Tax These Fuckers

The freakazoids have been getting an unjustified free ride for far too long. Tax exemption for god-botherers is stupid, unfair and in the reality-based world a direct violation of the Establishment Clause - even when they kept their traps shut about politics.

But when they blatantly violate even the weak, pathetic IRS rules on political involvement - then they are begging for the ax.

Steve Benen:

First up from the God Machine this week is a look at formerly apolitical preachers who are, at levels unseen in a long while, mobilizing their congregations for the 2012 election cycle.

[Iowa pastor Mike Demastus] is part of a growing movement of evangelical pastors who are jumping into the electoral fray as never before, preaching political engagement from the pulpit as they mobilize for the 2012 election.

This new activism has substantial muscle behind it: a cadre of experienced Christian organizers and some of the conservative movement’s most generous donors, who are setting up technologically sophisticated operations to reach pastors and their congregations in battleground states.

The passion for politics stems from a collision of historic forces, including heightened local organizing around the issues of abortion and gay marriage and a view of the country’s debt as a moral crisis that violates biblical instruction. Another major factor: Both Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Bachmann, contenders for the GOP nomination, are openly appealing to evangelical Christian voters as they blast President Obama’s leadership.

Both Republican and Democratic strategists say that pastors have already helped unleash an army of voters to shape the GOP primary contests in Iowa and South Carolina, two states with large numbers of conservative Christians. They are making plans to do the same in states that are even more important to next year’s general election. Those include Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Virginia and Colorado, where evangelical voters make up about a quarter of the electorate and their participation could greatly aid Republicans.

Richard Land, president of the conservative Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, called it the “congregational version of the ‘tea party.’”

The religious right, as a political movement, has clearly fallen on hard times as powerhouse groups and leaders, prominent in the ’80s and ’90s, have faded from public view. But the concept of organizing churches into a political machine hasn’t gone away at all, and with technological advances and a reinvigorated right-wing base gearing up for 2012, this is an initiative that can make a difference, both in Republican nominating contests and the general election.

The one thing to keep an eye on, though, is federal tax law — tax-exempt institutions, including churches, are legally prohibited from intervening in political campaigns, either in support of or opposition to candidates and parties. If pastors are organizing voter-registration drives, they’re well within the law. If they’re organizing “Rick Perry for President” efforts, the IRS may be stopping by for a visit.

Anybody who pays attention knows that the freakazoid motherfuckers have been violating IRS rules on political involvement for decades; hell, here in Kentucky they call out Democratic candidates by name from the pulpit week after week, saying flat out that voting Democratic is the direct path to hell. Worse than abortion. Worse than being gay. Worse than enjoying sex.

Best and fastest way to stop them is to yank their tax exemption and take their money. All of it.