Religious Group Under Fire For E-Mail

[fl_dem]

Source: KOKO Oklahoma City News

A religious group's tax-exempt status is questioned after claims that it asked people to attend a political rally for Rep. Sally Kern.

The Internal Revenue Service is looking into an e-mail from Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ and whether it violates federal law

I just think it's much ado about nothing," Kern said.




Read more: http://www.koco.com/r/24695879/detail.html

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I wish this would happen more often! If all the churches that dally in politics were to lose their tax exempt status I would imagine a huge dent in our deficit would miraculously occur.

If you are not aware of who Mrs Kern is, I will give you a quick rundown; she compared gays to terrorists, she said gays are infiltrating the schools to indoctrinate children, her and her preacher husband disowned their gay son. In a nut shell (literally)she is a hate filled ugly woman and yet another reason to shake my head in dismay at elected officials in Oklahoma!

[gratuitous]

1. "Much ado about nothing" Wrong

Every legitimate candidate and every church know the rule about political involvement: Issue advocacy is okay; named candidate advocacy is not. The line is bright and well-defined, and has worked quite well for decades. This is not "nothing," Ms. Kern, and you should know that.

[WillParkinson]

2. That's not hate. It's traditional Republican family values

They didn't 'disown' their son, they merely gave him a time out so that he could see that his choice of being gay has hurt them and their family.

:puke:

OK, even I can't say that with a straight face. What a horrid, horrid woman.

[fl_dem]

3. horrid horrid woman for sure!!

[howmad1]

21. But I'll bet she's got god on her side.

And you know, the IRS won't fuck with god.

[rasputin1952]

28. Unless God owes back taxes...

;)

[oldhippydude]

30. its a whole lot worse than taxes..

Remember W,s faith base initiative.. hell now the taxpayers subsidize them!! i have been wondering for years, why no one has challenged the faith based initiative, on first amendment grounds.. Republicans even figured out a way to subsidize the faith industry..

perhaps someone with more of legal mind, can tell me wheres the straw man in my argument..

[rasputin1952]

33. I know...

I was screaming bloody murder over that little piece of crap.

I'd like to get a rundown of the houses of worship that took the cash...they should all be closed down, it is disgusting...:grr:

[BlueMTexpat]

5. His "choice?"

Hardly.

But it was her choice to disown. What contemptible human beings she and her husband are!

[WillParkinson]

7. His choice...

My message was sarcasm. People like her insist that being gay is a choice, but the choice she has - whether to love her gay son unconditionally or turn her back on him - makes her vile and contemptible.

I feel sorry for her son. Losing his family is hard, but I hope it frees him from the pressure of the hate they spew.

[AlbertCat]

17. Losing his family is hard,

Hmmmmm.... in this case, maybe not so hard.

Besides, he may have siblings and cousins and such who still call him "friend".

[BlueMTexpat]

20. My attempt at irony was not directed at you - sorry!

It was directed at this so-called "righteous" woman. And I thoroughly agree with you.

[Axle_techie]

32. That's not even necessarily republican family values in general,

but definitely screwed up ones

[SpiralHawk]

4. Republicons really hate the American system of democracy, don't they

They consistently go Totally Twinkie Pinky on the law.

Ptooey on Total Twinkie Pinky Republicon Homelanders.

[Permanut]

6. Creepy

I just watched the Terminator again the other night, and it seems like a perfect metaphor for the koolaid drinking zombies who just never, never stop. Violate federal law? so what? It ain't in the Bible? meh? Cruelty, greed and hate in the name of Jesus.

[Beartracks]

19. Wow. Anti-gay Bible-thumpers...

... are really just trying to enact Christian sharia, aren't they?

-----------------------------

[bobbieinok]

8. politics in OK

Unfortunately, many in OK agree with her.

In Tulsa we have 3 RW am radio stations, one of which is a religious right station with call letters KCFO (Christ for Oklahoma). So along with local talk show hosts, we get Glen Beck, Rush, Hannity, etc. If one listens to this stuff day in and day out, the ideas sink deeply into the subconscious.

One station, 1140 am KFAQ, was a station (KVOO) with a more than 50 year history as a country and country western station with many local programs; it is also a station that can be heard long distances away from Tulsa after dark. The station was bought and changed to RW programming shortly before the 2000 (s)election.

