Bush campaign mobilizes the churches

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...19082_2004jun30

 

Politics - washingtonpost.com

 

 

Churchgoers Get Direction From Bush Campaign

 

28 minutes ago  Add Politics - washingtonpost.com to My Yahoo!

 

 

By Alan Cooperman, Washington Post Staff Writer

 

The Bush-Cheney reelection campaign has sent a detailed plan of action to religious volunteers across the country asking them to turn over church directories to the campaign, distribute issue guides in their churches and persuade their pastors to hold voter registration drives.

 

 

Campaign officials said the instructions are part of an accelerating effort to mobilize President Bush (news - web sites)'s base of religious supporters. They said the suggested activities are intended to help churchgoers rally support for Bush without violating tax rules that prohibit churches from engaging in partisan activity.

 

 

"We strongly believe that our religious outreach program is well within the framework of the law," said Terry Holt, spokesman for the Bush-Cheney campaign.

 

 

But tax experts said the campaign is walking a fine line between permissible activity by individual congregants and impermissible activity by congregations. Supporters of Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.), the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, charged that the Bush-Cheney campaign is luring churches into risking their tax status.

 

 

"I think it is sinful of them to encourage pastors and churches to engage in partisan political activity and run the risk of losing their tax-exempt status," said Steve Rosenthal, chief executive officer of America Coming Together, a group working to defeat Bush.

 

 

The instruction sheet circulated by the Bush-Cheney campaign to religious volunteers lists 22 "duties" to be performed by specific dates. By July 31, for example, volunteers are to "send your Church Directory to your State Bush-Cheney '04 Headquarters or give [it] to a BC04 Field Rep" and "Talk to your Pastor about holding a Citizenship Sunday and Voter Registration Drive."

 

 

By Aug. 15, they are to "talk to your Church's seniors or 20-30 something group about Bush/Cheney '04" and "recruit 5 more people in your church to volunteer for the Bush Cheney campaign."

 

 

By Sept. 17, they are to host at least two campaign-related potluck dinners with church members, and in October they are to "finish calling all Pro-Bush members of your church," "finish distributing Voter Guides in your church" and place notices on church bulletin boards or in Sunday programs "about all Christian citizens needing to vote."

 

 

The document was provided to The Washington Post by a Democrat. A spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service (news - web sites), Frank Keith, said, "It would be inappropriate for the IRS, based on a limited set of facts and circumstances, to render a judgment about whether the activities in this document would or would not endanger a church's tax-exempt status."

 

 

He pointed out, however, that the IRS on June 10 sent a strongly worded letter to both the Republican and Democratic national committees, reminding them that tax-exempt charitable groups "are prohibited from directly or indirectly participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office."

 

 

That warning came one week after The Post and other news media reported on a Bush-Cheney campaign e-mail that sought to identify 1,600 "friendly congregations" in Pennsylvania where Bush supporters "might gather on a regular basis."

 

 

The IRS letter noted that religious organizations are allowed to sponsor debates, distribute voter guides and conduct voter registration drives. But if those efforts show "a preference for or against a certain candidate or party . . . it becomes a prohibited activity," the letter said.

 

 

Milton Cerny, a tax specialist in the Washington office of the law firm Caplin & Drysdale who formerly administered tax-exempt groups for the IRS, said there is nothing in the campaign instructions "that on its face clearly would violate" the law.

 

 

"But these activities, if conducted in concert with the church or church leadership, certainly could be construed by the IRS as the church engaging in partisan electioneering," he said. "The devil is in the details."

 

 

Rosemary E. Fei, a tax specialist at the San Francisco law firm of Silk, Adler & Colvin, said the campaign checklist "feels dangerous to me" not just because of what is in it, but because of what is not. "There's no mention whatsoever that churches should be careful to remain nonpartisan," she said.

 

 

Holt suggested such warnings are unnecessary. "Why would we warn one citizen about the boundaries of their political discussion with another citizen?" he said.

 

Bush is subtlely trying to raise taxes by making churches lose their tax-exempt status. [nah]

 

Still.. this is around the ledge when it comes to legality.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Yay. Don't care.

 

Dem. candidates pimp their wares in black churches all the time...

