IRS Investigating Internet Evangelist
Bill Keller, who really hit the Media’s radar screen during the primaries with his infamous quote about Mitt Romney is being investigated by the IRS according to EarnedMedia.Org in a story referencing the original article in the NEW YORK TIMES.
I thought his remark was way off base and apparently the IRS does as well. It will be very interesting to see how the case develops.
~~John Cronin~~
http://www.earnedmedia.org/wdc0624.htm
MEDIA ADVISORY, June 24 /Christian Newswire/ –
The New York Times has broken the story that Bill Keller, founder of Liveprayer.com with over 2.4 million subscribers to his Daily Devotional and host of the Liveprayer TV program, is under investigation for possibly violating his tax exempt status in speaking out last year against former Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s Mormon beliefs. Keller, who was the first Christian leader to speak out nationally against Romney’s beliefs coined the now infamous phrase, “A vote for Romney is a vote for Satan.”
Keller maintains that he has done nothing to violate his tax exemption status and says his attorneys are confident the ministry will be cleared of any wrongdoing. Keller stated, “I have every right to educate people on spiritual matters and deal with the pressing spiritual issues of our day, even those that transcend into the political arena. Unlike many Christian leaders, I have never, or ever will endorse any candidate for public office and have never told people who to or not to vote for.” He has recently been in the national news making the case that the Democratic nominee for President, Senator Barack Obama is not a Christian.
New York Times story from Tuesday, June 24, 2008: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/challenging-the-irs/
June 24th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I didn’t know about this guy. This guy says what a lot of ignorant Southerners think.
June 24th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Tax the jerk. Make him pay!!!
June 24th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I remember hearing about him on the O’Reilly Factor during the primaries. What a joke. Nice to see the IRS doing its job with this reekazoid.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
More bigotry and hypocrisy from our not-so-Christian neighbors. Why am I not surprised? It is so disappointing.
Seeing stuff like this continues to wear on me, even all these months post-Romney. It’s very hard to see people like this, who have such a following amongst other people of faith, to be so self-motivated and hateful toward Mitt Romney, or toward Mormons or anyone of another faith besides theirs. Every time I think I’m “over it,” something comes up like this that really knocks me down again. Guess healing (on both sides) will take a little longer.
I hope the IRS makes this guy accountable for any wrong doing.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:31 am
The IRS are investigating him and not Trinity United? Of course He should be taxed, taxed and more taxed. He is the one who made Romney’s faith more of an issue then it has to be. Oh I hope this is God’s revenge. Nothing more sweeter. He is so arrogant. Of course he was telling people who to vote for or more correctly who not to vote for. It shouldn’t matter either way. When it comes to politics and candidates churches and pastors should remain neutral.
The IRS needs to investigate Trinity United as well.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Sarah
Any chruch huckabee has ‘preached’ in in the past year also ought to leose their tax exampt status. He was clearly campaigning in churches.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Thanks for this article, John.
Bigotry will not go away if we don’t address it. Tiring as it may be, those of us who love our American Constitution must be as vigilant in hosing down prejudice as the prejudicial are in keeping it fired up.
Bill Keller is a feculent “evangelical Jeremiah Wright.” TRUE Christian evangelicals who deplore this bigotry are highly commended.
Regarding Keller’s disclaimer on the Christian Newswire: “Unlike many Christian leaders, I have never, or ever will endorse any candidate for public office and have never told people who to or not to vote for.” Read Keller’s own words from his Daily Devotional “The Fallout from taking on Romney” 5/15/07 (MISSPELLINGS INCLUDED). http://liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=2935 Judge for yourself if he’s a truthful man:
“… The legitimate question that this has also raised is who to vote for in ‘08. As in the past, I refuse to tell you who to vote for, that is a choice YOU have to make. However, let me give you this guidance… No person who is serious about heir faith can vote for a person who is part of a satanic cult since that person will give mainstream credibility to that cult which will lead people to join and end up in hell for rejecting Jesus Christ. That makes this upcoming presidential election a very difficult choice since its almost a certainty that the nominee from both parties will support killing babies, possibly gay marriage, and be the member of a satanic cult if Romney wins the Republican nomination…
…still no excuse to support a man who is part of a satanic cult, whose election to the most powerful office on the planet will give worldwide credibility to that satanic cult, will cause millions to join their ranks, and ultimately cause them to die in their sins and spend an eternity in hell! His candidacy alone has already been a non-stop infomercial for the Mormon cult…”
Call me stupid - sounds to me like he’s telling people not to vote for Romney! This is just a small portion of the putrescent anti-Mormon punditry that Keller pukes up. More power to the IRS.
For all Keller’s claims to follow the bible, he fails to apply its message. From HIS OWN WORDS (Daily Devotional “Becoming More Like Jesus” 6/17/04): http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=1841)
“Therefore rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind…” 1Peter 2:1-5
Thank God for our Constitution and Bill of Rights. May he bless our nation and the Romneys.