Tulsa World: Huckabee fundraiser held at Kenneth Copeland Ministries' campus

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Tuesday, February 09, 2010 | WIRELESS

Home > News > Article

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Huckabee fundraiser held at Kenneth Copeland Ministries' campus

By Associated Press
Published: 1/29/2008 2:02 PM
Last Modified: 1/29/2008 3:10 PM

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, 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.

By Associated Press

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Reader Comments

Show: Most Recent Comment First

Add your comment

73 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

	Report Comment B, Orlando (1/29/2008 2:33:51 PM) This should be reason enough for evangelicals to jump off the Huckabee train and onto the Romney express. In the end, both would appoint constructionist judges but only Romney knows what he is doing economically. Also, Romney's core values inform a strong view of marriage and the family.
	Report Comment J. Freak, Ada (1/29/2008 3:14:21 PM) I agree with you B, except that I think that Huckabee is most likely to turn this nation into the Christian theocracy it was always meant to be.
	Report Comment Judy, Tulsa (1/29/2008 3:23:35 PM) The Huckster is a big fake.McCain is too old and crazy.Romney is a successful businessman and is a stable family man.I will vote for Romney.
	Report Comment Herman Munster, (1/29/2008 3:28:20 PM) What I like about Romney is that even if you don't agree with his positions now, there is a good chance that in the future he will change them to something more agreeable.
	Report Comment A, Ada (1/29/2008 3:48:33 PM) I sure hope a christian does not get in the white house. Every time a christian gets any power the people suffer. Has not your burning bush done enough already to the people losing thier homes, jobs and war veterans, women and children living in the sstreets. Stop your chrisitan crusades. Hitler gassed 'em and ya'll impoversih them and put them in the streets with substandard health care. Who causes the most suffering the german christians or the american christians? Stop your predatory capitalistic christianity. I am tired of getting looked at as your prey.
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (1/29/2008 4:20:27 PM) Separation of church and state, anyone? Well, then tell me why churches are tax-exempt.
	Report Comment Mark, Okmulgee (1/29/2008 4:25:35 PM) YAHOOOO....if Obama can get his church support, which panders to Farrakan as well as his tie to the Kenyan muslim effort then a good Christian display of support is GREAT. Google Obama church then check out Trinity United Church of Christ. An eye opener. Then of course Billary has support from all kinds of closets. You guys just like to Christian bash. I think we need a few bumper stickers that say ...abort liberals not babies. Has anyone ever done a study on how much fuel liberals have wasted just going from State to State to take down Ten Commandment monuments? Would be interesting huh!
	Report Comment Slime, Tulsa (1/29/2008 4:40:30 PM) There is no separation of church and state cause the christian runs the government and they make their dens of thieves churches tax exempt. For true separation of church and state the christians should not be allowed to hold government offices. And start taxing the churches because look at them they got all the money. Course the rich money lending leeches and oil leeches are thick as thieves in the churches. Talk about organzed crime hiding behind a bible. goodness
	Report Comment Susan, (1/29/2008 4:49:22 PM) #8 Slime, please research the purpose of separating church and state. You are making yourself look like an idiot.
	Report Comment Slime, Tulsa (1/29/2008 4:57:01 PM) Susan. I dont have to research the purpose of separation of church and state. It is a falacy. I look like an idiot to you but you and your political writings loooks like idiots to me. Your separatin of church and state is nothing more than a smoke screen to condition you to act the way you do. Now be a good little girl and act like a robot of your christian teachings. I say true separation of church and state should mean no christiasn controling the state and no churches and christians geting tax breaks from the state. I do not have to be obedient or subservient to you or your christian nation. I just have to follow your laws to stay out of your prisons. And I do that. I also practice freedom of speech and thought.
	Report Comment R, Tulsa (1/29/2008 5:18:26 PM) A from Ada wrote- "I sure hope a christian does not get in the white house. Every time a christian gets any power the people suffer." Ummm, who was the last President we had that wasn't a Christian?
	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (1/29/2008 5:51:17 PM) This article is another reason not to vote for Huckabee. Another reason is that he's from Arkansas. One prez from Arkansas is enough, more than enough.
