Florida gubernatorial hopeful Jim Davis' choice of a black running mate has highlighted some more churches that need their tax-exemption yanked for breaking the rules:
It is a question that many black leaders in South Florida, where nearly a third of the state's Democrats live, hope to answer with a resounding yes. Ecstatic over the Jones pick, a number of Baptist ministers began extolling the Davis-[Daryl] Jones ticket from the pulpit Sunday.
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'Chance to make history'Meeting in Liberty City, members of the Baptist Ministers Council of Greater Miami and Vicinity issued a "clarion call" last week to trumpet that message from black churches.
They also announced plans to use vans, buses and other church resources to mobilize black voters -- no easy task in South Florida, where turnout for midterm elections is typically even lower than the statewide average. In the primary, for example, turnout was almost 20 percent statewide but less than 12 percent in Broward.
"But that is just not acceptable in 2006," said Willie Sims, pastor of Peaceful Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Miami. "Especially now that we have a chance to make history."
A reminder from the IRS:
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. The prohibition applies to all campaigns including campaigns at the federal, state and local level. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes. Those section 501(c)(3) organizations that are private foundations are subject to additional restrictions that are not described in this fact sheet.
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Partisan Politicking In The Pulpit
I'll bet they have less turnout than before.. just an opinion.
Oh I am certain that a few people are more excited than ever, as with most.. but the general population is about as fired up about electing any-damn body right now, this should be a real
bottom scraping election year.
Whatever some politician has to say, no matter how clever, or *heartfelt* can mask the insanity at the pumps and the demonstrations by illegal persons marching in the streets...and that's just the start.
This election is about as exciting as dressing out for gym class.
Posted by: csason at September 26, 2006 12:19 AMIt really is bad. I can barely tell the candidates apart.
Someone asked me to blog about Katherine Harris, and I just can't make myself do it. I have zero interest in this election.
The Texas one looks good one, though.
Posted by: Donnah at September 26, 2006 12:27 AMHow exactly is it, then, that so many Democrats get to make stump speeches from the pulpits of black churches?
And did you notice, in that linked article on "the rules", the asshat atheist who wrote it only used examples of white, conservatives (and Catholics) "breaking the rules"?
Posted by: Jeff H at September 29, 2006 05:14 PM