The Marketplace of Ideas

I recently received an email from a conservative friend of mine with a pointer to an article complaining about liberal foundations. The article referred to “Pewgate”, a controversy of the role of the Pew Charitable Trusts in the passing of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law. Pew had made grants to create the impression that a mass movement was afoot. This kind of simulation of grassroots activism is often called Astroturf activism.

Astroturfing certainly wasn’t invented by Pew; conservatives engage in it regularly, as well. Remember the explosion in decency complaints made to the FCC about broadcast television? Turns out the vast majority of them were orchestrated by one small group.

At the same time that conservatives are complaining about so-called liberal foundations using grants to influence politics, there’s a bill working its way through Congress that would allow churches to endorse political candidates without risking their 501(c)3 status.

The House of Worship Freedom Restoration Act would amend the IRS code to allow church leaders to endorse candidates within the church building, as long as such endorsement wasn’t being broadcast on radio, TV, the internet. That last little part has cost the support of some conservative groups, who don’t want any restrictions.

My conservative friend wants to tax and dissolve foundations, because he believes they’re the primary funders of liberalism in America. One thing I’ve never understood about him, and others of his ilk, is that if they’re so sure their ideas are absolutely right, why do they want to shut down all opposition? Are they afraid their ideas will lose in open debate? Nothing is preventing preachers from endorsing political candidates or causes right now; they just have to do it outside the church. Do they need the authority of the pulpit before their political positions are muscular enough to stand up in the marketplace of ideas?

If the House of Worship Freedom Restoration Act passes, will conservatives be trying to undo it in thirty years because liberal churches are taking advantage of it, too?