You know, people on the left need to go into some of these Churches and

[WCGreen]

expose the blatant political and advocacy crap that goes on inside those "sacred" walls.

It's all bullshit.

ACORN deals with a lot of fringe people, people hanging by a thread, people forgotten and invisible to most of America. It is just brutal that the Conservatives are willing to further marginalize and all ready marginal group of people for the sake of a few political hits.

What really gets to me about all of this is these conservatives are constantly claiming the high moral ground when they will stoop to anything in order to spread their culture dominated by spoiled, shellfish people who just don't understand that they are living in a democracy.

It's one thing to criticize but quite another to cruelly undermine the function of organizations reaching out to the most vulnerable in our society.

[Happyhippychick]

1. You know, you're right. Isn't it illegal for churches to be political (something about non-profit)?

Maybe we need to show up for services with hidden cameras and report the churches to the IRS??

[Habibi]

2. Sign me up!

I just got a new camera!

[gogo69]

24. Let's all shout, "You Lie!" n/t

[armyowalgreens]

4. They are non-profit organizations 501 (c)(3)...

http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html

"To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.

The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.

Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. For a detailed discussion, see Political and Lobbying Activities. For more information about lobbying activities by charities, see the article Lobbying Issues; for more information about political activities of charities, see the FY-2002 CPE topic Election Year Issues."

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. True indeed...

Conservatives are willing to do almost anything in order to further their message...

They just think we won't notice what hypocrites they are.

K&R

[earth mom]

5. Don't forget Obama & *'s faith based office. It's a violation of the Constitution

and should be investigated too.

[Echo In Light]

15. +1

[AllentownJake]

16. I doubt President Obama

Given the political environment will enforce this law, even if he wanted to.

[AllentownJake]

6. The problem is enforcement

There were churches last year that flat out endorsed McCain. They still have their tax exempt status.

Unless you have video of the pastor doing something ridiculous it won't matter, the IRS won't act and it doesn't matter if we are in charge or they are in charge. Attacking a church is not something politically popular to do.

[Happyhippychick]

7. We are advocating having video of the pastor doing something ridiculous.

[AllentownJake]

10. There was a mega church Pastor who went on TV

endorsing John McCain. I believe they still have their tax exempt status.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/mega-church-pastor-in-texas-backs-mccain/

[Happyhippychick]

19. That may be so but that doesn't mean we can't try again and again and again. It will eventually

work.

[WCGreen]

9. You have to go undercover to actually catch what it is they are doing....

I spent time at an entrepreneurial church here in Westlake and was astounded by the blatant disregard of the laws strictly forbidding the preacher to advocate a political position.

[AllentownJake]

11. Something like this?

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/mega-church-pastor-in-texas-backs-mccain/

or this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvI3b002rps

[TxRider]

17. Can they not advocate a political position or polivy, or just not a candidate?

[ohheckyeah]

13. While what you say is true,

churches have lost their tax exempt status:

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=17878

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/29/us/synanon-church-loses-its-tax-exempt-status.html

Both articles are quite old, but I know there have at least been some investigations lately.

That's just a couple that I found on the first page of Google search results.

[AllentownJake]

14. Got anything recent

1982 and May 2000 seem like a different world right now.

Hagee should have lost his. Dobson should lose his. Barack Obama's old church if we are going by the law should lose their's too.

[ohheckyeah]

20. No, I saw an article

recently about a church being investigated but I can't find it.

[GodDamLiberal]

21. Sorry, but normally

You have to endorse and/or tell people to vote for someone from the church pulpit.
hagee staged a press conference at a hotel and wright said nothing about voting in that clip. They do know how to push the rules

[RagAss]

8. Yup...backlash is a bitch !

[TxRider]

12. Religious people deal with a lot of fringe people hanging by a thread too

To the tune of about 100 billion dollars a year, and a lot of volunteer work.

[spoony]

18. So you want to...be like them.

And spy on people in their places. And snitch on them after secretly taping them for your own agenda's sake, no matter whom it hurts. Nice. Good luck with that.

[Critters2]

22. The ACORN sting woman is the daughter of a pastor, who, I'm told, rants against Obama

on a regular basis.

This is Doug Giles' church: http://clashchurch.com/

Here's his youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CLASHVIDEOS


I often argue against stripping conservative churches of their tax-exempt status. But this one deserves to be taxed.

[Swamp Rat]

23. No need to do that.

Just turn on the TV and tivo the hucksters peddling their snake oil.