Democrats and independents have often challenged the use of churches by GOP candidates for campaigning and voter registration drives. The same concern would appear raised by the remarks of senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett this Sunday at Ebenezer Baptist Church where she appeared to be stumping for the President — followed by a voter registration drive at the church.
The speech included the following highly partisan remarks:
“Teachers, and firefighters, and policemen, whose jobs are now in jeopardy because Congress–well let me be specific–because the Republicans in Congress,” Jarrett told the crowd. According to the CBS affiliate in Atlanta, at this point, “Before she could finish her sentence, people in the congregation were laughing, and applauding.”
Jarrett also celebrated the killing of Osama bin Laden — a developing theme by the President and his supporters to highlight his national security credentials. At some point, this becomes a bit distasteful like a modern version of the old system of quartering enemies and sending his body parts around the country to thrill the populace. William Wallace was displayed in separate parts in Newcastle upon Tyne, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Stirling, and Aberdeen. I have no grief for Osama bin laden who is no William Wallace and frankly I am glad he is no longer with us. However, the use of his killing as a campaign theme is a bit off-putting.
Jarrett, however, used the church to relish the killing a bit more and noted “We all sleep a little better at night knowing Osama Bin Laden and his lieutenants are not plotting a terrorist attack against the United States.” If that is the case, by the way, is it time to declare victory in the war against terror? The position of the Administration is that the plotting continues . . . as do the president’s increasing national security powers.
Here is what the IRS says about 501(c)(3) organizations:
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
The Internal Revenue Service provides resources to exempt organizations and the public to help them understand the prohibition. As part of its examination program, the IRS also monitors whether organizations are complying with the prohibition.
These remarks would appear to cross the line laid out by the IRS. The timing of the registration directly after the remarks only magnifies the problem.
“If the other side is torturing, we should also torture? If the one side is abrogating the Constitution we will only “win” if we abrogate it as well?”
Jill,
This is neither torture, nor abrogating the Constitution and the use of those words are hyperbolic to say the least. We get it, you hate Obama, surely though you have more serious things to dis him with, I know I do. I believe all churches and non-profits should be subject to income taxes. I also believe Citizens United makes a mockery of the Constitution. However, we are in a battle for our very lives and to fight it with hands tied behind our backs is just plain ridiculous. By that “War” lest you misconstrue me, is a war against American Corporate Fascism and not the imaginary “War on Terror” imposed upon us by the MI Complex.
Barack Obama made a brief appearance on the Betty White 90th birthday party last night. How dare he, use the birthday tribute to a national icon, for obvious political purposes? The man is evil.
However, if one Google’s Jerry Falwell, or Pat Robertson, they may see the overwhelming use of religion to promote a political agenda. The IRS regulations are not only ineffectual, they walk such a fine line of constitutionality that their enforcement has been historically lax. The IRS has allowed the religious right wing to get away with this forever, occasionally slapping some on the wrist to be seen as doing something. There are more than enough real examples to demonize Obama then to use this one. I strongly disagree with its premise.
rafflaw,
If the other side is torturing, we should also torture? If the one side is abrogating the Constitution we will only “win” if we abrogate it as well? Is that what you mean?
Georgia just passed restrictive voter ID laws that will make it harder for the poor and elderly to vote so I am not opposed to voter registration at the church. I prefer to not have the churches involved but they are. The mega church down the road is a hot bed of republican activity, and they even give their membership lists to republican candidates. Hated it when the catholic churches started handing out voter guides based on the abortion issue.
I agree that it is distasteful for a campaign to be using churches to bring their message to the church goers. However, I am a firm believer that if the other side is doing it , you have to fight fire with fire. If the church is in violation of the IRS code, then pull their tax exempt status, but there can be a fine line between a town hall meeting that takes place in a church building and the church actively being used in a partisan manner. I do not see a voter registration drive as partisan. Registering to vote simply allows the citizen to vote in the election.
Swarthmore mom,
Great links. Ron Paul is a racist and his words prove it. Newt Gingrich is trying hard to run as the anti-minority candidate and as your clip suggested the Teapublican base loves it.
Jill, Not really, I can’t find a democrat that has written what Paul has nor one that fanned the flames of racism like Gingrich did in South Carolina last night.
