Major Right-Wing Evangelical Leader Accused Of 3-Year Relationship With Male Prostitute

[Coexist]

From Thinkprogress

A male prostitute alleges that he had a three-year relationship with prominent right-wing evangelical leader Ted Haggard, who has said that homosexuality is a “sin” and “devastating for the children of our nation and for the future of Western civilization.” Haggard denies the allegation.

Haggard is president of the National Association of Evangelicals, representing more than 30 million conservative Christians. Time Magazine ranked him as one of the 25 most influential evangelicals and Harper’s contributing editor Jeff Sharlet noted, “No pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism than does Pastor Ted.”

(video available at link)

He claims to have" recorded voicemails and a letter from Haggard, and that he had also witnessed Haggard use methamphetamine. And he has "offered to take a polygraph examination concerning his claim, and Boyles said that will occur Friday during his morning radio show."

THIS should be good!

Let's bring this conversation RIGHT BACK to the hypocrisy.

[KingFlorez]

1. LOL

[19jet54]

119. The hypocrite admits it...

[malaise]

2. Once again

I'm loving it :popcorn::rofl:

[Swamp Rat]

101. Me too!

:rofl:

[yodermon]

105. AAUGH! Swampy!

:wow: that is awesome :rofl:

[MADem]

113. Bravo, bravo!!! How dreadfully wonderful!!! NT

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Wish it had been Jerry Falwell all the same . . . n/t

[vssmith]

85. The Bible mentions gluttony more than homosexuality

One could surmise that JF is guilty of gluttony. Perhaps a gluttonous homophobe.

[Maven]

4. Please don't used the word "accused."

Thank you.

[originalpckelly]

5. He talks with Bush once a week. Well the meth explains why he is so perky...

no one, no one is that happy naturally. So not only was he gay, he was doing meth. This man had a phone call a week with President Bush, and no I'm not joking about that.

[KoKo]

7. You are saying he was more popular with Bush than Billy or Franklin Graham?

Seriously...you have a link? Would be a good read.

[Shakespeare]

10. Google it, KoKo. He has a phone conference with Rove every Monday.

It's all over the internets, and is also talked about in the movie Jesus Camp.

[KoKo]

14. Thanks....will do. Just thought someone had a link sitting around..

Wouldn't it be great if we had real media to connect the dots and expose that this is a Bush Fave.... Some of us have wondered about Bush himself's sexual preferences.

[MidwestTransplant]

41. That's the Jesus Camp dude?! He was soooooooo smug!

[qanda]

62. He also mentioned it during "In God They Trust"

The special Brokaw did last year on the Evangelical movement. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9830808/

[MADem]

114. He was ANGRY about his portrayal in JESUS CAMP, apparently

http://www.jesuscampthemovie.com/haggard_response.html

When we heard that that Pastor Haggard has described us as having an “agenda” we were alarmed. Of course, there are plenty of filmmakers that do make films with a political or personal agenda, but our conscience is clear that we aren’t among them. We filmed with an open-mind and with a beginner’s eye (neither of us are Evangelicals) that allowed the story to emerge in a natural way.


As for accusing us of portraying our protagonists (people whom we’ve grown close to over the past year) “sinister,” this is a disturbing charge. Perhaps Pastor Haggard is projecting his own point of view on the film’s characters, as we absolutely do not see them as such, and went out of our way too make sure that they were shown in a human, three-dimensional light. The children come across as kind, passionate and intelligent. Pastor Becky Fischer is a very likeable and real person, both on and off the screen.


Pastor Haggard is the only person in Jesus Camp who has a problem with how he was portrayed, and with the film as a whole. All the others in the movie feel it is accurate and fair and are excited about people seeing it. The subjects in the film very much identify themselves as part of the Evangelical family and are hurt and stung by Pastor Haggard's wholesale and somewhat venomous rejection of them and the film. While they do identify themselves as Charismatics and Pentecostals, they feel (and we agree) that they have much more in common with the greater Evangelical movement—their morals, values, and political beliefs—than they have differences. For Pastor Haggard to marginalize and dismiss them by labeling them a “sub-group” seems unfair, mean spirited and unproductive.

[AndyA]

11. Perhaps he's had more than just the occasional phone call with Bush.

If you know what I mean...

[LeftCoast]

40. *sigh* Here we go again.

Why not just come out and call Bush a fag...that was what you were implying wasn't it?

[donco6]

42. ...

Jeebus.

[ThomCat]

43. Right, because that would be an awesome smear

to use against anyone we hate. :eyes:

[TankLV]

110. Not that there is anything WRONG with that!

Except for the BLATENT HYPOCRICY, right?

Are you actually complaining about our bush* bashing or our glee at throwing their sanctimony in their pasty white slimy faces?

I'm enjoying every fucking minute of this...

[MADem]

120. I don't think people are doing that. I think the phrase is "closeted hypocrite"

There's nothing wrong with being "a fag," though the term to define orientation might not sit well with some (though some embrace it, so go figure).

