Two of the three trips made by the Kerry –Edwards campaign have included a visit to an African American church where the minister gives a veiled endorsement.

Interesting neither Kerry or Edwards has attended their own church that often (twice in one month) in the past four years, but they will visit these churches only to pick up endorsements and never darken these or their own church’s doorstep regularly after the campaign is over.

If Bush were to visit a Church as part of a campaign photo op, the Democrats would cry foul! If a minister was to state his preference for “W

So what's the distinction between what Democrats are doing in their churches and Republicans are doing in their churches?

I missed it.

Schadenfreude Wrote:So what's the distinction between what Democrats are doing in their churches and Republicans are doing in their churches?

I missed it.

Democrats in African American churches pick up political endorsements, according to tax code, tax exempt organizations such as churches are not allowed to formally endorse candidate's precisely what Dem's get by going to African American churches.

THE NC Herd Fan Wrote:

Schadenfreude Wrote:So what's the distinction between what Democrats are doing in their churches and Republicans are doing in their churches?

I missed it.

Democrats in African American churches pick up political endorsements, according to tax code, tax exempt organizations such as churches are not allowed to formally endorse candidate's precisely what Dem's get by going to African American churches.

If you have evidence that a law was broken, call the IRS.

Schadenfreude Wrote:

THE NC Herd Fan Wrote:

Schadenfreude Wrote:So what's the distinction between what Democrats are doing in their churches and Republicans are doing in their churches?

I missed it.

Democrats in African American churches pick up political endorsements, according to tax code, tax exempt organizations such as churches are not allowed to formally endorse candidate's precisely what Dem's get by going to African American churches.

If you have evidence that a law was broken, call the IRS.

Many conservative churches and religious institutions have been harassed by the IRS over this issue, particularly in the Clinton years.

Moreover, many people still rail about churches (and their tax status) when those churches espouse conservative principles.

This doesn't raise much ire, or make the news media when it's a liberal candidate endorsement.

Doesn't your sense of "fairness" and your outrage as a journalist come through?

You want to compare and contrast Iraq and Viet Nam, despite the glaring contradictions.

Why not this?

can't we all just go to KFC and get wings?

DrTorch Wrote:

Schadenfreude Wrote:

THE NC Herd Fan Wrote:

Schadenfreude Wrote:So what's the distinction between what Democrats are doing in their churches and Republicans are doing in their churches?

I missed it.

Democrats in African American churches pick up political endorsements, according to tax code, tax exempt organizations such as churches are not allowed to formally endorse candidate's precisely what Dem's get by going to African American churches.

If you have evidence that a law was broken, call the IRS.

Many conservative churches and religious institutions have been harassed by the IRS over this issue, particularly in the Clinton years.

Moreover, many people still rail about churches (and their tax status) when those churches espouse conservative principles.

This doesn't raise much ire, or make the news media when it's a liberal candidate endorsement.

Doesn't your sense of "fairness" and your outrage as a journalist come through?

You want to compare and contrast Iraq and Viet Nam, despite the glaring contradictions.

Why not this?

You guys are looking for a conspiracy and/or double standard where none exists.

This thread didn't start with a link. We don't even have a consistent story. The first post in this thread talked about a "veiled endorsement." A later post says "endorsement."

Which was it?

I'm not being dismissive. I don't know what happened. I'm not super clear on the law, either.

If you think a law was broken, call the IRS.

"God speaks through me..."

George Bush, July 17, 2004

Is that an endorsement from God or a way for Dub to keep from having to pay taxes? :rolleyes:

Trooper Wrote:"God speaks through me..."

          George Bush, July 17, 2004

Is that an endorsement from God or a way for Dub to keep from having to pay taxes? :rolleyes:

Trooper once again gets the "change the focus of the thread" award.

GrayBeard Wrote:

Trooper Wrote:"God speaks through me..."

          George Bush, July 17, 2004

Is that an endorsement from God or a way for Dub to keep from having to pay taxes? :rolleyes:

Trooper once again gets the "change the focus of the thread" award.

I'm sorry, I thought this quote.......

"If Bush were to visit a Church as part of a campaign photo op, the Democrats would cry foul! If a minister was to state his preference for “W

Trooper Wrote:

GrayBeard Wrote:[quote="Trooper"] "God speaks through me..."

          George Bush, July 17, 2004

Is that an endorsement from God or a way for Dub to keep from having to pay taxes? :rolleyes:

Trooper once again gets the "change the focus of the thread" award.

I'm sorry, I thought this quote.......

"If Bush were to visit a Church as part of a campaign photo op, the Democrats would cry foul! If a minister was to state his preference for “W

Schadenfreude Wrote:So what's the distinction between what Democrats are doing in their churches and Republicans are doing in their churches?