S.M.,
Your postings show the importance of distraction to maintain Democrats in the fold. Without one distraction or another you would have to address the topic at hand, the clear violation of church and state by a Democratic candidate.
As I pointed out earlier, the lack of an ethical center by a populace is part of what brings authoritarianism to a nation.
This talk was like your post in that it used distraction from the racism, economic devastation and criminal war mongering of the Democratic president by referring instead, only to Republicans. This is a time honored strategy of propaganda, one that is effective.
If people will start asking themselves the question, what are my values and ask the further question, does this candidate independent of party affiliation, actually represent my values, that form of distractive propaganda cannot work on them any longer.
Jill,
I do respect your right to not agree with what I have said…
Jill,
I have long been a supporter of limiting tax exempt status…..
In this breath and text….Sometimes it is hard to have a “Town Forum”… The Churches are used by politicians..They have been for years…
http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/99666/ron-paul-newsletters-part-two?page=0,0 These are even more bigoted than the first batch.
A.Y.,
This isn’t a question of, “if you don’t like the message leave”. Individuals would do well to take your advice but what happened here violates the separation of church and state. That is a matter which effects us all. It is one more abrogation of the Constitution by the lackey Obama and his lessor minions. It also happens to be an abrogation which Obama supporters find wrong when done by Republicans but will say nothing when done on behalf of their own party.
A nation cannot stand when its people will not hold true to their own Constitution. Obama supporters, like Bush supporters before them, will not hold true to our Constitution because doing so interferes(ed) with the election of their candidate.
I find it extremely disturbing that people are so easily whipped up to support killing OBL. That is no different than the death worship of right wing fundamentalist churches who also proclaim god’s blessing for our military might. I would hope to see the people who used to say such a thing was wrong under Bush say this is wrong under Obama. But I am fairly certain that will not occur. This tells me something has gone terribly wrong in our nation. People who do not have an ethical center are easily manipulated and whipped up into a frenzy of hate. Lack of an ethical center is one source of the authoritarianism we find ourselves living under.
What people here used to say, and I will say now, is this is wrong. Jeff is correct that churches should be stripped of tax exemption, and then they should go for all the war mongering and campaigning they want.
I think the author misses the correct focus entirely. Valerie Jarrett didn’t cross the line; the Ebenezer Baptist Church did.
Jeff 1, January 17, 2012 at 9:50 am
Allow churches to be as political as they want. HOWEVER treat them like the business they are. Tax them like everyone else.
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Like GE for instance, a media mogul, that pays no taxes?
“The same concern would appear raised by the remarks of senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett this Sunday at Ebenezer Baptist Church where she appeared to be stumping for the President — followed by a voter registration drive at the church.”
I’m not as surprised that the DNC apparently breaking the rules any more than I am at the GOP doing it. They are both groups of politicians. The shocking news to me is that that tight mean old bastard Scrooge has his own church. I’m assuming the Cratchit family attends services elsewhere.
Allow churches to be as political as they want. HOWEVER treat them like the business they are. Tax them like everyone else. Allow them to take the same deductions for charity and whatnot as any other business but do not supplement their income at the expense of everyone else just because they claim to be a religion. Income tax, property tax, and every other tax should be applied to them. In other words, they too should pay their “fair share”
“Jarrett also celebrated the killing of Osama bin Laden — a developing theme by the President and his supporters to highlight his national security credentials.”
Well fair enough. It’s not as if Obama just happened to be in power when bin Laden was eventually tracked down. No! The operation would never have taken place had Bush or another GOP been in the White House. Furthermore, the entire operation was carried out by registered Democrat SEALs. The Republican SEALs refused to take part – on the basis that they were busy ‘n stuff.
Celebrating the killings in a church does seem a bit inappropriate – unless said church is of some sect that espouses the killing of their enemies. ‘Love your enemies to death’?
.
Why not….MLK used the churches to rally his supports….It is a twon hall like effort….OWS….now has offices and accountants….If you don’t like the message don’t go….
“Layin’ hands on the faithful” reminds me of the movie Flint v Falwell, specifically when Jimmy Carter’s sister converted Larry Flint and he was baptized in public.
The human mind is a mysterious thingy.