There IS, however, something wrong with a "Do as I SAY, not as I DO" attitude. Something VERY wrong indeed. It's unsupportable, that kind of attitude. And for people to want to PROTECT hypocrites who happen to be hypocritical about their 'fag-ness' suggests that the "protectors" find something SHAMEFUL in the state of being gay.

Bush seems to be associated with a lot of gay folk, and most of them closeted or in denial. About the last OUT guy he hung around with was his college roommate.

Hey, I have gay friends and relatives. They're out, and I'm not ashamed of them, and they aren't ashamed of themselves, and if they're ashamed of straight old me, they don't let on.

The point here is this: Why get mad? Why COVER UP? Why enable a closeted bigot? And most importantly, what's wrong with asking the question? Unless you think there's something WRONG with him being gay??? Frankly, if Bush did a "I'm a gay American" a la McGreavey, and Laura stood up and said "Hey, don't cry for me, I knew all along, but after I ran into and killed my high school boyfriend, my sex drive just tanked so I figured I may as well marry drunken George and play his beard," I'd actually think more of him for not deceiving a spouse.

I don't get it...I have to say, I comprehend Mike Rogers' approach to this matter way more than the hypersensitivity I see coming from people who sense persecution where absolutely none is intended. It reminds me of Senator Macacawitz getting all hysterical when asked about his Jewish ancestry, IMMEDIATELY assuming that the very QUESTION was a SLUR.

It's difficult, I realize, not to be hypersensitive when one has been the object of insults in the past. But by the same token, it's healthier to assume the best rather than the worst, at least in this venue.

If you caught Carrie Nation getting swacked on tequila at the corner saloon it would be news. If you caught the Roman Catholic priest or nun having sex with ANYONE it would be news. If you caught Nancy "Just Say No" Reagan pulling on a spliff it would be major news. If you discovered ANY "No No Naysayer" doing ANYTHING they tell you not to do, it's news.

It's not orientation, it's not even SEX, it's simply hypocrisy.

[WinkyDink]

126. I think Bush is gay. Too bad he's not a liberal Democrat and not a

murderous hypocritical bastard.
THEN, I might not care.

[foreigncorrespondent]

44. Care to back that little...

...claim of yours up with verifiable proof? And no, I don't mean just throwing out the usual list of names that come out every time there is a thread about Bush* being gay. I want PROOF. Don't have it, then best not make wild assumptions without it.

On edit: typo

[Clark2008]

65. Well, Kitty Kelly did mention his alleged affair with my former mayor,

Victor Ashe (but she didn't mention his name) in her book.

There's lots of stuff on "the Google" about that.

It's not proof, but Kitty's never been sued successfully, either. :shrug:

[MADem]

121. His college roommate, Victor.... who's out, and to whom he gave

an ambassadorship: http://warsaw.usembassy.gov/poland/ambassador.html

Amb. Ashe was born January 1, 1945, in Knoxville and attended public schools there. He graduated from the Hotchkiss School, in Lakeville, Connecticut, in 1963 and from Yale University with a BA in History in 1967. He received his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1974.

They even had the same major. And really, true or not, Kitty Kelley covered it, hell, even WONKETTE touched on it (more of a Bush Is BI bent, there)--it's all over these internets! http://www.wonkette.com/politics/condi/crazy-talk-we-cant-ignore-the-bushcondi-rumors-178417.php

[WinkyDink]

128. Well, there's that bald-head-rubbing, for one thing.

As for "PROOF": If there were 100% proof, we wouldn't need to discuss it, now, would we? Too bad for him there's free speech and thought left.

Good thing for him, though, he doesn't want to marry a man.

[LostinVA]

47. Yeah, Bush being gay would make him THAT much eviller, huh?

*sigh* People just don't get it...

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

50. *elbow, elbow* *nudge, nudge* Yeah, you're slamming Bush by calling him gay.

How seventh grade...

[Mist]

6. My eyes! How many piano keys went into making those dentures? nt

[Beacho]

8. I remember an interview that Dawkins did with this nutball

If you see it, you'll realize the meth charge makes sense

ah, I found it

Dawkins Vs Haggard

[Coexist]

12. Wow! that is great - Bush has a "weekly conference call" with another John?

Interesting.

[TechBear_Seattle]

21. I thought the john was Bush?

I mean, Gannon/Guckert was the prostitute, so.... :rofl:

[ronnykmarshall]

9. I hope this blows WIDE open.

[Ishoutandscream2]

13. Well, you know it's Clinton's fault

:silly:

[AndyA]

15. I hope we all get the "blow by blow" on this before the elections!

:rofl: :popcorn:

[AndyA]

16. One more for Greatest Page. n/m

[LiviaOlivia]

17. Ted Haggard is a major player in the American Taliban

Harper's article:
http://www.harpers.org/SoldiersOfChrist.html

" He was always on the lookout for spies. At the time, Colorado Springs was a small city split between the Air Force and the New Age, and the latter, Pastor Ted believed, worked for the devil. Pastor Ted soon began upsetting the devil's plans. He staked out gay bars, inviting men to come to his church; his whole congregation pitched itself into invisible battles with demonic forces, sometimes in front of public buildings. One day, while he was working in his garage, a woman who said she'd been sent by a witches' coven tried to stab Pastor Ted with a five-inch knife she pulled from a leg sheath; Pastor Ted wrestled the blade out of her hand. He let that story get around. He called the evil forces that dominated Colorado Springs—and every other metropolitan area in the country—"Control." "


Haggard is scum and a dangerous theo-fascist. Bravo Mike Jones and take care.

[tanyev]

77. "He staked out gay bars, inviting men to come to his church"

Wonder how long it took him to come home after those expeditions? "I'll be really late, hon, don't wait up!"

[MaraJade]

91. This is frightening, very frightening!

This so-called "Pastor" Ted is a dangerous kook. Is this what the country has come to; millions of people believing in
and following the lead of dangerous kooks?


:sarcasm:

[Joe Bacon]

93. Yes.

I've seen the damage that Teddy clones did to my family. TUrned all but one into hard core Republicans with hearts of stone.

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. Well, he should look at the bright side.

With his management skills, he's a shoo-in for a staff position on NAMBLA.

[longship]

19. WooHoo!!! Whatta idiot.

Haggard is the slimiest, sleaziest of these guys.
Schadenfreude time!!!
:woohoo: :woohoo:

[spanone]

20. Sorry son of a bitch.... and in the name of God.

[progressoid]

22. Hmmm, wonder if his weekly phone calls to the White House will continue??

[Beam Me Up]

23. A little preppy for my tastes but I can understand the appeal.

I'm trying to imagine him with a studded collar and a black leather thong.

Hmmm. Maybe.

Nah. . .

[rman]

24. Now there's a surprise.

Not.

Why is it i am thinking the recent revelations are just the tip of the iceberg?

[Rainscents]

25. Oh boy... when it rains, it pours!!!

:kick:

[Joe Bacon]

26. Wow, AmericBlog is all over this

Read this unbelievable link posted on AmericaBlog!

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/no-nothing-gay-there.html

Harper's description of Ted Haggard's church, park, or whatever:
The atrium is a soaring foyer adorned with the flags of the nations and guarded by another bronze warrior angel, a scowling, bearded type with massive biceps and, again, a sword. The angel's pedestal stands at the center of a great, eight-pointed compass laid out in muted red, white, and blue-black stone. Each point directs the eye to a contemporary painting, most depicting gorgeous, muscular men—one is a blacksmith, another is bound, fetish-style, in chains—in various states of undress. My favorite is The Vessel, by Thomas Blackshear, a major figure in the evangelical-art world.<2> Here in the World Prayer Center is a print of The Vessel, a tall, vertical panel of two nude, ample-breasted, white female angels team-pouring an urn of honey onto the shaved head of a naked, olive-skinned man below. The honey drips down over his slab-like pecs and his six-pack abs into the eponymous vessel, which he holds in front of his crotch. But the vessel can't handle that much honey, so the sweetness oozes over the edges and spills down yet another level, presumably onto our heads, drenching us in golden, godly love. Part of what makes Blackshear's work so compelling is precisely its unabashed eroticism; it aims to turn you on, and then to turn that passion toward Jesus.

The only thing missing from this is the two Living Color guys giving 2 Snaps Up!

[mcg]

86. "Forgiven" - an interesting portrayal of Jesus

Larger images of "Forgiven" by Thomas Blackshear:

[mcg]

87. Larger pic of "The Vessel" by Thomas Blackshear

[liberal N proud]

27. The hypocrisy renneth over

:popcorn::rofl: :popcorn: :rofl:

[sarcasmo]

28. I am not even gay and my gaydar is on with that photo.

Kick and Nom for the Hypocrisy.

[Bluebear]

30. Gaydar is stereotype reinforcement

[LilyLibber]

29. Break out the recorded messages...

and the polygraph machine. Let's see 'em wriggle out of this one.

“No pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism than does Pastor Ted.” Oh, the hypocrisy...

:popcorn:

[Bluebear]

31. Reverend Icehead

[hunter]

32. What kind of vat do they grow these guys in?

Flip Benham, wearing Ted Haggard's shirt:



http://www.operationsaveamerica.org

[marmar]

33. Haven't we seen this movie before, in fact, over and over of late....?

Self-hating anti-gay gay right winger outed when his two worlds collide. Maybe this will be a good lesson for him about all them good evangelical folk when they turn on him like pit bulls.

[Lucky Luciano]

34. Damn! These wingnuts are like a bad accident!

Does their comedy know no bounds? I guess once we rid the country of their toxic stench, we can laugh at their hypocrisy...unfortunately it is hard to completely laugh because of their reckless murder, mayhem, and bloodlust.

[Kierkegaard]

35. Why does it seem that so many powerful pukes are just total morons?

If you engage in behavior that you publicly condemn, wouldn't you have at least some inkling that it might be exposed? What do you say to your counterparts, "Promise you won't tell if...?"

I'm grateful for the rampant Puke self-destruction, but it is puzzling.

[TankLV]

115. Because subconsciously, they WANT to be "caught" - they are miserable

hiding their true existence.

Just like criminals who leave behind stupid obvious clues...

A "cry for help"

I'm not a psychologist, but I stayed in a (insert name) hotel one time...

[Initech]

36. Looks like Bill Hicks was right all along!

"Anyone that far to the right is hiding a very deep, very dark secret."

[populistdriven]

37. Blogged: He talks with Bush once a week, Gay Hookers Twice

http://www.joe.to

[redqueen]

38. This is probably VERY common.

Repressed sexuality manifests one way or another. It sure doesn't just disappear because you believe Jesus wants it to.

[LostinVA]

48. Great point -- like the founders of "Exodus"

They finally got their sense back and realized they were still gay -- there was nothing real in calling themselves "ex gay."

[redqueen]

51. Hah... is that so? The founders?

Lovely. :)

[LostinVA]

54. Yuppers!

[Catherine Vincent]

39. Busted!

LOL!

[Swamp Rat]

100. HAHA!

:rofl:

[AzDar]

45. Oh, TOO precious..... n/t

[leQ]

46. oh my, he's born on the same day as i am: gay day! how gay. (nt)

[judaspriestess]

49. another prime example of

People shouldn't throw stones who live in glass houses.

[napi21]

52. EdSchultz just read as breaking news that this guy is stepping down

from the leadership of his church!

[qanda]

59. Also stepped down as the leader of the Natl. Assoc. of Evangelicals

[TankLV]

117. ...but he insists he did nothing wrong...

just doesn't want to be a problem for the organizations he champions...

He's as innocent as Delay, Abramhoff, Hassert, Foley, Cheney...

you get the picture...

[leftupnorth]

53. Well well

looks like we get a little unintended voter supression of our own.

You wanna talk about demoralizing the base, I mean jeebus...

If true, this should make even some of the rabid 25% stay home.

[Stockholm]

55. Will he be joining Foley at Sierra Tuscon?

http://www.sierratucson.com/

[Blue Gardener]

56. Time to go to rehab!

Maybe he can room with Foley.

[janetle]

57. And this guy has a wife and five kids??!! Geez.

[Oreo]

58. He just stepped down

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/11/2/104434/166

[Raffi Ella]

60. ha.oh wow.

you've GOT to be kidding...Alright,that's it.ANYone that evangelizes against homosexuality is gay in my mind.I wouldn't be surprised if Falwell,Robertson - hell if the Chimp himself had a gay lover on the side...I would NOT be surprised!!

[chat_noir]

61. FReeper fun

To: dogbyte12

So what does Musgrave do now...comment or not comment?

25 posted on 11/02/2006 3:03:06 PM PST by soupcon


To: soupcon

She has to comment. All she has to do is show compassion, concern, saying she hoping it isn't true, hoping he changes his ways if true, and commenting on how lovely his family is. In a press release. The media vultures though would decend in a pack on her with a press conference though. Musgrave should just write a good statement.

30 posted on 11/02/2006 3:06:11 PM PST by dogbyte12


To: Jaysun




Says he went to Oral Roberts...
36 posted on 11/02/2006 3:09:11 PM PST by BurbankKarl

[chat_noir]

64. hypocrites

To: dogbyte12

it's nobody's business but the congregation and his family. That the MSM and RATS are trying to influence the election with this is despicable, but not surprisng. They'll stop at nothing.

50 posted on 11/02/2006 3:19:54 PM PST by balch3

[TankLV]

118. Yes it's called HYPOCRISY - on the part of the smug hypocritical REPUKES!

As a gay man, I am THRILLED to see them hoisted on their own petard!

Priceless...

[natureman]

79. He went to Oral Roberts...

Sounds like he went to Oral somebody.... He He He !!! Let the jokes begin. They deserve it.

[Nimrod2005]

63. Need pictures of him and Bush praying, please god, someone get

the fucking pictures fast....!!!

[Duncan]

66. Why isn't this huge news? nt

[Rainscents]

67. ''I did not have homosexual relations...

with that man." LOL

[Janice325]

68. ''I did not have homosexual relations...

with that man."
Oooh, that's a good one!!! :rofl: :applause:
k&r

[Rainscents]

71. ...

:evilgrin:

[StellaBlue]

69. Well, DUH!

But it's the guy from the Richard Dawkins religion program from Channel 4!!!! Bwhahahahahaha

[varun]

70. We'll see more of thse outings...

...as people become more comfortable about their sexuality, they will be willing to come out and tell others about their gay sexual partners...

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

72. Did this guy have a TV show? Looks awfully familiar, if only in a generic,

good looking middle aged guy kind of way. :shrug:

[Initech]

73. Oooh, the morals and values crowd strikes again!

[Dukkha]

74. oh my these are trying times for repugs

they keep trying and they keep getting caught!
karma's such a bitch ain't it!

[FatDave]

75. Nothing I like better...

...than seeing a pseudo-pious hypocrite fall.

What a shame it would be if the evangelical movement disintegrated in the wake of a scandal like this. :sarcasm:

[Turn CO Blue]

76. Haggard has been telling all 14K members of his church to support

the amendment on the ballot here in Colorado to ban gay marriage.

This news couldn't possibly have "come out" at a better time for the sake of gay citizens living here in our beautiful state.

What a freakin' hypocrite! I want to hear those voicemails this guy claims to have, because Haggard's voice is fairly distinct.

Richard Dawkins (author of The God Delusion) should post this on his website, since Richard and Ted really can't stand each other.

[IWantAChange]

78. If the Dem's are serious about winning play the damn card Mr. Dean...

can you imagine the Repugs and their hate machine if they had something like this? The results of the election would be a given if Rove was handed this on a platter. Another thought, how many Repugs can fit into that rehab center where Foley is locked away??? I wonder what the excuse is this time? Alchohol? Abusive mother? Couldn't wait for the Rapture? Made the guy dress up like Dubyha??

:wtf: :wtf: Can u spell h-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e???????

[WorseBeforeBetter]

80. The "lover" (clip on Keith O.) just said meth was used...

to enhance the sex and that he saved voicemails. It just keeps getting better...LOL.

[Turn CO Blue]

81. Here is his church's press release about this:

New Life Church

<http://www.newlifechurch.org/nlcpressrelease110206.pdf>

Rev. Ted Haggard, Senior Pastor of New Life Church, stated today that he could "not
continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations made on Denver talk radio this
morning." He, therefore, placed himself on administrative leave, pending investigation, spiritual
counsel, and a decision by the church's board of overseers. Pastor Haggard said, "I am
voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed
with integrity. I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date. In the
interim, I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."

more at link...

[Turn CO Blue]

82. Harper's Magazine article about Haggard and New Life Church:

Soldiers of Christ
<http://www.harpers.org/SoldiersOfChrist.html>

...snip...
The press tends to regard Dobson as the most powerful evangelical Christian in America, but Pastor Ted is at least his equal. Whereas Dobson plays the part of national scold, promising to destroy politicians who defy the Bible, Pastor Ted quietly guides those politicians through the ritual of acquiescence required to save face. He doesn't strut, like Dobson; he gushes. When Bush invited him to the Oval Office to discuss policy with seven other chieftains of the Christian right in late 2003, Pastor Ted regaled his whole congregation with the story via email. “Well, on Monday I was in the World Prayer Center”—New Life's high-tech, twenty-four-hour-a-day prayer chapel —“and my cell phone rang.” It was a presidential aide; “the President,” says Pastor Ted, wanted him on hand for the signing of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Pastor Ted was on a plane the next morning and in the President's office the following afternoon. “It was incredible,” wrote Pastor Ted. He left it to the press to note that Dobson wasn't there.

more at link...

[specimenfred1984]

83. SMEARRRRR, BwaaaaaaaaHahahahahahahahaha!

So much for a fake Kerry joke!

Dems are finally getting good at Swiftboating, I LOVE IT!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

84. It's not Swiftboating if it's true.

Preacher Man brought this shit on himself.

[upi402]

88. now preaching the word at the YMCA

hypocrites who condemn others for personal gain are as bad as televangelist profiteering exploiters.

[mcg]

89. Haggard went to DC regularly to get briefings from the White House

Any overnight stays? While Jeff Gannon was there?

http://crawfordpeace.nfshost.com/node/2120

Scroll down to 'Tom Brokaw covers a relevant topic tonight'

"... Also shown were political speakers coming to speak in church, which also came under scrutiny. To me, not shocking to me but may be to others, the most important thing they covered was the fact that this guy Ted Haggard goes to DC regularly to get briefings from the White House on what to speak about in his mega churches, it takes the whole 'Faith Based Initiatives' to the next level, and really questions the separation of Church and State, which they plan on changing to say the 1st Ammendment meant no such thing, and a goverment could indeed advocate a certain religion over others and change it's laws to reflect Abrahamic texts, which immediately brings women's rights into question, same as the well known Taliban we opposed then and now."

[LaBanty]

90. Where's the Proof?

I want to see proof. Anyone can accuse someone of something. If it's true, I'd like to watch the 14,000 New Life church members carrying on their anti-gay mission with a straight face, knowing they had a sodomite marching by their side the past however many years. Then they can spout scripture until their faces turn blue (and you know they will), and justify how God has instructed them to condemn gays, because they are such goooood people.

I don't care that the guy's gay, if he is. I wouldn't care what political party he belonged to. But, if he is gay, consider he led an out-and-out crusade against gays while in a gay relationship. That's about as shitty as it gets. He lied to his wife, his friends, and his kids, all to conform to his bullshit Fundie agenda. Gay or straight, it was a shitty thing to do. If his religion forces him to lie to hide what he really is, why would he even be religious? What a Fundie asshole.

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

92. I Ain't No Psychologist!

BUT, It seems to me that there is alot more going on here than just closeted homosexuality. I hear the term "self-hating" and I think this may be a key to understanding the current phenomena.

I think many of these right-wing nutjobs who have homosexual relations are even more screwed up than we give them credit for. A homosexual, I imagine, is drawn to a person of the same sex out of attraction or lust or passion in the same way a heterosexual would feel - it feels natural and right and good. These hard-right hypocrites, on the other hand, appear to be drawn to or excited by the fact that, in their "culture", such relations are considered taboo, and they risk all if they so engage.

