In a tough battle for reelection, Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline gave his campaign staff detailed instructions on how to use churches to raise funds, recruit campaign volunteers and collect voter contact information. He wrote the instructions in a memo obtained by news organizations and JewsOnFirst.org.

Kline writes that the "goal" of receptions, which his staff will organize to dovetail with church services, "is to walk away with contact information, money and volunteers and a committee in each church." He names three of the churches already involved in his campaign.

Kline's August 8th memo lays bare for the world (including Democratic Party leaders who might care to protest) the details of how at least one Republican on the religious right uses churches for electoral operations. There is no reason to assume that Kline just created this campaign model.

Kline's closing instructions about telling cooperating churches how to protect their tax-exempt status, are nonchalantly dismissive. He tells his staff to prepare a "2-pager," only part of which will be about what the law allows.

Should prepare guidance sheet for those who are showing the church video. 2 pager that includes: goals for showing the video, IRS rules guidance regarding what they can and cannot do (this should not take long -- no use of church assets -- can show it at church as long as they do not deny opposition of showing their own video -- no need to invite the other, just cannot deny -- etc)

"Our efforts in the churches"
Kline is known beyond the realm of bright-red Kansas Republicanism for demanding abortion patients' records and ordering healthcare providers to report teenagers who have sex.

Kline writes that his staff should use the memo (which you can see here) as "a checklist to improve on our efforts" in the churches. He directs them to "maximize my presence in a community. Where possible, get additional churches involved."

Kline tells his staff how to form a campaign committee for him at each church that will educate and register voters, "encourage people to contribute and volunteer" and network with their own email lists. He instructs:

Recontact all churches and specifically get in touch with key contact there to form a church lay committee for the campaign.

In the memo Kline lays out how to move church-goers from services to nearby campaign receptions, scheduled "as close to service time and as close to church as geographically possible... If out before 12 noon -- make the starting time before that time."

He directs that the reception hosts should hand out invitations at services, and that the campaign should "attempt to get the pastor to mention" the event. He also wants the pastor's help with fundraising:

Get the pastor to invite five 'money people' whom he knows can help. As much as possible, get the pastor's commitment to attend and to get these five people there.

Later in the memo, Kline reiterated the importance of getting pastors committed to his campaign events, directing his staff:

On receptions-- please follow up contact with hosts to help them maximize attendance at receptions: One invite and one mention will not draw a crowd. Pastor and hosts must be willing to call their top 5 and get them there.

Kline also ordered: "Staff, must must must, get everyone's email who attends. Don't wait for them to fill something out. Go get their e-mail."

He discusses showing a "church video" at receptions.

The goal should be for folks to be willing to follow up by inviting others to their home to show video and generate support

Three cooperating churches named
In a section of the memo entitled "Turn out voters," Kline makes it clear he wants his campaign to organizing church committees to get their members to the polls for him. "Sign up folks to help with lit drops etc."

And he names three churches that "have already volunteered to do this:" Light of the World in Topeka, Wannamaker Woods Nazarene Church, Basehor-Linwood Church.

Later in the memo, Kline instructs the staff on "maximizing exposure at every church," advising them to "check and work with the pastor to see what is comfortable."

Still later he directs that "all churches should be contacted about our Kick-off rallies."

He also refers to getting "Dobson by phone," presumably a reference to Focus on the Family head James Dobson, for unspecified campaign help.

Kline's opponent disparages operation
Kline's memo surfaced when it and related documents were sent to Kansas statehouse reporters in envelopes from "Concerned Citizens, Everywhere, KS." It is addressed to Kline's campaign manager, Bill Roche, and a campaign volunteer, Sylvia Chapman. It was copied to Doug Henkle, identified in news reports as both a campaign aide and a member of Kline's attorney general staff.

During a candidates' debate last week, Kline defended the memo. His opponent, Paul Morrison, a Kansas City-area district attorney who recently switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, said: "I have never -- and never will -- view a church as a political machine for me."

The Associated Press quoted Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, terming the Kline memo "beyond the pale."

Kline has been battling in court for access to abortion clinics' patient records. He says he wants the records to help prosecute rapists. Morrison has pledged to end the fight for patients' records.

Healthcare providers successfully sued to overturn Kline's order that they report teenagers who have had sexual relations. These professionals worried that the regulation would deter teens from seeking treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. >In April a federal judge issued a permanent injunction against enforcement of Kline's order.