Al Franken says Rush Limbaugh promotes racism.

[Eric J in MN]

Franken says Limabaugh's rant against the NAACP, falsely accusing them of breaking the law by promoting candidates, promotes racism.

Limbaugh said the NAACP can get away with breaking the law because they're black.

Franken says the Christian Coalition and the NAACP follow the same laws.

Franken says the image of black as lawbreakers who can get away with it will encourage racist attitudes among Rush Limbaugh listeners.

[mandyky]

1. Of course he does - remember how long he lasted at ESPN?

Over his black quarterback comment..

[Az_lefty]

5. yep, the black quarterback comment proves it

he can't hide that remark behind "political discussion".

[MissAnnThrope]

8. I never heard about the comment

What did he say?

[StopThief]

11. He said that McNabb was overrated. . . .

and given a pass by the press because he was black.

[MissAnnThrope]

12. Um...

That is one of the most moronic things I've ever heard in my life. I can't believe he sees nothing wrong with that statement. I'm also surprised he didn't wrack the statement up to his drug addiction.

I've long thought the man is an imbecile. This is just more proof.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Is there any doubt he's a racist?

[AlCzervik]

3. I don't listen to pigboy junkie

but from what i read here and on mediamatters i don't doubt it for a second.

[salinen]

4. Not true

Rush loves white people.

[Frodo]

6. I would think today of all days he would be ignoring rush.

Since the last time I heard him talk about him at length it was to claim (though some pretty shaky number crunching) that he had beaten him in the NY market.

Sludge has up supposed Arbitron (I thought they weren't released until next week?) numbers showing they lost almost 3-1 and WLIBs June number is no higher than the month before the network launched.



His point, however, is a good one but backwards. It's highly likely that BOTH organizations are in violation of the law.

That last point is probably the best. People associate the NAACP with the whole class of people. The Christian Coalition doesn't represent all Christians (or even a big chuck) and isn't viewed that way. We don't instill attitudes toward christians by pointing out the CC breaks the law and gets away with it.

[Eric J in MN]

14. if you're calling Drudge's Arbitron numbers "supposed"...

.. then why draw conclusions from them.

Also, unless you have evidence that the NAACP or the Chrstian Coaltion has broken a law and want to say which law, I'm not sure that you should say both organizations likely did.

[Frodo]

16. Then let's say "spirit" of the law.

Both are political organizations with political activities. We'll say that "with varrying degrees of success, they pretend to be non-partisan".

[Eric J in MN]

21. Do you know when the Arbitron numbers will be released? nt

nt

[Eric J in MN]

22. The law says 501(c) can't be politcal, EXCEPT

...they can be political, if they don't:

(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.
-----------------

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/26/501.html


---------------
In summary, the law has a giant loophole which lets 501 (c)'s be political.

[moderate_hero]

7. Careful Eric J

You're starting to sound like a Limbaugh follower.




(sorry, couldn't resist) ;-)

[HamdenRice]

9. NAACP vs NAACP Legal Defense Fund

I didn't hear his comments but he may be refering to the fact that it is illegal for certain kinds of non-profit organizations to both engage in litigation and lobby and support candidates.

But because of this, the NAACP split up into two organizations decades ago -- the NAACP, a general membership organization that lobbies, supports candidates, etc and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which carries out litigation.

So Rush again is a big fat liar.

[moderate_hero]

10. Hold on...

are you saying that it's legal for non-profit organizations to take a political side? How could Rush stay on the air when he is passing on lies to the contrary?

[Bullshot]

17. At least some non-profit organizations can set up a PAC,

or Political Action Committee, which can make endorsements and make contributions to political candidates. I really don't know how you can separate the two. From my observation, the people running the non-profit organization are the same ones calling the shots for the PAC.

[bperci108]

20. Al Franken's point...

...is that the NAACP is a 501 (c) 4 organization, just like the Christian Coalition.

Rush denounces the NAACP, but gives the CC a pass, for engaging in the exact same activity; Al just pointed out Limbaugh's usual partisan hypocrisy.

[EstimatedProphet]

13. Encouraging Limbaugh listeners to be racist-

is like encouraging land animals to breathe.

[Shopaholic]

19. Amen to that!

I live in the South and I can tell you that the GOP down here is the party of the racists. It's how they gained a toe-hold in the South to begin with. And all of this crap about school vouchers? That's a code word to say "Hey--white people--we'll send your kids to private schools for free"!

[EstimatedProphet]

23. Exactly so

From my experience in Mississippi, that's why private schools exist-they're the "white people's schools".

[Jacobin]

15. Yeah. and bears take dumps in the forest

[Mr_Charlie]

18. Exactly! What a newsflash here... (n/t)