A lot has been in the news regarding Barack Obama and his (former) preacher, Jerimiah Wright. So I watched some of the videos on You Tube and was amazed at what I saw.

Pastor Wright was endorsing a Obama from the pulpit, which is illegal if the church claims to be tax-exempt under 501 C 3.

What's up with that? Why are black churches treated different from white conservative churches, which are routinely investigated by the IRS for such violations.

Because if anyone says it, they will be called racist.

I don't see that "black churches" are treated different.

Wright is one example mentioned. I have not seen him endorsing Obama...

There are tricky ways around the rules of endorsement. Can you quote what Wright said that you viewed as endorsing Obama?

Same thing is going on with McCain and Hagee:
Catholics United Asks John McCain to Distance Himself from Anti-Catholic Bigotry | Catholics United (http://www.catholics-united.org/?q=node/136)

On Wednesday, Senator John McCain was “honored” to receive the endorsement of the Evangelical pastor John Hagee. Pastor Hagee is well known for his anti-Catholic rhetoric such as past suggestions that the Catholic Church gave Adolf Hitler inspiration and support for the Holocaust.

I think "from the pulpit" is key in the prohibition of endorsing candidates.

We'll wait to see if Rusty provides us with his source I guess.

”There is a man here who can take this country in a new direction. “But he's a Black man.”

“There is a man here who is empowered by hope to usher in an era of change in a country that is in desperate need of a change. “But he ain't Black enough.'

“There is a man here who can get Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and persons of no faith to sit down at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood and talk about our common humanity and our common future.

“But I ain't going to vote for him 'cause I don't want to waste my vote.'

“But Hillary is married to Bill, and Bill has been good to us.'

“No, he ain't. Bill did us just like he did Monica Lewinsky. He was riding dirty.”

That was one indirect endorsement of Obama. Here's another:


“Barack knows what it means living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people. Hillary would never know that.

“Hillary ain't never been called a nigger. Hillary has never had a people defined as a non-person.”

Wright did not come right out and directly endorse Obama or tell the congregation who to vote for from the pulpit, so technically he can get away with it. And as far as I know, NK, neither did Hagee do so for McCain.

The Pew Forum has published an updated rules regarding politics and the pulpit.

Pew Forum: Politics and the Pulpit 2008 (http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=280)

Specifically Rev Wright's Jan. 13 sermon gave a semi-official endorsement of Obama . That is the one everyone remembers for his comments about Bill Clinton "riding dirty" in the White House.

Rev Wright's particular brand of black liberation theology with it's mixing of politics into it's creed becomes one of those gray areas that make it difficult for the IRS to go after him. The IRS has written many letters in the past warning churches about politicing from the pulpit but has only revoked the tax exempt status of any church twice since the rules went into effect in 1954 .

Whether it is "white" churces or "black" churces there is a dangerous mix of church and state going on.

Read more:

Mixing Church and State can Damage Both (http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0805-08.htm)

I agree, religion should stay out of politics and vice-versa.

"The single biggest gap in party affiliation among white Americans is ... between those who attend church regularly and those who don't. Democrats, meanwhile, are scrambling to 'get religion,' even as a core segment of our constituency remains stubbornly secular." Barack Obama, from "The Audacity of Hope"

Obama of course trumpetted his religious affilitation until recently when it became a liability .

Hillary doesn't see religion as a liability and she touted her faith during the Pa. Primary

"I have ever since I've been a little girl felt the presence of God in my life. And it has been a gift of grace that has for me been incredibly sustaining. But, really, ever since I was a child, I have felt the enveloping support and love of God. And I have had the experiences on many, many occasions where I felt like the holy spirit was there with me as I made a journey."

I am thankful that I live in a country where religion still plays a role . God Bless America !

Preachers are totally free to preach about the values of politicians, pro or con. Anything else is prohibiting their free speech. Get over it.

All as I see is "indirect" and "semi official" endorsements. Talk about mudslinging.