IRS Blocks Free Speech In Virginia

IRS blocks free speech in Virginia

The IRS just picked a fight with one of the biggest supporters of free speech and the Constitution–The Patrick Henry Center for Individual Freedom. The unconstitutional and unelected IRS has revoked the tax-exempt status of the organization for “repeated statements supporting or opposing various candidates by opinion of the respective candidate’s character and qualifications.” Translated, the IRS thought police cracked down on The Patrick Henry Center for criticizing Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. The Washington Times reports that IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said that the IRS is likely to rewrite guidelines to better define “candidate-related political activities.” Guidelines vs First Amendment…really?

The IRS struck at the heart of conservatism in America. The Patrick Henry Center Board of Directors and Advisory Board reads like a “Who’s Who” of conservative thought. Former Reagan Attorney General Ed Meese, Gary Aldrich, Mark Levin, Lt Col Robert “Buzz” Patterson, Alan Sears, Oliver North, Beverly LaHaye, Howard Phillips, and Bob Barr–just to name a few. The Patrick Henry Center’s mission statement reads: “Patrick Henry once noted that, “When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, sir, was the primary object.”  The Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty is committed to fostering, promoting, and advocating the restoration of Liberty as the primary object of American society.”

The Center often promotes the restoration of Liberty by calling out the enemies of Liberty. How else could it truly operate? Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and the host of other leading socialists are devoted to undermining Liberty as the primary object of American society. The actions they take and the issues they support are representative of the sin nature of man. The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1,”Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Whether an organization is religious in nature or is just exposing those who articulate an anti-God philosophy, it is attempting to stand fast in true liberty. They are not enemies to the state.

In reality, the IRS charter–whatever that is–should be revoked. It has assumed the role as the keeper of the key to free speech for those who believe speech should be free for some and not for others. The mere suggestion by the IRS Commissioner that the IRS intends to rewrite guidelines to better define free speech is evidence that this extra-Constitutional agency should be disbanded. Free speech is a right guaranteed by the Constitution’s First Amendment. It is essential to Christian evangelism and making disciples. Let us encourage all those, including the Patrick Henry Center, to speak boldly as they ought to speak. This is not about taxes, it is about free speech. The IRS should be the one limited, not free speech.