IRS Targets Black Church in Tampa Florida- Warns No Politics Allowed

• Some see slective enforcement of the law as means of intimidation

The parking lot at First Baptist Church of College Hill was filling up when a worker began telling people to leave. The political forum at the historically black church would not be taking place, he said. At the last minute, it was being moved to a public library. Inside a cramped room, moderator Gerald White explained the switch. That afternoon, the pastor had received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service asking about political activity at the church, a stop for many Democrats running for office. The Rev. Abraham Brown didn't want to hold another political event when the IRS was asking questions, White said. Why had the IRS turned its attention to this fixture in Tampa's black community? Both the IRS and Brown declined to comment. White said the letter sent by the IRS last month asked about a 2-year-old visit by then-gubernatorial candidate Janet Reno. The IRS wants to know about a June 2002 visit by Reno, who spoke during Sunday services and shook hands afterward when she was trying to unseat Gov. Jeb Bush.  Reno's former campaign manager, Mo Elleithee, questioned why the IRS would contact the church now. "This does seem very curious to me," said Elleithee, who suggested the Republican administration was targeting the church. The IRS prohibits churches from campaigning, unless they want to pay taxes as other political groups do. [more ]