Westboro Baptist Church Organizes Homophobic Anti-Obama Protest Outside Sasha And Malia’s School

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

Westboro Baptist Church Organizes Homophobic Anti-Obama Protest Outside Sasha And Malia’s School



Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church is a hate group that goes around the country staging anti-gay rallies at some of the most inappropriate places (e.g. the funerals of former White House press secretary Tony Snow, victims of the Minneapolis bridge collapse, and U.S. troops) with messages like “Thank God For AIDS” and “God Hates Fags.”

This week, they’re bringing their hateful message to children in Washington, DC, planning pickets at a handful of local schools. This morning, they showed up outside of Sidwell Friends, the school that Sasha and Malia Obama attend. On Twitter, Megan Phelps-Roper — one of Fred Phelps’ grandchildren — posted a picture of the protest:

Washington Post education reporter Michael Birnbaum said that he spent the morning at the protest, and MSNBC host David Shuster wrote, “Hopefully, some of the more rational conservatives/republicans will condemn this stuff today. It was beyond the pale.” ThinkProgress contacted Sidwell for more details on the protest and are awaiting a response.

In the past, extreme anti-choice activist Randall Terry has also targeted the Obama children’s school, saying, “We will continue to show images of aborted babies at high schools, no matter what the cost.”

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/09/westboro-sidwell/

[joeycola]

1. This is wrong, very wrong.

[Orsino]

14. They are welcome to frighten children...

...as long as they keep a reasonable distance.

This is how they make themselves irrelevant, and how children learn to spot the crazies.

[Dulcinea]

28. They're nothing but camera whores.

They're worse than little kids who do stupid things for attention. They need a good long time-out or maybe a spanking.

[NoQuarter]

34. OK. I don't understand "Time-Out."

It's the reason we've got these recalcitrant idiots in the first place. Nothing happens to them when they act out.

Consequences. There must be consequences for behavior.

[Taverner]

2. Can we just shoot them now?

Seriously?

I don't think a court in the US would convict us

[Xenotime]

11. Maybe not shoot, but lock them up and throw away the key.

[Taverner]

26. Any way to shut that pus-filled piece of shit is fine by me

[ChairmanAgnostic]

46. I join in the sentiment, but free speech is often uncomfortable,

even when it has a decidedly unpleasant impact on school kids.

By the same token, I would love for all faith healing to be banned as criminal, but that won't happen. Or barring federal funds for those sick purity balls where daddums has his virginal young daughter pledge her vagina to him for safekeeping.

[kestrel91316]

67. I don't wanna shoot them, lol. I wanna put them in stocks for a couple of weeks

and pass out rotten tomatoes and eggs for the public to pelt them with.

[ixion]

3. Remember when Chimpy declared his daughters private lives off limits?

I guess it's okay now.

If they want to protest, go down to the WH and protest. Protesting a couple of little girls at their school is just creepy and wrong.

[LynneSin]

8. And his daughters were legal adults which made them more fair game than these 2 girls

There is a special place in hell for creeps like the Westboro folks.

[WriteDown]

31. Is Bushler running Westboro now?

Considering Fred Phelps is a dem and hosted a fund raiser for Al Gore, I am going to say this is unlikely.

[marshall]

36. Westboro freaks protested Jenna's wedding

They hate everyone.

[JonQ]

61. This isn't a republican/democrat thing

The westboro lunatics are part of no party or larger ideological group. They exist in their own little fantasy world.

And in general terms I would say going after a politicians family (regardless of what you think of that person) is wrong, for anyone, of any ideology, and allows for one surefire way to identify extremists who should be ignored.

[Windy]

4. there are more people there than the Westboro nuts...looks like teabaggers have joined them!

The media needs to be all over this... of course, they won't be.... wouldn't want the teabaggers associated with Westboro now would they

[ensho]

5. baptists are strange people - they try to live a fantasy

in N.C. there is a group of baptists that don't allow women to look at their own naked bodies.

for real. had a conversation with one of the women. I told her it was sad that she couldn't look at her own naked body. she didn't disagree. I told her to go ahead and look, who would know.

I wonder if she ever did.

[Xenotime]

9. I know that the ban dancing.

[JonQ]

62. How is that even possible?

Do they not bathe?

[MountainLaurel]

75. They wear something in the shower

I think it's a thin nightgown sort of thing.

[JonQ]

77. I don't see how you can really get clean that way.

[Jefferson23]

6. This must be making the RNC cringe, they know they need to

distance themselves from idiots like this, try as they may, Sarah Pallin and her pals support this kind of crap..they just do it a tad more discreetly.

[Demeter]

20. The RNC Is Cringe-Proof

They encourage this rabble. They like to see us change colors in disgust and/or rage. they think they are scoring points by grossing us out. And with a certain type of personality, the anti-social type, they do.

