Group Seeks IRS Investigation Into Whether Nevada Church Impermissibly Endorsed Obama for President

Americans United for Separation of Church and State yesterday sent a letter to the IRS requesting an investigation into whether a Nevada pastor impermissibly endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama from the pulpit, in violation of the § 501(c)(3) ban on campaign intervention. From the group's press release:

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today asked the IRS to investigate a Nevada church whose pastor called for the election of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama from the pulpit on Sunday. Obama spoke during services at the Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ in Las Vegas on Jan. 13 in what the Las Vegas Review-Journal described as a “surprise appearance.” Before the Illinois senator arrived, Pastor Leon Smith told the congregation, “The more he (Obama) speaks, the more he wins my confidence, and ... if the polls were open today, I would cast my vote for this senator.” Smith added, “If you can’t support your own, you’re never going to get anywhere.... I want to see this man in office.”