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Jarrett’s partisan pulpit speech may have violated IRS church-state rules
The Daily Caller ^

Posted on 01/17/2012 9:02:00 AM PST by Sub-Driver

Jarrett’s partisan pulpit speech may have violated IRS church-state rules 12:14 AM 01/17/2012

Valerie Jarrett’s partisan speech at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church may have violated the IRS tax rules for churches’ political activities, said a prominent free speech attorney.

“It is problematic under current regulations,” said Erik Stanley, a senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, which is campaigning to roll back IRS curbs on believers’ speech.

But if the IRS concludes that the church violated the IRS code, the ADF “will represent the church, just as it would represent any church for what is said from the pulpit,” he said.

“We believe in pulpit freedom,” he said.

On Sunday President Barack Obama’s controversial aide, Valerie Jarrett, used the Ebenezer pulpit to tell the congregation that the jobs of teachers, police and firefighters “are now in jeopardy because Congress — well, let me be specific — because [of] the Republicans in Congress.”

Jarrett is a longtime aide to Obama, and worked with him in Chicago. She’s deeply unpopular among White House staff, but remains influential with the president.

Shortly after the religious service, the church hosted a voter registration drive for its mostly African-American congregation. In 2008, more than 95 percent of African-Americans voted for Obama. His 2012 campaign managers are now funding registration drives and other efforts to repeat that level of support this November.

This church’s hosting of partisan statements and technically non-partisan activities threatens its tax-exempt status, according to rules posted on the IRS’ website.

“Voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention,” according to the IRS website.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: church; churchstate; irs; irschurchstate; jarrett; mlkchurch; obamacampaign; state; valeriegoestochurch; valeriejarrett

1 posted on 01/17/2012 9:02:03 AM PST by Sub-Driver
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To: Sub-Driver

NO way that it could violate the law! She’s a Marxist DEMOCRAT. The LAW only applies to Republicans. /sarc


2 posted on 01/17/2012 9:07:20 AM PST by SumProVita (Cogito, ergo...Sum Pro Vita. (Modified Decartes))
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To: Sub-Driver

Sources say Jarrett is getting Secret Service protection. She’s looking more and more like the de-facto president every day ... puppetmaster wielding immense influence at a minimum.


3 posted on 01/17/2012 9:07:55 AM PST by MissMagnolia (Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid (Reagan).)
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To: Sub-Driver

Yeah, I’m sure Eric Holder will jump right on it!


4 posted on 01/17/2012 9:08:44 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
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To: Sub-Driver
"Black" churches, according to the esteemed rationalizer "reverend" Jesses Jackson, may claime an exemption to such restrictions based on the fact that the church has traditionally been a central part of the black culture.

Liberals will ALWAYS find an exception to any rule for themselves, while viciously seeking to impose the higher enlightenment on others.

It's symptomatic of the illness.

5 posted on 01/17/2012 9:11:33 AM PST by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

Only if you’re white and a Republican. All blacks, muslims, Democrats and other low lifes get a pass.


6 posted on 01/17/2012 9:12:08 AM PST by baiamonte
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To: Sub-Driver
I'm sure Barry Lynn (”United for Separation of Church and State”),will be out on all the major networks to critisize this any moment now, right?
7 posted on 01/17/2012 9:12:31 AM PST by WOBBLY BOB (Congress: Looting the future to bribe the present.)
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To: Sub-Driver

These laws have a “Whites Only” sign hanging on them, like a Dixie drinking fountain.


8 posted on 01/17/2012 9:15:25 AM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: Sub-Driver

It’s OK, she’s a DEMOCRAT, so it’s not illegal. Just ask Eric Holder, he’ll tell ya!

Now, if a REPUBLICAN does that, the SWAT Teams will be called out.


9 posted on 01/17/2012 9:16:10 AM PST by tcrlaf (Election 2012: THE RAPTURE OF THE DEMOCRATS)
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To: Sub-Driver

“Jarrett’s partisan pulpit speech may have violated IRS church-state rules 12:14 AM 01/17/2012 “

LOL So what? Those stinkin’ US laws do not apply to hussein and his band of criminals.


10 posted on 01/17/2012 9:16:48 AM PST by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like it)
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To: TheClintons-STILLAnti-American

“Black” churches, according to the esteemed rationalizer “reverend” Jesses Jackson, may claime an exemption to such restrictions based on the fact that the church has traditionally been a central part of the black culture.”

I guess the church was never traditionally a part of Latino culture? (So Catholic churches don’t get the exemption?)


11 posted on 01/17/2012 9:18:30 AM PST by CondorFlight (I)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER
Being a black church this will be A-OK.If it had been a white church Janet Reno would be pulling up with the tanks.
12 posted on 01/17/2012 9:46:47 AM PST by onighost29
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To: SWAMPSNIPER
Yeah, I’m sure Eric Holder will jump right on it!

That's sexist, we all know that eric prefers male convicts, butt, I guess he'd jump on it if obummer axed him to do it.

13 posted on 01/17/2012 9:51:51 AM PST by USS Alaska (Nuke The Terrorist Savages)
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To: Sub-Driver

Yank their tax-exempt status NOW!


14 posted on 01/17/2012 10:05:31 AM PST by moovova (Report my sarcastic, fear-mongering, hate-filled lies to www.AttackWatch.com by clicking HERE.)
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To: Sub-Driver
The revocation of tax-exempt status for a church involving itself in polical speech is unconstitutional. The law tasks the IRS to penalize free speech with taxation. The “Wall of Separation” only seems to work for the benefit of atheists which is a religion of nihilism.
15 posted on 01/17/2012 11:07:38 AM PST by WMarshal (Where is the next Sam Adams?)
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To: Sub-Driver

She was using them. That congregation should have gotten up and left in disgust.


16 posted on 01/17/2012 11:16:02 AM PST by FroggyTheGremlim (Democrats:always looking for someone else to blame)
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To: Sub-Driver

Communists are not under the same law as everyone else. They have been conducting political rallies for their party at Black churches for years now. Christians, on the other hand, get investigated if they even show support for issues.

Our government and legal system is corrupt.


17 posted on 01/17/2012 11:39:19 AM PST by SaraJohnson
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