[Jefferson23]

41. I disagree in part, there are some voices within the Republican party

that are aware that they will lose more seats the longer they remain fixed to the extreme nuts in their party. Steele backpeddled and apologized to Rush Limbaugh, but that does not change the fact that they know what will cost them future elections. Romney is staying far away from speaking out for the social conservative causes right now too. Some of them are reading the writing on the wall.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Actually the Phelps are registered as Democrats

[Ferret Annica]

42. So what? So is Lyndon LaRouche

A man fames for sending his cult to the street with disinformation about what the Democratic Party believes in and says to pump him up at Democratic Party expense.

A cowbird is a cowbird, whether it is stealing a nest from another bird's chicks which it pushes out of the nest with that bird still feeding it or an old con man using a political party as the vehicle for his propaganda, or even cretins like this degenerate trash called the Phelps Clan.

These people are pure poison, and they deseve the bad luck sure to eventually come there way that ends their crap.

[proud2BlibKansan]

58. Trust me I agree

But if you try to lump him together with Palin or the far right here in Kansas they remind you the Phelps are Democrats.

[Ferret Annica]

78. Yeah, but as Cash Wakefields' 'Conservababes.com'

dive of a radical right wing wing nut forum is out of Wichita, KA, Phelps isn't the only problem in that state. ;)

[proud2BlibKansan]

82. I have no idea who that is

Don't want to know either. LOL

[superconnected]

69. So is Joe Lieberman. Unfortunately they let anyone register as Dem.

[proud2BlibKansan]

71. LOL

[Brother Buzz]

25. Fred Phelps is a registered Democrat

Fred Phelps has been a staunch Democrat from day one. Al Gore is possibly the one doing the cringing; Fred Phelps family hosted a Gore fundraiser and Fred Phelps Jr. was a Gore delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention.

Sometimes, living with the big tent has its drawbacks, but if healthcare passes, maybe the entire Phelps clan can now get treated for syphilis.

[Jefferson23]

39. Oh come on be serious here, the majority of his group is his family,

and in no way do their views reflect that of the Democratic party, but his views do find favor with the base of the Republican party and the RNC knows it. The GOP brand of politics is losing them elections, look at upstate NY, and the Governorship in Virginia went to a Republican who ran to the center, not a duplicate of the nutty shit that Palllin preaches.

[JonQ]

66. Pretty sure republicans hate them as well

I don't see protesting soldiers funerals as endearing them with the right.

In fact this might be one area where most everyone agrees on something: phelps and his spawn are degenerate scum who the world will be better off without.

[Jefferson23]

72. They are a small fringe group, that is true, with the exception of

the groups displays at soldiers funerals, the base of the GOP speak in concert with Phelps on abortion and gays, and as I stated previously, Pallin and her crowd do their bashing a bit more discreetly.

[24601]

84. Given that Fred Phelps is a registered Dem, not really an issue

for the RNC. What is the DNC doing about it? Phelps was a big Gore supporter, even hosting a fund-raiser for him. That most have been a hoot.

[Jefferson23]

92. According to Phelps he supported Gore back in 1988.

Support for Al Gore

Phelps supported Al Gore in the 1988 Democratic Party primary election.<62> In his 1984 Senate race, Gore opposed a "gay bill of rights" and stated that homosexuality was not something that "society should affirm".<63> Phelps has stated that he supported Gore because of these earlier comments.<64> According to Phelps, members of the Westboro Baptist Church helped run Gore's 1988 campaign in Kansas. Phelps' son, Fred Phelps Jr., hosted a Gore fundraiser at his home in Topeka and was a Gore delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention.<16> Gore spokesman Dag Vega declined to comment; "We are not dignifying those stories with a response."<65>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps


Of course a few years later, Phelps changed his mind about Gore.

The DNC doesn't need to do anything about him, Phelps is supporting Democrats?

I hope I'm wrong about Republicans not agreeing with Phelps, but I tend to think more than a few had no problem with their display at the childrens school.

[24601]

93. I've some relatives on the Repug side and they abhor Phelps.

They generally favor a strong law stating that anyone killing someone in the act of protesting a Soldier's funeral should be fined a large sum, perhaps $3.29, sentenced to 6 1/2 minutes in the custody of the county sheriff and forced to be present at a ceremony to receive the key to the city.

Strict laws like this might deter Phelps, along with billboards saying "Fred, all your dead ancestors suck cocks in hell* - and your turn is coming"

*with Credit to The Exorcist

[Jefferson23]

95. LOL, I understand how they feel.

[Fearless]

7. God IS my enemy.... particularly those morons' god.

[Teaser]

10. word

.

