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.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

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!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.