Feds sue anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan over back taxes

[hack89]

SACRAMENTO, CA (KXTV) - The federal government has filed a lawsuit to force anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan to provide her financial records to the Internal Revenue Service.

An IRS revenue officer said Sheehan refused to answer any questions about her finances after receiving a summons at her Vacaville home.

Sheehan said she's always been up front with the IRS and has no intention of paying her taxes. She says the government has already taken enough from her.

"If they (federal government), can give me my son back, I'll pay my taxes, but that's not going to happen," Sheehan said.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/national/article/240153/81/Anti-war-activist-

Not the smartest fight to pick.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Cindy should quote Santorum that the government can't force you to pay

for something you don't believe in.

[Tripod]

88. But they can put you in prison.

700, finally!

[sinkingfeeling]

95. I don't think she has a problem with that.

[Tripod]

100. I wouldn't want to be her.

"Sweet dreams, and fly tonight"

[truebrit71]

2. Sorry Cindy, as honourable a position as that may be, you ain't winning that fight...

...like they say, only two things in life guaranteed, death and taxes...and you don't get to choose between 'em...

[Old and In the Way]

4. Well, that's true enough, but

the idea of waiving taxes for deceased soldiers - for the parents if unmarried or the spouse if married - is noble and a way for this country to express their gratitude, every year.

[uppityperson]

6. great minds think alike. My thought also but I limited it to a yr or 2.

[truebrit71]

9. Yeah, I could get behind that idea...

...

[Uncle Joe]

18. That sounds like a good proposal to me, Old and In the Way.

[Snake Alchemist]

19. What about their wives, children, and siblings? nt

[Old and In the Way]

23. Not sure what you mean.

I specifically said spouses in my post. I don't think the exemption should carry through, generationally.

[Snake Alchemist]

28. Based on what though?

It seems like siblings and children can be just as hard hit emotionally as parent if not more. Spouses seem to be the best argument, but they are not paying taxes on the soldiers income at that point.

[Old and In the Way]

31. Are children siblings paying federal taxes?

OK, maybe up to the 18th birthday it would be reasonable if they exceeded the minimum taxable income...but, after that, I think it would be fair to stop it there. Spouses do pay taxes on their own income, though...and I think it's an easy way for the government to recognize a special benefit that acknowledges his/her loss for the deceased service to this country.

[Snake Alchemist]

36. But not paying taxes is not a benefit for any type of service?

And kids will pay taxes so why aren't they exempt? If there was a draft then maybe it would be a better argument, but there is not.

If a federal agent, or other federal worker dies while on duty, should their spouses also pay no taxes?

[Old and In the Way]

37. No on federal workers, possibly for federal agents.

If your job description puts you in a likely position to potentially die in service to your country...I think it's reasonable. Already answered your kids question and I don't see what's relevant about a draft that doesn't exist.

[Snake Alchemist]

38. Let's just make it so the spouse and the kids don't have to pay taxes on the soldier's income

after he dies in combat. That sounds fair.

[MADem]

58. Well, there is SGLI insurance--it doesn't bring back the deceased, but it's a pretty decent chunk of

change. There's also a smaller "death benefit" that will pay for burial, provide the tombstone/marker, etc.

It's not like people who have lost a loved one in wartime are just tossed to the curb with no resources to transition.

Lots here--follow the links: http://www.vba.va.gov/survivors/

[sabrina 1]

40. Sounds like a good idea to me also.

Perhaps Cindy taking this stand could make it an issue. I can't imagine too many Americans opposing that kind of support for the troops. Maybe after all it's a fight the Government might not want to have.

[Snake Alchemist]

41. Until the spouse of a dead soldier becomes CEO of HP or works at Goldman Sachs.

Last edited Wed Feb 22, 2012, 07:10 PM - Edit history (1)

Or remarries a businessman who names him/her CEO so he/she can route both their salaries through him/her.

[sabrina 1]

42. Well if someone remarries I think they would no longer have the exemption.

Doesn't it work that way with other benefits available to widows/widowers?

As for becoming a high earning CEO, that too could be considered in the legislation.

But Cindy definitely has a point. They took her son, refused to answer her questions as to why he died, and she cannot get him back. Is there a price on that?

Most other countries do treat their veterans and surviving families much better than they are treated here.

[Snake Alchemist]

43. Sounds like it just got a lot more complicated.

I'm pretty sure her son signed up. I think he was pretty gung-ho about the military in fact.

