With all of this wonderful attention being paid to Pastor Yosemite Sam...

[Dappleganger]

let's hope the IRS takes notice and begins investigating his returns as well as the so-called "church."

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[pinboy3niner]

2. +1

Abusing the power of government is not the answer.

[Bitwit1234]

3. Free speech I would think has nothing to do with this

if he gets tax free status and then abuses it by being political, whether he called attention to himself or not, he should not have this status if he goes political. In fact none of these churches should have tax free status and then PREACH politics from the pulpit. He has a right to say things, as long as he is political...about it.

[Bragi]

4. Sorry, but no

Burning a holy text may be political, but it is primarily a religious statement, which is protected free speech.

I think people need to think this thing through and reject any solutions that might be more suited to Saudi Arabia than the United States.

[Stevenmarc]

9. Nice try, however

you might have a small chance of selling that concept if the burning occurred on 8/25 but holding it on 9/11 makes it 100% political. To make the comparison of changing a groups tax status to dragging them out in the streets and stoning them to death is fairly laughable, sorry but rescinding someones tax exempt status doesn't even come close to being Saudi'ish.

[Stevenmarc]

5. Nonsense, "Free Speech" doesn't mean free from consequences

He is certainly free to say what he wants from the pulpit but if what he says violates his tax exempt status that's on him.

[Dappleganger]

7. That was my point...

sorry I didn't make that more clear. When a pastor chooses to throw themselves into the midst of a hot political issue, demanding air time and making demands and threats, it seems to me that the church he runs is in violation of IRS rules for being tax-exampt.

[Cirque du So-What]

6. Yes, because Democrats & Republicans are EXACTLY alike, right?

[Tx4obama]

8. He needs to be investigated due to his use of unpaid slaves at his business

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9108742

[Gin]

10. wikipedia says the bank called the loan on his property and its now

for sale....and his wife had a for profit company that the students worked for free....state fined him and now he pays taxes on that business...so they are looking..

he brought all of this on his own loon head

[Tx4obama]

11. And his INSURANCE has been canceled. He better not start that fire!

Excerpt from wikipedia:

Also since the announcement, the bank where the church has a $140,000 mortgage loan, has demanded immediate repayment of the balance and Jones has also had his property insurance canceled.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Qur%27an-burning_controversy