IRS: Dobson's Endorsements Were Legal

AP via SFGate ^ | 9/10/7 | ERIC GORSKI, AP Religion Writer

[SmithL]

DENVER (AP) -- Focus on the Family chairman James Dobson has been cleared of accusations that he endangered his organization's nonprofit status by endorsing Republican candidates in 2004, an Internal Revenue Service audit found.

The IRS said Dobson, who backed President Bush's re-election bid, was acting as an individual and not on behalf of the conservative Christian ministry.

The influential child psychologist announced the findings Monday on his national radio show.

At least two liberal watchdog groups — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Colorado Springs-based Citizens Project — filed complaints with the IRS in 2005 against Dobson. The complaints alleged that Dobson improperly used Focus on the Family resources to support candidates and urged investigations into the group's tax-exempt status.

In a letter to Focus on the Family officials, the IRS states: "Our examination revealed that Dr. Dobson's reported remarks did not occur in publications of Focus on the Family, did not occur at functions of Focus on the Family, and did not involve Dr. Dobson suggesting that he was speaking as a representative of Focus on the Family."

Dobson took unprecedented steps into the political arena in 2004. He formed a new political affiliate called Focus on the Family Action, endorsed social conservative GOP candidates for Congress and supported Bush, the first time he had endorsed a presidential candidate.

Under IRS rules, 501(c)(3) nonprofits such as Focus on the Family can speak out about issues and do a limited amount of lobbying. But they can't get involved in races involving candidates.

[Kuksool]

Will the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Colorado Springs-based Citizens Project complain about Al Sharpton and the NACCP?

[Greg F]

We should get rid of the rule that pastor’s cannot speak on behalf of candidates from the pulpit. It’s a tax law, yanking non-profit status from any preacher that violates it, and it was written by Lyndon Johnson in the early ‘50’s, because the preachers in his Congressional district in Texas didn’t like him.

[xtinct]

When will the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Colorado Springs-based Citizens Project start bitching and moaning about the 2008 Democrat Candidates campaigning and fundraising in Black churches.

Understand that one of those Black churches was the backdrop for Hillary's condescending Southern drawl speak.

[VOA]

The IRS said Dobson, who backed President Bush's re-election bid,
was acting as an individual and not on behalf of the conservative Christian ministry.

Which is exactly what Dobson repeatedly says when commenting on
political matters.

[Cicero]

Good.

You can’t really fault these leftist groups for attacking their enemies, since they are admittedly partisan organizations, but you can certainly fault the IRS for playing along with them and repeatedly going after conservative churches, while giving black and liberal churches a free pass.

Every election in the past several decades has involved Democrat candidates speaking from the pulpits of black churches, immediately before election day and even on election day, with absolutely no protests or consequences.

What would have happened if George Bush had spoken from a pulpit on election day and called on people to go out and vote for him? Yet Al Gore did, and Edwards did, and Kerry did. And not a bit of reaction.

[laweeks]

“501(c)(3)”

Yep, the good old 501(c)(3) has just about shut up the American churches. Nothing like 1st Amendment rights, and the churches HAVE NO 1st Amendment rights according to 501(c)(3). If they as much as slightly endorse a candidate (especially a conservative), they could lose their tax exempt status. Kinda’ like a big old cork in the mouth of the religious. That is, ALL RELIGIOUS EXCEPT BLACK CHURCHES where they can pass the basket for this candidate or that candidate and NOTHING IS SAID by the IRS-Nazis.

At our church, our pastor said that if anyone wanted to know for whom he was voting, they could check out his bumper sticker (he was for Bush). A black couple at our church raised holy hell about his “preaching from the pulpit” about his political choices.

Free country?

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

So Dobson has citizenship rights like everybody else? What kind of country is this? /s

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

It is infact only enforced against certain churches and preachers. Black churches seem to have a free pass.

[Kevmo]

I wish Duncan Hunter would ask James Dobson to be his running mate. Then he’d get the name recognition he needs.