[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Though Cain didn't ask for votes at either church, Baker and the Rev. Joe Roberson of South Columbus were openly political.

"I don't know who you're voting for, but I'm voting for Herman," Baker told his flock. "Can I get a witness?"

A black preacher can do that - at least for a black or (usually the same thing) a Democrat candidate. If the Christian Coalition did that for a white Republican, we would never hear the end of it.

But freedom of religion certainly includes the freedom of the preacher to espouse political opinions such as, historically, the abolition of slavery. If in fact we did have freedom of religion . . .

And in fact there would be no argument against that freedom, absent the deductibility of charitable contributions - so a flat tax or a national sales tax would restore religious freedom. When a liberal speaks of "wall of seperation between church and state" he really means "wall of protection of antichristian politics from coherent Christian political attack."

[Veritas_est]

"A black preacher can do that - at least for a black or (usually the same thing) a Democrat candidate. If the Christian Coalition did that for a white Republican, we would never hear the end of it."

From a legal standpoint, ANY pastor can say whom he will vote for, but my understanding is that it shouldn't be done within the context of a worship service or other official church function. About the only thing he/she can't do is tell the congregation that they should vote for or against anyone specifically. Most who do acknowledge their candidate usually step from behind the pulpit first. This is just a symbolic gesture, and is legally questionable at best. These rules apply to all (501-c-3) tax exempt organizations (corporations).

The argument about whether an organization can be a church and a corporation at the same time is a subject for further debate at another time.