and more tragic election comedy in Ohio

[warbly]

A group of 31 Clergy men has asked the IRS to investigate two large charges who have been stumping for Kenneth Blackwell in his bid for the governorship.
Ken Blackwell, aka Katherine Blackwell, aka The Dishonorable Ken Blackwell was the secretary of state who presided over the fraud/suppression fest that was the Ohio 04 election. Ken took a page from the Florida 2000 playbook and doubled as the Bush campaign chairman. (ridiculous that such a conflict of interest is tolerated in any democracy).
He is a Bushy of the lowest order, and now hopes to be rewarded with the top post in the state, and given the sorry state of election law in Ohio, he's probably a shoo in.

In their complaint, the clergy members contend that the two Columbus-area churches, Fairfield Christian Church and the World Harvest Church, which were widely credited with getting out the Ohio vote for President Bush in 2004, have allowed their facilities to be used by Republican organizations, promoted the candidate, J. Kenneth Blackwell, among their members and otherwise violated prohibitions on political activity by tax-exempt groups.

They are asking the I.R.S. to examine whether the churches' tax exemptions should be revoked and are requesting that Mark W. Everson, the federal tax commissioner, seek an injunction to stop what they consider improper activities.

NY Times

I've no doubt with a name like "World Harvest Church" it is one of these big sheet metal barns with the Wal Mart sized parking lots that have been springing up like mushrooms in the dew the past few years.

same article:

The complaint notes Mr. Blackwell's appearance at more than eight events held by the churches or their affiliated organizations since August. And Mr. Blackwell is scheduled to be featured this spring in radio ads - "Ohio for Jesus" - paid for by the Ohio Restoration Project.

Mr. Parsley has been careful not to endorse anyone from his pulpit, which would clearly violate I.R.S. rules, but he has expressed his support for candidates in other locations. There have been widespread reports of the contributions he and his mother made to Mr. Blackwell's campaign, and shortly before the 2004 presidential election, he said in an interview with ABC News that he supported President Bush.

His church has also invited conservative Republicans like Ann Coulter and John Ashcroft to speak, and they have voiced support for Mr. Blackwell. In August, former Senator Zell Miller, a Democrat who has aligned himself with the conservative Christian movement, stood in World Harvest's pulpit at a Reformation Ohio meeting and told Mr. Blackwell, who was seated in the front pew, "You are the kind of leader this state - any state - needs."

Mr. Parsley sure knows how to book talent in his church. Ann Coulter must've really packed the house. I bet the donation bucket was full that night. I've always looked at Coulter, or as Bill Maher calls her, "Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS", as a religious figure first, and as a rabid, lying wingnut pundit second.

Blackwell helped deliver the election to Bush. Whaddya wanna bet the IRS takes a pass on this one, and keeps going after the working poor instead?

[lvx35]

1. Can you imagine of some church had michael moore as a guest?

IT would be uproar.