	Report Comment Good Goose, (1/29/2008 5:56:00 PM) What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Now let's see some reporting on all the Democrats that spend their Sundays literally campaigning from the pulpits! I wonder why the Dems get to do this on a regular basis & have done it for decades, yet nobody complains.
	Report Comment Fred, Tulsa (1/29/2008 6:00:46 PM) Well said Slime. But, the current occupant is not a Christian. A Christian follows the teachings of Christ. He keeps his power because Karl Rove showed him how to bring Powerful Evangelical Leaders into the White House to give him tasks to do and in return they would block vote to keep him in office. Have you ever wondered why W allowed the mess to fester and go so South with Israel and Palestine for the last 7 years? The wacko Evangelicals have been bringing Jews to Israel because they believe that when the Jews are back in Israel the world will experience the second coming of Jesus. If you are looking for true Christians look at the Amish who after a deranged sex deviate murdered their daughters, they quietly forgave him. The Evangelicals advised W to trash Science.They wanted Creationism/Creation Science/Intelligent Design taught in the schools. They wanted control over the FDA to be able to keep birth control "over the counter" from never making it to the people. Evangelicals are trapped by the "Paper Pope" and must follow its teachings no matter how insane they might be. Cain after killing his brother Able, goes East of Eden and takes a wife? Two creation stories which are different. Which one is wrong? Read Leviticus and tell me where these Evangelicals is sacrificing animals as they must do along with killing male gay people but not female. Equity? Einstein had to abandon his faith because of the religious dogma. He said that religious dogma stiffled any form of scientific creativity. My Carma ran over my Dogma and it was fine.
	Report Comment R, Tulsa (1/29/2008 6:01:23 PM) Hey Goose, that one has always left me scratching my head as well... Depending on who you are, it's either applauded or viewed with shock and horror.
	Report Comment A, Kansas (1/29/2008 6:36:47 PM) Isn't this America? Freedom to congregate, especially if one has to pay. Ah, capitalism at it's finest. I love America. GO MIKE HUCKABEE!
	Report Comment karl, tulsa (1/29/2008 6:49:18 PM) I received an e-mail that said Romney was the original model for Ken (of Ken and Barbie). Can anyone verify that? I think he would look great in a Nazi officers uniform!
	Report Comment tttown, tulsa (1/29/2008 6:50:37 PM) Romney is too young for Ken dolls. As for the uniform, he has the perfect family, he is the perfect race...
	Report Comment Gail, Tulsa, Ok (1/29/2008 6:52:59 PM) All of this sounds suspicious and I think it is really stretching a "gray" area. I find it very interesting that KCM is being investigated and he pushes the boundaries with this Huckabee event. This strongly suggests Copeland believes he can not be touched by the government investigation. I hope he is proven wrong.
	Report Comment Voter, Tulsa (1/29/2008 7:22:48 PM) Hillary & Obama have been speaking in churches and collecting endorsements from ministers. Prior to the 2000 election Al Gore visited a Buddhist temple and his campaign collected a check at the same time.
	Report Comment Gail, Tulsa, Ok (1/29/2008 7:48:00 PM) None of them should be able to campaign in any church or religious organization. I do not care what party they are from or the religion. It is wrong.
	Report Comment IMPEACH !, (1/29/2008 9:22:47 PM) Don't let bush-cheney escape. They should be impeached!
	Report Comment Deborah, Tulsa, Ok (1/29/2008 9:30:11 PM) Oh stop the impeach crap! You may not like what they have done, but there are no grounds to impeach!
	Report Comment john johnson, maxton (1/29/2008 9:45:21 PM) i am amazed at the ignorance of some in this country who seem to think that when one becomes a christian they loose their american citizenship and right to vote and have say so in the political process. and i have on my desk a copy of the constitution, no where in it have i found in the seperation of church and state. and as for as televangelists having jets, who else have a more important message than the saving of lost souls. if the porn pushers, the beer ceo's, and the fast food ceo,s fly around the world in jets to sell their wares, why not preachers who carry a more important message.
	Report Comment Slime, Tulsa (1/29/2008 9:56:34 PM) I believe the fast food and beer pimps are christian. You think there is nothing wrong in using people and the earth for profit. Your predatory capitalistic christian culture thinks more about football, money, and christmas lights than it does people. YOur justice is only the interests of the stronger party. Your history is about murder, thieft, rape and slavery. Lost souls ha ha ha thats a good one. I say your nothing but a bunch of con artists hustling money by pimping christianity.

25 of 73 comments displayed. | View All

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.