Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Baptist Record: Courthouse incident under review

The Baptist Record published the following story about the Hinds County courthouse incident and a statement by Executive Director Jim Futral:


Investigation underway over courthouse entry

By William H. Perkins Jr.

Editor

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith announced June 6 that he will open an investigation into why three people became locked inside the Hinds County Courthouse in Jackson in the early morning hours after the June 3 election.

The three individuals, Central Mississippi Tea Party President Janis Lane; Scott Brewster, a paid staffer for Chris McDaniel's campaign for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Thad Cochran; and Rob Chambers, a consultant for the Christian Action Commission were cleared June 4 of any wrongdoing in an investigation by the Hinds County Sheriff's Office. However, Smith agreed to conduct his own investigation after prodding from Hinds County Supervisor Robert Graham. There was no indication when the investigation would be completed.

The three have reportedly said that they entered the courthouse through an unsecured side door at about 1:30 a.m. to observe vote counting, and found themselves locked inside after realizing the building was closed and no vote count was occurring.

Jim Futral, executive director of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board in Jackson, issued the following statement on Friday morning, June 6: "I am very appreciative of the swift manner in which Dr. Jimmy Porter, executive director of the Christian Action Commission, and the Commission's trustee leadership have addressed the incident at the Hinds County Courthouse on the morning of June 4. Details are still emerging, and I want Mississippi Baptists to know that this situation is being dealt with as properly and as fairly as possible at the present time"

Jimmy Porter, executive director of the Christian Action Commission in Jackson, issued the following statement on Monday morning: "I cannot comment on this incident while it is under active investigation by the Hinds County District Attorney. I can say the facts surrounding this incident are still being reviewed by the trustees of the Christian Action Commission. In order to be fair to everyone involved, that is the only statement that will be made at this."

Kingfish note: That was the news, now for the commentary. Just one question for the Convention. Does the convention think its full-time employee/lobbyist should be actively participating in a campaign? Does that mean the Convention was directly or indirectly helping a Senate candidate's campaign? Conspiracy theory? Read on.

The Christian Action Commission is the "lobbying arm" of the Mississippi Baptist Convention.  Check out this screenshot of the CAC's video page on Vimeo.

Yup, just one video by a Senate candidate and its Chris McDaniel speaking at a religious liberty conference (Good speech.  Don't know why the campaign didn't package some of it into a Youtube video.).  So the Commission is posting videos of a candidate and the lobbyist is an active participant in the campaign.  Where is the line?

Note: I already wrote this post when the Clarion-Ledger broke the story about the All Citizens PAC story.  Its going up as well. 

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

So, is the Ms Baptist Convention a 501(c)3? And they are lobbying?

Anonymous said...

They will fire the lobbyist and the McDaniel video will disappear if only to soothe the wounds at First Baptist Jackson.

LCB said...

So who was the elected official that let them in? The CL posted a story saying it was an elected official.

Anonymous said...

Geez, JJ. I am getting tired of reading NON stories on this site. This so called break-in wasnt even a break-in and you all are telling on yourselves by keeping this one going.

Geez! Desperate for anything you can find in the bottom of the barrel, eh? Have you checked up and investigated why Pete Perry took soooo loooong to respond to Ms. Lane's phone calls?

Keep on keeping on with your non stories. Think we dont see through you?

Anonymous said...

They need to clean up their own house first. The Bible states (and I quote verbatim from the Bible) in Lev. 20:13, "If there is a man which lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death."
This is a lot more serious crime against the Christian faith that the Baptist need to address, than a late night break-in.

Anonymous said...

12:40 - This IS news. Something happened and we'd like to know the truth.

Anonymous said...

How can the Baptist endorse any candidate that is married and is openly living in sin with his secretary.

Anonymous said...

How does the length of time it took Pete Perry to answer Ms. Lane's phone call matter? Is he supposed to be standing by at all hours of the day in night in case she calls?

Anonymous said...

Well, this IS news, too, and I sure would like to know the truth about this.

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/dailyledes/2014/06/17/democrat-black-gotv-cochran/10675595/


The head of the HInds County Republican Executive Committee is working with "Scooby Doo" to spread some money among Democratic voters so they will show up for Thad. This is the sorriest thing I have seen in a long time and raises two immediate questions:

1. Will Perry recuse himself from any further activity in the primary on behalf of the Hinds County Republican Executive Committee? Are the other committee members going to ask him to do that? Failure to do so will raise real questions about the legitimacy of any voting in HInds County.

2. What is the Mississippi Republican Party's position on this? I would like to see a statement from the party's executive director on the courting of Democratic voters for the Republican primary. I don't give money to the state party to support this kind of bullsh!t.

Anonymous said...

Well, it is news. At the very least, we have the paid lobbyist of a tax exempt entity actively supporting a candidate via his personal involvement and posting things on the internet. Now, I presume he would say this is his personal involvement -- not that of his employer. But, if I were a Mississippi Baptist enjoying a tax break on my contributions, I wouldn't want my lobbyist to walk that fine line. It is utterly stupid to invite that discussion and debate. His bosses should demand he stay clear of things like that. It's not worth the risk. Period. In my mind, it's not a about the courthouse. It's about a tax exempt entity taking risks with its tax status -- just not too smart.

