Posted on 03/22/2008 11:45:58 AM PDT by GodGunsGuts
The Christian Century Magazine
News
March 25, 2008
IRS probes appearance by Obama at UCC convention
The Internal Revenue Service has notified the United Church of Christ that it has opened an investigation into possible "political activities" connected with Senator Barack Obama's speech at the denomination's national convention last year.
UCC president John H. Thomas termed the investigation "disturbing," but said that church officials took great care to see that Obama's appearance at the UCC General Synod meeting last June in Hartford, Connecticut, "met appropriate legal and moral standards."
Engaging in partisan political acts can endanger a church body's tax-exempt status. Thomas expressed confidence that no violations occurred at the convention. The UCC announced February 26 that it has received the IRS letter.
Barry Lynn, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which frequently alerts the IRS to violations by liberal and conservative churches, said it had looked into the situation and "saw no evidence of UCC officials seeking to appear to endorse [Obama's] candidacy."
Lynn, who is a UCC minister, added that "public officials can appear at religious gathering to address issues even if they are candidates. However, the sponsoring group may not use the occasion" to endorse or support the candidate's campaign.
Obama, an active member of the UCC, addressed 10,000 people attending the 50th anniversary meeting on June 23. Before the Illinois senator spoke, a UCC official admonished the crowd that leaflets, signs, placards or other forms of electioneering would not be tolerated. Activity by Obama campaign supporters was barred inside the Hartford Civic Center, according to an article on the UCC Web site.
Don Clark, a Chicago attorney who is the church's special counsel, said the IRS investigation will give the UCC a chance to correct inaccuracies. "It's disconcerting," Clark said, "since the IRS did not communicate with us, or seek any facts from us, in advance."
I'm sure UCC will argue in that regard right up until the day the IRS yanks its tax exempt status.
Barry has been working to take God out of our lives. He works for the lower team.
Or as old Screwtape would have it, “Rev. Wright works for our father below.”
EXCLUSIVE - Obama’s Nation of Islam Staffers, Edward Said & “Inflexible Jews” Causing Mid-East Conflict: An Obama Insider Reveals the Real Barack
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By Debbie Schlussel - Copyright 2008
**** EXCLUSIVE: Must Cite Debbie Schlussel and/or DebbieSchlussel.com ****
Responding to criticism by Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen, Barack Obama declared his strong opposition to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan:
I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan.
Obama also went on to condemn his Church’s award to Farrakhan and his minister’s tight relationship with him.
But a former Obama insider says that Obama’s sudden aversion to NOI and Farrakhan is belied by the fact that Obama employed and continues to employ several Farrakhan acolytes in high positions on his Illinois and U.S. Senate campaign and office staffs. I have verified that this person—who agreed to talk on the condition of anonymity—held a key position in the Obama campaign. The insider was so close to Senator Obama that they frequently personally discussed and exchanged direct e-mail messages on campaign and policy matters. This person is not connected with the Clintons and is not a disgruntled employee.
barackobamaedwardsaid.jpg
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Barack Hussein & Michelle Obama with Palestinian Activist, PLO/Arafat Advisor Edward Said @ Arab Fundraiser
(Photos From Electronic Intifada)
The insider says he frequently objected to Mr. Obama’s placement of Cynthia K. Miller, a member of the Nation of Islam, as the Treasurer of his U.S. Senate campaign. When I contacted Miller, now a Chicago real estate agent, to verify whether she was a member of the Nation of Islam and whether she shared Louis Farrakhan’s bigoted views about Jews, she responded, “None of your business! Where are you going with this?” She said her resignation as Obama’s treasurer had nothing to do with her Nation of Islam ties. Then, she hung up.
The Obama insider says he also objected to Obama’s involvement with Jennifer Mason, whom he says is also a member of the Nation of Islam. Mason is Obama’s Director of Constituent Services in his U.S. Senate office and is also in charge of selecting Obama’s Senate interns. She did not respond to repeated calls for comment.
But it’s not just that he employed these individuals in positions of power in his office, it’s that when the former associate raised objections, he says Mr. Obama’s position was that he saw nothing wrong with the Nation of Islam and didn’t think it was a problem. If true—and the fact that Ms. Mason still holds her prominent Obama Senate staff position bears that out—Obama’s condemnation of Farrakhan, this month, is phony.
But the insider says there is more to it than that. Obama’s Illinois State Senate district consisted of prime Nation of Islam territory, including Hyde Park, home to Farrakhan’s mansion. It is not possible, Illinois politicos say, to win that district without the blessing of the NOI leader. NOI members, including consultant Shakir Muhammad, held important roles in the Obama state senate campaign.
How many Nation of Islam members will work in an Obama White House?