Life in OK is soooooo much fun. But, hey, I was born in OK 70 years ago (and my father was born in Tulsa in 1908, a year after OK became a state), and I understand some of the mentality here (BUT do NOT accept it). After HS graduation, I attended school in TX and CA and lived 20+ years in IA. I've been back in Tulsa since 89.

OK has an interesting history with ups and downs. The GOP runs campaigns on a platform of OK values; they, and most Oklahomans, do not know that one of the very first laws OK passed was Jim Crow legislation. So the GOP slogan is more apt than they and most Oklahomans realize.

Bobbie in OK

[MadMaddie]

13. Bobbie

My family is from Musgoge OK. I was there when I was a child, I have fond memories.

[classof56]

25. I was born in OK 72 years ago, but my folks left soon after.

Real Grapes of Wrath stuff. My father never tired of telling his "Hard times in Oklahoma" stories, and I know it was very tough, Depression, Dust Bowl and all. I was grateful they left for better times in the Northwest, but have always felt badly about what my parents went through. Stays with you, I guess. I have relatives in OK who I'm sure love the RW mentality and radio programs. Pretty sure they'd drum me out of the family if they knew how liberal I've become. Interesting about the Jim Crow law. Did not know that. Makes me feel even worse about my home state.

I'm now in one of the other "O" states--Oregon--and loving it!

Blessings.

[boppers]

9. What about Network Neutrality?

Isn't this the government trying to control the content of email?

:evilgrin:

[ladywnch]

10. she and her pastor husband must really be losers if they couldn't prevent

their son from being infected with "the gay". And what kind of Christians can they be if they gave up on him so quick....where is their commitment and conviction to 'save' their son from the demon 'gay'. Instead tjhey ust kicking him to the curb? Obviously their faith is weak and lacking. Clearly that should disqualify her from office.....weak faith.

[Scottybeamer70]

11. Sally Kern.......

What a vile person!!!

[Whoa_Nelly]

14. Agreed! And wholly narcissistic n/t

[Heywood J]

12. "They just sent out an e-mail, as did a whole bunch of other people."

I wonder if the "other people did it" excuse works for them when it comes to murder and abortion. "Yeah, I stalked and killed him, but it's OK because lots of other people committed murder too!"

[defendandprotect]

15. Thanks for the info -- didn't know who she was ....

This would hardly be the people that "Christ" would let speak for her!!

[craigmatic]

16. Churches shouldn't be tax exempt anyway. Look at all those megachurches in the south just imagine if

they were taxed. We all know they tell their congregants who to vote for anyway.

[AlbertCat]

18. Churches shouldn't be tax exempt anyway.

True. Isn't that establishing law in favor of religion?

Anyway, at least tax the businesses owned by the churches!

[Archae]

22. They should, *IF* they stick to church stuff.

When they use their church for business, (like the Koran-burners do,) then they should lose their tax-exempt status.

BUT...

As to political stances?

Don't forget liberal churches advocate liberal causes, and have done so very nobly in the past, best example, church involvement in ending Jim Crow laws.

[AlbertCat]

31. best example, church involvement in ending Jim Crow laws.

I don't see why that should get them tax exemption. An atheist soup kitchen wouldn't get exempt. Atheist camps and education foundations aren't. Can't congregations support their own friggin' superstitions? I don't care if they're liberal or conservative.

[quakerboy]

23. Don't worry

I'm sure the Supreme Court will be along soon to say that Churches are now persons, and allowed to give unlimited contributions to whomever they want.

[fl_dem]

38. what a very scary thought.......n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

24. "Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ"

Christ can have it, no one else wants it.

[Anakin Skywalker]

26. OK is Not OK!

One of the most rightwing states in the country. Bleh! x(

[and-justice-for-all]

27. Those people think that laws only pertain to 'the other people'

In regards to Kern's comments: The 'Gays' are not the terrorist, it is the religious bullshit parade that is infecting schools and polluting kids minds with the invisible man in the sky nonsense.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

29. Dear Ms. Kern

Kindly suck a fart out of my asshole at your earliest convenience.

Yours in Christ,

EvolveOrConvolve

[LiberalFighter]

34. They really need to crack down on one and send a message they don't forget.

[DFW]

35. Their tax exempt status should not be questioned

It should be revoked.

Without delay, and without recourse.

[Duppers]

36. 'bout frikin' time

I know other churches do this too...my mother's church, for instance.

[BrklynLiberal]

37. Why is there even a question about this?

ANY tax-exemption for a religious organization that gets involved in politics should be revoked. PERIOD.