David Lane's and Tim LaHaye's Deception Raise Questions About Illegal Huckabee Endorsement
Tim LaHaye Deception
and
Illegal Huckabee Endorsement
For Immediate Release:
COLUMBIA -- Questions of favoritism and an illegal endorsement surfaced surrounding an South Carolina non-profit organization event, hosted by the South Carolina Renewal Project, featuring presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.
According to IRS regulations, "[non-profit organizations] will violate the prohibition on political campaign intervention if they engage in an activity that favors or opposes any candidate for public office."
When event organizer David Lane held a nearly identical meeting last month in Iowa he told New York Times reporter David D. Kirkpatrick that all the candidates were invited to the "Pastor's Policy Briefing." The only problem: they weren't all invited.
When Ron Paul's South Carolina state coordinator Brian Gentry called Lane yesterday and asked if any Presidential candidates had been invited to the South Carolina event, Lane refused to answer.
Renowned Christian author Tim LaHaye compounded the deception last month in Iowa. LaHaye introduced the former Arkansas governor to a crowd of about 200 Iowa religious leaders. In a recorded statement LaHaye said, "[Mike Huckabee] was the only candidate invited to this, uh, that came to this conference," LaHaye said during his introduction, correcting himself. "We invited all the candidates to come and he’s the only one that accepted."
Officials from the Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul and Tom Tancredo campaigns confirmed that the candidates received no such invitation. "We received no invitation," said Tom Tancredo campaign chair Bay Buchanan last month in Iowa.
These activities raise serious questions about in-kind campaign contributions and impermissible political endorsements, casting a shadow on Huckabee's address to South Carolina pastors. Lane, who is a personal friend of Huckabee's, insisted that Huckabee's Iowa appearance had nothing to do with the presidential race.
Ron Paul's South Carolina state coordinator, Brian Gentry asked, "Why does it take such deception to advance Governor Huckabee's candidacy?" South Carolina Christians need to decide if it is part of a larger pattern. While campaigning as a pro-life candidate, Huckabee's record on this issue raises some serious questions. After twenty four years in the Arkansas state legislature Carolyn Pollan established herself with 100% pro-choice (abortion) voting record, according to former Arkansas state senator Peggy Jeffries, a Christian. When Pollan retired Huckabee appointed her to the high paying role of 'legislative liaison' between his office and the state legislature. Gentry concluded, "Why would a pro-life governor place, which effectively amounts to Planned Parenthood’s `go to girl', as a road block between him and any future pro-life legislation coming from his legislature?"
Ron Paul needs no high-profile Christian leaders lying for him and has a stellar pro-life record.
CONTACT:
Brian Gentry, 571-242-7500
Ron Paul 2008
Posted by Editor at January 16, 2008 02:43 PM
