)(iii) (relating to hospitals and medical research organizations),
(C) section 170 (b)(1)(A)(iv) (relating to organizations supporting government schools),
(D) section 170 (b)(1)(A)(vi) (relating to organizations publicly supported by charitable contributions),
(E) section 509 (a)(2) (relating to organizations publicly supported by admissions, sales, etc.), or
(F) section 509 (a)(3) (relating to organizations supporting certain types of public charities) except that for purposes of this subparagraph, section 509 (a)(3) shall be applied without regard to the last sentence of section 509 (a).
(5) Disqualified organizations
For purposes of paragraph (3) an organization is a disqualified organization if it is—
(A) described in section 170 (b)(1)(A)(i) (relating to churches),
(B) an integrated auxiliary of a church or of a convention or association of churches, or
(C) a member of an affiliated group of organizations (within the meaning of section 4911 (f)(2)) if one or more members of such group is described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
(6) Years for which election is effective
An election by an organization under this subsection shall be effective for all taxable years of such organization which—
(A) end after the date the election is made, and
(B) begin before the date the election is revoked by such organization (under regulations prescribed by the Secretary).
(7) No effect on certain organizations
With respect to any organization for a taxable year for which—
(A) such organization is a disqualified organization (within the meaning of paragraph (5)), or
(B) an election under this subsection is not in effect for such organization,
nothing in this subsection or in section 4911 shall be construed to affect the interpretation of the phrase, “no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation,” under subsection (c)(3).
(8) Affiliated organizations
For rules regarding affiliated organizations, see section 4911 (f).
 

Breaking News from Western Journalism

Jun 04, 2012 01:37 pm | Floyd Brown



Jun 04, 2012 01:35 pm | Doug Book
“Until we address the crisis of the failure of our institutions to resolve the significant challenges we face, don’t expect progress on any of them.” Could any statement be more decidedly emblematic of leftist doctrine than the claim that only… Continue to Post


Jun 04, 2012 01:34 pm | Miki Booth
CNN’s ratings plummeted in May and CEO Phil Kent admitted to being ‘very unhappy’ with its primetime ratings but said it won’t resort to tricks to increase viewership, but as he spoke to reporters, CNN had already resorted to tricks… Continue to Post


Jun 04, 2012 01:19 pm | Floyd Brown



Jun 04, 2012 01:04 pm | Breaking News
Eric Holder, who heads Mr Obama’s justice department, is said to have become “incensed” after being accused by David Axelrod of complaining publicly about political interference in his office. “That’s bull****,” Mr Holder said in a confrontation after a cabinet… Continue to Post


Jun 04, 2012 12:57 pm | Breaking News
Wisconsin voters are set to go to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether Gov. Scott Walker (R) will stay in office, an election that could have implications far beyond the state and could prove to be a key test… Continue to Post


Jun 04, 2012 12:55 pm | Floyd Brown



Jun 04, 2012 12:46 pm | Kris Zane
In 2009 when millions of Iranians took to the streets to call for the removal of theocratic dictator Ahmadinejad, Obama remained silent, even though he later threw Mubarak under the bus, an ally of the United States and Israel for… Continue to Post


Jun 04, 2012 12:45 pm | Susan Stamper Brown
Name-calling is the coward’s way to avoid intelligent discourse. Liberals are notorious for responding to just about anything or anyone with whom they disagree using ad hominem rebuttals to discredit their opponents. Rather than exercising brain cells to engage in… Continue to Post


Jun 04, 2012 12:44 pm | Breaking News
Back in 2008 Obama was established as not only a pro-abortion candidate, but one that believes in infanticide as evidenced by his lack of support of an anti-infanticide bill in Illinois. The bill, if it had become law, would have… Continue to Post


Jun 04, 2012 12:35 pm | Floyd Brown



Jun 04, 2012 12:26 pm | Breaking News
Pastors meeting in Washington were warned by officials from the Internal Revenue Service that there are some political activities that could jeopardize their churches’ tax-exempt status. IRS regional manager Peter Lorenzetti told the Faith Leaders Summit that that pastors in… Continue to Post


Jun 04, 2012 12:08 pm | Breaking News
George Soros, the multi-billionaire currency speculator, says that the New World Order will survive in Europe, but only at this price: the establishment of Germany as the arbiter of Europe’s national deficits. Germany will have to bail out the PIIGS… Continue to Post


