Slog - Comments on Battling Satan Will Repeal Your Tax Exemption http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem You know a story is going to be good when it starts like this: Bill Keller is a publicity-savvy televangelist with a penchant for politics who works out of the back room of a used-car lot. Which seems like a pretty perfect mix: Not only can I be purified of my sins, but I can aquire get a gently-used 1991 Dodge Caravan, which will help me spread the message of our Lord and Savior. But on to the point: During the Republican primary, Keller's narrow view of scripture led him to make a comment about Mitt Romney's Mormon faith leading... Copyright 2008 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:42:43 -0800 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:22:04 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Andrew ya gotta pay to play...if you want free speech, pay your damn taxes just like the rest of us.

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058605 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058605 2008 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:59:02 -0800 Comment by lostboy Unanswered question: Why doesn't the Alliance Defense Fund go ahead and file suit now against the IRS investigation of Bill Keller?  Why instigate 50 new offenses?

There's no direct explanation, but I think I see the answer in this ominous final sentence from the NYT blog post:

[ADF Senior legal counsel Erik] Stanley said the Alliance Defense Fund had hundreds of pastors who wanted to participate, and would have to narrow it down to those who were prepared to suffer any consequences.
]]> lostboy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058636 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058636 2008 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:18:42 -0800 Comment by Hernandez Laughable. However, I could foresee a scenario in which some of the giant megachurches (you know, the ones with private jets and 500-acre campuses) would voluntarily sacrifice their tax exempt status in order to be overtly politically active.

I mean, organizations like Focus on the Family and FRC Action are already seriously blurring the line between religious ministry and for-profit political lobbying group.

]]> Hernandez http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058643 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058643 2008 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:22:49 -0800 Comment by lostboy Hernandez @3, one nitpick:  tax-exempt != not-for-profit

Conversely:  taxable != for-profit

]]> lostboy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058649 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058649 2008 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:31:24 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Aren't the tapes he plans to send to the IRS categorized as "Weapons of Mass Deception"?

If so, he might end up in GITMO for six years ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058683 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058683 2008 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:05:58 -0800 Comment by COMTE Naw, @5, it'll be perfectly okay. All he has to do is say shrub told him to send in the tapes and Congress will let him off-the-hook.

]]> COMTE http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058697 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1058697 2008 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:11:44 -0800 Comment by Colin These people absolutely have the right of free speech. They can support or attack (verbally) any candidate they want. There are, however, specific rules you have to follow to be considered a church and thus not have to pay taxes. If we didn't have these rules anybody could say they're a church and get off the hook. I hope the IRS takes them to court, wins and hits them for back taxes for all the years they've already been walking the line.

]]> Colin http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1059314 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/battling_satan_will_repeal_your_tax_exem#c1059314 2008 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:22:04 -0800