IRS Clears NAACP in Tax Investigation

This is an example of the fear tactics employed against you if you dare criticize George W. Bush. Coupled with the attacks against its individual critics like Paul O'Neil, Joe Wilson, Richard Clarke and others (all of whom are Republicans by the way), the Bush Administration dealt with criticism by the NAACP by launching an IRS investigation of its tax status. It has now been cleared. Of course just the fact it launched the probe had a chilling effect on other groups. This is similar to the effect they had on the White House press corps early on when critics of the President were sent to the rear of the room, denied access and never called upon again to ask questions.

Interestingly none of the Republican friendly right wing neo-Christian churches who openly supported Bush have been investigated. Jerry Falwell's church website brazenly advertised for Bush. Pastors openly advocated for Bush directly from their pulpits. Church publications were used for get out the vote efforts. But only the NAACP was singled out for investigation.

When the investigation started, Bush and the NAACP were locked in a long-running feud that started shortly before the president's first election victory in 2000.

During that campaign, the NAACP ran television spots featuring the daughter of James Byrd Jr., a black man who was dragged to death behind a pickup truck in Texas in 1998. She criticized Bush, then governor of Texas, for not signing hate-crime legislation.

The rift grew when the NAACP charged that Republicans in Florida stole the 2000 election by turning black voters away from the polls.

Add to that the fact Bush refused to even speak to the group until earlier this year and his actively supporting the rich at the expense of the poor and middle class and it's no wonder so few African Americans voted for Bush. When he did address the NAACP this year he was roundly booed.