-Cp
01-30-2008, 08:48 PM
http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/29/texas-ministry-hosts-huckabee-fundraiser/
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A Christian nonprofit says a Texas televangelist turned a national ministers’ gathering last week into a fundraising opportunity for Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, a newspaper reports.
The Trinity Foundation, a charity that monitors televangelists and viewed a live Internet broadcast of the event, said the fundraiser took in $111,000 and generated pledges nearing $1 million, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported in a copyrighted article Tuesday.
The fundraiser was held at Kenneth Copeland Ministries’ campus in Newark, Texas.
Russ Florence of Tulsa, Okla., a spokesman for Copeland, said in a statement that the event did not amount to an endorsement of Huckabee by Kenneth Copeland Ministries. He said Huckabee’s campaign rented one of the rooms after the ministers’ conference and Kenneth Copeland Ministries did not make a contribution to Huckabee’s campaign.
“No offering was or has been taken for any political candidate by Kenneth Copeland Ministries or at a KCM event,” Florence said.
Huckabee campaign spokeswoman Alice Stewart said she could not confirm the amount raised, but said that Huckabee and Copeland spoke by phone last week. The former Arkansas governor also is an ordained Southern Baptist minister.
“Basically, Kenneth Copeland simply asked him how he could pray for him and the governor asked him to pray for physical stamina for the team and the financial resources that they need each day,” she said. “I’m not sure who called who.”
Huckabee’s campaign released a statement saying it rented a room for “a separate event that was hosted by a private individual” and was not affiliated with Copeland’s ministry. The campaign said the event conformed with campaign finance laws and tax regulations.
The Trinity Foundation is helping in a Senate investigation, headed by Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. Grassley began the probe into spending by Christian television ministries last year.
Copeland’s actions “should raise enormous red flags,” said Trinity Foundation founder Ole Anthony. “This is not appropriate as a part of American church life or American politics.”
Copeland oversees a ministry with its own $17.5 million Cessna “Citation X” jet and its own private airport. In November, he gave Huckabee nearly a week of free airtime on The Believer’s Voice of Victory telecast to talk about character and integrity. Copeland said at the time that he and his wife Gloria had donated $2,300 to Huckabee’s campaign.
Ya kNOW Huckabee is jacked up if he's toolin' around w/ freakin' Copeland.. what a joke..
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A Christian nonprofit says a Texas televangelist turned a national ministers’ gathering last week into a fundraising opportunity for Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, a newspaper reports.
The Trinity Foundation, a charity that monitors televangelists and viewed a live Internet broadcast of the event, said the fundraiser took in $111,000 and generated pledges nearing $1 million, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported in a copyrighted article Tuesday.
The fundraiser was held at Kenneth Copeland Ministries’ campus in Newark, Texas.
Russ Florence of Tulsa, Okla., a spokesman for Copeland, said in a statement that the event did not amount to an endorsement of Huckabee by Kenneth Copeland Ministries. He said Huckabee’s campaign rented one of the rooms after the ministers’ conference and Kenneth Copeland Ministries did not make a contribution to Huckabee’s campaign.
“No offering was or has been taken for any political candidate by Kenneth Copeland Ministries or at a KCM event,” Florence said.
Huckabee campaign spokeswoman Alice Stewart said she could not confirm the amount raised, but said that Huckabee and Copeland spoke by phone last week. The former Arkansas governor also is an ordained Southern Baptist minister.
“Basically, Kenneth Copeland simply asked him how he could pray for him and the governor asked him to pray for physical stamina for the team and the financial resources that they need each day,” she said. “I’m not sure who called who.”
Huckabee’s campaign released a statement saying it rented a room for “a separate event that was hosted by a private individual” and was not affiliated with Copeland’s ministry. The campaign said the event conformed with campaign finance laws and tax regulations.
The Trinity Foundation is helping in a Senate investigation, headed by Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. Grassley began the probe into spending by Christian television ministries last year.
Copeland’s actions “should raise enormous red flags,” said Trinity Foundation founder Ole Anthony. “This is not appropriate as a part of American church life or American politics.”
Copeland oversees a ministry with its own $17.5 million Cessna “Citation X” jet and its own private airport. In November, he gave Huckabee nearly a week of free airtime on The Believer’s Voice of Victory telecast to talk about character and integrity. Copeland said at the time that he and his wife Gloria had donated $2,300 to Huckabee’s campaign.
Ya kNOW Huckabee is jacked up if he's toolin' around w/ freakin' Copeland.. what a joke..