Major Televangelists Evade Senate Fundraising Investigation

Sen. Chuck Grassley has wrapped up his three-year investigation into the fundraising practices of major televangelists. No action will be taken by the government, mostly because the figures being investigated refused to provide financial data.

The report by Sen. Chuck Grassley questions the personal use of church-owned airplanes, luxury homes and credit cards by pastors and their families, and a lack of financial oversight. But Grassley draws no specific conclusions about whether the ministries violated IRS rules that bar excessive compensation for leaders of religious nonprofits. Two of the targeted televangelists -- Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn -- made changes in response to the inquiry. But Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Bishop Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar Ministries and televangelists Randy and Paula White refused to provide information, while insisting they comply with IRS rules.

Stand by for announcements of God's intervention!

NOM Releases Partial 2009 Tax Return

NOM has released a partial version of their 2009 tax return. The HRC-sponsored site NOM Exposed reports:

Most of the $7.1 million in revenue in ’09 came from a few very large donors. These donors could be individuals or corporations. Here is how NOM’s top donations break down.

1. $2,475,000
2. $1,230,000
3. $1,100,000
4. $400,000
5. $150,000

Running the numbers, this means that 3 wealthy donors contributed 68% of their total donations; 4 donors gave 73% and 5 donors gave 75%. These figures reinforce what we and others (Fred Karger) have been saying: the National Organization for Marriage does not represent some sizeable (or even small) grassroots constituency. The only “constituency” they represent is that of a few anti-gay folks who have a lot of money. NOM’s reluctance to make their tax returns available publicly is par for the course in their pattern of secrecy and shadowy dealings.

NOM had rebuffed demands to see the return until representatives from HRC twice physically visited their DC office. Video of one of those visits can be seen here.

You Know It's A Myth

Maddow On Sen. Bernie Sanders

"A super-human display of strength and endurance."

Almost Nine Hours Later.....

Mr. Smith Sanders Goes To Washington

If you've got access to a television, independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is approaching the fourth hour of an EPIC filibuster of the tax cuts bill. I picked it up in the second hour and have been riveted. At this writing, Sanders has just invited Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to "colloquy" with him. Watch on C-SPAN2 at the above link. Business Insider is calling this "historic."

Do As They Say, Not As They Do

Olbermann: Would Hillary Clinton Have Been That Much Different?

Crazy Eyes Lies About Tax Cuts

Facebook To Reimburse Gay Staffers For Partner Benefit Tax Inequities

Facebook is joining the small but growing list of companies who are reimbursing their gay employees for the tax inequities incurred by carrying their partners on their insurance.

The new policies follow similar announcements by Barclays, and also this year, Google. A handful of other large organizations, including Cisco, Kimpton Hotels and the Gates Foundation also cover these costs. Under federal law, employer-provided health benefits for domestic partners are counted as taxable income, if the partner is not considered a dependent. The tax owed is based on the value of the partner’s coverage paid by the employer.

Gay employees pay about $1100 more annually than heterosexual married employees who insure their spouses.

Keith Olbermann: Obama Is A Sell-Out For Caving To GOP Tax Cuts Demands

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Threatens To Filibuster Obama's Tax Cuts Deal

Obama Gets Pissy With The Left: Don't Try To Hold Me To Your Abstract Ideals

Rep. Alan Grayson: Obama Has Lost The Game Of Chicken Over Tax Cuts

GOP Ransom Note

SHOCKER: The Wealthy White Men At GOProud Want To Keep Their Tax Cuts At The Expense Of Homosexuals

Don't fall out of your chairs, but the wealthy white men at gay billionaire funded GOProud have endorsed the GOP's plan to hold the nation hostage unless America's millionaires get richer. GOProud executive director Jimmy LaSalvia:

“Senate Republicans are absolutely right. It is time that Democrats in the Senate stop playing political games with our economy. If Democrats are truly interested in getting to other important lame-duck issues, like the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, then they should act immediately to prevent jobs-killing tax increases. The American people are watching, now is the time for Democrats to decide what they want more – tax increases or repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The choice is theirs.”

One thing about the kapo bootlickers at GOProud, we alway$ know where their prioritie$ lie.

GOP Senators: We Will Block 100% Of All Bills Until Bush Tax Cuts Are Extended

Today all 42 GOP members of the Senate issued a letter declaring that not one single bill (including DADT) will be considered until Congress agrees to extend the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy. Because when you're out of money, the thing to do is cut your income. And so much for yesterday's bipartisan summit.

"[W]e write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers," the letter reads. "With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities. While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike." It was penned by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and signed by all 42 Republicans. According to the AP, which first broke the news of the letter, and portrayed it as a GOP effort to block all Dem initiatives unilaterally, the START treaty would be exempted. But everything else -- particularly DADT, unemployment insurance and the DREAM Act would be ensnared.

And once again the billionaires of America fuck over the rest of us.

Today's Lie From Sarah Palin

John McCain Vs. John McCain

Rachel Maddow devastatingly counts off McCain's flip-flops.

Wingnut Rep. Louie Gohmert: Stop Taxing Corporations Entirely

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