Polygamy in West requires inquiry, Nevadan says (Reid wants fed panel)

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Tuesday urged creation of a federal task force to investigate polygamy in the Western states, a practice he equated to "child abuse and human servitude."

Reid called on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to be prepared to press charges against polygamist Warren Jeffs if he escapes conviction on charges pending in Utah and Arizona.

"There is a substantial federal interest in preventing the systematic child abuse involved in this modern-day polygamy movement," Reid, a member of the Mormon church, said in a letter sent to Gonzales.

Reid said the fundamentalist sect led by Jeffs had been disavowed by the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members.

"For too long, this outrageous activity has been masked in the guise of religious freedom. But child abuse and human servitude have nothing to do with religious freedom and must not be tolerated," Reid said.

Reid's request followed the arrest of Jeffs just outside of Las Vegas more than two weeks ago.

more...


http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Sep-13-Wed-2006/news/9619950.html

[Momgonepostal]

1. Thank you for posting this

I say good for Reid. Those polygamous groups give me the creepy crawlies. While I don't think the relationship between two consenting adults is really any of my business, I can't believe that all those young teen girls really consent to marry old geezers. There is some serious child abuse going on in those communities.

[NVMojo]

2. I totally agree and I'm glad it was Reid who is demanding an investigation

...it's time has come. Big Love and all.

[enlightenment]

9. I'm kind of sick of panels and investigations and commissions and such.

They seem to amount to nought, in the end, except boatloads of paper and an ocean of outraged rhetoric to float it on.

Maybe if the feds pulled federal money (say highway money) from the states that are turning a blind-eye to the practice, things would change in a hurry.

[heliarc]

29. Hmmm...

I think your sentiment is right though I agree for different reasons. Doesn't it seem odd that all of the "outrage" in the senate is about personal freedoms and not about securities law (ala Enron)... or Credit Card law (MBNA etc)... or environmental problems (ala Exxon/Chevron/Mobil/Katrina/GlobalWarming) or god forbid the Iraqi war and the lies that led us there!!!???

While I agree with the previous poster who noted all of the child sex issues with polygamists it really bugs me that Attention gets paid to Steroid use, and marriage ammendments, and all this BS.

[Cerridwen]

31. See post #26 for more on this "BS".....n/t

[heliarc]

33. Saw this...

and responded that it was a great post. Not equating this BS with any of that BS... just saying... I want hearings on all sorts of stuff, not just domestic partnership issues.

[Cerridwen]

34. Thanks. Saw that, couldn't reply in time.

Thanks for clarifying.

[enlightenment]

41. Oh, don't get me wrong, Cerridwen -- I live in the west and I'm

sick and tired of the abuses that are tolerated by the western states (in particular; I realize that the FLDS and their ilk are elsewhere as well).

I teach college history, in Las Vegas -- one of the courses I teach is Nevada History. You can't teach it without talking about the Mormon presence, of course, particularly in the early years. I am continually amazed at the sensibility of many of my so-called "mainline" Mormon students; they really don't see the problem. Probably because it apparently is not really considered a problem (just an alternative??) It's common knowledge, but accepted with almost the same nonchalance as triple-digit temperatures 6 months out of the year.

My frustration comes from watching this crap continue unabated for years, with nothing done. Although I appreciate Harry making a stab at bringing it to the floor, I have to wonder what sort of blinders he - and all the other pols from NV/AZ/UT (etcetera) - have been wearing ALL THESE YEARS.

Does it not become important until the media gets hold of it? Or is it because it's an election cycle?

A panel/commission isn't going to throw the bastards who engage in this crap in jail -- or make sure that the women who have been raised to believe that they should just roll over and obey are de-programmed.

It does make good press, I guess . . .

[Cerridwen]

42. I was born and grew up in Vegas. Half my family is LDS.

Many of my friends in school were LDS. Our family reunions were in a southern UT town which to the best of my knowledge is/was 100% LDS. I know the culture, I know the history. I've met Harry Reid. He's a politician, no more, no less; Mormon or no. I still tend to think he converted to the Mormon religion for business/political reasons more than for any religious convictions. I've heard of others who have, especially in the early days when the Church more openly ran so much of the county. Harry's not wearing blinders. He knows the story; he knows where the money comes from. Harry's making political hay; no more, no less.

