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 to Hardball Politics Seeking an OK for Churches to Endorse Political Candidates Hopes to Rally Republican Evangelicals in 2002 & 2004 |
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Compiled by GayToday Americans United for the Separation of Church and State
Appearing as a guest on Robertson's 700 Club, Jones urged the program's estimated one million viewers to contact their House members and pressure Rep. Bill Thomas, chair of the Ways and Means Committee, to schedule a hearing on the bill in March. Jones said the measure was drafted by the American Center for Law and Justice, the legal arm of Robertson's religio-political empire. The push for the Jones bill comes in an election year when control of Congress is up for grabs. In recent weeks, White House political strategists have expressed concern that evangelical Christians did not vote for Bush in 2000 in expected numbers. The Jones bill and Robertson's enthusiastic support for it may be part of a move to spark GOP endorsements by conservative churches in the 2002 and 2004 elections. Robertson made the partisan character of the Jones bill clear. Railing against the "draconian" character of federal tax law, Robertson said on the show, "As it is now, if somebody comes out and says, 'I support George Bush,' theoretically the IRS can come in and take away their tax exemption." Robertson's attempt to change federal tax law and prod America's churches into partisan politics comes only four weeks after his December 5 announcement that he was quitting as president of the Christian Coalition to push national revival and "focus on those things that will bring forth the greatest spiritual benefit." Robertson's critics were not surprised at his quick relapse into partisan politics.
Said AU's Lynn: "Robertson will never give up his dream of forging churches into a partisan political machine. If that dream ever comes true, it will be a nightmare for America. Both religion and government are harmed when the two are recklessly mixed." |
