Pro-Obama Group Follows Line of Controversial Political Nonprofits

Amid the controversy over Organizing for Action, the advocacy group set up by Obama campaign leaders to promote the president’s agenda, Roll Call looks at similar past entities and assesses the new group’s potential impact on efforts to tighten restrictions on nonprofit politicking.

While some watchdog groups hailed Organizing for America’s announcement last week that it would not accept corporate donations, others reiterated calls for the group to shut down, saying it sets a dangerous precedent for other office-holders.

Roll Call notes the media and public outcry that have accompanied campaign-style nonprofit groups associated with specific politicians, including Committee to Save New York, which supports New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s policy goals, and ex-House Minority Leader Tom DeLay’s charity Celebrations for Children.

The article also questions whether the Internal Revenue Service and Federal Elections Commission would tackle political activity by nonprofit groups given the president’s tacit embrace of that model.