By Crawdaddy | AuxBeacon News Contributor
[Editor’s Note: An ever growing number of contributors are coming to recognize the unethical practices of Civil Air Patrol members who use the organization and its trimmings to place themselves and their political ideologies before their service to all. Today’s example is Ralph Lee Abraham (R-LA). Thank you to all of those who have alerted us to this abuse.]
AuxBeacon:
More than a few of us have read, with initial skepticism, the articles on AuxBeacon about Civil Air Patrol’s persistent attempts to infiltrate our US legislature. Then we come to see just how many of these people have been collected here. Pamerleau, Gamache, Loudermilk, ugh, feel free to add any important ones that I may have missed. [Editor: We’ll let the folks from You Know You’re in CAP When add the names in the comments below.]
This morning I learned that Ralph Lee Abraham is the commander of Civil Air Patrol’s National Legislative Squadron. I learned this after being directed to an issue of Volunteer Magazine and watching his new campaign ad for the 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial Election. He wears a sage green flight jacket with Civil Air Patrol command patch and name plate above his hipster blue jeans. I then watched CAP members excoriate him for using our program and uniform to gain an edge over his opponent, incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards.
Yesterday [Aug. 23, 2019] on CAP-Talk we heard from Eclipse, Gunsotsu and Fester all exposing Ralph Abraham’s violation of CAPM 39-1 and Civil Air Patrol’s Core Values [Service Before Self]. More than one proposed that Ralph Abraham’s membership in Civil Air Patrol should be terminated. Then, as often happens, a CAP-Talk moderator shut down the thread claiming that the topic was political instead of an ethics and character-building learning opportunity for members of Civil Air Patrol.
Now I am convinced that the critics writing into AuxBeacon and CAP-Talk do have very legitimate concerns about our corrupt and often criminal behavior.
Thanks to the work of Col Stan Skrabut, we know that people joining Civil Air Patrol become disgusted with the corrupt leadership and leave leading to very high turnover. The new members have yet to learn CAP regulations or those of 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations.
Eclipse, who I know is [redacted], was quick to point out the following:
“Not allowed and not even worn properly
CAPM 39-1, Page 9-10
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/M391_E6F33EAAEC28A.pdf1.2.7. When NOT to wear the CAP Uniform.”
1.2.7.4. While furthering political activities, private employment or commercial interest.”
But there’s much more to this. Either Abraham or CAP or both are violating the IRS regulations on 501(c)(3) corporations:
It is a requirement imposed by Congress for the privilege of being recognized as exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
For an organization to be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) it cannot “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.”
Here are all the pictures and links you need to verify what I am telling you.
[link redacted]
https://www.klfy.com/news/your-local-election-hq/louisiana-governor-candidate-ralph-abraham-releases-first-tv-ad/#!/
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-ban-on-political-campaign-intervention-by-501c3-organizations
Related Stories:
• Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard Pokes Jon Stokes
• Civil Air Patrol Government Relations
• 501(c)(3) Civil Air Patrol Excessive Legislative Lobbying
Good god, Abraham is an idiot.
This is the trouble in our Country now, Politician’s breaking the law and expecting a free pass because they are above the Law! They actually think their not responsible like ordinary citizens are.
Power and political influence in this Country are out of control, it sets a bad precedence and ordinary citizens do resent the special Privilege these so-called politicians receive.
A Green Beret poser using a CAP uniform to further his claims? Who could imagine such a thing!
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=56794
If you google “Ralph Abraham Special Forces” you will see why that Civil Air Patrol jacket is so important to him and the entire CrAP program.
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47481
Great article, thank you for alerting us. Perhaps we can help you in return.
According to a report from the Bayou Brief, two Louisiana pharmacies owned by Republican Rep. Ralph Abraham, Clinic Pharmacy of Mangham and Adams Clinic Pharmacy of Winnsboro are only 12.5 miles apart and serve a community of only 6,000 people. Yet, these two pharmacies were found to have prescribed a total of 1,478,236 doses of opioid painkillers from 2006 to 2012, more than 35 doses per person!
This news is just out August 29th, so we hope you will add it into your current flow.
Ralph has fallen behind in science and with the position of the American Medical Association. He doesn’t understand the difference between sex and gender.
