Calif. Pastor Investigated For Endorsing Huckabee

[Kadie]

Feb 13, 2008 2:47 pm US/Pacific

Calif. Pastor Investigated For Endorsing Huckabee

BUENA PARK (AP) ― A Southern Baptist preacher who endorsed GOP presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee on church letterhead said Wednesday he was being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service for mixing religion with politics.

Rev. Wiley Drake, a prominent pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention, said he received a 14-page letter from the IRS on Feb. 7.

Under federal tax law, church officials can legally discuss politics, but they cannot endorse candidates or parties without risking their tax-exempt status. Most who do so receive a warning.

On Aug. 11, Drake wrote a press release on letterhead from the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park that announced his personal endorsement of Huckabee and asked all Southern Baptists to get behind the candidate.

"After very serious prayer and consideration, I announce today that I am going to personally endorse Mike Huckabee," the release said. "I ask all of my Southern Baptist brothers and sister to consider getting behind Mike and helping him all you can."

He continued: "I believe God has chosen Mike for such an hour, and I believe of all those running Mike Huckabee will listen to God."

more...
http://cbs13.com/national/Mike.Huckabee.IRS.2.653418.html

[Irishonly]

1. It's About Time

Even though right religious wing nuts try to ignore it and have gotten by with it for the past seven years there is seperation of church and state.

[calmblueocean]

2. This is the *real* reason Huckabee supports the FairTax

It's because a national sales tax will end the IRS restrictions keeping churches from endorsing candidates and being fully involved in politics.

[joeybee12]

3. What a "moran"

Be discreet at least.

[tularetom]

4. If God really wanted Huckabee to be president

why wouldn't he just smite all the other candidates?

It would be so much easier than all this other crap.

Personally I think god doesn't really give a rats ass.