[Bette Noir]

13. Yeah, they sure worship one nasty SOB... Chthulu?

[Fearless]

15. Oddly enough... this guy...

[CraftyGal]

94. That is insulting to Cthulu....n/t

[grace0418]

12. It makes me hope there is a hell, because for sure Fred and Co. will be occupying a special place

in the deepest pits of it.

[euphoria12leo]

16. I hate these people.

I wish they would just leave the damn country so the rest of us can move on. That's not asking for too much.



:evilfrown:

[sinkingfeeling]

17. Who are the crowds across the street? Looks like a huge group. And when did

Sasha and Malia attend high school? "We will continue to show images of aborted babies at high schools, no matter what the cost.”

[tomm2thumbs]

18. they got what they wanted - attention - mine ends here /nt

[eppur_se_muova]

19. But but but ... the children are off limits!

At least the Bush twins were, despite having reached the age of majority. As Sarah expected her breeders to be off limits. But hey, IOKIYAF!




(The F is for fundie ... or use your imagination.)

[Tsar_Bomba]

21. Time for a Waco style raid on the

Westboro Baptist church. I don't think they will be missed much after they are turned into crispy critters.

[CanonRay]

23. Anyone know who finances these kooks?

They travel all over the country on seemingly limitless funds. Just wondering...

[Mz Pip]

29. Other homophobic fundie kooks

It probably doesn't take a lot of money to do this. It looks like a fairly low budget operation to me. A few signs, a few people, a few tanks of gas. Maybe they have a bus.

i suspect they get enough small donations from the gay haters to keep this going.

[Brother Buzz]

38. Law suits. Touch them and you get sued.

Most of the Phelps clan are attorneys and are sue happy. Infringe on their right - they sue. They sue you and all big pockets associated with the incident. City, police, school board... A simple push and shove incident gets blown up into big deal.

[47of74]

24. Yo, WBC people...

And that's from the bottom of my heart too!

[pattmarty]

27. Is there ANY way we can legally shoot this motherfucker?

[ronnykmarshall]

30. I wish an out of control steam roller ...

would mow these fuckers down.

[vaberella]

32. I never agree to rounding up protestors...but this is unacceptable.

They need to be rounded up, strip searched, imprisoned until they have someone vouch for them, maybe fined, and then I want all of them on file for investigation. I see this as a threat against children----I don'tknow why protesting in front of the school of the President. It's unacceptable. Has this EVER happpened to another Presidet?! No. Disgusting...and no one. NO ONE. Should condone this. I wonder what Shep Smith is gonna say to this.

[WriteDown]

37. Why stop there?

What other constitutional rights do you want to change? :eyes:

edited for spelling

[pattmarty]

53. Try an edit for "ass holiness".

[WriteDown]

54. The posters subject line is exactly opposite from the post's body....

Sorry if that in some way offends you.

[pattmarty]

57. Must be that three hour martini lunch at Goldman's again.............

.......you always seem to "insert" yourself into racial, income inequality and now just "crazy motherfucker" debates. You should try to become a master of ur debates. I think that would be a good calling for someone of your obvious socio/political leaning.

[WriteDown]

60. 3 hours?

No one works Mondays. :rofl:

Sorry if I recognize contradiction. :eyes:

[kelly1mm]

59. What law are they allegedly breaking? nt

[JonQ]

63. The appropriate response to wrongminded speech is not censorship

it is a loud counter argument.

Although I suspect in this case ignoring them may work best.

Obviously if they make threats then that changes things.

[Rabrrrrrr]

79. Oh, yeah! Bring back the gulags! God, I miss Stalin and Hitler and Bush.

I think you missed a corner of the Constitution when you wiped your ass with it.

[TygrBright]

33. Disclaimer (to start off with): I think these wackjobs are OTT looney and their actions despicable.

Are we clear on that?

Good.

Because, that said, the number of people in this thread calling for violence against them, explicit, nasty, fatal violence, sickens me.

We live in a nation founded on principles that include freedom of expression AND the rule of law. And we as a species have been, for thousands of years, trying to evolve solutions for unacceptable human behavior that do NOT amount to atavistic, just-kill-'em violence. And we as Democrats have been professing our belief in the Constitution, which guarantees due process and the rule of law, and our belief in the power of government to benefit ALL of the community by (among other things) enforcing laws and establishing and promoting positive social patterns.

I do not like these wackos and I think what they are doing is lower than low, totally unacceptable, and disgusting. But I think there are many alternative solutions to blowing them away, burning their "church" with them in it, etc.

And I would really, really like to think that one of the things we at DU can contribute to the positive agenda of a healthy society is the promotion of (at least) somewhat-evolved responses to vile drivelsome behavior from troglodytes.

