canvassing for a candidate in uniform

[eisely]

One of my co workers just told me that over the weekend a group of boy scouts were canvassing for Romney in his neighborhood in uniform. I think this is a violation of BSA policy regarding where and when the uniform should be worn. More importantly this activity jeopardizes the tax free status of BSA. It is a little late for this election, but please keep these limitations in mind in the future.

[Eagle92]

Sometimes folks ignore the rules. there was a troop in one council I was in that did an ad for a car dealership wearing the uniform, and repeating the Law with a major emphasis on 'THRIFTY"

[Sentinel947]

Did your co worker catch their Troop number? This is not tolerable. Reading this thread made my stomach roll over. The last thing the BSA needs is to inject itself into electoral politics on accident.

[frankpalazzi]

Yeah..it's a big no-no. I'm guessing the adults in this troop just didn't know. Well, I would HOPE that's the case!

[FScouter]

"Yeah..it's a big no-no."

 

C-mon. Everyone knows the "rules" are just guidelines. The guy at Roundtable wearing the pink epaulette loops said so.

[nldscout]

I heard from a friend that heard from a guy that he saw scouts politicing for Obama. They were passing out flyer on some street somewhere.

 

There, now we have 2 rumors and they cancel each other out, so its ok. Back to regular scouting thanks.

[Basementdweller]

we had the scouts on the stage with mccain and palin 5 years ago in Dayton.

 

I emailed the SE about it who gave me a so what response.

 

 

 

[CalicoPenn]

Is the neighbor sure that the Scouts were canvassing for Romney or were they doing a "get out the vote" canvassing (which I believe is allowed)?

[eisely]

My co worker was very clear that the scouts were canvassing for Romney. They were handing out literature. My co worker actually went outside and spoke to the adult leader present, also in uniform, and pointed out the illegality of what was taking place. The adult leader became very offended.

 

I first became aware of this was during the 1992 election when some scouts were placed in a photograph of a Bush one rally. Apparently it is OK for scouts to act as color guards at a rally and these guys were roped into standing on the stage behind Bush.

 

I confess to be a staunch conservative, but I think scouts should, and legally must, stay out of partisan politics. The national office ought to put out reminders every four years.

[perdidochas]

Eisely,

 

I'm with you. I'm a staunch conservative, but I would do what you did. BSA is a non-partisan non-profit. We don't need to risk our tax exempt status.