Is the IRS investigating Rev. Wright? Seems that is the appropriate course of action.

[journalist3072]

I am a proud, hardcore supporter of Sen. Clinton's. But I could care less that Rev. Wright is Obama's pastor.

Obama is not responsible for his pastor's comments. And anyone who goes to church knows that you are not going to always agree with your pastor. If you do, there's something wrong.

However, I believe that Rev. Wright's comment, specifically the one in which he said "Hillary ain't never been called an (expletive)."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAYe7MT5BxM

In effect, he endorsed Obama from the pulpit, and THAT is the issue. It's illegal, and worthy of his church having its tax exempt status revoked.

I could care less that this man is Obama's pastor.

But his endorsement of Obama from the pulpit is illegal. And that's where the IRS needs to step in.

All the other stuff (i.e. should Obama have left his church, etc) is just background noise, as far as I'm concerned.

Because it's not really up to us to say whether Obama, Clinton or anyone else should leave their church homes. That's a personal decision only they can make.

[bicentennial_baby]

1. I think it's a fine line...

Just my .02

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. Not "illegal", but certainly improper. (Just trying to be fair)

[Hawkowl]

3. Dude where have you been?

What do you think the rethuglicans have been doing for the last 8 years? What did you think they were talking about when they talked about the fundamentalist vote? The evangelical vote? There has been a massive endorsement from the pulpit from the far right for the last decade.

The IRS will not investigate.

[scheming daemons]

4. I'm an Obama supporter, but I think the church should be fined for political advocacy....

I don't like it when RW churches would promote Bush from the pulpit (including my own pastor).....


Wright's bashing of Clinton, and praising Obama, is political advocacy... and they should be fined, or lose their tax-exempt status.



This, in no way reflects badly on Obama himself.... but church's shouldn't act that way.

[journalist3072]

5. Precisely my point!!!! eom

[joeybee12]

8. I agree, talking about politics in general terms can slip by...but an

actual endorsement from the pulpit steps over the line.

[emilyg]

7. Exactly.

[Berry Cool]

6. Very good point.

It's not right for ministers to advocate ANY political candidate from the pulpit. That's not what separation of church and state are about.

[pocoloco]

9. Where is this place you live that you enjoy the

separation of church and state??

Sounds like a neat place.

[stray cat]

10. It happens all the time - particularly for the republican candidates

It doesn't make it right but I'm not sure I want my tax dollars going to try to indict all the ones who do.

[jeffrey_X]

11. If you could care less, then why are posting this?

yawn

[oasis]

12. Good question for Obama in the next debate. (eom)

[cbayer]

13. Quite possibly.

The issue here has to do with the tax exempt status enjoyed by churches which prohibits them from participating in or intervening in a political campaign.

A liberal church in Pasadena was targeted in 2004 for openly supporting the democratic candidate. At stake was their tax-exempt status and heavy fines. The IRS eventually halted the investigation, I believe. As I recall, the fact that they were targeting this liberal church while ignoring conservative churches was the issue that stopped the investigation.

But it has had a chilling effect and I think churches of all kinds are being much more careful.

If you look at this thread by a UCC minister, you will see that he has concerns about the Wright situation insofar as it may effect their tax exempt status.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5081727

[Garbo 2004]

14. Likely complaints have been/will be filed with the IRS and the IRS may well follow up.

The IRS already has an investigaton of UCC for having Obama as a speaker at 2007 UCC Hartford convention. I recall there was a DU thread about it at the time. This investigation based on Obama's being a speaker at the UCC synod at the Hartford Civic Center in June 2007. IRS memo, text of speech, other info at: http://www.ucc.org/news/obama-speech-in-2007-prompts-1.html

February AP story: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/02/irs_investigating_united_churc.php

Barry Lynn on why he doesn't think the 2007 convention appearance violated IRS laws/rules: http://blog.au.org/2007/06/25/no-foul-here-obamas-appearance-at-church-event-doesnt-violate-federal-tax-law/

Since the Synod event investigation evidently was started as the result of a complaint/complaints filed with the IRS, it's likely complaints also will be filed with the IRS about Wright and the IRS may well follow up.

[haymakeragain]

15. Oh for chrissakes. You need to link to your protestations

of the entire Bush campaign within the evangelical community (faith based initiative) for the past 8 years, otherwise you look a bit like you've got an agenda.

Place your bets.