I missed it.

I missed it, too.

If a republican candidate has the balls to walk into a Black church and speak his/her mind, have at it. Actually, I know of an uppity black church here Durham (NC) where Bush could probably come and pick up some votes..

Schadenfreude Wrote:So what's the distinction between what Democrats are doing in their churches and Republicans are doing in their churches?

I didn't know there were democrat and republican churches. I always thought they were made of of religious denominations not political.

MongoSlade Wrote:Actually, I know of an uppity black church here Durham (NC) where Bush could probably come and pick up some votes..

Those "uppity black churches"! Don't they know their place?

bearcat65 Wrote:

Schadenfreude Wrote:So what's the distinction between what Democrats are doing in their churches and Republicans are doing in their churches?

I didn't know there were democrat and republican churches. I always thought they were made of of religious denominations not political.

Walk around the parking lots of churches of different denominations and pay attention to the political stickers seen in each. I doubt you'll find many churches with anything close to a 50/50 split.

...and yes, I've done this...not specifically to check out the bumper stickers, but because my wife and I just moved and are looking for a church where we feel comfortable. I've been to two churches that primarily had Kerry/Edwards stickers and two that primarily had Bush/Cheney stickers.

...and by primarily, I mean >90%.

99Tiger Wrote:

bearcat65 Wrote:

Schadenfreude Wrote:So what's the distinction between what Democrats are doing in their churches and Republicans are doing in their churches?

I didn't know there were democrat and republican churches. I always thought they were made of of religious denominations not political.

Walk around the parking lots of churches of different denominations and pay attention to the political stickers seen in each. I doubt you'll find many churches with anything close to a 50/50 split.

...and yes, I've done this...not specifically to check out the bumper stickers, but because my wife and I just moved and are looking for a church where we feel comfortable. I've been to two churches that primarily had Kerry/Edwards stickers and two that primarily had Bush/Cheney stickers.

...and by primarily, I mean >90%.

Which is true........but I know of no Republican candidates that speak in churches. I know of MANY Democrats that do. Charles Walker for one. GDawgs88 is the only one that will get that. He has so many indictments on his *** it'll make a jury dizzy.....unless it's in Augusta.

RebelKev Wrote:Which is true........but I know of no Republican candidates that speak in churches. I know of MANY Democrats that do. Charles Walker for one. GDawgs88 is the only one that will get that. He has so many indictments on his *** it'll make a jury dizzy.....unless it's in Augusta.

Yes, but at the same time, there are leaders of "conservative" churches who vocally support "conservative" platforms. The Republican candidates simply don't need to go into those churches to gather more votes, they already have them.

Democratic candidates "campaigning" in churches aren't really compaigning, they're going to the churches (which will obviously have a liberal lean) to fire up people to go vote...not vote their way, but just to vote.

Democrats don't really have central, unifying issues...more often than not, they're just not Republicans...and therefore, tend to be less fired-up about voting...but that's moving off-topic from candidates in churches to a little political theory...so I'll end it there.

99Tiger Wrote:

RebelKev Wrote:Which is true........but I know of no Republican candidates that speak in churches. I know of MANY Democrats that do. Charles Walker for one. GDawgs88 is the only one that will get that. He has so many indictments on his *** it'll make a jury dizzy.....unless it's in Augusta.

Yes, but at the same time, there are leaders of "conservative" churches who vocally support "conservative" platforms. The Republican candidates simply don't need to go into those churches to gather more votes, they already have them.

Democratic candidates "campaigning" in churches aren't really compaigning, they're going to the churches (which will obviously have a liberal lean) to fire up people to go vote...not vote their way, but just to vote.

Democrats don't really have central, unifying issues...more often than not, they're just not Republicans...and therefore, tend to be less fired-up about voting...but that's moving off-topic from candidates in churches to a little political theory...so I'll end it there.

You stated something that was unconstitutional.......

"Democratic candidates "campaigning" in churches aren't really compaigning, they're going to the churches (which will obviously have a liberal lean) to fire up people to go vote."


THAT is unconstitutional.


Churches, at least the ones "I" go to, don't vote for a party or candidate.....they vote on issues. Democratic churches vote for a candidate and candidates lobby there. I too am from the South......I know.

How is that unconstitutional? I'm not really debating as much as I am admitting my ignorance of constitutional law.

99Tiger Wrote:How is that unconstitutional? I'm not really debating as much as I am admitting my ignorance of constitutional law.

You cannot, as a candidate, go into a church and garner votes OR get people to register to vote. The Dems have done it for years. .....and it's UNconstitutional.