What happened between the IRS and Christian Coalition?
For nearly a decade, the Internal Revenue Service has conducted an unprecedented inquiry into the tax-exempt status of Christian Coalition. Recently, the Board of Directors took decisive steps to resolve this unwarranted investigation and position the Coalition for even greater inuence in American society. In this candid discussion, Christian Coalition Founder and President Dr. M.G. (Pat) Robertson gives an inside look at the IRS investigation, the Coalitions response, and what's ahead for Christian Coalition of America.
Exactly what happened between the IRS and Christian Coalition?
When I founded Christian Coalition in 1989, we led as a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. Our goals and purposes clearly within the IRSs specications for such tax-exempt organizations. This process usually takes just a few months. But for 10 long years, the IRS has refused to approve our tax-exempt status. Our staff has been subjected to seemingly endless questionings. Virtually every document we have produced has been heavily scrutinized. The entire process has cost us precious time, effort and financial resources. Ultimately, our Board decided to withdraw our 501(c)(4) application and reorganize.
Why this ongoing attack from the IRS?
I believe it is because we have been so successful! Over this past decade, Christian Coalition has become one of the largest and most inuential voter education organizations in the country. We've informed and equipped literally millions of concerned Christians to take their rightful place in the political arena. Weve elevated our issues to the forefront of the debate. Weve seen an incredible increase in the number of pro-faith and pro-family candidates running for all levels of office-in large part because Christian Coalition has helped awaken a silent army of Christian voters.
Has this IRS investigation been politically motivated?
Of course, we can't conclusively prove there is a direct connection between our pro-faith, pro-family beliefs and the unprecedented 10-year delay in obtaining a decision on our tax-exempt application. But I can tell you this - I believe its a classic example of how a massive bureaucratic agency can be manipulated and used by those in power. The fact is, we cannot find even one liberal group that has been harassed and hounded like we have been these past 10 years. Not one. Even ultra-liberal groups that conducted aggressive grassroots campaigns have gone without any IRS scrutiny.
Can you point out some examples?
Groups such as the National Organization for Women, Common Cause, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force - I could go on. Many ultra-liberal groups, after seeing our success in distributing tens of millions of Voter Guides and Congressional Scorecards, have employed the same strategy - although not nearly as effectively, I might add. And yet the IRS gives these groups a free pass!
Why is this IRS action happening now?
I think its really a sign of our oppositions desperation. The enemies of faith and family have resorted to employing Big Brother itself - the IRS - as a tool to intimidate and silence Christians because they fear how powerful we have become. After all, everyone knows that the elections in 2000 are absolutely crucial. The course of our nation well into the next millennium will be set. Its hard to accept that its merely a coincidence that this decade-long ordeal with the IRS culminates just as we announce the largest grassroots voter education drive in modern American political history.
Tell us about that
Were calling it Countdown To Victory, and our plan is to distribute 70 million Voter Guides, Scorecards and other resources before the 2000 elections. We have also set a goal to train and equip highly-motivated Christian activists in each of the 175,000 precincts in America - a virtual guarantee of victory for the values we hold dear. Plus, Christian Coalition of America will conduct extensive issues advertising and back it all up with a massive Get-Out-The-Vote drive.
Actually, weve been preparing for this moment for more than a decade. Back in 1990 at our first Road To Victory conference, I laid out some rather ambitious goals around which this entire organization has been structured: A major presence in the political scene; pro-life and pro-family control of Congress by 1996. But all along, Ive had one date circled on our long-range planning calendar: Election Day 2000. I sensed then - and I believe it even more strongly today - that the 2000 elections will prove to be absolutely vital.
How does the IRS battle impact the Countdown To Victory campaign?
I think were even stronger for it! In fact, after months of deliberation by our Board, we have reorganized the Christian Coalition into two groups-Christian Coalition of America (CCA) and Christian Coalition International (CCI). Since CCA already has a secured 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status, the new organization can continue most of the work of Christian Coalition, including grassroots training seminars, Scorecards, Voter Guides, our field network, and our annual Road To Victory conference. CCI is a separate organization that will be able to directly lobby and support candidates. But our seemingly endless battle with the IRS and other bureaucratic agencies is not likely to conclude soon. I'm sure as long as we are motivating Christians to be involved in the political process and standing for faith and freedom, well face unjust scrutiny and oppression from opposition desperately clinging to the last vestiges of their political power.
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