House Republicans press IRS to strip Middle East Children's

The Middle East Children’s Alliance has a name that sounds unimpeachable. Who wants to argue with helping kids? That is exactly why the allegations now before the IRS deserve a hard look. House Republicans are pressing the agency to strip the group’s tax-exempt status over reported ties to the PFLP, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. Charity doesn’t get to double as a cover for a terror group. If the connection holds, this is not a gray area. It is a matter of basic accountability.

The PFLP is not some fringe street protest. It has a bloody history, including plane hijackings and attacks aimed at civilians. American taxpayers should not be in the position of subsidizing an organization that provides any layer of support to people who do that kind of work. The IRS loves to go after conservative nonprofits for minor paperwork issues. Yet it suddenly gets shy when the group in question has ties to a foreign terror outfit. That mismatch is worth noticing.

None of this means every donor to the Middle East Children’s Alliance is a bad actor. It means the IRS has an obligation to follow the evidence and make a decision. Tax-exempt status is a privilege, not a right. House Republicans are asking the obvious question. The IRS should answer it with something better than a shrug. If the agency can police the tea party, it can handle this.