The Washington Times reveals how a federal bureaucracy starts to believe the steady stream of rhetoric from the so-called “reform community” and become an organ of it.  A bureaucracy and staff that fails to reflect the diversity of both parties and differing legal approaches to campaign finance laws is destined for failure.  Such harassment gives fodder to those who want to rein in the federal agency. To the story:

Crossroads GPS, the Karl Rove-affiliated conservative group that
spent at least $30 million on issue ads and other advocacy leading
up to Election Day, is darn tired of being asked by the Federal
Election Commission to tell the public where it gets its money and
how it spends it.  The FEC says that if donations were given to
Crossroads GPS for the specific purpose of running issue ads —
which, to the public, appears to be the group’s main purpose —
Crossroads GPS should disclose those donations. Prodded by the agency
on Thursday, Caleb Crosby, the group’s treasurer, responded in a tone
not normally seen in official correspondence.

“This request is
the fourth such [notification] we have received on this exact same
subject,” he wrote. “If the cited provision has any relevance
whatsoever to the reporting of contributions in connection with
independent expenditures, it is, by its own terms, inapplicable to
Crossroads GPS. As we have noted before in response to your [requests
for additional information], Crossroads GPS is familiar with and
understands the applicable reporting regulations.“If the
organization receives any contributions that are required to be
reported … those contributions will be reported as required,” he
wrote.