Group Asks IRS To Investigate Alleged Political Endorsement By Church

Americans United announced yesterday that it has sent a letter (full text) to the Internal Revenue Service asking it to investigate the First Baptist Church of Dallas (TX) for violating the tax code's ban on non-profits endorsing political candidates.  The church's pastor, Robert Jeffress, introduced candidate Rick Perry at the Value Voters Summit last week end. (See prior posting.) Jeffress then posted a video of the introduction and of his appearance on MSNBC on the church's website. AU says that Jeffress has not avoided church endorsement of Perry by merely placing a disclaimer on the video clips saying they do not constitute an endorsement by the church.