The point being, that a normal homosexual relationship is based on fairly normal impulses, whereas these strange fellows cropping up in Repudlican ranks just seem to need to grab on to that live wire presented by the taboo act. So Foley is not just gay, he seduces fairly young boys, and at the same time is hanging with John Walsh and the center for Missing and Exploited Children - talk about high stakes! And this latest story - do you think Teddy ever stayed up late night wondering whether or when he'd be found out? Hell yes - I bet the thought that he might be exposed made it all the more exciting. These guys are a different breed - they have it all turned upside down, inside out...

It fits with stories I have heard about clubs like Skull and Bones - the homoerotic rituals and rites of passage therein celebrate not healthy attraction and honest relationships, but perverse obsessions.

[file83]

108. Ever heard of the "Bohemian Grove"?? Look it up (google)...

Among many other rumors about that annual power meeting in California, there are rumors of several "camps" inside that have homosexual parties - The people that attend the B.G. are the power elite of America (some foreigners). I would really like to find out who attends those "parties". I bet a majority of them are closeted gay Republicans.

[codjh9]

94. HAHAHA! F-ing hypocrites! And so MORAL.

... and what is this s__t with Republicans who are gay or bi but 'hate gays'? Talk about schizophrenic!!! :^)

[Alcibiades]

96. It's not even they hypocricy on their "lifestyle choice"

so much as it is that their choice of the closet over being out leads them to

a. have sex with prostitutes
b. thereby commit adultery

so much for "family values."

[Alcibiades]

95. In the Prayer Closet

The guy rents out “prayer closets” for $5.00 a day at his “World Prayer Center:”

Snip

For all of $5 a day, I could’ve rented a “prayer closet,” a tiny room with a desk and a bathroom. I opted to rough it because I didn’t want to miss anything. Who knows what might go down in the middle of the night? Disco raves? A war council of Pastor Ted, James Dobson and Rick Santorum outfitted in Eyes Wide Shut-style robes and masks?

Praying in the closet. Fits somehow.

For some reason, Haggard thought about running for Congress a while back, but then decided not to–for some reason:

snip
"I'm not going to run for Congress," he says, citing fears that his candidacy would create a media circus. Still, Haggard leaves the door open to reversing course. "I'd be very surprised if I did."

Of course, being exposed as a big closeted hypocrite and self-loathing homophobe might also create a bit of a media circus. (The same article–from 2005--has a picture of a large bronze angel Haggard said he’ll give to Bush in 2008. Oddly, I don’t think this will happen now.)

Has anyone mentioned the “gay sex demon” theory of homosexuality yet?

Anyway, this is going to provide lots of fodder for the media. Unlike Abramoff, Gannon or Foley, Bush cannot sweep Haggard back into the closet, nor can he deny knowing him. Will this please shut up all those Republicans supporting mandatory heterosexuality, that homosexuality is a terrible “lifestyle choice” and that theirs is the party of Christian values, the main ones, apparently, being hatred and homophobia?

[Zambero]

97. Colorado Springs, huh?

Anyone here from those parts who can comment on how this is going over with the wingnuts in Valuesville U.S.A.? Also, I'm hoping this is in Musgrave's district. Either way, the local homphobes will be so shellshocked that election day will come and go before they even remember whay year it is!

[thoughttheater]

98. Another Demon In Deacon's Clothes

While one cannot conclude that this accusation will prove to be true, the man bringing the allegation has been in the Denver and Colorado Springs area for some time. His advertisements for services have appeared in local gay publications for a number of years and it wouldn't make a lot of sense for him to come forward without sufficient and accurate information to prove his claims. That is simply speculation on my part but it would seem like a huge mistake if his story is a fabrication. My hunch is that the information will bear the coming scrutiny and that the pastor's secrets are about to be exposed.

If Jesus was to be our example, then I don't understand this thing we now call Christian values. Pastor Haggard may believe that he speaks for God but his actions suggest that he merely fears his own humanity. Further, if the values he espouses exist to demonstrate his faith in the God he knows, then the God he knows must have already seen this element of his humanity that he cannot personally accept...which would mean that any true God has already accepted that which we humans won't and would also prove that the God Haggard purports to represent is not a real God but a God of his own creation designed to serve his flawed view of the human condition.

Read more here:

www.thoughttheater.com

[GreenTea]

99. Man, the hits just keep on comin!

[empyrius]

102. conservative self-haters

Indeed! As has been noted since time immemorial, what one hates most is what one is: drunks hate being a drunk, a fascist is intolerant of fascism, a conservative zealot hates everybody but loves money, power, guns, war, and 'tough love'; everything that Jesus himself abhors.

Funny . . .

Peace

[lazyriver]

103. Foley's leaving rehab in about a week...

so a bed has opened up. Haggard is probably filling out his health insurance forms for admittance right about now.

[curiousdemo]

104. Thought of the Day.....

And God says that things in the "Dark" will soon come to "Light". All you right-wing Evangels better listen to those words. Your self-righteousness will eventually come back on you, if you play yourself!!

