More
HenchPAC News(CNSNews.com) - The IRS has promised to investigate charges that the senate
campaigns of New York Democrat Hillary Clinton and New Jersey Democrat John Corzine
invited federal tax rules to be broken when they pitched for political support from black
churches.
The IRS does not comment on which matters it investigates, but the Catholic League, which
urged the investigation, confirmed that the probe had been launched.
It is illegal for religious leaders, who enjoy tax-exempt status from the IRS, under
section 501 (c) (3) of the tax code, to allow their churches to be used for political
purposes.
However, according to the Catholic League, during Mrs. Clinton's visit to a black church
in the Bronx last Sunday, she urged the congregation to sing a hymn in which the name of
Clinton's opponent, Republican Rick Lazio, was substituted for a reference to Satan.
And according to the Catholic League, the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey endorsed
Corzine's bid for the senate earlier this year after Corzine had donated $25,000 to the
Minister's Council.
Tom Shea, spokesman for Corzine's senate campaign, who was unaware of the IRS
investigation, said Tuesday the $25,000 was donated specifically to St. Matthews
African-Methodist-Episcopal church in Newark for an after-school program and not to the
Black Ministers Council.
Shea also said when the pastor of the church, Reginald Jackson, endorsed Corzine in April,
he did so as an individual, not as a member of the Black Ministers Council or as the head
of a church seeking to politically influence his congregation. Other members of the Black
Ministers Council who came out in support of Corzine also "endorsed him as
individuals," according to Shea.
Shea did admit that of the $25,000 Corzine donated, some of it ended up being "used
for other reasons" besides the after-school program. Shea could not specify those
other reasons.
There was no reaction from Hillary Clinton's senate campaign to the IRS probe.
The Catholic League also wanted Democratic Presidential nominee Al Gore investigated for
trying to solicit the support of black ministers. Gore reportedly called black ministers
from Air Force Two last Saturday and asked them to gather support for him in their
communities. However, the IRS has decided not to probe Gore's campaign, according to the
Catholic League, because the ministers did not actually endorse Gore.
"Whether any law has been violated by those ministers who have been asked to do the
bidding of Hillary Clinton, John Corzine or Al Gore is not for the Catholic League to
decide," said William Donohue, president of the Catholic League. "But it is our
business to make certain that an equal playing field is achieved for the Catholic
clergy."
Donohoe said the Hillary Clinton, Corzine and Gore campaigns were guilty of
"outrageous abuses of power."
An IRS spokesman refused to comment on the matter Tuesday, instead directing attention to
a previous press release in which the agency warned tax-exempt charitable organizations
that they "are prohibited from participating or intervening in any political campaign
on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office."
HENCH adds: Complete justice if the IRS that the Clintons used against their enemies is the same agency that FINALLY trips up these crooks.
More
HenchPAC News
[ Home ] [ News ] [ Products ]
To leave HENCH a message,
comment, or link: