You know I am not a legal whiz but I bet that the original intent of the first amendment would not have smiled upon a US Senator using the threat of Taxation to silence an organization that offered criticisms of him. But you know I am just a simply country boy. Maybe old John Adams and Thomas Jefferson would have thought it a great idea to use the Governments power to tax to assault their opponents?
The Northwest Herald - TV ads target Sen. Durbin:

This seems like a straight forward attempt to hold a Senators feet to the fire for things he said. The Senator does not deny saying them, indeed he even offered something that resembled an apology but wasn't, for those same words. And yet now when this organization comes out with an ad against this Senator for comparing our soldiers to Nazis, Soviet Mass Murderers, and Pol Pots forces the Senator's people think its cute to threaten that same organization with the IRS.

"'We'll smack around anyone who needs educating,' Washburn said.

Washburn is the Executive Directory of Move American Forward and while he is provocative he is no more provocative that Senator Durbin who had the audacity to utter this slander on our troops on the Senate floor. “Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime—Pol Pot or others—that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners.” Senator Durbin has that legendary arrogance that seems to afflict Senators from both the left and right sides of the aisle but thats no reason to not attack him vigorously for the slander.

Internal Revenue Service spokesman Dan Boone said it was illegal for 501(c)3 groups to run political ads, although he said he could not comment on whether the Move America Forward ad is political.

Of course this isnt a political ad, both Democrats and Republicans are outraged over the Senators slander of our troops right?

'Have you ever seen that H &R Block commercial where the guy leans in and says, 'I see an audit'?' Shoemaker asked."

Naughty naughty Durbin aide hasn't your mom taught you manners? Its not polite to call out a Government Bureacracy noted for its heavy handed tactics against your opponents.

Hat tip to Rob at Wizbang for bring this story to attentiong. Rob's main digs are at Say Anything.