Say Haggie baby, Don't :smoke: Meth

[sqarebis]

106. I love RW hypocrisy

don't you? :D

[Seabiscuit]

107. So... the 2006 election comes down to:

A botched bad joke flap vs. a bitch-slapped bad fundie.

What more could a voter wish for?

[TankLV]

109. OKaaaay...

Wonder what he sounds like preaching - all mealy mouthed, southern drawl, quite GAY I suspect...

Not that there's anything WRONG with that!

Everytime I hear one of these nut job preachers, you just KNOW they gotta be gay!

[ishtar66]

124. Closeted bisexuals

They hate that gay part of themselves and try as they might living the heterosexual life their homosexual tendencies eventually re-assert themselves.

Their life and their compromises are a threat to the edifice they have become trapped in. when they point to the gay 'lifestyle' as being a threat to the family they are talking about themselves.

[confludemocrat]

111. Like Wonkette said, "man, this is the best midterm election season ever"

for sure.

[Marie26]

112. Is it wrong

that I'm absolutely loving this? It's just one October Surprise after another for the Republicans. :bounce:

[LilyLibber]

116. "Accuser Fails Lie Detector Test"

So now there's this that the RW nutjobs are leaping all over, conveniently ignoring the part about the test's administrator himself having doubts about the reliability of the test! I don't know why they even ran with this!

Haggard's accuser fails lie detector
By Mike McPhee
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated:11/03/2006 09:21:34 AM MST

Ted Haggard's accuser failed a polygraph test early this morning about the truthfulness of his accusations that he had had a three-year homosexual affair with the influential Colorado Springs minister.

The test was given to Michael Jones, 49, an admitted male prostitute, who made the allegations on the Peter Boyles Show on radio station KHOW Thursday morning.

The shocking allegations were denied by Haggard, who told KUSA-9News he never took part in a homosexual affair and had always been faithful to his wife, with whom he has 5 children.

So Boyles invited Jones to take a polygraph test at 5 a.m. this morning.

The test administrator, John Kresnik, said Jones' score indicated "deceptions" in his answers. However, Kresnik said he doubted the accuracy of the test he administered because of the recent stress on Jones and his inability to eat or sleep, according to KHOW producer Greg Hollenback.

Kresnik suggested that Jones be re-tested early next week after he was rested.

(emphasis added)

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_4597552

Well, no matter what they try, Haggard has already admitted to at least "some" of the allegations, anyway.

[ishtar66]

123. He admitted to "some" allegations

What were they? That he tried crystal meth? Alone? Why was he calling the escort guy about making a drug deal? If that is the case he has a serious addiction problem on top of everything else.

Those who queer bash tha loudest have the most to hide. I am quite certain our Mr. Haggard will not come out faultless in this scandal.

[a la izquierda]

122. Thank god I was in bed when this came on...

I burst out laughing so hard, I might have fallen over and injured myself. I actually startled my dogs, then called a friend at 5:30 to tell her. In the words of the immortal Abe Simpson, "Oh, this is gonna be sweet".:evilgrin:

[sparerib]

125. We need to blow this wide open

If ever there was an epitome of hypocrisy this has got to be it. Law abiding, honest gays who want to legitimize and consecrate their open, above board and devoted relationships are being attacked and thwarted by hypocrites like Haggard who snort drugs to heighten their sordid, dishonest, secret orgies. This is enough to make a person gag. I think gays and straights alike need to scream about this until our voices are hoarse. These people are so rotten, they have no shame.

[LilyLibber]

127. Hear, hear!

Well said, and Welcome to DU! :toast:

[Catfight]

129. hee hee...scared str8....LOL

[Alcibiades]

130. It just keeps getting better and better!

The acting senior pastor of his church has now admitted that Haggard engaged in "some indiscretion."

Some indiscretion? Why did he resign immediately, then? More likely he engaged in everything as charged, and then some.

Some folks have said things along the lines of "if this is true" or "let's not rush to judgment." This is BS. This story broke in the denver Post, who researched it for 2 whole months. They found it credible, and I think that, given the consequences for them if it were not true, that I trust the post in this case.

Besides, if any head of any left-aligned group, a married father of five, was accused of a three-year affair with a prostitute and using meth, you can be sure that no benefit of the doubt would be extended to him.

Anyway, this is our version of Clinton's "I didn't inhale."

snip

"Haggard said he got a massage from the man, 49-year-old Mike Jones, after receiving a recommendation from a Denver hotel, but said he never had sex with him."

snip

Yes, I hired a gay prostitute, but didn't have sex with him. For my massage, I chose to hire a gay prostitute, whose number was given to me by the hotel (yeah, right, they do a lot of procuring for their customers, not afraid of any legal issues there), rather than, say, a licensed massage therapist, because, um, well.......

snip

"I called him to buy some meth, but I threw it away. I bought it for myself but never used it," the Rev. Ted Haggard said today to a reporter for KUSA who interviewed him as he was leaving his Colorado Springs, Colo., home. "I was tempted, but I never used it." He said he threw out the drug without using it."

snip

I bought the methamphetamine for my own personal consumption, but didn't consume it. The reason I chose to get my meth from a gay prostitute rather than one of the many fine meth dealers in Colorado springs is, um, well.......

So there you have it, it's all been explained. He paid a prostitute, but not for sex (why he was getting a massage in a hotel room rather than having the masseur come to his home is, um.......) He bought meth, but didn't use it.

I do love how he refers to this--not how he says he has never had a gay "relationship." Sure, just lots and lots of gay sex, bought and paid for, which I am sure he found deeply, deeply rewarding. That's not really a "relationship," like a marriage would be. Gay marriage is wrong, anyway, but paying for gay sex is OK, just see Cor 11:69---

And the LORD said unto the Apostles "Yea, thou shalt not taketh a man for thy bride, and haveth him bear thy children, cook thy food and pluck thine chicken, for it is an abomination in mine sight. Thou shalt get a woman to do all of these things, and instead engageth thy manservant in the Motel Six, where it is hidden from the sight of God, and someone else the sheets changeth. Amen."

[ishtar66]

131. Don't wait up for me dear....

I am not done 'evangelizing' in the gay bars of Colorado Springs

[mcg]

135. He bought -- he did not rail.

"UPDATE: The mighty Ted Haggard told reporters yesterday that he had no idea who Mike Jones was and that he had never met him, never had sex with him and never smoked meth with him. Today's story, however, is that he met Jones, got his massage on, bought some meth and then promptly threw it in the garbage. (He bought -- he did not rail.)"

http://fadedyouth.blogspot.com/2006/11/religion-farce-you-dont-say.html

("rail" is slang for a large dose of crystal meth)

Haggard claims to only have only bought meth ONCE even though he (reportedly) asked Mike Jones in a voice mail for MORE meth. Yes, that's the ticket, Haggard just happens to like buying hard drugs repeatedly, only to throw them away.

Haggard accuser interview video:
http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/us/2006/11/03/radio.co.mike.jones.kdvr.kdvr&wm=10

[ishtar66]

132. Here is the latest

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-11-02-evangical-sex-claims_x.htm?csp=24

Drugs yes, sex no.

[mcg]

133. Haggard contradicts himself regarding the drugs....

Haggard said he bought meth only once and "threw it away" before ever using it.
"I never kept it very long because it's wrong," Haggard told the TV station.
"I was tempted, I bought it, but I never used it."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-11-02-evangical-sex-claims_x.htm?csp=24

Compare his claim with what he reportedly said in a voice mail...

"Hi Mike, this is Art," one call began, according to the report. "Hey, I was just calling to see if
we could get any more. Either $100 or $200 supply."

A second message, left a few hours later, began: "Hi Mike, this is Art, I am here in Denver
and sorry that I missed you. But as I said, if you want to go ahead and get the stuff,
then that would be great. And I'll get it sometime next week or the week after or whenever."

http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_307134631.html

Who's we? Did he buy drugs that someone else used?

The keyword is more, which indicates this wasn't the first time.

Are we to believe that he bought some meth, "threw it away", then called to buy more???

[Seabiscuit]

134. Answer: Yes! He got off so much throwing it away the first time he just had

to order some more to throw away!

:rofl:

[mcg]

136. Male prostitute and Ted Haggard as a guy and Jesus in "Forgiven"???

Take a look at this painting called "Forgiven"
by Thomas Blackshear (his artwork is displayed in Haggard's church):


Blackshear lives in Colorado, as does Mike Jones and Ted Haggard.
There seems to be quite a likeness between the guy in
this painting and Mike Jones, and some similarity between Haggard
and how Jesus is portrayed in this painting. This painting looks
too good to have been done just from imagination, it's most likely
that two models were used, maybe not posed, but at least photos.
If so, were Mike Jones and Ted Haggard the models?

Mike Jones:
http://img.viacomlocalnetworks.com/images_sizedimage_306190433/lg

Ted & George:
http://pics.livejournal.com/luna_k/pic/0003a8p6

Ted Haggard


Haggard accuser radio interview:
http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/us/2006/11/03/radio.co.mike.jones.kdvr.kdvr&wm=10

Megachurch Pastor Caught In Gay Sex Scandal
(includes interviews with Mike and Ted):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SDhLg0_C20

Ted Haggard Bashing Gays - from JESUS CAMP the Movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6rSjrBhUIA

Ted Haggard
(explains the Nuremburg Rallies):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faj3hKA2yKs

[sparerib]

137. When are people going to get it???

From CNN: Evangelical pastor Ted Haggard confessed on Sunday to a "lifelong" sexual problem, and said he was "a deceiver and a liar," in a letter read to his New Life Church. "There is part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I've been warring against it all of my adult life," he said in the letter.

Wouldn't it be nice if Haggard lived in a society that accepted his sexuality, allowing him to have legitimate homosexual relationships--maybe even marriage???--instead of one that encouraged him to be a "deceiver and a liar?"

How sad it is that Haggard was working so hard to perpetuate the problem so others who share his sexual orientation could live in the same darkness and misery.

[Voltaire99]

138. You know the old saying.

Jesus Shaves. ;-)