The "Black Card"

Yesterday the Miami Herald reported on the IRS investigating Liberty City church in Miami about a campaign stop John Kerry made there last fall.

The reason for the investigation, an IRS official wrote in a 10-page letter obtained by The Herald, is that ``a reasonable belief exists that Friendship Missionary Baptist Church has engaged in political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status as a church.''

As you know, churches are not allowed to participate in political campaigns - such participation would mean that the organization is no longer a strictly religious institution, and would therefore not be allowed to be exempt from income taxes. John Kerry's October speech at the church drew criticism from church and state separation watchdog groups at the time the initial news reports were published, as it should have. The media that was in attendance clearly showed the congregation holding "John Kerry" signs as the Senator was introduced by the pastor by saying that "to bring our country out of despair, despondency and disgust, God has sent John Kerry." Of course, this was not a political rally.

The worst part about this entire inquiry is the speedy playing of the race card:

[U.S. Rep. Kendrick ] Meek, the statewide chairman of Kerry's failed presidential campaign, said the complaints came from outsider groups that may specifically be targeting black churches. He said two other Miami-area churches received inquiry notices last year, but declined to name them or discuss the probes.

Also:

Last year, the IRS was decried for investigating whether a speech by NAACP Chairman Julian Bond last summer criticizing the Bush administration violated tax law.

Bond said he felt the probe was politically motivated and meant to have a chilling effect on the NAACP and its efforts to register black voters.

So, to get this all straight, the Bush administration, under the guise of the IRS, is persecuting black Americans and black churches for their connections to the John Kerry campaign, right? In reality, this church and pastor that announced John Kerry as "the next President of the United States" to a crowd of supporters waving John Kerry signs clearly violates the church's tax exempt status. Churches should not even have political party and candidate's signs on their front lawns - they, too are political activities. This IRS investigation should have come after one day, not five months.