[24601]

44. Wife? How about spouse?

[Snake Alchemist]

45. True. I've edited my post. nt

[Bradical79]

77. Not sure she's expecting to win

She's drawing a lot of attention to her anti-war stance and loss of her son again, so I a suspect she knew very well it would come to this eventually.

[itsrobert]

3. She needs help

n/t

[uppityperson]

5. Here's an interesting thought. If your kid gets killed in the military, excuse family from paying

taxes for that yr, including not only the dead military person's family, but his/her parents. I wouldn't cause a lot of problems in the gvt and might be a decent thing to do.

I know, the "kid" is an adult so why should his/her parents get a tax break, but just thinking it would be decent.

[frazzled]

22. Sounds sort of like a payoff to me

Or a bribe. I think it sounds kind of cheap and disgusting, as if escaping paying your taxes for a year is compensation for the death of a child. As if that would even the balance sheet. Money, money, money: I thought only Republicans think about it all the time.

Sorry, but in a country with a volunteer army, that is not how things work. Death benefits, yes; parents escaping their taxes, no. We're Democrats: we all pay taxes because we believe in contributing to the common good (and to fixing those things we disagree are contributing to the common good through the democratic system).

Did Cindy Sheehan ever think that by withholding her taxes she harms somebody else's child? I bet she didn't.

[uppityperson]

26. I see it as an addition to those death benefits you mention and agree with.

[frazzled]

27. Taxes are taxes that everyone should pay, not a benefit

No, I clearly don't agree with anything you suggest.

[uppityperson]

73. Your quote " Death benefits, yes". Now you don't agree with this?

Another quote of yours: "Money, money, money: I thought only Republicans think about it all the time. "
You are wrong. The unemployed, the underemployed also think about it all the time.

[saras]

46. Or did and figured she stops a lot of harm and a trivial amount of good by not paying

[girl gone mad]

92. How is she harming somebody else's child?

[bayareaboy]

7. Why not ...

Have Cindy pay the same amount as GE. That would be zero. Besides that they didn't have to give up a son.

[dflprincess]

50. If she paid as much as GE she'd get a rebate

I wonder how much money GE made off the war her son died in? All parents or spouses of dead soldiers should get GE's negative tax rate.

[2banon]

53. ding ding ding ding ding..

[bayareaboy]

56. EGGS ZACTLY!

I don't really think that has anything to worry about, actually having to pay back taxes though. She probably does not have much funds and there are still lots of folks who stopped paying during the 1960s.

In fact I will bet that it probably isn't very high on her list, payin back the goverment.

[IndyJones]

60. I thought this exact thing, too. I mean, there is something clearly wrong with our system when

a multi million dollar corporation pays less in taxes than the CEO makes each year (or gets a huge refund).

[SemperEadem]

8. this is not going to turn out well

Cindy, figure out a way to pay your back taxes and then fight for a change to the tax laws where parents who lose children in wars can be exempt from paying taxes.

[2ndAmForComputers]

10. I suspect she wants to go to jail to make a statement.

Can't say I fault her. I have no idea what I would do if my only child was killed by right-wing policies. Shudder.

[2pooped2pop]

33. yes, it's not about her taxes

it's about the insult to think she should pay them when they sent her son to die in an illegal war, I'll wager.

Good luck Cindy. I think of you, often.

[Journeyman]

11. An admirable stance, akin to Thoreau's objections in 1848. I feel it will end similarly. . .

[snot]

16. How did Thoreau's case end?

[Journeyman]

35. He was carted off to jail . . .

and an Aunt paid his taxes for him the next morning, to avoid scandal to the family name.

But then, he used the occasion as the impetus to write possibly the most explosive political essay of all time, Civil Disobedience, the document that has, so far, set in motion resistance movements from India to the U.S., and countless lands in between.

http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil.html

[snot]

82. Thank you! What a wonderful history!

[cstanleytech]

12. "Not the smartest fight to pick." True enough, look what happend to Wesley Snipes

when he tried to get out of paying his taxes.

[southernyankeebelle]

13. Mrs Sheehan's son enlisted for the military. When they are in a war zone they get hazardous duty pay

which increases their pay. I also think they don't have to pay taxes while they are in a combat zone. They deserve that much from us. I do think we should also pay for the soldiers funeral when they die in combat. The married soldier's family get extended benefits for the rest of the lives or unless they remarry. If the soldier has a family their family members can take advantage of the schooling they offer. I know it helped my sister who went to college. I think the government has done very well by our soldiers in combat. I do wish they would do more for the wounded soldiers who come back as far as health care.

I feel terrible for Mrs Sheehan but I would suggest she pay her taxes or she will lose and be sitting in a jail cell.

[fasttense]

20. Yes they pay taxes while in a war zone.

They just don't pay taxes on hazardous duty pay.

By the way, bush was doing audits of military members taxes when he was in office. I know, I was auditted while I was in the Navy. But the IRS ended up owing me money.

Yes, she will end up in jail but NOT because our laws are fair and equitable. Only in this America can a corporation pay absolutely zero taxes, get a tax subsidy, give up nothing, make billions and encourage war-mongers, while a dead soldier's family pay 35% of everything they work for.

Fight the good fight Cindy!

[hack89]

25. The Combat Zone Exclusion covers base pay, combat pay and reenilistment bonuses

IRS link here:

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p3/ar02.html#en_US_2011_publink1000176201

[fasttense]

61. And that is why the IRS ended up owing me money after the audit. n/t

[southernyankeebelle]

29. I knew something about the break they get during a war zone. By the way they earned every penny of

it. I don't begrude the soldier at all. I think the country should pay for the soldier's funeral if he dies in a combat zone. I think give them $10,000 for funeral expenses.

[2pooped2pop]

34. I suspect she will lose

but will make enough noise that she will once again bring the illegality of the war to the front.

I wish her well.

[southernyankeebelle]

39. We are out of Iraq. We had a legit purpose in going to Afghanistan. Now that OBL is dead

it is time to bring our troops home. All the noise in the world isn't going to bring back her son am sorry to say. I feel terrible for her and many families who have lost loved ones.

[EFerrari]

68. It always surprises me when people who believe we are out of Iraq and

that we had a legit purpose for going into Afghanistan, both propositions which are debatable, overlook that we are up to our eyeballs in armed conflicts of choice and all over the world from out thousand or so bases and as if Cindy Sheehan is just some crazy mother who can't get over the death of her son and has nothing to complain about.

We don't need Cindy Sheehan to stop making "noise". We thousands more like her to get off their keisters and make more noise.

[southernyankeebelle]

71. I am sorry for her lose. Remember this is an all volunteer military. No one twisted her son to

go into the military. I think the young man was a hero for volunteering. Nothing we say or do is going to bring him back, nothing. I don't know what else you want me to say. There are 2 things in this country that everyone will have and that is death and taxes. I don't think it is right that you don't pay your taxes. Sorry. I don't care who the person is.

[EFerrari]

79. The larger question is do you agree that our tax money should be used

to line the pockets of a corrupt defense industry, which seems to be our biggest export?

That is the question Cindy Sheehan is raising, not what you think of her son's enlistment or if you think she should pay her taxes or not. This is, at bottom, about us not about Casey or Cindy Sheehan.

/punc

[southernyankeebelle]

81. No. But that and a cup of coffee isn't going to make a difference. Not until we have people in the

streets like back in the 60s. Not paying taxes doesn't do it for me sorry. Pay your taxes then recruit many of your friends to march into DC and make your points you would then have alot more support.

[EFerrari]

83. Cindy Sheehan was the first occupier, which I believe was pointed out by Will Pitt.

And she's been out in the streets since Camp Casey even if it's hard for the less active among us to keep up with that.

[southernyankeebelle]

84. Good for her. I wish her well. But pay your taxes.

[EFerrari]

87. Her act of conscience is not up for a vote any more than Baez's was or Thoreau's. nt

[southernyankeebelle]

91. Good point. I leave you with that for now. I went off to watch Bill Maher on Yahoo.

[EFerrari]

65. Peace activists not paying taxes has a long tradition in this country.

[southernyankeebelle]

66. That is an american tradition. Enjoy all the benefits without paying taxes.

America is a wonder place.

[EFerrari]

76. You may be confusing anti-war activists with GE or Goldman Sachs.

Peace Activists make their protest, sometimes serve time and the government usually gets their tax money.

[snot]

14. Sheehan has been prepared from Day One to go to jail for her convictions.

From the speech she gave just before she set up camp outside Bush's ranch:

Another thing that I’m doing is - - my son was killed in 2004, so I’m not paying my taxes for 2004. If I get a letter from the IRS, I’m gonna say, you know what, this war is illegal; this is why this war is illegal. This war is immoral; this is why this war is immoral. You killed my son for this. I don’t owe you anything. And if I live to be a million, I won’t owe you a penny.

And I want them to come after me, because unlike what you’ve been doing with the war resistance, I want to put this frickin’ war on trial. And I want to say, “You give me my son, and I’ll pay your taxes.”