[Styles 0]

Really, this works both ways. You pretty much have to mobilize the churches on both sides if you don't want to be percieved as an evil satanist with no soul by the many religious voters (in both parties) in this country.

[NoCalMike 0]

Yeah because lord knows if you don't show up to a dozen churches to pretend you give a shit, then you are seen as subhuman or something......

[Styles 0]

Yeah because lord knows if you don't show up to a dozen churches to pretend you give a shit, then you are seen as subhuman or something......

Hey, the price to play the game...

[NoCalMike 0]

Yeah because lord knows if you don't show up to a dozen churches to pretend you give a shit, then you are seen as subhuman or something......

Hey, the price to play the game...

yeah I understand, I just think it is hilarious and kind of ironic that people would rather have their politicians put on the religious facade, and have them ham it up in a church, then attend to more important things.

[2GOLD 0]

Yeah because lord knows if you don't show up to a dozen churches to pretend you give a shit, then you are seen as subhuman or something......

Hey, the price to play the game...

yeah I understand, I just think it is hilarious and kind of ironic that people would rather have their politicians put on the religious facade, and have them ham it up in a church, then attend to more important things.

 

Welcome to America.

Personally I don't give a flying crap if a guy is religious, if he believes in god or he even knows what page whatever verse is in the bible. But sadly, plenty do give a crap.

[Guest CronoT]

Yeah because lord knows if you don't show up to a dozen churches to pretend you give a shit, then you are seen as subhuman or something......

Hey, the price to play the game...

yeah I understand, I just think it is hilarious and kind of ironic that people would rather have their politicians put on the religious facade, and have them ham it up in a church, then attend to more important things.

 

Welcome to America.

Personally I don't give a flying crap if a guy is religious, if he believes in god or he even knows what page whatever verse is in the bible. But sadly, plenty do give a crap.

They can talk the talk all they want. When they walk the walk, then I've give them props. Until then, I will consider them sniveling, opportunistic politicians.

[Styles 0]

Yeah because lord knows if you don't show up to a dozen churches to pretend you give a shit, then you are seen as subhuman or something......

Hey, the price to play the game...

yeah I understand, I just think it is hilarious and kind of ironic that people would rather have their politicians put on the religious facade, and have them ham it up in a church, then attend to more important things.

 

Welcome to America.

Personally I don't give a flying crap if a guy is religious, if he believes in god or he even knows what page whatever verse is in the bible. But sadly, plenty do give a crap.

They can talk the talk all they want. When they walk the walk, then I've give them props. Until then, I will consider them sniveling, opportunistic politicians.

I don't think anyone should doubt Bush's sincerity when it comes to his religion, in fact many use it to blast him. Kerry on the other hand...I honestly doubt his sincerity on ANY issue...

[Guest CronoT]

Yeah because lord knows if you don't show up to a dozen churches to pretend you give a shit, then you are seen as subhuman or something......

Hey, the price to play the game...

yeah I understand, I just think it is hilarious and kind of ironic that people would rather have their politicians put on the religious facade, and have them ham it up in a church, then attend to more important things.

 

Welcome to America.

Personally I don't give a flying crap if a guy is religious, if he believes in god or he even knows what page whatever verse is in the bible. But sadly, plenty do give a crap.

They can talk the talk all they want. When they walk the walk, then I've give them props. Until then, I will consider them sniveling, opportunistic politicians.

I don't think anyone should doubt Bush's sincerity when it comes to his religion, in fact many use it to blast him. Kerry on the other hand...I honestly doubt his sincerity on ANY issue...

The reason people blast him, Slapnuts!, is because he says he's religious, but he's not. Ask him any question about the Bible that Christians should know, besides the John 3:16 verse. He wouldn't know it. In the modern hip-hop vernacular, he's a poser.

[Guest MikeSC]

John Kerry claims to be a Catholic. I don't care that he likely doesn't know any Bible verses.

-=Mike

[Guest Hero to all Children]

I don't think that the ability to quote the bible word for word sorted by book, chapter and verse should be the standard. I consider myself Catholic, I read the bible and by lord if you asked me about the fifth verse of Salomon's love-song I'd just gawk at you. I even heard it more or less recently at a friend's wedding.

