Religious Rights?

Let the double edged sword of hypocrisy swing. It was announced today that the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, America's oldest and most famous African American rights association, for those of you outside the US) is having its tax-exempt status reviewed by the IRS for potential political comments made by its recently-resigned president Kweisi Mfune.

American tax law states that tax-exempt organizations must refrain from making partisan comments in an official capacity or risk the tax burden of a standard business. If the NAACP is found in violation of this law, it will slam the already-ailing organization with a huge tax burden, quite possibly forcing it to close its doors for good.

This has shady politics written all over it. First, the investigation could have happened months ago, but conveniently is only happening after the election. President Bush worked hard to curry favor with the African American vote this election, playing particularly hard to the religious conservatives with the issues of gay marriage and abortion. Now the institution that has been fundamental in the construction of black rights in the 20th century is under threat, in an administration deplored for its human rights record. Should this have happened pre-election, Bush's base in the African American community would have been in great peril. Is this coincidence, or spitting in the black voter's eye?

Second, this is the first time I have heard of a review of tax exempt status this hotly-contested election year. Mfune's comments were allegedly anti-Bush, and now NAACP is being investigated. Is the NAACP being investigated because it honestly and willfully broke the law, or because it chose the wrong candidate?

Here's the hypocrisy. Nearly all US churches are tax-exempt organizations, including some 'super-churches' with thousands of members and millions of dollars in their coffers. Many of these churches proved to be vital to Bush's base that guarenteed his re-election, making many statements to their members about the importance of voting one's faith, deciding which candidates are 'chosen,' and so on. When, may I ask, are these churches, who formed political action committees in support of Bush, going to have *their* tax-exempt status reviewed? When are *their* pastors going to resign in disgrace in the face of a political witch-hunt?

The answer is, probably never, and you know what - we'd better get used to it. Bush owes the evangelicals a lot, and I've heard they've been making their own list of demands from him since they delivered the election to him. As I watch Bush build his new cabinet of friends and close allies, pushing out the moderates; as I watch the religious right get a break from legal critique as a thank you for their support; as I watch institutions that have helped make America truly free and equal by never giving up the struggle for rights falter in the face of a callous leader, I can only shudder, and hope to God that America wises up real soon.