“Greetings, everyone,” Vice President Kamala Harris says in a new video — and not everyone is happy.
On Saturday, Harris released a video to praise Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat running for governor of Virginia. She’s planning on sending the video to 300 historically Black churches, CNN’s Eva McKend reported.
That could be illegal.
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McAuliffe is lagging in the polls, and he’s turned to religious outreach. He’s has been chanting a new slogan — “Souls to the polls!” — presumably to boost turnout among churchgoing voters.
The video will appear at church services, McKend tweeted on Saturday.
Kicking off a big morning of church visits here in Norfolk before our Souls to the Polls event with @staceyabrams! Thank you Historic First Baptist Church for having us. Off to the next! pic.twitter.com/ImrY7bAclX
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) October 17, 2021
Twitter users criticized the state’s religious leaders for showing a video from a political campaign. They also criticized Harris for appearing at a religious service in her capacity as a politician.
Some Republicans accused the Democrats of a double standard. “People would lose their ish if this were Mike Pence,” one person tweeted.
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In the video, Harris says:
So, when I was growing up, we sang in the choir at Oakland’s 23rd Avenue Church of God. We sang hymns about how faith, combined with determination, will see us through difficult times. And we were taught that it was our sacred responsibility to raise our voice and lift up the voices of our community. One of the most significant ways, I believe, that we can each use our voice is through our vote.
So, Virginians, you have the opportunity now to raise your voice through your vote, because it’s election time… I believe that my friend Terry McAuliffe is the leader Virginia needs at this moment…
Terry McAuliffe is stepping up again with a clear vision about how to rebuild Virginia’s economy for the future. Virginians, you deserve a leader who has a vision of what is possible and the experience to realize that vision. Terry McAuliffe is that leader… This year, I know that you will send Terry McAuliffe back to Richmond.
So, early voting has already started, and this is the first year that you can vote on Sunday. So, please, vote after today’s service. And if you cannot vote today, make a plan to go vote. Go to iWillVote.com.
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According to the law, a tax-exempt church cannot “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.”
If religious leaders endorse political candidates, then their organizations risk losing their tax-exempt status.
Harris spoke fondly of McAuliffe and then encouraged the churchgoers to vote. She may have come close to speaking on behalf of McAuliffe when she said, “I know that you will send Terry McAuliffe back to Richmond.”
However, she stopped short of explicitly telling the congregation to vote for McAuliffe.
In any case, only the authorities can determine whether or not this campaign activity violates the law.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to the I.R.S. but did not receive a response.
Watch the full video here —
The Horn editorial team