I, too, am frustrated that all they're talking about doing is forming yet another committee. My definition of a committee; a group of people gathered together to insure nothing is accomplished about a pre-stated objective.

So I address my frustration by educating the people here at DU (and elsewhere) about the scope of this /sarcasm *titter* *titter* "polygamy" issue /sarcasm. Maybe a few will see the corporate media spin for what it is and realize the horrific issues surrounding this group.

Maybe, just maybe, an investigation at this time will succumb to the "law of unintended consequences". Though, quite frankly, I doubt it. In the meantime, a few more people will be aware of who and what the FLDS is.

Oh, and as further evidence of why I think nothing much will come of this, did you see the article in the RJ on the 8th?

Polygamist found not guilty by jury He got off on a technicality. They couldn't prove in which state he raped the girl.

2 free; 1 given 45 days; 6 to go. Not counting Jeffs.

[enlightenment]

43. Damn -- no, I didn't see the article, since I try to avoid the RJ

like I avoid STI's. Thanks for the link.

I figured you for a westie -- informal surveys in my classes point to a deep chasm of ignorance about the LDS that grows the farther east you go.

A good friend of mine was raised LDS, with a recent history of plural wives in the bargain (although the family is mainstream, as far as one can tell). She flew at 15 and married a gentile -- and never looked back. Still, the stories she tells; yikes.

I'll add the article to my "current events in the great state of NV" segment next week, even though it the trial was in Kingman (their ignorance of geography sometimes comes in handy . . .) It's an excellent opportunity to bring this topic into the classroom.

[Cerridwen]

44. I know what you mean about the RJ. :D

I happened upon that story as I was looking for something else online.

The stories from current and former LDS members are scary, ain't they? Some of the stuff I've seen up close and personal makes me want to go shower for a week with bleach.

A bit of trivia for ya re: a couple of NV's own (just in case you haven't yet found them for your classes) ;)

"The "Pro-Family" movement began forming as an alliance of Right Wing groups. With Connie Marshner, head of the Family Policy Division of Paul Weyrich's Free Congress Research and Education Foundation, they drafted the "Family Protection Act," as a smokescreen for a range of social and political goals. Senator Paul Laxalt (D-NV) introduced the bill in Congress. (1979)" The Feminist Chronicles. Other sources I have are print rather than online.

And some fun stuff about Senator Pat McCarran (as in McCarran airport)

No one embodied these fears and antipathies more than Sen. Patrick McCarran, a Democrat from Nevada who wielded extraordinary influence as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. His corrupt, sometimes crazed, hopelessly reactionary career is the centerpiece of Ybarra's tale.

"Years before Joe McCarthy ever opened his mouth in public," writes Ybarra, "McCarran believed -- really believed -- that the Democratic Party was controlled by the Communists and that one mysterious person especially had managed to exert a malign influence that could be felt at the highest levels of government." He once told a friend, "If I ... eventually find that one, I will have served my country well."

The senator's early years gave no hint of the direction his life would take. The son of illiterate Irish immigrants, he started out as a populist, the law partner of a socialist and a friend of the working class. Correctly viewed as an outsider in Nevada's feudal political circles, he had a painfully sluggish beginning in politics. Once elected as a Democrat, he maintained just enough party allegiance to keep federal boondoggles coming to Nevada. In 1944, he became chairman of the Judiciary Committee and thereby one of the most powerful men in Washington. Four of every 10 bills had to go through his committee. He also controlled the subcommittee handling budgets for the State and Justice departments.

He ruled like a sultan. One year he cut State Department funds by $20 million because it circulated Herblock cartoons ridiculing him. He used FBI agents as chauffeurs and tourist guides for his wife and five children. The senator was apparently too powerful to be indicted even though he clearly committed perjury when, despite wiretap evidence to the contrary, he repeatedly swore he had never dealt with mobster Bugsy Siegel. There were serious stories of McCarran's being paid off at fixed roulette tables for blocking a federal tax on gambling. From "The senator who made McCarthy look pale" at Find Articles.

I can't remember if the author of that article is reliable, but there are plenty of other "fun" stories about McCarran, a Democrat *sigh*.

Nevada history can be fun! LOL

[enlightenment]

45. Familiar with the McCarren piece -- though not with the other!

Thanks for the info -- it's hard to keep the course relevant, sometimes.

[Cerridwen]

46. Laxalt has a rather interesting history with the early formation

of what is now referred to as the neo-con "agenda".

I'm not sure if Russ Bellant is appropriate for your classes, but he's done some great research about the players who've poisoned our current political and social climate. He also shows connections with the Nazi party - as I said, he may not be appropriate, but he provides some hard evidence. Laxalt was a player.

The particular book to which I refer is Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party; Domestic fascist networks and their effect on U.S. cold war politics. link to Powell's Books

Many of the networks he exposes and the people involved are part and parcel of the current regime. Scary stuff.

[enlightenment]

47. Bellant has always offered up interesting fare,

though I wouldn't bring him into this particular classroom. The big problem is that the vast majority of the students are not intellectually prepared for a discussion on that level; they simply do not have the background or knowledge of the basics - for instance, before I could discuss the topic, I'd have to explain nazis (not the Hollywood version they know about), the political continuum, and the Cold War.

The one thing I can always be sure of is that the majority of my students, primarily the 18-25 year old set, are woefully ignorant of history, politics, political philosophy, moral philosophy (ala Shaftesbury, Hume, and Smith amongst others), and current events. They proudly admit that they do not read papers or watch the news because they, 1. don't have time; or 2. think it's too depressing/boring.

I know I'm painting with a pretty broad brush, and I'm well aware that many young folk are very active and aware (just look around DU!) -- unfortunately, most of my students don't fall into that category. They want to know, I believe, and I KNOW they want to learn; they get so excited when I talk about topics that would normally fall into "world history" or "western civ" or even "ancient civ." They simply do not know these things.

Tuesday I had to explain what an "ice plant" was and why people needed to have ice delivered to their homes; then I had to explain what homogenized meant and the difference between whole/2%/and skim milk.

So, no, I don't think I'll bring Bellant into the discussion . . . sigh.

[Cerridwen]

49. Let me *sigh* right along with you.

I understand exactly what you're saying.

I was what is euphemistically called a "non-traditional student," translation: "old broad going to college" LOL I attended Vegas public schools and finally went to college when I turned 27; started at the community college then off to UNLV. Community college had many more "non-traditional" students and were more informed. UNLV classes were populated by many of the students you described. (I'm borrowing your broad brush here for a moment :D )

Thank you for the work you do. It's rarely easy and I admire those who fight the uphill battle. I look forward to the day when, once again, knowledge and education are valued.

:yourock:

[enlightenment]

50. Thank you - from one "old broad" to another.

I was also a non-trad, returning to school when my son started middle school. The extra age helps, I think!

[politicat]

3. About bloody time.

While I have no problems with 2+ partners in informed, consenting adult relationships, I have serious problems with this form of child sexual abuse masquerading as religious practice. Adult polyamory can be a positive, enlightening and supportive experience. I have never seen child-bride polygamy as anything but abusive.

[wuushew]

4. This is not a federal issue

stop wasting time and get back to ending the war in Iraq and impeaching Bush.

[NVMojo]

5. that's funny, it was a federal issue years ago

[wuushew]

6. Polygamy is not legal under state law in the West

why investigate it twice? Is this how you want Congress to spend its time?

[LostinVA]

16. Civil rights violations, transporting minors, rape, welfare fraud

Child abandonment (The Lost Boys), RICO charges galore, etc.

YES, this is exactly how I want Congress to spend its time -- protecting its citizens and upholding laws to protect said citizens. The question is why don't YOU want them to do this?

[pnwmom]

18. Because the states, especially Utah, are not doing the job.

Child abuse is rampant in these groups. If the states are going to turn a blind eye, the federal government needs to step in. You obviously haven't read the accounts of the teens who manage to escape these groups, or of the few successful prosecutions that have occurred.

I remember hearing of a case where a 14 or 15 year old girl was whipped by her father for refusing to marry her uncle. This occurred in Utah, where law enforcement against these groups is extremely lax. Should the rest of the country be turning its back on this kind of abuse? I don't think so. Children deserve to be protected in Utah as much as they do in any other state.

[Cerridwen]

26. This is NOT about polygamy

(more appropriately called polygyny, in this case). This is about welfare fraud, tax fraud, government collusion, human trafficking, rape, child abuse, pedophilia, incest, infanticide, and endangering the public health, to name just a bit of what's involved in this.

It also NOT limited to the western part of the U.S.

Don't fall into the corporate media's trap of making this less than what it is.

It is not limited to a "small" community that is on the AZ/UT border.

Jeffs is the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, headquartered in the twin communities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.

There are also compounds in southwest Texas,

The church members began arriving at a former exotic game ranch just northeast of Eldorado and about 40 miles south of San Angelo about 2 1/2 years ago and starting building their fortress-like YFZ Ranch, short for Yearning For Zion. An 80-foot tall gleaming white temple dominates the property where Doran said about 70 people live

South Dakota

People linked to Jeffs have living quarters in a secretive compound near Pringle (South Dakota).

Canada

The sect, a group of self-described "fundamentalist Mormons," includes the 1,000-member community of Bountiful near Creston, B.C. That community was headed by its former bishop, Winston Blackmore, who has more than 20 wives and at least 103 children.

He was excommunicated by Jeffs several years ago, leaving the community split.

And perhaps even a "safe house" in Nevada

Most of the church's members live in Hildale, Utah, and adjoining Colorado City, Ariz., but authorities have said they believe Jeffs had "safe houses" in four other states _ including Nevada _ and Canada.

Where he also has businesses which may fund his "church."

"Jacob Jessop is one of Warren Jeffs loyalists, and one of his money men, if you will," Flora Jessop said.

Law enforcement authorities believe that funds from polygamist business enterprises have been used to support Warren Jeffs and to help him remain a fugitive.

In recent years, several polygamist outposts have popped up in Southern Nevada, drawn by explosive growth. Records show Jacob Jessop's construction firm, JNJ, is licensed in Nevada but based in Colorado City.

Since 2004, it has earned more than $7 million on nine projects commissioned by the Las Vegas Valley Water District, including ongoing work at the massive Springs Preserve operation. JNJ has also won contracts with the city of Las Vegas and Clark County.

A Utah machine shop that authorities say has ties to one of the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted fugitives is changing its name and moving to Las Vegas.

Western Precision Inc. is among the biggest employers of the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz. The border towns are home to 5,000-8,000 followers of fugitive church prophet Warren Jeffs, who was placed on the FBI's Top Ten list in May on charges of sexual misconduct with a minor and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Attorneys for Western Precision filed court documents in early June stating that the company would move to Las Vegas by August. Days after the filing, Western Precision changed its name to Newera Manufacturing Inc., according to the Utah Division of Corporations. On July 3, Newera Manufacturing was registered in Nevada as a foreign corporation, according to the secretary of state's office. link

In addition to polygyny, Jeffs has also been responsible for "arranging marriages" for 13 year old girls, and "casting out" those men who would "compete" for brides or who were "disobedient".

During his four-year rule, the number of underage marriages — some involving girls as young as 13 — escalated into the hundreds, church dissidents said. They said that although the sect has long practiced the custom of arranged marriages, young girls were rarely married off until Warren Jeffs came to power.

People expelled from the community said young men were sent away to avoid competition for brides. Older men were cast out for alleged disobedience, and their wives and children were reassigned by Jeffs to new husbands and fathers, the former members said. link

It is also alleged that Jeffs' "communities" and businesses are engaging in welfare fraud, tax dodging, domestic violence and child abuse.

The activities in the community have often appeared out of reach of law enforcement. Members of plural families have in the past come to the attention of state and local officials through occasional allegations of welfare fraud, tax dodging, domestic violence and child abuse.

But officials have said that cases were difficult to build, with trouble finding witnesses to testify.

In Hildale earlier this year, thousands of polygamists were engaged in a standoff over overdue property taxes of about $1.3 million for hundreds of houses.

And just in case that isn't enough to make this more than a "local" issue, perhaps you'd like to hear that the local and, in some cases, state "authorities" in the areas in which some of these compounds are located may perhaps be aiding and abetting Jeffs and his followers.

The state of Arizona is contributing to the secrecy. The state Department of Health Services and the Department of Economic Security have been quietly providing services to assist the children and families of fumarase victims for more than 15 years.

And may be hiding an the occurrence of a genetic disease known as fumarase deficiency.

Tarby and a team of doctors from Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix and the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson began researching the disease and soon discovered that fumarase deficiency was occurring in at least two other families living in the same isolated community that practiced an unusual custom.

Oh, and let's not forget his thoughts on race:

Jeffs quotes on race Can be viewed at this link. There is also a link to audio recordings of Jeffs saying this filth.

"You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, or rude and filthy, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits; wild and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is usually bestowed upon mankind."

"It was necessary that the Devil should have a representation upon the earth as well as God. So Ham's wife that was preserved on the Ark was a Negro of the seed of Cain and there was a priestly purpose in it, that the Devil would have a representation as well as God."

"And the lesson is, if anyone mingles their seed, their bloodline, with the seed of Cain, the Negro, they also would lose all rights and priesthood blessings."

quotes from the video trailer found at this link

"I personally know of a woman who had a baby...that was deformed, he took the child and drowned it. This was condoned by the FLDS leadership." Elaine - Warren's sister

"I spent 17 years being beat by my mother 'cause I wouldn't be obedient to my father ...and he wanted me in his bed...I never will back down" unnamed woman on video

"The LDS and the FLDS, uh...go by the same books" Jennie - escapee

"To me, Colorado City is a classic example of what happens when a theocracy takes over a government. You end up with massive, massive corruption and abuse of human rights" unnamed man on video

P.S.

po·lyg·a·my n.

1. The condition or practice of having more than one spouse at one time. Also called plural marriage.

polygyny –noun
1. the practice or condition of having more than one wife at one time.


These people are practicing polygyny not as the media keeps saying, polygamy. The women are NOT allowed multiple husbands.


edit: spelling

[heliarc]

30. Huh. Great Post!

[nosillies]

35. Great post -- don't forget the education issue

The "school district" in the CC/Hildale area (and other areas) uses federal money to teach FLDS curriculum.

[Cerridwen]

36. Thanks. Eesh,

this info's gonna be 7 pages long. :(

I'll find and add the education angle to it. Thanks.

[nosillies]

37. some links

http://www.rickross.com/reference/polygamy/polygamy262.html -- they have a plane, but can't make payroll

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/88285.php and http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0812coloradocity12.html -- they "lease" buldings from the UEP (no bid contracts, anyone?) and then funnel the lease money to UEP church schools

Krakauer talks about the "school district" and their teachings in Under the Banner of Heaven, but I don't have my copy here to pull passages.

[Cerridwen]

38. Thanks. I'll add that info to my research for future posts.

:hi:

[LisaM]

13. Yes, it is, because they are collecting millions of dollars

in welfare money for all their kids, claiming to be single mothers. WE are funding this lifestyle and it needs to stop.

[LostinVA]

15. Civil rights is a Federal issue

And one that is paramount to our nation and its citizens.

[pnwmom]

19. Children being transported across state lines for illicit purposes

is most definitely a federal issue. So is abuse of civil rights.

[aquart]

7. This is de facto white slavery. Who's kidding who?

Time to call it what it is.

[NVMojo]

8. and as Reid says, it involves "interstate travel" which means transporting

young white teens across state lines for sex with old geezers.

[LostinVA]

17. Sometimes across national borders (Canada, Mexico)

[Lurking Dem]

12. Isn't this two seperate issues?

Marrying 14 year old girls or even raising women to believe their only place is in a group of "sister wives" is terrible and should be stopped.

But why is polygamy de facto any more wrong than gay marriage? If it is, in fact, consensual, why should it be illegal?

[pnwmom]

20. He is asking that these polygamous communities be investigated,

because their practices involve abuse.

[Lurking Dem]

23. But it sounds as if they are

attacking polygamy per se.

[pnwmom]

Not to me.

"There is a substantial federal interest in preventing the systematic child abuse involved in this modern-day polygamy movement," Reid, a member of the Mormon church, said in a letter sent to Gonzales.


He is talking about "systematic child abuse" in the "polygamy movement." I'm sure he's referring to the communities of polygamous religious fundamentalists that are all over isolated areas of the west.

[pnwmom]

25. Not to me.

"There is a substantial federal interest in preventing the systematic child abuse involved in this modern-day polygamy movement," Reid, a member of the Mormon church, said in a letter sent to Gonzales.


He is talking about "systematic child abuse" in the "polygamy movement." I'm sure he's referring to the communities of polygamous religious fundamentalists that are all over isolated areas of the west.

[Beaverhausen]

21. Are you serious?

How can 13 year old girls "consent" to being one of many wives of a man who is probably in his 50s. Do you really think they WANT this?

[Lurking Dem]

24. They can't.

That was kind of my point. Hence the phrase consenting "adults".

We have all kinds of existing laws being broken here. Rape, statutory rape, welfare fraud, possibly kidnapping and/or imprisonment, etc.

[MaraJade]

51. According to the law in most states

no person aged 16 or under is capable of consent. And even at that, most laws prohibit any sexual contact between adults and anyone under 18 years of age. This cult believed in and perpetuated pedophilia, plain and simple. This Jeffs was for men who were pedophiles, and he helped to traffic in little girls and young teens for sexual purposes.

Of course these young girls don't want this. Imagine their horror, their devastation and their degradation! Not to mention the downright physical damage they had to have suffered at the hands of their so-called "husbands."

[Cerridwen]

28. See my post #26 - this goes far beyond multiple "wives". n/t

[Cameron27]

32. Excellent post...thank you

[aquart]

39. Define "consensual."

And tell me how many women in that community, of any age, have free choice? Or any choice.

Consensual, my ass.

[Lurking Dem]

40. I hope I didn't offend you

with my views on polygamy. I have way too many kinky friends. Tends to warp one's view.

By "consensual" I mean ADULTS who are doing what they WANT to do and not hurting anybody (including themselves) to do it.

I think what this one "cult" is doing (and they really are a cult) is criminal on any number of levels already on the books. I just worry about making "polygamy" itself out to be the bad guy - immoral marriage, etc. - to be very similar to arguments against gay marriage.

[lovuian]

10. The Bush government has ignored this for years

and now its getting so obvious that things need to be done!!!

Its going to be the biggest hugest scandals in America...

[NVMojo]

11. Mormons and polygamists tend to lean to the right, why rock the boat?

[Cerridwen]

27. This has been going on for close to a century.

Everyone in power has ignored it and given it a *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge* "wish I could get some 'o that" attitude.

I'd love to blame the current regime for this, but it's way older than the BFEE.

[LostinVA]

14. Way to go Harry! Decades upon decades overdue!

[Cameron27]

22. I applaud him for this

It's outrageous that this is occurring in the US, and the states involved have allowed these cults to go unchecked for years. There are apparently, police and local official aiding and abetting this.

Until Jeffs was arrested, I had no idea of the extent of these nut-case communities.

Disgraceful

[aikoaiko]

48. polygamy... a practice ...equated to "child abuse and human servitude

This is how they describe you just before this kick the door in and haul you away.