WOW! Lieberman calls out the IRS for investigating Obama's church

[wndycty]

IRS probe of Obama's church 'troubling'

March 21, 2008

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut is questioning the Internal Revenue Service's investigation of the United Church of Christ for a speech Sen. Barack Obama gave at the denomination's national meeting last year after he began his presidential run.

Lieberman asked the IRS to explain how it could meet the required threshold of a ''reasonable belief'' a church has engaged in improper political activity if had not contacted church officials before starting the investigation.

He also called the inquiry ''especially troubling'' because the agency hasn't given churches adequate guidance about what's allowed.

Obama, a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, spoke about faith and public life at the denomination's General Synod in Hartford, Conn., last June.
-snip-

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/854582,CST-NWS-lieb21.article

[ericgtr]

1. I have a feeling some supporters here are going to switch there stance on Lieberman now

n/t

[YDogg]

7. I imagine this is all related to lieberman's self-interests ...

... not his support of "right" vs "wrong" or democratic principles.

[CoffeeCat]

10. Actually, as an Obama supporter...

...I'm watching Gingrich stick up for Obama and pontificate about "privacy"--while he stands by and
allows our government to read our mail, wiretap us illegally, and snoop through our mail.

Something does not jive.

Now, we have Lieberman, another neocon, running to Obama's defense.

Unlike some Hillary supporters, who rationalize everything surrounding her--and will go so low as to
quote Newsmax, Fox News and other right-wing sources---I am skeptical when these evil bastard neocons
come to the defense of anyone.

Why? Why are the doing this? We're in the middle of a tumultuous Democratic primary. Why speak up?
Why not just stay out of it?

I never trust any of the neocons, and I won't rationalize or look the other way--even when they're propping
up or siding with my guy.

Always question the neocons--and do not be fooled into complacency--just because they appear to
be siding with your candidate.

[Maine-ah]

13. gonna take a helluva lot more than that.

[mdmc]

2. I got my Joementum back

God Bless Joe! :)

[ShortnFiery]

3. My "stance" on Lieberman has rarely been positive. He best watch out or he won't be

asked to be McCain's running mate.

This is some sick sick stuff.

Why hasn't the media COVERED the good works of Obama's church?

[tridim]

16. Well, since it's obvious to me that he is going to be McCain's running mate..

Saying things like "The IRS sucks" is what dumbass Repukes want to hear.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Joe is such a swell guy

[ShortnFiery]

5. So taking down a church of 8400 people doing hospice, homeless and grief counseling.

Is worth it for Political Purposes?!?

How sad. :(

http://truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com/

[MikeNearMcChord]

6. A broken clock is right twice a day.

After all why didn't the IRS go after Rod Parsley(John McCain's God Boy)he has done more to blatantly cross that line
Here is a taste.
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

[dansolo]

8. I think this is blowback from the evangelicals

By investigating UCC, it opens the doors for investigations into a lot of other churches. Lieberman appears to be in bed with the hard-core conservative evangelicals, and I wouldn't be surprised if they are pushing this.

[bicentennial_baby]

18. Ding!

:thumbsup:

[sellitman]

9. What a sad excuse for a human being.

Even Hillary supporters must hang their heads in shame that this turd was once one of ours.

[whistle]

11. Sounds like Joe Lieberman is positioning himself to get on McCain ticket as 2nd man

[jimshoes]

12. I think I'll go with the broken clock

analogy too. Joe has been way too cozy with the people who want to harm the Democratic Party to be given a blanket pardon for doing one thing right. You got a long way to go Joe, and I kinda know you won't be on this path long.

[zbdent]

14. Maybe "Jump when Bush says Jump"ing Joe Lieberman is concerned

that the IRS will also look into McCain's church, and find a whole helluva lot worse than finding someone at Obama's church who knows someone who knows someone who bought a soda at a convenience store owned by someone whose 4th cousin knows someone who is a terrorist ...

[rodeodance]

15. The IRS said in a letter, made public by the denomination,,,,,,

The IRS said in a letter, made public by the denomination, that it was concerned about articles on the church's Web site and other sites saying Obama spoke to nearly 10,000 people at the event. The agency also said Obama volunteers staffed campaign tables ''outside the center to promote his campaign.''

The Rev. J. Bennett Guess, a spokesman for the Cleveland-based denomination, said some Obama volunteers were outside the Hartford Civic Center, where the event took place, but that they were told they could not enter.

Church leaders consulted with lawyers before the event on following IRS rules, Guess said. Before Obama spoke, a top church official told the crowd that the senator's talk was not a campaign-related event and that no leaflets or other signs of political support would be allowed.

The IRS does not comment on investigations.

[elixir]

17. I love Joe, he blows wherever the politically expedient winds blow.

[4themind]

19. He did introduce a "Faith Based initiative "bill

previously. So while I don't know his motives now, his record seems ,at least to me, to lean against what he sees as government "intrusion" into religious affairs and practices (and conversely supports its increased role in public life), maybe this is keeping in line with that philosophy, who knows, lol

[invictus]

20. Don't be deceived. LIEberman is still a neo-con jerk who endorsed McCain. n/t