Exxon Tries To Squish Greenpeace

When it’s not busy purchasing governments and other companies, Exxon is using its tremendous clout to try silencing its critics. Exxon’s latest would-be victim: Greenpeace.

There’s a phony “grassroots” organization called Public Interest Watch. This group was founded in 2002 for the purpose of intimidating groups which “threaten” large corporations. About 95% of the funding for Public Interest Watch comes from Exxon.

Mike Hardiman, the founder of Public Interest Watch, is a longtime veteran of the “property rights” and “wise use” movements. In one of his earliest political battles, he tried to challenge the tax-exempt status of a non-profit hospital. Brave little shit, isn’t he.

In late 2003 Public Interest Watch persuaded the IRS to investigate Greenpeace. Greenpeace was audited, everything was AOK and Greenpeace has kept its tax-exempt nonprofit status.

Sounds like a sleazy lowlife tactic for a multi-billion dollar corporation. Exxon has a zillion times more money than Greenpeace but the public still has a higher opinion of Greenpeace. What to do? Launch an IRS audit. Intimidate them. Silence them. Assholes.

One of the world’s largest corporations turning the IRS on a non-profit organization — sort of like Goliath hitting David with a slingshot.

Hat Tip to Red Independence for posting about this.