How Not to Keep Religion Out of Politics

Juvenile Court Clerk Shep Wilbun has realised that there's a plot afoot! It seems evil Republicans, always trying to keep the black man down, have "attacked [me]...[in] an all-out effort to stop the first African-American Juvenile Court Clerk from continuing to be there for the people." Because that position is too important to leave to blacks?

To counter this evil plan, Wilbun has met with members of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association, a predominantly black organisation representing mostly-black churches, and, according to a letter dated July 1, is requesting them to help him reach 30,000 voters--300 each from 100 churches--to "guarantee that your candidate will win."

You worry about the separation of church and state? Churches worry about the IRS removing their tax-exempt status for direct political campaigning, a very serious offense? No problem, as Wilbun advises them to not bring any campaign literature on their busses and take care not to specifically relate the effort to any particular campaign or candidate. So how will they know to vote Wilbun? "I can see to it that your members are met at the site by the right people to ensure that who you want gets the votes."

The influence of the church in black America is profound; often more so than in all but fundmentalist white churches. Many black preachers have become politicians, and occasionally vice-versa. Bill Clinton famously spoke at the COGIC Temple here. But the street is seldom two-way. Although fundraising and direct vote appeals at churches are strictly prohibited, it occured at Clinton's speech with nary a complaint. One can only imagine if a white candidate, in a tight race with a black candidate, tried this. Imagine Mayor Jim Rout taking the pulpit at any East Memphis mega-church. No doubt the howls of protest from certain quarters, and calls for investigation, would be deafening.

Playing the race card. Hustling churches for supporters. Wilbun only needs a baseless political investigation to have the trifecta. Oh, wait...he does.

Until next time, that is all