Business as usual for the Show

Americans for Prosperity, where Art Pope serves as a director at the pleasure of the Koch brothers, has been accused of making shady contributions to influence elections, a charge that must feel familiar to Mr. Pope. In the complaint, Democrats say AFP should be stripped of its tax-exempt status.

The Democrats charge that the foundation’s ads, particularly in coordination with the attack ads from the affiliated group, have made Americans for Prosperity Foundation a de facto political “action group” in violation of the federal tax code.

Pope knows this story well. Pushing the limits of election law has been his operating model from way back when funded efforts to defeat Richard Morgan in a General Assembly race. The State Board of Elections let him get away with it without even the illusion of a serious hearing.

Any honest observer would say that many of Pope's non-profits violate at least the spirit of tax law on a daily basis through their political activism and direct support for the Republican party. Civitas and AFP are the worst offenders.

Mr. Pope is playing a game with public policy, exploiting our democratic foundations for political gain. He is purposefully ignoring the intent of the laws in favor of whatever he can get away with. That's wrong for anyone, but doubly wrong for the Knight of the Right.