Anonymous said...

No two ways about it. This is vote buying.

Anonymous said...

The CL is reporting that an elected county official let the kooks in that night. Beat his initials are JL!

Anonymous said...

I'm tired of these nonstories, too. That's why I read them and post comments about them.

Anonymous said...

It is legal for the Baptists to lobby, but the IRS limits the amount of time dedicated to lobbying purposes to around 10% of the organizations time. If these rules are broken it can jeopardize the tax exempt status of the organization.

Anonymous said...

Is there a law that says you cannot talk to a church if you are a candidate? Or support your candidate in an election if you are a lobbyist?

Anonymous said...

There is a law that says a tax excempt religous organization cannot support a candidate in any way -- financially or verbally. If you are seaking to witness vote counts on behalf of one candidate or the other, I would say that makes you supportive of that candidate.

Jeff Rimes said...

Pastors and employees of religious organizations like the Mississippi Baptist Convention are not allowed to use their official positions to promote a candidate. However, they have the same constitutional right to participate in a campaign that every other American has. The government cannot limit what someone does on their own time simply because they happen to be employed by a religious organization.

Anonymous said...

Thad has officially lost a large part of his conservative base today. I would imagine a lot of Thad supporters will be demanding their contributions be refunded. So much for the MS GOP's credibility and future. A sad day for Mississippi republicans and the primary process.

Way to go Pete Perry and democratic operative, "$cooby doo".

Anonymous said...

If the actions of the baptist church related to this election are shady, then why hasn't every dang Methodist baptist church in the area been investigated?

Anonymous said...

thank you haley for totally destroying the republican party, which you were once an important part of a long time ago. you and all the other former elected officials who have become lobbyists have finally killed the goose that laid the golden egg. we need a federal statue providing a strict prohibition against an elected official to the effect that under no circumstances can they become a a lobbyist, PERIOD! and we need somebody somewhere with the stones to enforce some of these laws that we already do have!

Anonymous said...

Jeff Rimes, everything you said was technically correct. However, the problem is a practical one. It is very difficult when you are in certain positions to seperate your professional actions from your personal actions. And if you have ever really had the IRS after you, or if you have had to defend yourself from a lawsuit, you know the employer would view walking that line as placing the organization at excessive risk. The fact that this is a lobbyist employed in the political arena to start with blurs those lines even more. I promise you -- it's a problem for the CAC.

Jeff Rimes said...

8:07, I am the last person to say the IRS can be expected to be reasonable. However, I can tell you based on my experience with nonprofits and with political campaigns, the CAC has nothing to be worried about as a result of the after-hours actions of its employee.

Anonymous said...

@12:40 maybe because it was at 1:30 AM and most people are asleep at that time and not breaking into courthouses tampering with votes. To all these Anon Pete Perry haters: if you don't like him as chair of the Hinds County Gop run against him.

Anonymous said...

You might be right. But, why not take the cautious road? Why not respect the concerns of your members more than you own personal desire to work in a campaign? Why not make sure nobody ever has this discussion? These folks give you a job, and they give you their donations. They are due defference above the desire to play politics.

Anonymous said...

How can the Baptist leadership back a candidate who is OPENLY BREAKING one the TEN COMMANDMENTS. "THOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTRY".

Anonymous said...

Tampering with votes? Didn't happen.

Jeff Rimes said...

With all due respect, you are asking a CAC employee to do the opposite of what the CAC promotes, the active involvement of Christians in their government. I would never expect my pastor to give up his right as a citizen to donate to a campaign or to put a candidate's sign in his yard. There is no difference in that and in the donation of one's time to a campaign. Who else would you suggest stay out of politics? Should i demand my realtor or my insurance agent not export support for a different candidate than the one of my choosing?

Anonymous said...

Jeff, this is not a minister -- although I think many ministers agree with me that they should tread carefully as well. This is a political operative who runs the political advocacy for the Baptists, whose group is explicity permitted to educate lawmakers about issues and whose group is explicitly forbidden to support a candidate. Past people in this position and with this group have respected that gray area between personal and institutional involvement -- out of caution, prudence, and respect. Everyone simply doesn't have freedom to do as they please personally without that being a reflection on their employer. It's a consequence of accepting various jobs.

Anonymous said...

The same Jeff Rimes that allowed his child molester choir director client (Baptist) announce to the world 'that he had sinned' and gave the Hinds DA a conviction says the Baptist Convention has nothing to worry about!! Haaaaaahahahahah


If this is a different one--apologies in advance. I just remember the prosecutor talking about this.

Jeff Rimes said...

Your facts aren't right, 1:52. I did not represent him when he spoke to his church.

Anonymous said...

According to Jamie, you and Gunn had counseled the church and the perp prior to the broadcast video. But alas, he didn't repeat this in front of you.

Jeff Rimes said...

I love responding to someone who is so confident of his facts that he won't state his name. I do not believe Jamie McBride ever made that statement because Jamie knows when i got involved.



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If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

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