Watchog Group Urges IRS to Investigate Oklahoma Pastor for Endorsing Conservative Candidate

Aug. 18, 2010— -- An Oklahoma Baptist pastor is defending his support of a Republican candidate despite a watchdog group's push for the IRS to investigate the man for a possible violation of federal law.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has accused Pastor Paul Blair of using his tax-exempt religious organization, Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ, to drum up support and funds for state Rep. Sally Kern, a Republican seeking her fourth term.

In a letter sent last month to the Internal Revenue Service, the Washington D.C.-based watchdog group pointed to an e-mail sent ahead of a June campaign kick-off event, "Rally for Sally," in which Blair urged parishioners and supporters to lash back at what he called an attempt by the "homosexual lobby" to take over the elected position.

"If they succeed, it will serve as a warning shot across the bough [sic] of all elected officials who defend Biblical values," the e-mail read, according to Americans United. "Even if this is not your district, this race will effect [sic] you! Once a person is elected to the legislature, their voting impacts ALL Oklahomans."

According to the IRS tax guide, "section 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches and religious organizations, are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office."

An IRS spokesman declined to comment.

In his letter, Americans United Executive Director Barry Lynn cautioned the IRS that "If tax-exempt organizations flagrantly violate the law, they should expect appropriate penalties."

But Blair, who recently donated $100 as an individual citizen to Kern's campaign, insisted that he never told anyone how to vote. He called Lynn a "self-anointed tattle-tale."

"He goes after conservative issues all over the country," Blair said. "It's just an attempt by him to intimidate and through the intimation silence pastors."

Blair, pastor of the 400-member Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, said he has been disturbed by gay rights activist Tim Gill's national move to elect candidates who will support LGBT issues. He pointed to Kern's transgender opponent, Brittany Novotny, as what he calls proof that the "homosexual lobby" has come to Oklahoma.

"In my few years, we've gone from Andy Griffith to 'Brokeback Mountain' and it's not getting any better," he told ABCNews.com. "We are just continuing to spiral into a moral abyss.

"We have never officially endorsed or gotten into politics," he said. "We get into cultural issues."

Americans United's Lynn said he considers the issue to be "an open and shut violation. There's no ambiguity.

"And I would think Pastor Blair is smart enough to know that," he said.