DK: Haggard's Gay Trysts Covered Up By Dominionist Leaders For Months

[MelissaB]

BREAKING: Haggard's Gay Trysts Covered Up By Dominionist Leaders For Months

by dogemperor
Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 09:54:17 AM PST

I noted as early as my November 5 diary on my thoughts re the Haggard scandal that there was a very real risk that the scandal would spread beyond Haggard to other leaders of the dominionist movement.

As it turns out, this is starting to happen. Reportedly James Dobson has bailed from the attempts to "de-gay" Haggard, and no less than Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition has now admitted that he--and other dominionist leaders--knew about Haggard's affair with Mike Jones for months before it broke the mainstream news but kept it under the rug.

More below...

dogemperor's diary :: ::
The following article from The Jewish Week, as quoted in an an article on Talk to Action, notes:

Then, as if things could not get worse, there was the disgrace of Sheldon's own friend and colleague, Rev. Ted Haggard, the Colorado mega-church leader and president of the National Association of Evangelicals, an even bigger pillar of Republican support on the Christian right. Sheldon disclosed that he and "a lot" of others knew about Haggard's homosexuality "for awhile ... but we weren't sure just how to deal with it."

Months before a male prostitute publicly revealed Haggard's secret relationship with him, and the reverend's drug use as well, "Ted and I had a discussion," explained Sheldon, who said Haggard gave him a telltale signal then: "He said homosexuality is genetic. I said, no it isn't. But I just knew he was covering up. They need to say that."

Lots more here: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/11/11/125417/66

[stepnw1f]

1. the Religious Right are Creepy Cultists (nt)

[malaise]

2. This must be spread far and wide.

Expose all of them.

[stepnw1f]

3. Already Done.... heee

[malaise]

6. Hope you sent it to the ABC blog

Time to drain the fugging swamp.:D

[AlinPA]

4. This is an important article. The White House is tied into all this.

[Richard Steele]

5. Kicked and recommended.

[belpejic]

7. I'm distressed

For some reason all of this stuff about Ted Haggard is really
getting me out of sorts. I know it's massively ironic that
he's gay, but frankly I'm really concerned about the fact that
he might have a meth problem and might be hijacked by a bunch
of lunatics as a result.

I'm a straight male. I've thought a lot about my sexuality and
it became clear to me a long time ago that I prefer women. But
I grew up with gay people, many of whom were parental figures
for me. I wish I could be as morally sound as some of my best
friends -- whether it comes to relationships of any sort, or
parenting, or whatever -- even though they'd rather love
people different from me.

I don't post here very often, but I really appreciate the
commentary. I read a lot. I just wish, though, that we could
offer support more where it's really needed. I could care less
that Haggard is gay. But I care that he may be conflicted
about it, and, as a recovering alcoholic and addict I care
very much about his sobriety.

Anyway, just my two cents. 

[AlinPA]

10. Sorry, this Haggard is a phony leader of a bunch of hate-filled people

who are determined to twist the minds of young people to their bigoted, anti-science agenda.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

8. As Al Franken noted, Dobson's withdrawal may be the best thing for Haggard

..as it would encourage him to seek real help from real therapists in coming to terms with his sexuality.

I feel sadness and sympathy for Haggard for this first time since this story broke. His realization that his sexual orientation is not a demon but part of his nature is a breakthrough that could lead to his growth and healing. But he will make no progress so long as he remains in the structure that has sustained him all his life. What a terrible position to be in. I can understand why he used drugs to separate his hidden life from his public persona.

The Jewish Week article that dogemperor links to is an excellent overview of the current Dominionist mindset and their agenda for the future. The Dominionist threat to democracy has only been kicked, not curbed, by this week's election results. Even the loss of Santorum and the exposure of Louis Sheldon as a Haggard "enabler" will not make much of a dent in their plans. Vigilance must be maintained as this American Taliban regroups and moves forward in its quest to establish a theocracy.

[Disturbed]

9. As long as the Fundies view GLBT persons as evil

and insist that sexual orientation is a choice there will be major problems within their organizations. Are they going to insist that any GLBT convert to hetero sexual beings?

[earth mom]

11. The Haggard story makes me think of Gannon...

:tinfoilhat:

Look at the influence Haggard had on the * administration. How does Gannon tie in?

[progressoid]

12. Must have been part of God's plan. Just one more step toward the Rapture

I'll re-read Revelations tonight; I bet there is an obscure passage that I can attribute to Ted. Don't worry Dominionists, it's gonna happen any day now.

:eyes: