Obama's Church May See IRS Investigation

[sniffa]

The Internal Revenue Service may be launching an investigation into the United Church of Christ-- the church Illinois Senator Barrack Obama belongs to-- specifically targeting an event the Senator spoke at in June of 2007.

In a letter to the UCC leadership, the IRS referred to media reports of Obama campaign workers outside the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut where he was addressing the UNC 50th Anniversary General Synod.

“A reasonable belief exists that the United Church of Christ (“church”) has engaged in political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status as a church…,” said the letter dated February 20th 2008.

The letter alleges 40 Obama volunteers staffed campaign tables outside the center to promote the Illinois Senator, and in doing so, violated the guidelines for tax-exempt religious organizations in their relationship to political advocacy.

At the time the Illinois Senator was had not officially declared his candidacy.

http://www.kcrg.com/explorepolitics/?feed=bim&id=16051227

Just to beat some to the punch, and also to get the discussion going on whether this was initiated by the Right, or Third Way.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. I think George W Bush is the guy you're looking for...

Political manipulation of the IRS is a long-standing Republican tradition. Thank you Richard M. Nixon.

(The third way is in no position to get the IRS to do much of anything at the moment.)

[Tellurian]

17. "At the time the Illinois Senator was had not officially declared his candidacy."

Except, Obama declared his candidacy for the presidency in Feb of 07' long before the political event...

I'm sure the IRS used that elementary factoid as the basis for it's investigation/announcement.

[LaurenG]

2. the Right, or Third Way

yep maybe one of those.

[Catshrink]

3. Will they also investigatge the Huckster's speaking engagements

at the evangelical conferences? McDumbAss's church? This is such crap.

[shayes51]

4. I think all churches should pay taxes.

[CreekDog]

8. should all non profits pay taxes? nt

[JVS]

12. Only ones that improperly administer the sacraments!

Damned heretics are getting what they deserve!
;-)

[CreekDog]

13. Oh my

LCMS gets revenge on ELCA. Woody would be proud.

:hi:

[JVS]

15. ELCA? We're talking about a whole other ball of wax here! The UCC!

Say what you will about the ELCA, at least they recognize the true blood and body of christ in the eucharist. Those Zwinglian enthusiasts must be punished!


All my love to mycritters2 if she's reading this.

[Tellurian]

18. MOVE-ON is in the same predicament..

soemone said they've since started a 527 and other entities to be in compliance. However, it's debateable if the new pajamas aren't a direct conflict of interest.

In 04' MOVE-ON used their non-profit status to participate in KERRY'S campaign... that is a no-no and something they could be held liable for!!

[scheming daemons]

5. This is an opportunity for Obama to distance himself from a controversial church......saying....

"I believe in the teachings of the bible and am a committed Christian. But if a church has broken the law, they should be punished. And that includes the church I belong to. NO entity, not even a church, is above the law."


Gives him a nice clean break from his controversial pastor, yet emphasizes his religion beliefs.


I'm an atheist myself.... but this would play well with Indies.

[Bluerthanblue]

9. His church isn't controvertial- you have bought the spin- and are

repeating republican meme's.

The church hasn't broken any 'law'- This is bogus.

Please don't spread republican crap around.
Thanks-



peace~

[scheming daemons]

26. I know it is not true.... but that doesnt mean the church isn't controversial.....

...and it IS a problem for Obama... even if the charges aren't true.

[Tellurian]

19. What good will it do with the Rezko Sleaze Trial breathing down his neck next week ?

[sniffa]

22. This is news to me

ZOMG! Why haven't you and other His44ers spammed this latest scandal? :wow:

[Tellurian]

27. Latest? Google Rezko and Obama..Fitzgerald has been gathering GJ Testimony for a year..

[sniffa]

28. Google will take too long

the quickest route will be to go to His44 for the quick and straight scoop.

[Guava Jelly]

6. Church??? I'd say more like a Splinter Cell!!

Jeebus..They are harassing his church..

