I swear that among the GOP's "core voters" you can't make this stuff up:

[[b]Evangelical America hit by gay sex scandal[/b]

By Ed Stoddard

DALLAS (Reuters) - America's evangelical movement grappled on Friday with a high-profile gay sex scandal that evoked torrid affairs of the past and embarrassed the politically active cause days before nationwide elections.

The movement supports ballot initiatives in several states on Tuesday which aim to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Ted Haggard, a vocal opponent of gay marriage, resigned his post as president of the National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a male escort.

"This is a blow as the National Association of Evangelicals is a significant organization for us. We would always want to lift up a high standard of conduct for church leaders," said Gary Ledbetter, the director of communications for the Dallas-based Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

Haggard, who has publicly denied the accusation, also temporarily stepped down as senior pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

But the acting senior pastor at New Life Church, Ross Parsley, told Colorado Springs-based KKTV late on Thursday that Haggard had admitted to some of the allegations.

"There has been some admission of indiscretion, not admission to all of the material that has been discussed, but there is an admission of some guilt," Parsley said.

With his chiseled features and wide smile Haggard was a poster boy for the evangelical movement and social conservative causes. Harper's Magazine reported he had regularly advised the White House.

Conservative Christians are a support base for the Republican Party and
President George W. Bush. Evangelical leaders have been urging the faithful to vote on Tuesday with polls showing Republicans set to lose control of one and perhaps both houses of Congress.

They also have encouraged conservative voters in eight states including Colorado to support proposed amendments to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

The furor has revived the memories of the financial and sex scandals that brought down two of the most prominent televangelists of the 1980s, Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart.

Ledbetter said the movement was about faith.

"During the Jimmy Swaggart affair I was asked about what it all meant by someone on a ski lift and I replied that our relationship is with Jesus Christ, the perfect man, and not with any of the rest of us who sometimes fall into temptation," he told Reuters.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2006 11:55AM by the_poochies.

This is ridiculous. This is consensual sex between adults. Who cares? There is no reason to be giving this any publicity.






































Except for the hypocrysy, of course.

I wonder how Bush's next Monday morning consultation with Haggard will go.

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Strength without compassion is brutality. Compassion without strength is weakness.

We must train our minds to desire what the situation demands.

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"During the Jimmy Swaggart affair I was asked about what it all meant by someone on a ski lift and I replied that our relationship is with Jesus Christ, the perfect man, and not with any of the rest of us who sometimes fall into temptation," he told Reuters.

If it's all about our personal relationships with Jesus Christ, then why do these corrupt, hypocritical "middlemen" have any place in the world at all?

Oh yeah: it's all about the power, control, and money.

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Silencio

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"During the Jimmy Swaggart affair I was asked about what it all meant by someone on a ski lift and I replied that our relationship is with Jesus Christ, the perfect man, and not with any of the rest of us who sometimes fall into temptation," he told Reuters.

If it's all about our personal relationships with Jesus Christ, then why do these corrupt, hypocritical "middlemen" have any place in the world at all?

Oh yeah: it's all about the power, control, and money.

I completely agree with Silencio on this one. That was nicely worded.

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Effin Haole
I wonder how Bush's next Monday morning consultation with Haggard will go.

You really want to know? Ok...

"George, look the Dems got us this time 'round. We had a great run (into the ground) but now they get their turn again. Now just bend over and take it like a man like I did".

Gay Ol' Party

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I am not Ryan Seacrest, and I do not approve this message.

Grand Old Panties

Grand Old Poofters

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

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Strength without compassion is brutality. Compassion without strength is weakness.

We must train our minds to desire what the situation demands.

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Effin Haole
Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Unless, of course, you are one of the GOP's core voters. In which case it's an abomination in the eyes of the Lord.

>>>If it's all about our personal relationships with Jesus Christ, then why do these corrupt, hypocritical "middlemen" have any place in the world at all?

I think what he was saying is that if you depend completely on people, they will always let you down (they're only human). At any rate, they're not all corrupt and hypocritical, at least not in the sense that Haggard may be.

Politically, conservative christians may decide the current repubs in office do not represent them, as they claim. But I'm not sure that means they will vote for Dems, since they don't even _claim_ to represent the same values. So the choice is to vote for someone who claims to have your values (but doesn't) or someone who claims not to have your values. Not a good choice. kj.

Do NOT believe everything you read in the papers. if these allegations prove untrue, you will never see any retractions or corrections on the front page. They don't sell or put someone in the spotlight.

So many of you are quick to point out that Iraq had no WMD, in spite of Iraq claiming it did and the papers saying they did. So don't believe it cause they print it. that's all

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bradsdad
---no signature required

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bradsdad
So many of you are quick to point out that Iraq had no WMD, in spite of Iraq claiming it did and the papers saying they did. So don't believe it cause they print it. that's all

Uhh, I don't recall Iraq saying to any country... "Fsck You! We have WMD's and if you want them, come and get them!" Actually, quite the opposite. At least I recall them saying they didn't have what we were looking for and by golly it sure looks like they didn't.

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bradsdad
Do NOT believe everything you read in the papers. if these allegations prove untrue, you will never see any retractions or corrections on the front page. They don't sell or put someone in the spotlight.

We must give him the benefit of the doubt. So far he has only confessed
on national TV to buying meth from and getting a massage from a gay escort.


: -/

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But he didn't inhale.

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Strength without compassion is brutality. Compassion without strength is weakness.

We must train our minds to desire what the situation demands.

Or swallow.


outcast

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lafinfil
We must give him the benefit of the doubt. So far he has only confessed
on national TV to buying meth from and getting a massage from a gay escort.
: -/

I sure hope you're joking. When Clinton said he never inhaled, it was obvious he was just saying that to get a few more votes (and I voted for him). This guy is so full of it if he's saying he bought meth (numerous times he says) but didn't try it, and went to a gay prostitute but only got a massage. Give me a break!

The funny thing is, I don't think that badly of him for those things...he's human. However, the hypocrisy of preaching to the unwashed masses that such things are somehow sinful is the part that is sickening.

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"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2006 01:26AM by davester.

>We must give him the benefit of the doubt. So far he has only confessed
on national TV to buying meth from and getting a massage from a gay escort.


There are some witty retorts in this thread, but I think this one takes the cake.
@#$%&!


bradsdad, you had me going there for a minute; I thought you were serious.

BTW, WTF is going on with the right wing? They are imploding. Even Kerry's f-up the other day is overshadowed by this latest guy. It's as if no outside work is necessary.







I mean, besides Rove stealing the election. Again.

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SteveO

bradsdad, you had me going there for a minute; I thought you were serious.

He was and is.

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"Who's more foolish - the fool or the fool that follows him?" - Obi Wan Kenobi

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SteveO
>We must give him the benefit of the doubt. So far he has only confessed
on national TV to buying meth from and getting a massage from a gay escort.


There are some witty retorts in this thread, but I think this one takes the cake.
@#$%&!


bradsdad, you had me going there for a minute; I thought you were serious.

Thank you SteveO - Next time I'll use my : -) face instead of my : -/ face Davester.

I swear during the interview he said " I did not have sex with that man "

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If it's all about our personal relationships with Jesus Christ, then why do these corrupt, hypocritical "middlemen" have any place in the world at all?

Oh yeah: it's all about the power, control, and money.

I think Martin Luther asked pretty much the same question hundreds of years ago.

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My faith is still as strong as ever, I still will proudly vote conservative, so they have wasted
thier time with this garbage. Just because some homo prostitute has his 15 minutes of fame
and failed a lie detector test doesnt sway me at all.

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outcast
Or swallow.


outcast

Or spit.

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DaviDC.

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If it's all about our personal relationships with Jesus Christ, then why do these corrupt, hypocritical "middlemen" have any place in the world at all?

Oh yeah: it's all about the power, control, and money.

I think Martin Luther asked pretty much the same question hundreds of years ago.

Too bad all these hypocritical evangelical leaders are Protestants. I guess that Diet of Worms didn't help in the long run.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2006 04:33PM by Silencio.

Haggard's church is bigger than Westminster Cathedral. Mucho acres.

17,000 suckers each Sunday.

If each drops in $5.00 on Sunday, that buys a lot o' meth and BJs. Do ya think his wife

wants to get tested for HIV? She'll prolly have to go to Nevada to get tested on the QT.

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A man who is of "sound mind" is one who keeps the inner madman under lock and key.
(Paul Valery)

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Macaficionado
My faith is still as strong as ever, I still will proudly vote conservative, so they have wasted
thier time with this garbage. Just because some homo prostitute has his 15 minutes of fame
and failed a lie detector test doesnt sway me at all.

My faith in karma was actually bolstered a bit by this whole thing...once I stopped laughing.