One of the most significant things to me (that sets it apart from all the other examples I've seen of politicians speaking at non-profit events) is that there were about 40 Obama campaign staffers staffing tables at the event with campaign information (I think, from what I gleaned). If that's the case, I think it makes is somewhat more problematic than the run-of-the-mill politician-visits-501(c)(3) incident.

Seriously, another anti-Obama post? That's the third one this week. Get a life, Lat!

This site is about as "fair and balanced" as Fox news.

I should add that the speech itself is not problematic at all. It's just the staffers doing fundraising outside that's a problem. If the church sanctioned it, then they're done. If the staffers did it on their own without church involvement/knowledge, then it's probably okay.

This is a smear campaign...why would a muslim be speaking at a church? The GOP will do anything to tarnish Barrack Hussein Obama.

10:59 -- yeah, the 500+ comments on the latest obama tax post prove your point!!!

Keep up good work Lat and Eliza

500+ comments, mostly pointing out how stupid the anti-Obama post was. And after it was discredited, Lat invited the guy back for more.

Pathetic.

This chick sucks! Seriously, why did you hire her? So two of you can talk trash on Obama? This is not legal news. This 1L can't even write. I thought you would at least find someone more prestigious than an Alabama 1L.

And anyone who has three names is annoying.

So when is she posting her bikini shoot? This attempt at blogging is making me lose hope. She's so much better at just looking pretty.

McCain seems to have purchased all the ad space here. Coincidence?

Have you ever watched a televised Obama speech on mute? It is beautiful and hypnotic. The man is truly gift to humanity.

Some people say Barrack is a "Black JFK", but I like to think of him as a "White MLK".

I would like to see fewer debates and more physical challenges: 1) arm wrestling, 2) Ultimate Cage fighting, 3) WWF smack down. I think McCain on #1 (strongest), but HRC wins 2 (crazy/tough) and Obama wins 3 (fake).

Every election cycle has IRS investigating someone (NAACP, Moveon.org) and nothing happens, maybe a wrist slap.

and this belongs on a *legal* tabloid because.....?

11:12 - Have you heard of something called... Tax Law?

Also, note the link to a site called Nonprofit LAW PROF Blog.

Sounds legal enough to me.

How many speeches by Obama does it take to brainwash a liberal?

He's just a man you know.

This is awesome legal gossip.

Lat - this article is a few days old. Get a life. Your candidate lost, quit whining about it like the Clintons and get on with things.

Obama to November 4!

Why do we let these megachurchs have tax exempt status anyway? Have you seen Joel Osteens suits? they cost more than my apartment is worth - charity my behind...

11:11 - I like to think of Obama as the black Jimmy Carter or, even better, the black Neville Chamberlain.

For a grammar diva the following sentence is sub-par: "The IRS is investigating the denomination Trinity United Church of Christ for hosting Barack Obama as a speaker in front of 10,000 people in June of 2007."

What is the IRS Investigating? "Denomination", as in its categorical religious beliefs? That seems out of the IRS's purveiw. Is the size of the crowd relevant? Then why is it jammed in the sentence? Do speakers ever address audiences from other than "in front."

Eliza... "the rain in spain falls, mostly, on the plain."

this chick writes like shit

11:01 - this was SEN's post, not Lat's

John McCain ad in the upper left corner of this page. Good lord. Way to sell out your beloved "diva" Hillary, along with this whole site.

Obama deserves better treatment than this from this country - and certainly from the IRS. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! Obama is the only candidate that has proposed any economic policies that can get the lifeblood of our economy going again - we will be a great society once again!

The IRS isn't investigating Obama's speech, they're investigating a church. I don't know whether to fault your command of the English language or your idiotic partisanship.

Barack is the black Haley Joel Osment...

pure crap. stop the trolling lat.

Sometimes I reflect on the fact that I pull the RSS feed of this blog for maybe 2-3 funny posts per week--and have to put up with these garbage posts for the rest of the week. This reflection makes me sad.

come to think of it, maybe Barack is Joel Osteen with some light brown makeup - ever been photographed together? I think not...

Sharon Eliza Nichols is a person, just like me, cut her some slack.

SEN: let's make sweet love after I finish lifting weights and doing karate, but before I go do some extreme skiing.

Add me to the choir singing, Get this crap off my beloved legal tabloid. This political crap, even if tangentially law-related, is really misplaced on this blog.

11:21 - your obscure history reference frightens and amazes me. perhaps the irs should investigate you in front of 10,000 people.

neville: chek to germany!

Obama is going to do for the IRS what Reagan did for the Military. America will be a place of hope and refuge. Where someone can start with nothing and have it all given to them by the government. Wealth transfer is one of our founding and most important principles. Government imposed taxation on citizens was why our founding fathers FORMED this country. What? The founding fathers didn't have any income tax? Wait, that can't be ri

Poor people have had public housing, public schools and public healthcare for decades -- and now they want to give it to the rich and middle class. Well, I for one say, its about time!

The jokers in TN are my favorite. From an article on CNN about a news release that originally included the "dressed" Obama photo and repeated references to his middle name:

"The news release now includes a clarification that reads, 'This release originally referenced a photo of Sen. Obama and incorrectly termed it to be 'Muslim' garb. It is, in fact, Somali tribal garb, hence, we have deleted the photo. Also, in order to diffuse attempts by Democrats and the Left to divert attention from the main point of this release -- that Sen. Obama has surrounded himself with advisers and received endorsements from people who are anti-Semitic and anti-Israel -- we have deleted the use of Barack Obama's middle name.'"

Classic.

Lat - unless you are planning on doing an expose of McCain's run in with the FEC (election-funding-gate) and balance this out a little more I think you should stay the heck out of politics. What on earth does this have to do with legal gossip? Nothing. You are just pushing an agenda and it sucks.

ALL OF THE OBAMA CULT MEMBERS POSTING ON THIS SITE NEED TO SHUT UP. SERIOUSLY.

stfu and let her/lat post what they want. it's THEIR site.

THIS POST IS NOT BY LAT

Furthermore, the election process is so inextricably tied to law, that it would be remiss of ATL NOT to post any and all political machinations.

Could you imagine if Barrack Obama made a public invitation of HRC to be his Veep (after Super, super, texas/Ohio Tuesday)? How humiliating!

Lets say there was a Saudi-American immigrant named bin Laden that had strong ties to middle east and lots of money. And Barrack nominated that bin Laden to be veep (no, not "Osama"). Would a "Obama Bin Laden" bumper sticker confuse people? People probably get more upset with "Bush Cheney" bumper sticker.

If Obama is not muslim, why won't he come out and declare the religion as evil? That is what I want to know.

Those John McCain ads are random Google ads. They're not plants from Lat. STFU you stupid Obama hippies.

This is totally a law-related post. As was the "doughnut hole" post. Obama is NOT THE SECOND COMING; you people need to relax.

McCain's a horrible candidate but is going to wipe the floor with Obama once everyone that lives in the REAL WORLD realizes that he has no substance to his rhetoric.

This isn't an Obama smear. Candidates from both parties cross the line in churches all the time, and it's an open secret that every Dem campaign pays black pastors to endorse them and network for them. Google "Democrat" and "walking-around money." The churches who abuse the system should get their tax-exempt status yanked.

First, 11:57, you don't know whether the ads are random or not. Some ads are random, but sites directly contract with ad buyers too. And you think it's pure "random" chance that we're all seeing John McCain ads?

Second, this topic is barely legal, and certainly not normal ATL legal-tabloid fare. Lat is clearly pushing an agenda, and it's lame. That's not why we come here.

Maybe you should hold your tongue unless you know what you're talking about, or at least until you think your points through.

11:51: "Cult" is such a strong word. And if it's "cults" you're concerned about, maybe look at the Americans who still believe Bush has done a good job? For them, at least, there's an overwhelming amount of evidence to the contrary, and yet they still believe.

LEAVE MY GOD ALONE! HE IS ABOVE REPROACH

YES WE CAN SIDESTEP THESE CHARGES FROM THE IRS!

I HOPE WE CAN UNITE BEHIND THE FACT THAT THE IRS NEEDS TO CHANGE ITS POLICY VIS A VIS BARACK OBAMA!

Okay first off--old news. Look at the date of the article. Second--I have a hard time seeing how this post fits with the stated purpose of the website:

AboveTheLaw takes a behind-the-scenes look at the world of law. The site provides news and gossip about the profession’s most colorful personalities and powerful institutions, as well as original commentary on breaking legal developments.

It's a political piece that belongs, at best, on Wonkette. Not here.

Oh no, a McCain ad.. I am being brain washed... aAAAAAH. So any radio station or tv station or newspaper that runs a campaign ad is partisan?!

Mental heavyweights on the right can't seem to distinguish between believing in the best candidate and believing that someone is the messiah. Mental. Heavyweights.

12:27 is a moron. When people are fainting at Obama speeches, and even SNL, part of the mainstream media, does a skit on how nearly all of the MSM is busy sucking on Obama's cock, you've got to realize this is more than just a bunch of anti-war hippies thinking that someone is the best candidate. It's like hero worship. Cult is not that far off base.

12:32: How many people fainted? SNL is where you get your news?

Saying that Obama fans are treating him like the messiah is like saying that GWB fans bomb abortion clinics. There are isolated cases, but it's ridiculous hyperbole.

12:08 why exactly is cult such a "strong word" The left is full of cults: from the cult of collectivism, to the humanist religion. Dont forget the cult of the random "constitutional rights" for non white people. Obviously, you define "cult" as anyone who comes from a different point of view as you. Me - I was in a cult when I was in my teens - so I know exactly what I am talking about. The only cultish thing about dubya is his stubborn hatred of cedar trees...

12:42: Okaaaaayyy...

Boring.

You know what, if following a leader that really inspires someone, and beleiving in something bigger than yourself, and hoping for change and a better America is "cultish" then sign me up!

12:42 -- Was it the Cult of Personality?

Seriously, does anyone know of any good Vampire Clubs for Friday or Saturday?

Not ALL cults are robe-wearing, human sacrifice, worship-the-devil, orgy-filled, drinking human blood organizations. My cult wears regular clothes.

1:02 laugh it up, but the orgies were a serious perk - small price to pay for tending a few goats and eating more macaroni and cheese than one person should ever consume cooked by a woman named SunRay.

Why is this guest blogger getting whacked around so much? For 1L from 'Bama, she seems to be doing alright so far...

ATL is now officially a rightwing hack blog. Great job, Lat.

Is there a connection between all the anti-Obama stuff and the overt McCain advertising blasting all over this blog?

Is ATL no longer committed to maintaining journalistic integrity and independence?

Step 1: Start legal gossip blog.
Step 2: Discuss bonus news, attract following.
Step 3: Alienate blog's following with political hack attacks on candidate supported by most of following.
Step 4: ?????
Step 5: Profit!

Is this a free country or what?

First people can't mention he did cocaine when he was young, then people can't even say his middle name, then black superdelegates are threaten if they still stick with Hillary; now LAT/guest blogger can't even write anything what's actually related to law on their own blog?

Give me a break.

Is this a free country or what?

First people can't mention he did cocaine when he was young, then people can't even say his middle name, then black superdelegates are threaten if they still stick with Hillary; now LAT/guest blogger can't even write anything that's actually related to law on their own blog?

Give me a break.

It's a free country, and they can do whatever they want with this blog. The longtime readers and followers of this blog are similarly free to inform Lat & Co. that ATL is alienating them and that they're unhappy with what the blog is doing.

1:41: You're confused. People CAN say any of that. It's whether they SHOULD say it that's the question.

It's politics, so you're going to get some mud slinging. But what reason is there to mention Barack's middle name unless you're trying to appeal to the worst in people? What relevance does it have to policies? What do we gain from having people mention his middle name? It's disingenuous and represents the worst in politics. Both sides probably stoop to that level, but it represents a flaw in our society that I, for one, would rather did not exist.

hehe...just to let LAT/guest bloggers know that I am pretty happy with your blog.

BTW, if you want to read pro-Obama blogs, just go to DailyKos, or maybe the whole M$M. They are having a Obama lovefest. You can't miss it.

Hippies.

People should say the truth. The truth is that it's his middle name. I cant understand why his adoring followers aren't proud of this and try to impugn anyone who uses it. I thought you guys loved brown people?

guess i'm going to have to stop reading this site for a while. i don't come to this website for political commentary.

You know what I can't enough of? Sucking Barack's cock.

God Bless America!

Lat and his right-leaning, Clinton-loving, Obama-bashing ways can't stop the genuine social movement behind soon-to-be President Barack Obama.

To the extent that Lat chooses to use his blog as a vehicle for his personal political agenda, great - its his perogative.

One of the unfortunate consequences of shifting the emphasis of this blog from a "legal tabloid" to a "social-legal-political rant space" will be a decline in readership.

I for one, do not come here for political news/opinions. To the extent that these types of posts become more frequent, my viewership will decrease.

Lat, as a businessman needs to realize that he is in danger of alienating thousands of attorneys and other visitors. While this blog will probably remain viable, once it becomes clear it is associated with a particular political agenda, its homogeneity of opinion will inevitably make reading it less interesting and relevant.

In the past, the wonderful thing about this blog is that it has been an objective repository for industry gossip, particularly with regards to associate compensation and benefits.

It would be a shame if that focus were lost to the political agenda of the Federalist Society. However, one of the great things about America is that just as Lat has the right to editorialize, we, as readers, have the right to go elsewhere with our clicks.

God Bless America - Obama for President!

Now enlighten me. Why using his middle name is appealing to the worst in people, and representing the worst in politics? It's a very popular name, and it is really HIS middle name. We use presidents' middle name all the time, right. Don't we call W Dubya? And why suddenly we shouldn't when it comes to Obama?

2:02: We do "love brown people". We just know that many on your side (and some in the middle) don't. Sorry to lay it out there, but it's the truth.

2:02: If it's the truth, why don't the same people on your side who use Obama's middle name use McCain's middle name? Why treat them differently? It's because the people on your side who use Obama's middle name know that other people on your side are simpleton racists. That's the truth.

2:08: When was the last time you heard McCain's middle name? Quick! What IS McCain's middle name?

02:14pm - I know the word 'racist' will soon come up. You are predictable, aren't you?

John Sidney McCain - what's wrong with that?

"Baraq": And do you have an answer for why the only people who insist on using Obama's middle name do not use McCain's middle name? Is there an explanation OTHER than racism/playing on unfounded fears?

McCain's middle name is "Danger" but that is really made up... his actual middle name is classified top secret.

The Hussein -- Dubya comparison is dead on. You know why left said "W" instead of "Walker"... becuase EVERYONE knows and agrees, Walker Texas Ranger (aka Chuck Norris) KICKS ASS! If this country had a hair on its ass, it would elect huckabee -- and not becuase huckabee is good, or I like him -- but Chuck Norris endorsed him, and damnit, until Jack Bauer can run for president Chuck Norris's endorsement is good enough for me.

Oh, and you know who would win in a fight between Jack Bauer and Chuck Norris? Don't even imagine it, the combined destructive force would render the earth life-less... like a nucular holocaust.

Let me ask you one last question... do you really want a happy, neo-cultist leader, chomping his gums about hope -- with his finger on the "button".

2:05 -- you can wipe your mouth on my spirit banner...

John Sidney McCain has served this country both in combat and in the legislature. He has a track record and he is known. But many people simply don't know Obama. I just don't think calling his middle name should be considered racist. And by the way, those people who like to use Obama's middle call Hillary - Hillary Rotten Clinton all the time. Have they apologized before? Are they sexist?

And stop busy assigning side to me. I am not voting this November because I am pretty sick of this whole election season as of now. So I am sitting in.

You are not voting becuase you are a convicted felon, Baraq.

Baraq, Hillary made her middle name an issue on her own. Remember when she was Hillary Rodham for awhile in the early 1990's? No? That makes sense.

You "just don't think they should be considered racist"? Good explanation for the double standard. How you feel is does not explain why they treat the two individuals differently. Them appealing to the racism of the people in their own party does. If you can think of an explanation, I'm all for hearing it, because I would really rather not believe that outspoken "leaders" in our country could be so despicable.

dominator@11:17 - The United Church of Christ is not a mega-church, anymore than "the Unitarians" or "the Methodists' are a mega-church. It's a denomination.

If you have a problem with churches being tax-exempt generally, then okay, that's your opinion. But the UCC is about as similar doctrinally to Joel Osteen and his ilk as the aforementioned Unitarians are to Southern Baptists.

Baraq (2:35): John McCain is known, but not by his middle name. So what does saying Obama's middle name add to anything?

Baraq: I'm declaring victory. I'm also going to point out that while I might be "predictable", I'm only "predictable" because I'm pointing out the only obvious conclusion.

Sweet McCain ads Lat! Hope the money you're receiving for whoring this site out is good!

Obama has had a free ride in the press, and we need to know about such stories before the nomination process is concluded.

That includes Obama's ties to William Ayers--a member of the Weather Underground. “I don't regret setting bombs; I feel we didn't do enough,” Ayers told the New York Times in 2001.

Lat--keep up the good work.

4:53 - you're an idiot.

Cult:
"He walks into a room and you want to follow him somewhere, anywhere," George Clooney

"I'll do whatever he says to do. I'll collect paper cups off the ground to make his pathway clear." Halle Berry

A search on Flickr, a photo-sharing website, turns up pictures of Obama cakes, murals, etch-a-sketch drawings, and even tattoos.

It goes on and on. Anyone who can't see that these people are borderline cult personalities are simply willfully blind.

"The change we seeks is months, miles away." Hopefully not, because by then the MSM will have actually started treating him like anything other than the messiah. "Yes we can" is about the most Obama will ever do: provide false promises.

Wake the fuck up people.

"Baraq: I'm declaring victory. I'm also going to point out that while I might be "predictable", I'm only "predictable" because I'm pointing out the only obvious conclusion."

Congratulations, you won! "Arguing on the Internet is like running in the Special Olympics...Even if you win, you're still retarded."

haha...nice weekend!

Hi 09:03PM, why are you such a racist, such an idiot, and such a hopeless convicted felon?
Don't you know Clooney and Berry are both beautiful people, and we should all support what beautiful people are supporting?

STFU, just listen to his speech, and hope for 'hope and change.'

Dear February 29, 2008 11:21 AM:

The post referred to Obama's "denomination" being investigated because that is how the MSM reported it.

So, if you think the sentence "below par" take it up with the Washington Post.

Posts like yours is one of many reasons I hate the arrogance of BigLaw and those who aspire to it.

It was not the physical church where the speech was conducted that is under investigation, but a "denomination" (including that specitic congregation).

BLATANT Hillary trolling.....i thought this was a LAW BLOG?

Oh, and nice attempt to cover it up with a non-topic no one cares about...can non-profits endorsing candidates? LOL...thank you for that. We're not retarded, but obviousl you are...