 

But chances are it has something to do with honey, silk and roasted nuts.

 

 

Also: If John Kerry had any wits when it comes to manipulating people he'd claim to be a Protestant.

[Art Sandusky 0]

I'd rather the religion of a President never came into play at any point at all whatsoever (ideally we'd have an Atheist, in my mind), but the vote of those who are religious is too important to pass up on both sides.

[NoCalMike 0]

Yeah because lord knows if you don't show up to a dozen churches to pretend you give a shit, then you are seen as subhuman or something......

Hey, the price to play the game...

yeah I understand, I just think it is hilarious and kind of ironic that people would rather have their politicians put on the religious facade, and have them ham it up in a church, then attend to more important things.

I don't know which front is more fake when it comes to Bush, his "christianity" or his "down home on the ranch" image. Considering he is from connecticut, afforded a rich upbringing, and probably wouldn't know a ranch if it was bought for him six months before a presidential campaign in order to achieve an image makeover and appeal to the "south" Oh wait......OOPS.

[Guest MikeSC]

Yeah because lord knows if you don't show up to a dozen churches to pretend you give a shit, then you are seen as subhuman or something......

Hey, the price to play the game...

yeah I understand, I just think it is hilarious and kind of ironic that people would rather have their politicians put on the religious facade, and have them ham it up in a church, then attend to more important things.

I don't know which front is more fake when it comes to Bush, his "christianity" or his "down home on the ranch" image. Considering he is from connecticut, afforded a rich upbringing, and probably wouldn't know a ranch if it was bought for him six months before a presidential campaign in order to achieve an image makeover and appeal to the "south" Oh wait......OOPS.

Ask the Washington press corps who've gone down to Crawford with him for real his ranch lifestyle is.

-=Mike

[NoCalMike 0]

Yeah because lord knows if you don't show up to a dozen churches to pretend you give a shit, then you are seen as subhuman or something......

Hey, the price to play the game...

yeah I understand, I just think it is hilarious and kind of ironic that people would rather have their politicians put on the religious facade, and have them ham it up in a church, then attend to more important things.

I don't know which front is more fake when it comes to Bush, his "christianity" or his "down home on the ranch" image. Considering he is from connecticut, afforded a rich upbringing, and probably wouldn't know a ranch if it was bought for him six months before a presidential campaign in order to achieve an image makeover and appeal to the "south" Oh wait......OOPS.

Ask the Washington press corps who've gone down to Crawford with him for real his ranch lifestyle is.

-=Mike

What are you talking about? It's already been reported and documented many times over that the whole "cowboy" schtick is a front. I don't care if he invites some press over for some "down home cooking" I am sure you watched F 9/11 and since you said you were barely paying attention, you may have missed the scene where Dubya was trying to explain why he liked digging in the dirt, to which he seemed pretty clueless himself, not that F9/11 is a good source, but it is the LATEST source to elude to the cowboy front.

[Guest MikeSC]

NoCalMike certainly would know Bush better than anybody else.

-=Mike

[NoCalMike 0]

NoCalMike certainly would know Bush better than anybody else.

-=Mike

I never said I personally broke the story.....

[Guest MikeSC]

NoCalMike certainly would know Bush better than anybody else.

        -=Mike

I never said I personally broke the story.....

Didn't say you did. Just went along with your deep knowledge of Bush.

-=Mike

[NoCalMike 0]

NoCalMike certainly would know Bush better than anybody else.

        -=Mike

I never said I personally broke the story.....

Didn't say you did. Just went along with your deep knowledge of Bush.

-=Mike

oh ok, then I guess a thank you is in order.....

[Guest Hero to all Children]

Actually Bush ran for Texas Gov some years ago and lost because he was the smarmy, smarty guy from an ivory tower university fighting the down to earth Texan guy.

 

So Bush went into baseball managing as most of us know by now and he revampd his image, he actually bought a ranch down there and what not. I mean ... he could most likely beat you up. He's the fittest fucking president since Hoover. Okay, Hoover was the big depression. Bad example but he could still kick your ass.

 

We need more of that. I meant presidents who could totally call out someone in the UN and beat them senseless. I propose Arnold.