The watchdog group CREW has filed a complaint with the IRS over a public endorsement given to Michelle Bachmann from the pulpit of the Living Word Christian Center this past Saturday.
Group files complaint against church over Bachmann appearance
An excerpt:
A watchdog group filed a complaint with the IRS Tuesday against a Minnesota church, claiming the pastor violated the church's tax-exempt status by endorsing GOP congressional candidate Michele Bachmann Saturday night.
When he introduced Bachmann, Pastor Mac Hammond said that the church could not endorse any candidate.
"But I can tell you, personally, that I'm going to vote for Michele Bachmann," he said to laughter and cheering, "because I've come to know her, what she stands for, and I want her to share her testimony with you tonight."
Under federal tax law, church officials can legally discuss politics, but to retain tax-exempt status, they cannot endorse candidates or parties.
And even better, the article quotes some of Bachmann's bizarre God-talk:
In her remarks, Bachmann said that she and her husband prayed and fasted for three days after God called upon her to run for Congress.
Bachmann said they asked God, "Lord, is this what you want? Is this your will?" On the afternoon of the second day, God "made that calling sure," she said.
God, she said, "has focused like a laser beam in his reasoning on this race."
I'm glad to see Michelle Bachmann being called out for the religious extremist she is. She won her primary by marshalling the evangelical bloc, but she has been running a stealth campaign in the general election. She probably thought her appearance at Living Word was a low-profile event in front of a friendly audience; meaning she said things that aren't for consumption by the general public.