“Sex and gender are more complex than previously assumed . . . It is essential to acknowledge that an individual’s gender identity may not align with the sex assigned to them at birth,” said American Medical Association board member William E. Kobler, a physician. “A narrow limit on the definition of sex would have public health consequences for the transgender population and individuals born with differences in sexual differentiation, also known as intersex traits.” reports the AMA.
I swear this campaign is so devoid of any substance and policy issues, it makes it look like a damn parody.
Nice try, Ralph. Now, go do your job and lose the Civil Air Patrol garb!
CAP Regulation 39-1, 26 June 2014 states the following on pages 9 and 10, “1.2.7. When NOT to wear the CAP Uniform. 1.2.7.1. While participating in public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches or rallies or in any public demonstration when participation may imply USAF sanction of the cause. 1.2.7.4. While furthering political activities, private employment or commercial interest.
Furthermore, the IRS specifically states, “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. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes. ”
I agree with PussNBoots, put up the pic of the camera sweeping his boots and crotch.
The walling off of Civil Air Patrol from the Air Force and making it a private corporation, it has developed the ugliest qualities of both types of organizations.
1. As Civil Air Patrol mimics the U.S. Air Force – it has allies in high places who think themselves unpatriotic and disloyal if they question the status quo. This goes for members too. They are drones. They are used by CAP as a body of voters, loyal members, activists, and lobbyists. CAP uses us in this context more than using us as responders.
As such we are a feather-bedded anachronism. When I was in the AF there were over 1 million airmen. Now, there are less than 500K. However, the AF is a much more effective organization because of training, equipment, and technology. CAP is NOT. CAP is effective because its members are a political force. Not in over-all numbers, but in uniforms worn doing good deeds, presentation, cadet rearing, advocation, and public relations.
The Air Force has a hierarchy with the President at the top. However, it isn’t closed to political pressure as moms and dads of airmen can be enlisted to advocate on behalf of their AF kids (through their Congress-person) for better healthcare, benefits, food, etc. etc. However, since CAP is independent of the Air Force we advocate and support them, funnel our cadets into their programs, but don’t really make much of a difference as a SAR organization. Aerial robots/drones will supplant our last vital mission sooner than later.
So CAP is politics more than service. CAP is more uniform than mission. CAP is a pretender. I don’t think CAP is bad. I do think it isn’t much good. It is kind of like graffiti. Some of it is pretty artistic. Some of it isn’t anything more than announcing the presence of an otherwise invisible person, and some of it is destructive.
2. As Civil Air Patrol mimics Corporations – Self preservation is part of all strategic planning. For the sake of shareholders that is good. For the sake of misbehaving management that is bad. Often management will confuse these two characteristics as they think themselves more important than the organization. When this occurs the management surrounds itself with “yes” men. It becomes insular. It becomes defensive. It loses its dynamic presence. It is no longer making customers, friends, or providing value. It is hanging on for dear life. It isn’t much good for anything, but surviving.
So that is what the Civil Air Patrol looks like today.
CrAP’s Richard Anderson is one to add.
What about Andre Bauer?
On May 6, 2003, Bauer was stopped on Assembly Street in downtown Columbia, South Carolina, for running two red lights and speeding up to 60 mph in a 35-mph zone. The officer drew his gun after Bauer got out of the car and began heading toward the officer’s car in an “aggressive manner.” He was issued a ticket for reckless driving.
On December 26, 2005, Bauer got a warning for speeding (77 mph in a 65 mph zone) in Laurens County, South Carolina.
On February 25, 2006, Bauer was pulled over for speeding over 100 mph in Chester County, South Carolina in a state-issued car, but he was allowed to proceed without a ticket or warning.
What a dumbass thing to do. The Coast Guard Auxiliary didn’t give him a jacket?
Eddie Rispone will be a much smarter choice.
This looks like another Celeste Gamache 1980s dating video that starts down at his boots, tracks up his denim pant legs to expose his rockin’ hot Cessna 182 fighter pilot bod before coming to rest on the jacket.
funny, i did laugh
We have a lot of crack whores here in Baton Rouge and Shreveport and Ralph Abraham is firmly against abortion.