I hope I'm not wrong.

worriedly,
Bright

[Mopar151]

47. Old Fred is kind of a special case

If what he has done to his own children (i.e. beatings with a pick handle) was done to him in public...... Would that be an evolved response?
Really, I'd be fine whth schackling the lot of them in the prisoner's dock, And Judge Barney Frank lettin' the good times roll.....

[demigoddess]

35. why do we refer to them as a church, they are not a church.

[smirkymonkey]

40. Wait, Sasha and Malia are gay?

Who knew?

Seriously, these are some heavily f-ed up mofos.

[KamaAina]

51. Well, have you ever seen either of them dating boys?

:sarcasm:

[AspenRose]

86. I suspect their dad's recent signing of the Shepard/Byrd act had something to do

with this.

[onehandle]

43. God Hates Jerks. nt

[DrZeeLit]

44. How is this behavior every going to change anyone's mind or help their "cause"?

I just don't get what they think they gain by this behavior.
Does the showing of aborted fetuses change anyone's mind about abortion?
Does this make somebody WANT to be on that side?

Doesn't it just turn off people to this craziness?

At least that's how I would react. I would think -- now there's a group I will NEVER join or support, if I was walking by or in the vicinity of these idiots.

How many years have they been doing this? Has anything changed?
Why don't they use all the money and effort to take care of poor children who are alive and in need?

Seriously.... so much I just don't get.

[truthisfreedom]

45. This may inspire some new and well-planned laws.

I'm glad it's these idiots and not some new crazies. Everyone knows these people are nuts...

[PJPhreak]

48. Back in 1994,

I was driving my converted School Bus/Camper/RV down Gage Ave in Topeka Ks. When we came apon The Phelps Crew doing a "Protest" at Washburn Univ.

Fred Phelps himself saw us coming down the street in all of our Deadhead Glory...so he decided to step out into the street directly in front of the bus.

I did a dramatic lane change,almost wrecking the bus and collecting up a few cars to boot,as I didn't want to hit him.Scared the CRAP outta me!

20/20 Hindsight...I shoulda mowed him over like a "Deathrace 2000 Target!!!!

[Oldtimeralso]

56. You Should Have Sued The Pants Off The SOB!

Maybe if he was given a spoonful of his own medicine he would not be where he is now. If you didn't swerve he wouldn't be where he is now, he would have been a phlat phred phelps.

[Jamastiene]

90. "a phlat phred phelps"

I love it! :thumbsup:

[bc3000]

49. disgusting

[slackmaster]

50. Classy

:nuke:

[Vehl]

52. lack of breeding.nt

[superconnected]

70. Actually, it's inbreeding.

[logosoco]

55. they are supposed to be at my kids HS this Thursday.

We are about 20 miles outside of St Louis. They say they are targeting our school because the community has honored a fallen soldier that graduated from there. There is a rally planned at a church, but it is about 4 miles down the road.
I plan to take time to go see what happens. Many in the community are angry. It sounds like the cops are more interested in what the counter protesters are going to do. I think I want to go just to make sure no one gets in trouble.
And I plan on putting a poster that says "all you need is love" on my van.

[BlueIris]

64. Are there any counter protests planned?

Wasn't clear to me in the article.

[Uncle Joe]

65. I would suggest if there are any counter protests to be held, hold them at this so called church's

location, any time they're scheduled to have a service.

[superconnected]

68. Because they don't want us to forget how crazy they are, they keep having to

remind us.

[BrklynLiberal]

73. Phelps always reminds me of that creepy old guy from "Poltergeist"

see the resemblance???

[Jefferson23]

74. LOL

[Jamastiene]

91. The resemblance is uncanny.

I'll never see Poltergeist the same way again. The comparison to Phelps makes the creepy preacher dude in Poltergeist even creepier.

[phasma ex machina]

76. Hopefully, some of the more rational M$M will condemn this stuff today. It was beyond the pale

for Washington Post education reporter Michael Birnbaum and MSNBC host David Shuster to give Phelps' crew exactly what they wanted - publicity.

[StarryNite]

80. Their god must be really screwed up. n/t

[David Zephyr]

81. Another shining moment in Christianity in America.

These people are truly sick.

[IndianaGreen]

83. They shot their wad when they picketed military funerals

They pissed a lot of people off from across the political spectrum.

[guitar man]

85. well then

While I think going after the kids is farther beyond the pale than anything they have done yet, it might not be such a bad thing, they just might get to meet the Secret Service in an up close and personal way :evilgrin:

[Solly Mack]

87. Sad, sick and pathetic people.

[Kablooie]

88. Here is a great Documentary Film on them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOrz5k0jWdU

[Jamastiene]

89. What a vile, despicable bunch they are.

They even go after children with their hate? :puke: