Curtains for Moms for Liberty: The fallout of a rape charge shows the far-right group is floundering

[marmar]

Curtains for Moms for Liberty: The fallout of a rape charge shows the far-right group is floundering
Gov. Ron DeSantis bet big on the book banners, but after electoral losses, even he's pushing them out the door

By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 4, 2023 6:00AM (EST)


(Salon) At first, there was little that was surprising about a report that Christian Ziegler, the husband of Moms for Liberty co-founder Bridget Ziegler, is under police investigation in Sarasota, FL following a rape allegation. The modus operandi of Moms for Liberty and their allies is implying, often outright falsely accusing, everyone from drag queens to school librarians of being sexual predators. Lurid finger-pointing from conservatives is often, as most folks have figured out by now, a form of psychological projection. It hasn't even been two weeks since the release of a similar story outing a Philadelphia organizer for Moms of Liberty for his 2012 conviction of sexual abuse of a 14-year-old boy.

Just as predictable were the details dug up by local reporters for the Florida Trident that the alleged victim told police "that she and both Zieglers had been involved in a three-year consensual three-way sexual relationship." The report alleges she had been alone with Christian Ziegler, who is also the chair of the Florida GOP, the night of the alleged rape. Time and again, we have seen this story play out: The self-appointed guardians of everyone else's sexual morality often have rather exotic sex lives of their own. Just ask Jerry Falwell Jr.

But what is genuinely startling — downright shocking, even — is there are signs that these revelations could result in bona fide political consequences for the Zieglers. Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose support of Moms for Liberty played a huge role in the group's skyrocketing to national prominence, didn't mince words when asked about the allegations Thursday night. He called on Ziegler to resign, saying, "He’s innocent till proven guilty, but we just can’t have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny."

....(snip)....

The speed with which the Zieglers are being tossed overboard is fascinating because it wasn't that long ago that the couple were some of the biggest rising stars in the GOP, especially in Florida. DeSantis aligned himself so firmly with Moms for Liberty that they seemed all but an official part of his presidential campaign. He gave a keynote address at the Moms for Liberty conference in Philadelphia in July. He also did innumerable events highlighting the group's work in banning books in school, terrorizing teachers for being LGBTQ or allies, and intimidating educators out of teaching facts about history that conservatives would rather keep hidden. Bridget Ziegler played a strong hand in writing Florida's "don't say gay" law. DeSantis even appointed her to the tourism board he constructed to harass Disney for daring to speak out against his anti-LGBTQ agenda. .......................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2023/12/04/curtains-for-moms-for-liberty-the-fallout-of-a-rape-charge-shows-the-far-right-group-is-floundering/

[Lovie777]

1. Not only rape but bi-sexual activities as well.................................

Rwers talk shit about how up right they are, the purity thingy and how sexual assault, rape and gays are beneath them because they have the morality of their Gawd, but hey..................................

[FalloutShelter]

2. Typical...

All for me and none for thee...

The first commandment of Rethugs... just don't get caught.

[Historic NY]

3. But they always do

[FalloutShelter]

4. And now they're cancelled.

Funny how that happens...sad trombone.

[BOSSHOG]

33. Conservatives are Goebbels scholars of Public Relations

Tell a lie loudly and often, and

ACCUSE YOUR ENEMIES OF DOING WHAT YOU DO.

[tanyev]

5. Marking to read later.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. You can click the My Notes button; no need to make empty post; only you see Notes click . . . . nt

[Lucky Luciano]

29. Where is "my notes"?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

30. Top right of this thread page (with all the posts),

... under MY DU, under the >> links, white letters on blue, separate box.

[Lucky Luciano]

31. Ok...probably not rendering on an iPad then.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

32. Could be, or perhaps the content is too large. Try zooming out, pinching the page, making content smaller

Also try moving the page in the frame, moving the page left to reveal more on the right.

If that doesn't work, post a question in DU Community Help and see what EarlG says about it. Now I'm kinda curious.

[magicarpet]

42. Try this until you resolve...

Rather than holding the cell phone on the vertical plane try thr horizontal plane.

It widens the view so it does not disappear off the edge is the page.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

45. Thx but I'm not the one with the problem. . . . . nt

[Biophilic]

6. Couldn't happen to a more deserving group.

Mom’s for liberty is truly despicable. The harm these people have done will take years to undo.

[Major Nikon]

10. The sad part is things like this are their undoing

...and not all the lives of children they are hell bent on destroying.

[rubbersole]

7. I won't be surprised if Ronnie and Casey....

...have a perverted kink or two up their sleeves (so to speak). Not just feathers, but the whole chicken kinda kink.

[knightmaar]

8. I really don't like how we're mixing up not-hetero relationships with non-consensual ones

This article is weird.
I don't care if your preacher has consensual three-ways with a pool boy or whatever.
I guess you have be e-tainment or whatever and go, "Ooooh! He pretends to be moral, but he shares his wife with another man!"
But really.
That's none of my business.
It's the rape.
The child molestation.
That's the problem.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. Speak for yourself. It's both, not either or, and we can keep them organized

That wanna-be christian, Mr Christian Ziegler, a married man, is accused of rape. He is accused of entering the woman's home and raping her in her own home.

The anti-LGBTQ2 fascist Mrs Christian (Bridget) Ziegler is accused of deep hypocrisy for being publicly against lesbian and bisexual mores while being bisexual herself.

Both hypocrisy and rape apply and we know the difference.

I have not seen ANYBODY on DU write against threesomes or consensual sex. The threesomes were consensual (but soaked in hypocrisy). The rape was not consensual. We know the difference.

What the hell evidence do have that child molestation occurred? Why do you claim it? It was rape (the non-consensual sex) and the hypocrisy. There were no allegations of child molestation. (At least we got that clear.)

[Geechie]

36. The case in Philly was clearly child molestation

as mentioned in the OP
More about that:
[link:https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/moms-for-liberty-philadelphia-pastor-sex-offender-20231120.html|]

[Bernardo de La Paz]

39. OK, thx. That was only 3 percent of words in OP. I missed that; separate case. . . . nt

[people]

21. It's the hypocrisy combined with their targeting of others

They are major hypocrites and are targeting teachers and libraries and LGTBQ+ kids. If they were'nt targeting others for their own behavior none of this would matter.

[magicarpet]

43. Could we add a few more issues to the list

-----> HYPOCRACY - at world class level.

-----> Condemning others for their diverse sexual appetites/interests between consenting adults - and shit trashing their lives in the process.
Then partaking in near identical sexual exploits themselves - but somehow thinking it is only a private matter. Even if alleged rape is part of the equation - they are good Christian Nationalists - and are entitled to a free pass.

You know it would be nice if commenters here on DU were not so quick to label others smut scribes. Most people who post here do not come to comment to give their titillating jollies a venting platform.

These are complex social issues.
Shit trashing other people because they are not morally inclined as you - think they should be and condemning them.

Then low and behold a short time later you are found engaging in the same type or very similar conduct you condemned other of.

That is the hallmark of a hypocrite. And these Christian Nazis ought to have an intense spotlight of attention cast upon them until they get second degree burns.

Ironic - Mom's of Liberty pulled the same bullshit as that drunken ass clown at Liberty University. Does the pool boy show up at the book burning ceremonies while the big shot Nazis are up in the Presidential suite of some fancy hotel having exciting orgies and fucking each other silly ?

With election 2024 steam rolling toward us we had best better get our ducks lined up and use this ammunition against them, don't be shy. This election is going to get down and dirty like we have never seen before.

If we don't win this election American Democracy will transition into a Fascist state before our eyes.

[IronLionZion]

9. Maybe books ruined their family values

It would be nice if it brought down that group. But I wouldn't hold my breath. Conservative hypocrisy and perversion knows no bounds.

[moniss]

12. Well "Mom's for Menage"

aka "Mommy Has a Secret" was bound to end up in some sort of intrigue. This kind of group always does.

[llmart]

13. I guess that Moms for Liberty really meant...

the "liberty" to screw whoever and whatever they wanted to. They never did say what "liberty" meant.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

40. It means "Liberty for us authoritarian masters", none for Dems or PoC or "aliens" or the Other. . . . nt

[DinahMoeHum]

15. Moms For Libertines

Lincoln Project's Rick Wilson has an excellent substack and YouTube piece spelling out the state of Florida's role in all this. (and he would know, being a 5th-generation Floridian himself, but never a social conservative in GOP circles)

https://therickwilson.substack.com/p/floridas-gop-sex-scandal-gets-ugly?r=1ne2d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

[Hekate]

20. Thanks for this. Kudos to Rick Wilson, once again.

Edited to add: I’ll bet you he’s a Carl Hiaassen fan.

[RKP5637]

27. K&R!!! n/t

[Upthevibe]

16. marmar..........

Thank for the post.

This is despicable!

The co-founder of Moms for Liberty is bi and she helped write the law for the Florida "Don't Say Gay" laws!!!!!!

[NoMoreRepugs]

17. When hate groups, such as the moms group are exposed to the light they usually turn out to be Deplorable LOSERS.

[Grins]

18. DeSantis' great line!!!

“He’s innocent till proven guilty, but we just can’t have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny."

The irony being three days ago, 112 Republicans in Congress voted “No!” on the expulsion of George Santos. 112 Republicans said Santos’ appalling behavior was just fine with them!

DeSantis said this (can’t believe I’m writing this) despite Santos being also presumed “innocent until proven guilty” and only accused by the House ethics Committee.

I can’t wait to see how Fox will cover this dichotomy. (Heck; I already know - with silence.)

[Warpy]

19. Fish rots from the head down

and wherever you find one of these right wing "mommy" organizations, you'll find an unbelievably corrupt male running the show.

Look out for "Moms for Freedom," they're next. I am not joking.

[Permanut]

22. So Salon calls this an "exotic" sex life .

I would use a different word

[Evolve Dammit]

23. Crawl back under your rock "ladies." Or is it slither??

[calimary]

24. "Slither" definitely works.

[DJ Porkchop]

25. The way I heard it

Christian wanted sex with Player 3 without his wife there. She wasn't into it, and so he raped her.
This pig has a bisexual wife, and her lesbian girlfriend wasn't down, and he can't get laid without getting violent.
Throw him in jail.

[RKP5637]

26. Another hate group down. So typical, something going on in the background when

they go after vengeance and hatred. ... doth protest too much.

[kimbutgar]

28. Excellent all these christofascist types always seem to have skeletons in their closet

Just saw a documentary on ID Let us Prey: a ministry of scandals about IFB. All these youth ministers were raping young girls and when they were busted the head guy of IFB just moved the guy to another ministry. They are very misogynistic and women were considered second class and they must fully submit to their husbands or they will be damned. It was very cult like and I wondered if they are maga cult members also.

[chouchou]

34. Don't count the bad people out.

I live in Sarasota. Not in town, but in the county.
This city is heavy with right wing couples. They have lots of money and lots of corruption.
Bad news and bad actions tend to somehow fly away in this area of Florida.
Very small example (and not giving any clues) Person and his company gets MANY millions to build a certain structure.
Builds some of it, perhaps 40 percent. Stops buildiing..no problem. Paper investigates.
Nothing happens. 2 years..4..6 years. Nothing happens. Never will.
Justice here is for the average Joe and Jill.

[swimboy]

35. Color me Schadenfreude

Let their fall be swift.

[Duncan Grant]

37. Knock me over with a feather.

Nice to see you. 👋

[swimboy]

44. Thanks!

Great to see you too!

[Demovictory9]

38. "The self-appointed guardians of everyone else's sexual morality often have rather exotic sex lives of their own.

Yep!

[Timeflyer]

41. He's the real founder of Moms for Liberty---designed to publicize the Ziegler name in GOP circles.

The hypocrisy and hubris of this whole sordid mess is almost beyond belief. Bridget Ziegler presided over Sarasota School Board meetings where self-righteous MAGA Moms for L used their public comment time to viciously humiliate the one liberal board member, who happens to be gay. She never stopped them, let them excoriate him. The cruelty behind the hypocrisy is infuriating. So many very young people have been harmed by the targeting of LBGTQ, made to feel like their lives were in danger in Florida.

It will take years to undo the damage they leave in their wake.