[Bluerthanblue]

7. They even asked the IRS what they should do, given the fact

that Obama was considering a run.

This is bogus- and will amount to nothing. It could potentially end up being harassment in the right hands.

The man wasn't even a candidate :shrug:


peace~

[FrenchieCat]

10. It's just gonna piss off the conservative church goers....knowing they could be next!

That ain't gonna play well in piora or in Houston!

[johnnydrama]

14. the problem is

They won't be next. They only go after churces that are known for a lot of Democrats going to them.

Like the church here in Pasadena, CA

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bradley-whitford/get-the-irs-out-of-my-chu_b_11672.html

[TexasObserver]

11. This from the Bush administration, which used churches all over the country to run him.

There are churches in Texas where a person cannot be a Democrat and belong to the church, and I am not exaggerating.

[JVS]

16. I ratted them out.

I'm tired of their erroneous eucharistic theology and I dropped the dime on them

[ProSense]

20. Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite: I believe the “political activities” are on the other foot.

IRS Investigates Church for Letting Obama Speak

The Internal Revenue Service has notified the United Church of Christ that the IRS has opened an investigation into Senator Barack Obama’s address at the UCC’s 2007 General Synod. The IRS is accusing the UCC of engaging in “political activities.”

I believe the “political activities” are on the other foot. The UCC General Synod was in June of 2007, celebrating that denomination’s 50th Anniversary. It is only now fully nine months later, when Senator Obama has become the front-runner in the race for President, that this investigation is launched. Further, the IRS did not contact the UCC or communicate with them while coming to this decision.

I was present when Senator Obama gave this speech at General Synod (along with 10,000 of my closest church friends and neighbors). There were no campaign buttons, signs, electioneering or other such politically related activities. Indeed, the UCC leadership took care to instruct the assembled about the fact that this was a faith event and we were welcoming a member of our church to talk to us about his personal faith in the public square.

It was an extraordinary speech. Pundits and competing candidates have criticized Senator Obama for being more about words than deeds. This is, of course, just political noise, but it is true that some words are more effective than others. This speech was an insightful, even luminous glimpse into the fundamental human dilemma of the search for meaning and purpose in life.

<...>

There is true irony in the IRS investigating the UCC for the presentation of a speech that may go down in history as one of the most profound articulations of how we as Americans live into transcendent meaning and purpose through our free, democratic institutions. Truly that is ironic. And sad.

[Perky]

IT it not his Parish...It is his entire denomination The UCC

[Perky]

21. IT it not his Parish...It is his entire denomination The UCC

[KoKo]

23. Blitzer on CNN did a Big Blab about this.....

disgusting.

[Barack_America]

24. Interesting, considering the campaigning for Republicans at evangelical churches.

And I'm not talking about OUTSIDE the church, I'm talking about coming from the pulpit.

[Binka]

29. Catholic Priests Preached To Their Parish's To NOT Vote For Kerry

It was very well known in 2004. I had friends who wrote me while I was abroad telling me they walked out of Mass.

[Barack_America]

30. Good point. I recall hearing about that.

Horrible.

[Doctor_J]

25. Even the IRS is part of the Bush terrorism network

we need some massive housecleaning (i. e. prosecutions) to begin on Jan 23.

[thevoiceofreason]

31. It was an amazing speech. I was there.

No politics whatsoever. He had been invited for at leats a year.

The United Church of Christ (of which I am a member of the largest member church in Houston) is a progressive christian church which is, among other things, one of the few open and affirming churches in the United States. We don't care about your race, gender, sexual orientation. You are welcome.

His presentation was about his personal spiritual journey. There was strictly no campaining allowed or tolerated (and there was none that occured sub rosa). He wowed a bunch of preacher-types. It was excellent. I will be glad to testify to tell the IRS to shove it. Let's look at the churches McCain and Huckleberry have spoken to.

[Irishonly]

32. It's Ridiculous

He spoke at a convention as a UCC and not as a political stump.