"leave ted haggard ALONE" (for all my friends here in CO who might miss this)

[niyad]

this letter was in the colorado springs independent today, and I thought my friends here in CO (and the rest of you who know this sordid little story) might find this amusing. besides, we need a laugh today.

Worn out on Haggard

I have a personal and special request for the Independent: Please ask your writers — like Rich Tosches, specifically — to stop using Ted Haggard as a way to get a cheap laugh or snicker in your columns ("Dealing with TSA gropers," Ranger Rich, Dec. 2).

It's been over three years since his maximum embarrassment and public humiliation and he is trying to rebuild his life. This stigma will obviously be with him the rest of his life, and yet I find no further valid reasons why you, or others, should continue to publicly beat him down and harass him — especially with lewd comments.

His wife and five children (young adults) are trying to move forward and continue their emotional mending and public healing amidst the chaos Ted created by his confused choices at the time. Yes, he was high-profile and made national news. But now he knows the heartache of being down-and-out, broken and feeling totally rejected.

When Rich Tosches makes lewd comments about Ted's past as a cynical way to get a chuckle, it really doesn't help the human condition, nor does it build a tolerant society. Please don't squash Mr. Haggard's attempts to find restoration with further media humiliation. He is trying to rebuild his life. Just give the guy a break! We all need second chances and hope for our lives and future. Thank you.

— Rev. Tom Pedigo (director, colorado federation for decency, and founder of national alliance against christian discrimination, yes, one of our local reichwingnut fundies)

Colorado Springs

http://www.csindy.com/colorado/letters/Content?category=1064345#HomeJump

(for those interested, this is the column to which he refers--tosches is our local version of mark morford): http://www.csindy.com/colorado/dealing-with-tsa-gropers/Content?oid=1940508

[Ozymanithrax]

1. I'd rather beat Ted Haggard down than beat him... n/t

[niyad]

4. I would rather he was fouling someone's else's air--say in one of the 'stans (although those poor

people have suffered enough)

[Autumn]

2. Poor picked on guy, I bet a male escort, meth, and

a rousing sermon would really perk him up.:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[niyad]

3. well, he has started a new church, so he should have enough money soon. . . .

[Autumn]

5. Great, just what we need here,another bastion

of self righteous holiness to go along with fuckus on the family. LOL My Daughters old cell phone used to be one number off from their number. I would run to beat her to her cell phone, just for the shits and giggles when it was someone calling their number.

[niyad]

6. I used to have fungus on speed dial--I don't think I ever got your daughter's cell phone-- and if I

did, I apologize.

[Autumn]

8. If I ever told you that you are complete moron if

you can't focus on your own damn family at home, I apologize.:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: sp

[niyad]

9. hmm, then I guess I never got her number. but I have had so much fun with the fungus crowd.

[niyad]

7. speaking of another bastion of insanity, did you know that the phil long expo center has been sold

to some church? have to check and see how much in property taxes this financially strapped community is going to lose on this one (and still want to know how much we aren't collecting for ALL the churches here)

[Autumn]

11. No I didn't know that, I don't read the papers

Have you seen that big one on Constitution? That sucker is huge. About a year ago some one had tagged 666 all over it. I think these churches all need to pay taxes.

[niyad]

13. well, I don't read the local fishwrap, occasionally read the indy.

that other waste of paper to which you refer is something I do my best to ignore (or cover up, or drop into the recycle bin, so thoughtfully located)

[donheld]

10. Oh no

[SoCalDem]

12. If it REALLY bothered him, he would be calling himself Tom Haggerty

and would be living in Seattle..

If you publicly shame yourself, and then return to live in the same place, you cannot expect others to "forget"..nor should you ask..

[niyad]

14. I wish pedigo would go somewhere else as well

[gratuitous]

15. So, is Rev. Tom going to leave off the judgment too?

I mean, he sounds real sensitive to the plight of Mr. Haggard (or "Ted" as Pedigo familiarly refers to him); is he just as understanding and compassionate toward others who are down-and-out, broken, and feeling totally rejected? Magic 8 Ball says, "Signs Point to No."

[niyad]

16. the magic 8 ball is correct--look at the groups with which pedigo is associated.

[NuclearDem]

17. LEAVE HIM ALONE, I'M SERIOUS!

[niyad]

18. well, if he weren't such a worthless pos. . .

[niyad]

19. . . .

[Initech]

20. I know what you did last night!

[niyad]

21. you promised not to tell!!!

[Initech]

22. It's sinful!!!

[niyad]

23. but so much fun!!