After Minnesota pastor Gus Booth endorsed John McCain from the pulpit, the IRS – reasonably – opened an investigation into the church's tax-exempt status. Now claiming a concern "regarding the procedure used to initiate the inquiry", the agency has suspended its questioning. Far from being relieved, the pastor sounds like he was ready for a showdown.
Booth said Wednesday that he is disappointed that the IRS is declining to "bring clarity to the law," and he vowed to keep preaching about politicians he likes and doesn't like from the pulpit.
"I plan to give an election sermon every year," Booth said in a telephone interview from his church.
Here's hoping he gets his wish, and procedural problems don't get in the way next time.
