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Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Punishing Us

By TChris, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 04:22:02 PM EST
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by TChris

If you want to be shocked or outraged, or just want to listen to one of the looniest rants you’ll ever hear on the radio (even if you regularly listen to Rush or O’Reilly) because you need to know that people like this are out there, give a listen to Shirley Phelps-Roper’s interview on Wisconsin Public Radio. Phelps-Roper bills herself as the attorney for the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, whose parishioners protest homosexuality by picketing at the funerals of soldiers who died in service to their country. Phelps-Rogers gets whackier as she goes along, ultimately (at about the 8 minute mark) explaining that she feels sorry for the parents of the fallen because they failed in their duty to their children and raised them for the devil by not smiting homosexuals from the Earth (or something to that effect).

Crazy lawyers who condemn the parents of dead soldiers are a disservice to the profession. She shouldn’t be licensed.

For those who listen on, the resulting discussion gives too little time to the excellent guest analyst, Donald Downs, or to the free speech issues raised by offensive protests at funerals. The host was forced to spend much of his time defending the decision to give air time to Phelps-Rogers, who repeatedly used the f-word (no, the other one) to describe homosexuals. It’s nonetheless quite interesting to listen to the perspectives expressed regarding this provocative civil rights issue.

To hear the program, go to this Wisconsin Public Radio site and “listen” to the 5:00 p.m. broadcast on 1/19/2006 (this downloads a RealPlayer file).

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    • Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Punishing Us | 24 comments (24 topical)
    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 05:09:03 PM EST
    I'm pretty sure these are the loons who showed up in West Virginia after the Sago mine disaster, too. Just what the survivors and the victims' families needed? I think not.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#2)
    by rdandrea on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 05:22:20 PM EST
    There's so much to be pissed off about already. Do I really need MORE? OK, I can't help myself. I'll listen.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#3)
    by ras on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 05:29:08 PM EST
    If you're talking about Fred Phelps & his followers, then you're talking about an issue on which Left & Right can wholeheartedly agree: The guy is scum.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 05:31:32 PM EST
    I'm pretty sure these are the loons who showed up in West Virginia after the Sago mine disaster, too. Just what the survivors and the victims' families needed? I think not.
    Whoa, I hadn't heard this! Do you have a link or, if not, could you tell us more about that? I know they're not the most logical people around, but what was their incentive for that? Was one of the miners, or one of the distant cousins of a miner somewhere in the history of the U.S., gay? Un-freaking-believable. Those people are the scum of the earth, no matter what their reason was. I remember reading that they protested one soldier's funeral (he died in Iraq), NOT because that particular soldier was gay, but instead they were protesting the fact that gays are allowed in the military in the first place. What a despicable, unChristian thing to do to that soldier's family. They just astound me with their "God Hates Fags" signs and everything. Ugh.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 05:41:17 PM EST
    In answer to my own question, I found this link (click on Sago Mine): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targets_of_Fred_Phelps It still doesn't really explain the link between the Sago Mine tragedy and homosexuality, but maybe I'm asking too much to try and find logic in all of this... For an interesting and in-depth look at Papa Phelps, here's the Wikipedia article on him (quite a criminal background he's god, does God hate "fags" but not repeat child abusers?): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rev._Fred_Phelps

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#6)
    by ras on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 05:47:09 PM EST
    rojopelo521, If you're looking for an explanation as to why, try this: Fred Phelps is an intrinsically hateful man looking for any excuse he can find to practice his hate and puff up his ego at the same time. If none exists, he'll invent one. If it's refuted, he'll invent another. I think the above is a lot more accurate than actually trying to analyze his professed reasons, cuz they're not really the fuel for the fire that Phelps says they are; naked, irrational hate is.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#7)
    by jimcee on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 07:12:32 PM EST
    I would rarely say this but the Phelps' family's opinon should be ignored by the left and the right. These people are such publicity sluts that they make Hollywood types look virginal. They also make anyone with half a brain look good, whether on the Left or the Right.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#8)
    by glanton on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 07:20:57 PM EST
    Oh I don't know look at this and this There is of course much much more. But spin away if it feels good.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#9)
    by ras on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 07:44:46 PM EST
    Glanton, But spin away if it feels good. Nah, two's a crowd.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#10)
    by glanton on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 07:49:11 PM EST
    There is public disdain for Phelps and his followers on this thread from Righties, not because they aredntly denigrate homosexuals but rather because they disrespect "the troops," and now word is out, the victims of the mining tragedy. There is no outcry from the Righties on this thread against the likes of Coburn and Santorum because those fellas are well-schooled in the art of saying all the right things about the troops. So just come clean. What you disapprove of is not hatred of homosexuals, or even hatred in general, but rather disrespect for other groups that you venerate. :-0

