Why does the RIBC still associate with him?
By in the Providence Daily Dose
Now
about Dr. Oz. I am still baffled that the RIBC has associated
itself with this lying charlatan. More troubling is the fact that he is now a
political candidate, running as a Republican to represent the state of
Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate. This despite the fact that he doesn’t live in
Pennsylvania.
I called this to their
attention last December and thought someone might want to correct the
situation, but this giddy announcement concerning the RIBC connection with
Dr. Oz is still accessible through the website’s ‘news’
section. I wrote this up at
the time, so they have had five months to pull the page down.
Are
non-profits even allowed to engage in political advocacy? The RIBC financial
contribution page makes their status clear:
The Blood Center is a
not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. Tax ID: 131949477.
How does the IRS feel address
this?
Under the Internal Revenue
Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from
directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political
campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public
office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of
position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or
in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the
prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may
result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of
certain excise taxes.
I am not a tax expert, but it
seems one could make a colorable argument that the RIBC has been “indirectly
participating” in Dr. Oz’s campaign. They may want to check with their tax
attorney just to be on the safe side. Or, pull down the page.
Having the RIBC sliding into
the political realm is a terrible idea no matter the persuasion, but Dr. Oz is
a dangerous quack and the RIBC is endangering its reputation as a scientific
institution.
(For more info go to the NYT
12.26.21: ‘Magic’
Weight-Loss Pills and Covid Cures: Dr. Oz Under the Microscope.)
And Donate Blood Today!
RI Blood Center, 405 Promenade Street, (directions), 401.453.8383