I guess you have to give credit to the ultra-liberal New York Times for not burying this story, although you also have to recognize that if there's one crime liberals don't like to forgive, it's not paying taxes.
Al Sharpton has made a little money in the years he's been in the public eye, and of course, as a committed liberal who believes in big government and its authority to confiscate wealth from the rich, the good reverend would surely have paid his fair share. Yes?
Oops:
Indeed, Mr. Sharpton’s influence and visibility have reached new heights this year, fueled by his close relationships with the mayor and the president.
Obscured in his ascent, however, has been his troubling financial past, which continues to shadow his present.
Mr. Sharpton has regularly sidestepped the sorts of obligations most people see as inevitable, like taxes, rent and other bills. Records reviewed by The New York Times show more than $4.5 million in current state and federal tax liens against him and his for-profit businesses.
And though he said in recent interviews that he was paying both down, his balance with the state, at least, has actually grown in recent years. His National Action Network appears to have been sustained for years by not paying federal payroll taxes on its employees.
With the tax liability outstanding, Mr. Sharpton traveled first class and collected a sizable salary, the kind of practice by nonprofit groups that the United States Treasury’s inspector general for tax administration recently characterized as “abusive,” or “potentially criminal” if the failure to turn over or collect taxes is willful.
Mr. Sharpton and the National Action Network have repeatedly failed to pay travel agencies, hotels and landlords. He has leaned on the generosity of friends and sometimes even the organization, intermingling its finances with his own to cover his daughters’ private school tuition.
Sharpton now says he's paying down the debt, although apparently not fast enough because his balance is rising. But the best part is that he's paying the debts thanks to "increased contributions from donors." In other words, he's shaking down other people for money to pay taxes on the earnings that are allowing him to live the high life.
And this is the guy MSNBC routinely puts on the air to rail against Republicans and rich people, especially those who "don't pay their fair share"?
Got it.
For what it's worth, Sharpton held a press conference earlier today denouncing the story, so we're now looking at Sharpton vs. the New York Times. It doesn't get any better than blue-on-blue violence!
