Whoa! Is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce supposed to be politicking?

[demobabe]

I got this email today that linked to this site... check it out:

http://www.movehawaiiforward.com/

Why is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sending out emails that essentially endorse Ed Case in Hawaii?

Isn't the Chamber a non-profit? Or government org? I didn't think supporting a candidate like this was legal...

This is a complete call out to Hawaii Republicans to come out and vote for Ed Case.

For those who aren't familiar with Case, he's a Blue Dog Democrat and is more favorable to Republicans - check the voting records vs. Akaka.

[Eric J in MN]

1. It's a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organization

http://www.uschamber.com/about/faqs/default#19


And the IRS says,

http://www.irs.gov/irm/part4/ch52s14.html#d0e558114

"A business league which otherwise qualifies for exemption under IRC section 501(c)(6) will not be disqualified merely because it engages in some political activity."

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. It shouldn't be.

Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club are networks for pro-business candidates. As you can well imagine, that means GOP these days.

[Eric J in MN]

5. There are too many classifications.

I'd prefer if 527's and 501(c)(6)'s had to become PACs or dissolve.

[demobabe]

6. That's a good idea

All the classifications are confusing and I think it's deceptive.

[kineneb]

8. not necessarily Rotary

It is a service organization made up of business people, not all of whom vote GOP. Some do, some, like me, never would. Some I have talked to have left the GOP and re-registered as independent.

Yes, I am a Rotarian, since 1993, and proud to be one. I work with a local high school as the advisor to the Interact Club, and we hope to start a Rotaract Club at the local junior college. Rotary International has lots of humanitarian projects around the world. Those business people put their money and time where their mouth is, and give a great deal back to their communities and the world as a whole.

The US Chamber, on the other hand, are a bunch of corporate hacks. They don't give a damn about local small businesses, just the large multi-national corporations that pad the Chamber's pockets. I used to work for a local Chamber of Commerce and so got to read the Cal State Chamber and US Chamber's propaganda. Ugh.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Do you know how they got your email address? (NT)

NT

[demobabe]

4. I can't tell

I get a lot of political emails, so there is no telling.

[symbolman]

7. Pretty blatant - just like they torpedoed Cynthia McKinney

during the Primaries -- have REPIGS come and Vote for the MOST Republican leaning and kick out an Incumbent.. did you know that something like 98% of Incumbents RETURN year after YEAR because for the most part that is something ALL the Parties can agree on.. so they all work in that direction.

But once again it looks like the REPIGS want to CHEAT as usual and get their boy installed.

I've met Ed Case in person, not a bad man, but he'll fold in a heartbeat when leaned on, he basically admitted to me that the way to get things done is to work with people across the aisle.. We all know what a one way street that one is, esp when the REPIGS are in control.

Big Bucks = GOP and they want this boy in their Pocket for a LONG TIME - Akaka is a True Democratic LIBERAL so they are going to use every dirty trick in the book.

Seems to me that the US Chamber of Commerce is an Appointed GOVT Position and should NOT be allowed that status, once again, SLEEEEZY..

Good catch demobabe, we need to alert True Majority about this!

[Democrat 4 Ever]

9. The national and state Chamber of Commerce have been an organ

for repug party for years. I took part in a national conference in DC back when Clinton was prez. There were delegates from each state 2,500-3,000 or so. Kentucky's delegation had approx 40 members. Eight (including me) were women's business owners that got elected through campaigning with the National Association of Women's Business owners (we were a fluke - C of C thought they had all the positions sewn up - we just brought a lot of people with us to vote us in). The rest were all delegates that were sponsored by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and each and every one of them was a repug. The state Republican Party Chairman was "selected" chairman of our delegation, their treasurer was the vice-chair, right on down the line. Those guys hated Clinton so much it oozed from every pore. They spent a whole week in DC actively working against everything Clinton even thought about suggesting. We weren't there to work for small businesses we were there for the repug agenda.

Back then - 1995 - they were already lobbying to privatize Social Security, cut taxes for the wealthy, axe the Dept. of Education (among others) no health care for anyone, do away with welfare and NO NO NO NO minimum wage. Some tigers never change their stripes.

[symbolman]

10. Thanks for the inside scoop

very interesting, it hadn't even occured to me that what looks like a Gov org isn't, but IS :)

Must have been a real horror show!