. . . . And Henry David Thoreau he went to prison, he refused to pay his poll tax, and Emerson, I call them HT and RW, and RW came to visit HT and said what are you doing here, buddy? And HT said, why aren’t you here? This is the only place for a moral person in an immoral world.

It’s up to us, the people, to break immoral laws, and resist. As soon as the leaders of a country lie to you, they have no authority over you. These maniacs have no authority over us. And they might be able to put our bodies in prison, but they can’t put our spirits in prison. . . .

* * * * *

The opposite of good is not evil, it’s apathy.

[saras]

47. I think we have a winner.

"you know what, this war is illegal; this is why this war is illegal. This war is immoral; this is why this war is immoral. You killed my son for this. I don’t owe you anything. And if I live to be a million, I won’t owe you a penny"

If, in fact, the war is illegal, then it is being conducted by an illegitimate government, and they shouldn't get public money - ANYONE'S public money, not just hers, for their illegal activities. And when they get caught, like any other criminal, they should be made to pay it all back - in this case, that's all the war profits for anyone who profited from it. It should ALL go back the the American victims of the war, or back to all Americans.

How ELSE do we get there from here?

[snot]

15. I also find it interesting that they've waited until now to sue her. She stopped paying in 2004.

[southernyankeebelle]

17. Have you stopped to think maybe she is trying to make a point. I think she is. That is fine if

she wants to make that an issue. But be prepared for the outcome.

[truthisfreedom]

86. They waited until we pulled out of Iraq because they wanted to weaken her position politically.

It's that simple. If we were still fighting in Iraq, they'd still be waiting to prosecute her.

I doubt they'll take much more action during an election year. Look for her to be arrested next year.

[Snake Alchemist]

21. Blade 4 is going to be awesome. nt

[kgnu_fan]

24. I support Cindy nt

[JJW]

30. Excellent! Go Cindy!

Cindy is standing up to the war criminals in DC that killed her son over sexed up intelligence. All true Americans should stop funding (via tax payments) the disgraceful revolving door of corruption in DC that only represents special pay to play interests.

[kenfrequed]

32. Hmm

I wish she wouldn't make this about taxes. Anti-tax narratives play to the right wing far too easily.

[NICO9000]

49. She'd better be ready to go to prison then

I guarantee you the IRS could care less about her son. They'll get their $$ or she'll soon be hanging out with Wesley Snipes in the yard!

[2banon]

54. The IRS has power over SCOTUS, Congress, and the Executive branch

but they can't seem to go after real tax evaders.. hmmm..

[2banon]

51. typical of the Feds, going after low hanging fruit, never mind the real tax evaders

go after banksters, wall street fraudsters, big business and their ceo's that do off shore banking, manufacturing in China, India and countries that pay pennies to a dollar on "wages". (read legalized slavery)...

no, let's shut down medicinal dispensaries and growers, arrest owster's and sue anti-war activists instead..

so much easier than actually going after the real criminals.

[proud2BlibKansan]

52. Good for you, Cindy!!

I'm behind you all the way.

[lonestarnot]

55. How many political prisoners does the U.S. currently hold?

[geek tragedy]

90. Refusal to pay taxes is a crime, not dissent. nt

[MADem]

57. Ah ha "... has no intention of paying her taxes."

She should ask Wesley Snipes and Willie Nelson how that worked out for them.

From the headline, I first thought it was a question of a simple dispute over earnings--from book/touring/speaking type stuff, but I see now that she's refusing to pay taxes as a poltiical protest. That kind of tosses any kind of "diminished capacity" argument out the window.

If her residence is hers, and not rented, she won't own that house for long, if that is indeed the case. Those guys will get their money.

I agree--not the smartest fight to pick. It never ends well.

[IndyJones]

59. Hmmm...interesting issue. I see where she's coming from but I don't think she's going to win,

unfortunately.

I think it's a fight worth fighting, though, and if given the opportunity to vote on it, I'd side with her. I agree with her that she's given enough to the country by losing her son. On the other hand, her son made the decision to enter the military and he knew the risks. I'm certainly not opposed to extending that benefit to the spouses and parents of those who are killed in service.

I give her props for really standing up for her beliefs.

[DUIC]

62. Casey Sheehan would be so disapointed in his mother

Casey served his country gladly and was proud of his country, paying the ultimate sacrifice. He would now have one more thing to be disapointed in his mother about. What makes Cindy so desperate to be a public spectacle that she does so many things that are contrary to her sons beliefs? Were Casey and Cindy estranged because of his resolve to join the military?

