Posted on 02/08/2008 5:48:30 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
NEW YORK (CBS News) ― Last fall, Mike Huckabee taped an appearance on Kenneth Copeland's popular television show. The theme: "Integrity of Character."
"Treat people like you'd want to be treated," Huckabee said.
Now some are raising issue with Huckabee's character, principally his judgment, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.
They are focusing on his association with the televangelist, who has refused to cooperate with a Senate investigation into his ministry's finances.
At issue, as reported by CBS News last week: whether millions of dollars in tax-exempt church donations have been used to bankroll a lavish lifestyle and a slew of private, for-profit businesses.
"Mr. Huckabee has terrible judgment because not only is he being closely associated with someone under this ethical cloud, but he's refusing to distance himself," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics In Washington.
When Huckabee appeared on Copleland's show, the evangelist said "Gov. Huckabee is not here in any kind of political role."
After his appearance, like many guests, Huckabee stayed overnight at the ministry's lavish 18,000 square foot lakefront home.
"All I know is he's a delightful human being," Huckabee said of Copeland.
But, before the show aired, Grassley's probe went public. So Copeland went back to the ex-Arkansas governor with an offering.
"I said, 'Governor, if this will negatively impact your campaign in any way, I won't run it,'" Copeland said. "He hollered at me on the phone and said, 'Are you kidding me?'"
CBS News has learned that Copeland's family has donated more than $29,000 to Huckabee's campaign.
And just three weeks ago - when Huckabee was on the financial ropes - Copeland helped raise thousands more from hundreds of ministers attending a meeting at his West Texas headquarters. Nobody is saying how much.
"If it's legal, legitimate, honest contributions, I'm not sure what the premise would be for giving that money back," Huckabee said.
For some, it may well be the premise of a presidential candidate not practicing what he preaches.
BTTT
Spiteful, slanderous, mudslinging false conservatives will tend to side with spiteful, slanderous, mudslinging liberals.
It appears that real Christians are not allowed by the PC left to run for President. Just the “christians” like Bill, Hillary, and Obama are acceptable.
Oh please Extremely Extreme Extremist, are you going to join the one sided call to silence pulpits across the land even when they share values that normal Americans share?
You do see the bait don’t you?
Copeland isn’t a Christian. If Huckabee knew God, he’d know that.
Bingo! Copeland is a just another ‘name-it-and-claim-it’ con artist. The heresy of demanding from God is old as the hills and a Bible-thumping gasbag like the Huckster should have known better. Unless, of course, he’s one of the club himself...
Huckabee solicits funds from embattled televangelist
Not a re-post Nazi... just say'en.
The MSM is now questioning Huckabee’s support and ethics...You ain’t seen a millionth of the negative articles bashing Huckabee until McCain gets all of the support of the RNC with Huckabee as his running mate. This is the just the tip of the iceberg.
Just the ones occupied by scam artists.
Do you know Kenneth Copeland personally Mr. Rogers?
The real anti-conservative here is Grassley. Using the Senate powers to attack evangelicals is outrageous.
And CBS News is to be the judge of that Red_Devil 232?
When did CBS news gain so much credibility as to play censor and have FReepers buy it?
And you trust Senators to do that?????
Wait! Wait! Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: “There once was an ethically challenged ex-governor of Arkansas who was running for President...”
I don’t like Huck, but there is nothing wrong with a tv preacher talking to him on camera.
There are real issues to criticize Huck about, this isn’t one of them.
And now that we are down to Huck and McCain, I have to assume that an attack on Huck is a vote for McCain, and all I can say is, spare the bandwidth.
Maybe Huckabee knows God well enough to know that he's not the judge of Copeland.
Newsflash: Your candidate’s a joke.
I agree; on its face this is ridiculous. If there's anything more to it, then, as with anything else, or anybody, I'd have a problem.
Perhaps the people. Or maybe we should have the government tell us how to worship?
Well, those that Grassley is going after are pretty despicable; nevertheless, I don’t think it’s Washington’s job to save us from ourselves. If we’re stupid enough to send money to any of the TV scamvangelists - well, who do we have to blame but ourselves?
Fortunately we have prophets like Greesley to tell us unedukated folks whose ministry is legit.
I will not sit in judgment of Copeland on the final day, but we ARE called to judge false prophets...and no Christian can look at Copeland’s beliefs without concluding that he is a false prophet.
Or perhaps you two believe we have no responsibility to judge those who claim to be Christian?
Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. Who is doing more to spread the word of God around the Globe? Certainly some of them appear to have issues with greed, but they are doing a lot more than I am as far as spreading the Gospel, albeit may not be in line with all my beliefs.
Exactly, if Kenneth Copeland is a fraud, if he stole from anyone, then God will know, and he will be exposed, if he has went about his Ministry that he believes that God has called him too, then he will be fine.
A mega church leader is in fact a CEO of a major concern, one of them, as I recall, heads a ministry that grosses 75 million a year, and then the pastor/leader also writes books and engages in other activities that also provide income to them personally.
Joel Osteen for example, though we are miles apart theologically, happens to be a NYT best selling Author, he makes millions of dollars everytime he pens a book.
Now whether, you, or myself, or Aunt Getrude down the street buys that book is a matter of personal choice, and that is America in a nutshell.
It is my ubderstanding that When Huckabee preached at Copeland’s church, it was a very Biblically based Gospe; message.
Given the fact the Huckabee gave up the ministry many years ago to enter politics, mayhap his perception of things Biblical have become somewhat skewed.
Using taxpayer money to fund lavish lifestyles and profit-making operations on the side? Doesn't he know that only politicians and public broadcasting stars get to do that?
Not the easiest question to answer. There is a good case to be made either way.
A False Prophet?
Does he say the Jesus is not the Christ? That the Holy Spirit is a lie and he does all things by himself?
The Dedache instructs that a false prophet is to be known in 3 days, yet Copeland’s ministry has lasted decades.
Now the bible also says that we are to judge each spirit ourselves (John I), whether or not K. Copeland is inspired by God, or his wallet, is for each person to discern, not CBS News or Chuck Grassley.
So that is to say, you do not know Kenneth Copeland personally then?
That is what I was thinking. Is Grassley trying to learn if he got into the wrong racket. I doubt it.
Is Copeland a Shepherd, or a Ravening Wolf?
And if he is called by God, is he fulfilling his calling in his current role and ministry?
And would having Huckabee sit in on a recording of his program be a part of that Ministry?
I think I will just make the short drive to my local community Church.
Come on...did you make that up yourself?
Sublime.
I spent several months among the Copeland cultists, and some time with the man and his wife while doing my part in the construction of his headquarters overlooking his private airstrip and two jets that he took out for joyrides to take a look at his 18,000 sq ft parsonage on a regular basis. I saw enough to make make my own judgment about what was going on there, and I could not care less except for this one thing: He and those like him hide behind the protection of the Constitution and tax laws to rule as emperors among the clueless. The clueless can take care of themselves, but the government shouldn’t be complicit in covering up clues that would make their existence otherwise impossible.
As far as I know I made it up. Whether someone came up with it before, I don’t know. I do like it, though, and WOW does it fit. LOL
If the man has broken the law, then he should face the charges in the court of law, not on CBS News, if he has not, do you think he will receive an apology for smearing his name?
I hate Copeland’s name it, claim it get rich quick “Gospel” and at the very least Huckabee showed poor discernment. Or maybe Huckabee does not mind being seen with false teachers. Either way, very bad! But notice that there is no curiosity about Obama’s church. And no one is investigating Hillary’s Marxist social gospel. And I notice that the left thinks it is great that the government is investigating people over their “evangelical” connections. Funny how years ago when the government investigated people for their communist connections the left thought that investigation was the crime of the century. Repeat after me: “Are you now or have you ever been an Evangelical...”
Trust Huck? Honest men don’t get elected governor of Arkansas, and a Southern Baptist is a Southern Baptist.
I claim Christ, and hope he’ll do the same someday; I’ve known Amish, Mennonites, Methodists, Presbyterians, Church of Christ, Assemblies of God, Lutherans, Catholics, and Baptists. Guess which brothers-in-Christ creeped me out the most...
Really ..?? What is your description of a “Christian” ..??
And .. of course .. you are the official judge of “scam artists” .. I have no doubt!
Amen!!
“I don’t like Huck, but there is nothing wrong with a tv preacher talking to him on camera.
There are real issues to criticize Huck about, this isn’t one of them.”
I agree. This whole thing looks like someone is trying to create a bad image for Huckabee.
Who’s despicable?
LOL. Good one.
If you are, as stated, the official judge of “scam artists” could you clear my doubts. For, god forbid (apparently), I should not attempt to do this for myself.
Name any other president since 1973 who has outlawed any form of abortion?
It’s going to take us electing Christians to undo what the godless has done.
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