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#11)
    by glanton on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 07:55:38 PM EST
    "et al.": Both links provide direct quotes from both Senators. They are the words of the men themselves, in full color. Nothing's more bizarre than watching a GOP sympathizer attempt to affect outrage over or distance him/herself from the hatred that the GOP embraces, exploits, and fosters so readily.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#12)
    by jimcee on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 08:08:59 PM EST
    Glanton, Not to put to fine of point on it but, If you think that you can tag libratarians or conservatives with the Phelps thing than you obviously are just a partisan fool. I wouldn't do the same for the Code Pink people and think that they speak for all of those that are on the Left. Radicalism from either side is just that, radicalism. If you want to play the 'us v them' game that is your business but the business of politics is much more subtle.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#13)
    by glanton on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 08:14:57 PM EST
    jimcee: Did you read the direct quotes or are you just spinning wheels? And, BTW, where did libertarians come into the picture? Are there actually liberatarians out there ignorant enough that they claim either Santorum or Coburn, or their many brethren throughout Washington, as party members? Inquiring minds want to know.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#14)
    by jimcee on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 08:21:42 PM EST
    Glanton, By the way Gayness has little to do with conservatism and visa versa. In other words, 'Grow up because the world doesn't hate you, it doesn't even know you exist' I know Gay conservatives and Gay Liberals, so please explain to us how all those people are right or wrong. And of course without hyperbole.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#15)
    by glanton on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 08:31:40 PM EST
    jimcee: I don't think we're talking about the same thing here. I posted links that provide direct quotes from prominent Republicans who are considered mainstream enough by their fellow party members. You respond by telling me there are gay conservatives? Okay, fine, I'll cede that: I'm sure there are some gay conservatives out there, though I'd be willing to bet that their motives are highly economic in nature. Still, you cannot deny the words from the leaders. What differentiates them from Phelps is that they go spread eagle patriotic when it comes to troops--that is, when they think of troops they don't think of homosexuality. Right? But on the specific subject of homosexuality, their words largely echo the Phelps rhetoric. Do they not?

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#16)
    by jimcee on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 08:33:10 PM EST
    Glanton, Stereotypes are unhelpful regardless of your political bent. Just saying....

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#17)
    by glanton on Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 08:36:11 PM EST
    And, jimcee, I'm inferring from your "grow up...the world doesn't hate you" paragraph that you assume that anyone who stands for gay rights must be gay. What a sad worldview. But perhaps it allows you the happiness of believing you've got the world down to a tee: men for men, women for women, gays for gays, non-whites for non-whites, and on and on. But when they come for you who will be left to defend you?

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 12:01:01 AM EST
    Okay, I'm listening to this radio program right now, and it is painful, but as this is a blog on the law and there is a real interesting comment from this "lawyer" says something akin to "My god, what has this country come to. these people think they have rights!" It's actually worse than my paraphrase. Okay I took the time go back and listen to what I'm trying to quote here and here is a closer approximation; "It revolves around the chokehold that these perverts've got on this country so that everyone thinks they've got rights. I mean America is Brokeback Mountain." This being the USA and this being a blog on the law, doesn't this question about having rights ring bells loud enough to wake the dead?

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 08:03:29 AM EST
    While I can't disgree with her more and I certainly can't recommend her as counsel, I also disagree with he rhaving her law license pulled solely on free speech. There has to be more, no matter how unpopular her rhetoric.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#20)
    by jondee on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 09:59:20 AM EST
    The fact is Bushco would be history without the faction that basically concurs with Phelps ideology, if not his tactics. You wanna disagree with this jimcee and ras? Bush didnt need the religious right to win?

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#21)
    by jondee on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 10:33:17 AM EST
    "Liberatarians and conservatives wont be tagged with this." LOL. Yeah you just encourage it while all the while pretending it isnt happening; especially in an election year. Take same friggin responsibility "party of responsibility."

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 12:08:36 PM EST
    In response to rojopelo521: what you found on Wikipedia is about as much as I know. Most of the West Virginia media refused to even mention the arrival of the Phelps Gang; they didn't want to give them that courtesy. A couple of TV stations' websites actually mentioned that there were some hateful crazy people who had showed up and to whom they had decided to give no coverage.

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 02:54:21 PM EST
    I just listened to the WPR program. Fascinating! Then, I went to the WBC site and watched the video she talked about. I listened and watched what these people wanted to do at a serviceman's funeral. Anybody know how to disinfect my computer?

    Re: Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Pu (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 27, 2006 at 07:42:14 PM EST
    Please consider this. There is a perfectly legal way to stop Fred Phelps and his hateful cult from taking their sick pickets all over this grand country. If only anyone would show some guts and implement it. There are laws in every State that allow people to be locked up if they are proven to be a danger to themselves and others. Every where they go with their hateful and vulgar signs, stomp and urinate on the American flag and spit their hate, there is always SOMEONE that either makes a lunge to beat the crud out of them or actually tries to kill them in one way or another. They send their people (99% of them are his family in one way or another.) out in teams to do all this hateful junk. Among these teams, are the Phelps CHILDREN and GRANDCHILDREN! These poor kids have been raised hearing and living NOTHING BUT HATE 24/7/365. And now these stupid, hateful things are using these children as SHIELDS! They honestly think these children need to learn this hate and that no one would ever think to attack them with children in their ranks. WRONG! Each attack on them that has happened, the children are front and center for them to hide behind! They are not only a danger to each other and innocents around them, BUT TO THEIR CHILDREN AS WELL! SO! When they come to town, implement the law that allow people to be locked up if they are proven to be a danger to themselves and others. Then place the children in foster homes where they can learn that there is something in life other then hate and hateful pickets. This is how you can legally shut them down. All you need now is some State that has the guts to implement the law that is on their own books. Lady Donna Marie Royce Minneapolis, MN

    Lawyer For Funeral Protestors Thinks God Is Punishing Us | 24 comments (24 topical)