[EFerrari]

64. How disgusting to use Casey Sheehan to attack his mother.

[DUIC]

69. How disgusting of Cindy to use the memory of Casey Sheehan to protest

She is a parent that is using her childs death for a purpose that goes against what the child stood for.

“That’s all he wanted to do was serve God and his country his whole life,” Carly Sheehan said. “He was a boy scout from age 6 or 7 and an Eagle Scout. It was kind of a natural progression to go into the military from that. He said he was enjoying the military because it was just like the boy scouts but they got guns.”

http://www.militarytimes.com/valor/soldier/257123/

[EFerrari]

74. No. Unlike yourself, Cindy Sheehan has the right to invoke

her son.

[DUIC]

80. Not according to every other member of the Sheehan family that deplore Cindy's actions

[girl gone mad]

93. And you're attempting to speak for a dead person.

He was a kid when he died. You have no idea what he would have thought or how he would have felt about his mother's actions. His mother gave birth to him, raised him well and loved him. Who are you to try and denigrate a grieving mother by proclaiming that her dead son would have hated her? This only makes you come across like a complete douchebag.

[DUIC]

94. Carly Sheehan, Pat Sheehan, and Andy Sheehan have all spoken out against Cindy's grandstanding

The other family members public comments give great insight into how Casey would have felt about his mother using his death as a prop in her stage act. She comes across as a complete douche bag.

[LaydeeBug]

96. Carly Sheehan, Pat Sheehan, and Andy Sheehan did not GIVE BIRTH to Casey, who no doubt,

through armed services radio, listened to a steady flow of right wing garb each and every day. It wasn't until after Casey's death that we even got the Ed Show on there, so...



edit for typos...3x DAMN!!!

[DUIC]

97. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggghhhhhhttttt

Only Cindy could possibly know that Casey meant the exact opposite of what he was saying because of some secret maternal telepathic bond between her and Casey. And Pat, Carly, and Andy were merely dupes only listening to Casey's statements and watching Casey's deeds and foolishly taking those words and deeds at face value.

[uppityperson]

99. "She comes across as a complete douche bag". Thank you for being so open with your views.

It helps us know you better.

[DUIC]

102. I like to use the persons argument against themselves in my response

I believe it adds that personal touch. It also helps drive the silliness of their argument home.

Thanks for pointing my technique out. Also, thanks for getting in such a rage. It helps us know you better.

[uppityperson]

103. That is "in a rage"? I do not think that word means what you think it means.

[LanternWaste]

70. I imagine you actually believe you...

I imagine you actually believe you have better knowledge of her son than she does herself. Further, I imagine you will even attempt to rationalize your guesses as valid inference based on...

[DUIC]

72. I imagine that you actually believe ...

I imagine that you actually believe that Cindy Sheehan has better knowledge than Pat Sheehan, the father who divorced Cindy for 'irreconcilable differences'. Those differences are based, in large part, on Cindy using Casey as a prop. Or Carly Sheehan, his sister. ... or Andy.


I imagine you even attempt to rationalize' Cindy' minority Sheehan view as valid because based on ....?

[Gringostan]

63. My sympathies to you Cindy

My sympathies to you Cindy; but this is a fight you can not win.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

67. Why not countersue with a wrongful death civil action against the government...

... alleging their willful prosecution of an illegal war based on known and provable deceptions led to the death of her son.

I don't like jury duty as a rule, but that's one I'd be happy to serve on.

[Broderick]

75. I fought the IRS many years back

AND LOST BAD.

LOL.

Principle means nothing to them. No, I am not one of "those" that thinks there is no legal responsibility to pay taxes. It was in relation to a tax deduction claimed by two entities wherein I had the legal right, but the legal right gets trumped by the IRS by custodial issues and it becomes a civil matter in my case. At least at that time that was the case. Needless to say, a 1200 tax bill turned into 2000 or more quickly and I refused to pay. Not a wise move.

[Dreamer Tatum]

78. Using her dead son to chisel on her taxes. Might be as low as it gets.

Pathetic woman.

[midnight]

85. K&R. for Cindy. I can't wait till she takes them to court... She has been waiting for this day.

[Dreamer Tatum]

98. And offers that as a defense? Ummm, yeah.

She'd be toast.

[geek tragedy]

89. She's a wacko LaRouche/Paulbot who thinks taxes are unconstitutional.

She'll lose this just like every other anti-tax nutjob has.

[Fearless]

101. Just pay your damn taxes and employ a teacher.