Then, there is the issue of Israel. When Obama first ran for the U.S. Senate, he gave militant responses to the Chicago Jewish News about Israel. Obama denounced Israel’s fence—which he called a “wall” and “barrier to peace”—to keep out terrorists and favored working with Yasser Arafat. When members of the Chicago Jewish community circulated his responses, Obama said that the answers were not his positions, but the work of a low-level intern. He submitted new answers. But that was a lie, the insider says. In fact, they were the work of Obama’s Policy Director, Audra Wilson. Moreover, Obama told the insider that he blamed the Mideast conflict on the Jews:
Barack told me that he felt that Jewish community was too inflexible, and that was why the situation in the Mideast could not be resolved.
This is the man who says in a new campaign ad that Hillary Clinton will say anything but change nothing. Barack Obama will say anything, but change his answers.
Palestinian activist and Islamist Ali Abunimah, who was a close friend of Obama’s, attended an Arab fundraiser at which the late Edward Said—plagiarist, fabricator, and prominent PLO/Arafat advisor—was the keynote speaker, and at which the Obamas were notably in attendance. Pictures on Abunimah’s site, posted above, show Obama and wife, Michelle, sitting next to Said and engaging in conversation. Abunimah, in a must-read article, says the Senator has since “changed” his proclaimed views from those he expressed privately, in order to get Jewish donors and votes.
And he has succeeded in spades. Lee Rosenberg a top Illinois official of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the pro-Israel lobby is a big Obama donor. Ditto for former national AIPAC official Bob Asher. And Penny Pritzker of the pro-Israel family that owns Hyatt hotels. And there are so many others who have bought in to Obama’s newly pro-Israel views. The insider says Obama pulled the wool over their eyes.
Then, there’s Bettylu Saltzman, also Jewish and one of Obama’s first major supporters and donors. She is a major Peace Now devotee, officer of the far-left, pro-capitulation New Israel Fund, and wrote a letter to a Chicago newspaper praising Jimmy Carter’s book calling Israel an apartheid state. The Obama insider says she has Obama’s ear on the Mideast and “will be a major policy person for Barack. Very dangerous.”
The insider points to Mr. Obama’s changing views in Iraq as another area of uncertainty. He has highlighted his opposition to the War in Iraq. The insider says there is strong speculation that Obama attempted to get his crony, Federal Indictee Tony Rezko, a contract to build a nuclear power plant in the new Iraq. Rezko, a Syrian Arab who helped Obama in a deal to purchase his home, was in a partnership with NOI founder Elijah Muhammad’s son, Jabir.
Barack Obama can denounce Louis Farrakhan ad infinitum. But with supporters like Ms. Saltzman, high-level staffers who are Nation of Islam members, and constantly morphing views on Israel merely for donor appeal, a Barack Obama White House bodes poorly both for Israel and—far more important—for America.
Posted by Debbie at January 30, 2008 10:07 AM
Thats funny!
Hey Rome,
Looks like Obuma and his Ho are down for the islam-facist hate America Flow.
Barry Lynn at one time was a chief counsel for the ACLU. All communist and tratiors always stick together.
Respectfully,
NSNR
Bird of a feather flock together.
Don’t forget that “Rev.” Lynn belongs to the same “church” denomination as “Rev.” Wright and Barack Hussein Obama. It is amazing how many dots are being connected as a result of Barack’s run for the Oval Office.
Said was an ally of the terrorists. Fortunately, he’s dead.
The DemoRats should change the name of their party to National Socialist Party. Both the would-be Reichsfuhrer HRC and the would-be Reichsfuhreer “O BAM a” would like to dictate everything we do from inside the White House.
How the left takes care of itself.
Thanks for the intell and Obuma will lose in the general election regardless.
Respectfully,
NSNR
So, why is it IRS has elected to adopt Barry Lynne’s theological positions? Just who is he, the Atheists’ pope, or what.
Whats going on in these Black Liberation Churches is exactly the same as what is happening in Palestine.
They are training generation after generation of people who know nothing but hatred and that anything bad that happens to them, its all because the “Man” is out to get them.
Look at Katrina, everyone just assumed that the trouble that they were in was because they were black.
I breeds nothing but losers. One reason that the crime rate is so high in these neighborhoods is so many people see themselves as victims, so why not get even with the system by knocking a little old lady over the head and taking her purse.
Even when the kids don’t grow up to be hoodlums, they can be unemployable. You can’t get past the chip on their shoulder.
But they are taught that too. Getting a job and making something of your self is the forbiddened “MiddleClassNess”.
Its nothing less than child abuse.
Why do they do it? Well, what would a radical activist do without angry constituents.
I didn’t know Lynn was a UCC minister. Thanks for the info!
My first reaction was surprise. My second reaction was, “Makes perfect sense.”
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