[Dubya]

A lot of this goes on in Texas. If a plain guy like me knows its going on I have to wonder why the people with the power to do something about it don't do anything about it.

[Coop]

It's incredibly curious that something so one sided is allowed to continue by the other side. Just goes to show how paralyzed with fear so many Republicans are of being called "racist."

[Steve_Seattle]

Just last week, "black" columnist Deborah Mathis wrote an angry column claiming that the Democrats were taking the black vote for granted, and that the Dems failure to appoint blacks to positions of congressional leadership was alienating blacks and blacks would henceforth stay home rather than vote unquestioningly for Democrats. I remember thinking, "Yeah, right." That'll be the day.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), one of Sen. Landrieu's most active supporters, was told by me in 2001 that campaigning in churches was illegal. She responded, "I did not know that was illegal since we have always used churches with no complaints by anyone."

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Ignorance by an ignorant congressperson is even less of an excuse.

[Steve_Seattle]

I have very mixed feelings on this issue. Although I think that the law should be equally enforced - and it clearly is not - and although I also believe that politics should normally be kept out of the pulpit, I do not agree with the idea that because an organization is tax-exempt it therefore should forfeit its right to speak out on political issues. Where does this idea come from that free speech can be restricted because of your tax classification?

[Redleg Duke]

Just how would the black activists react if the "White Churches" were allowed to do legally, that which the "Black Churches" do illegally?

Prediction: The screams of racism and church burnings would echo through the land!

[Steve_Seattle]

"I have to wonder why the people with the power to do something about it don't do something about it."

For Democrats, the answer is that they benefit from it. For Republicans, the answer is that although they do not benefit from it, they will not benefit from challenging it, either. They will just further alienate blacks, will be called racists, etc.

[RGSpincich]

Black churches and voters when faced with the opportunity to gain respect and independence turned and ran back to the plantation. Nothing gained, Republicans still control the Senate. Go figure.

[Steve_Seattle]

There is a church in Seattle called Mt. Zion Baptist Church which for years has had a reputation as a virtual Democratic Party headquarters. The newspapers write articles about it, expressing admiration for it, and never question the propriety or legality of it. The former pastor, the Rev. Sam McKinney, is a local icon; the press would not dare touch him or question him. But if conservative churches ever start politicking, questions of propriety and legality are immediately raised. There is a clear double standard.

[Bogolyubski]

Although I think the ultimate goal should be to repeal Lyndon Johnson's stupid, unconstitutional law, the only short term action is to bring lawsuits against the churches in question and to sue the Feds into enforcing the laws equally. The Feds under the Clinton machine sued several conservative, evangelical churches out of existence for a much lower level of advocacy. The Republicans (as usual) are demonstrating the cowardice they have become so excellent at.