Jun 04, 2012 11:44 am | Kevin Probst
I have heard many preachers in my 50+ years.  Some have been the ‘fire and brimstone’ type.  Some have been intellectual, some emotional.  Others have been more about themselves than they ought to have been.  While still others were so… Continue to Post


Jun 04, 2012 11:27 am | Kris Zane

012


Mormon cult shows its support in Salt Lake City gay parade



  • Participants march with rainbow-colored dragons in a gay pride parade in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 3, 2012. Over 300 active Mormons and more than 5,000 members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community with their supporters marched in the parade as part of the Utah Pride Festival. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
    Participants march with rainbow-colored …
SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - Nearly 300 Mormons marched in a gay pride parade on Sunday, holding signs that read "God Loves His Children" in a unique display of support from believers of a religious tradition that has long opposed homosexuality.

"When people hear that Mormons are marching with gay and lesbian people in Salt Lake City... I think that's going to be a surprise," said Dustin Lance Black, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of the 2008 movie "Milk" about slain San Francisco gay activist Harvey Milk. Black, who is gay and was raised Mormon, was the parade's grand marshal.

"They are fostering a level of acceptance that hasn't traditionally been there," he said.
Erika Munson, 52, a devout Mormon and mother of five, founded the group Mormons Building Bridges and led it in the annual Utah Pride Parade in support of the gay community. She had grown uncomfortable with the image of their church as anti-gay.

"I feel like this is the time to speak up. I've always felt like I was supportive in my own way of the LGBT community but I've had to keep that and my commitment for the church separate," she said, using a common term for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people.

Munson's group is not endorsed by or directly affiliated with Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mormon faith teaches that gay sex is a sin and for decades church leaders have denounced homosexuality as unnatural, endorsed reparative therapies aimed at altering sexual orientation and excommunicated some gay members.

Since the 1990s, the church also has publicly backed campaigns to block legalized gay marriage.

SHIFT IN SENTIMENT

Church leaders have softened their stance on homosexuality in recent years, saying the origins of sexuality are not fully understood. The church also has endorsed Utah laws to protect LGBT people from job and housing discrimination and in 2010 denounced gay bullying.

The Mormon group in Sunday's parade waved signs saying "LDS (loves) LGBT" and drew cheers from bystanders lining the route, just blocks from the Mormon Church headquarters. They marched in suits and conservative dresses and were in stark contrast to the thousands of other participants.

The revelers ranged from supporters of Planned Parenthood to members of the Queer Utah Aquatic Club who danced along the street wearing only swimming suits, bow ties and top hats. A man who went by the name of Penelope Pap Smear marched in a pink dress.

Sharon Griffiths, 58, a lesbian and former Mormon who recently lost a gay nephew to suicide, said she was grateful for the Mormon representation in the parade.

"My heart is absolutely full in gratefulness that this Christ-like love they talk about in church, I see here in action today," said Griffiths, who came out in the 1970s after years of being active in the church.

Utah has the nation's 12th highest rate of youth suicide, according to a 2009 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On average, two teens a day are treated in Utah emergency rooms after suicide attempts, state health department data from 2008 to 2010 showed.

While it is not clear how many of Utah's youth suicides occur in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, experts say that LGBT youth are at already at an increased risk for suicide and attempted suicide, and could be cause for concern in Utah.

"I know we have a lot work to do still and there's still a lot we don't agree about yet," Black said. "But certainly, today felt like a first step in a healing process."

(Editing by Lily Kuo and Bill Trott)

Hal Mayer Clear and Present Danger, Part 2- Tightening the Grip.

Breaking News from Western Journalism

Jun 03, 2012 02:24 pm | Daniel Noe



Jun 03, 2012 01:27 pm | Alan P. Halbert
My point in this article is to bring some sanity to the current economic situation that Obama and the Democrats have foisted on this nation since they usurped the White House in 2008 to complete the triumvirate to include the… Continue to Post


Jun 03, 2012 12:03 pm | Kris Zane



Jun 03, 2012 11:47 am | Shawn Paul
Even in this modern environment, where the term “hero” is often used far too loosely, there are many unsung heroes in this great nation (whose remarkable stories could be told at great length.) One of those unsung heroes passed away,… Continue to Post


Jun 02, 2012 04:39 pm | Cagle Cartoons