Ever look at Fred Phelps in a different way?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

A new angle to Phelps has hit me, and it scares me more than just having him breathing.

I have read and heard that many states and localities are passing "anti-Fred" laws which codify **'s "Free Speech Zones" and discourage protest of any event, for whatever reason.

Now, you can :tinfoilhat: me all you want, but given his weird targets and continued financing (from somewhere)... VRWC, anyone?

[xchrom]

1. oh yeah i've thought of that...

and i've thought of the bad pr if something should happen to him at one of these protests.

[Poll_Blind]

2. I found myself thinking this too...

The whole thing's weirder than a Dutch nightmare.

PB

[Mr.Green93]

3. Phelps gets his funding from lawsuits

they file against people who assault his group and local governments that allow the attacks. See the article The Church of the Inbred Jeds :http://www.american-partisan.com/cols/2006/rollins/qtr1/0203.htm

[drm604]

4. Very perceptive. K&R

:kick:

[Azathoth]

5. It took over 200 years, but a guy like Phelps was bound to come along

He's highly intelligent, well-educated in the law, batshit insane, viciously anti-social, and on a God-given mission to see just how far he can abuse and exploit the First Amendment to hurt as many people as possible. In every free society, there are always going to be a few people like him who come along and make it their life's work to abuse and demonize the freedoms they enjoy. If it wasn't Phelps, it would be somebody else on an equally insane crusade.

As far as Phelps' funding goes, I wouldn't completely rule out the possibility that some type of VRWC has recognized his usefulness in their anti-first amendment agenda, but I'd say it's much more likely that he and his pathetic band of misanthropes are kept in business by the plethora of virulently homophobic groups in the country, most of whom publicly condemn Phelps and privately applaud every word he spews.

[Catfight]

7. But are cults legal? Isn't that a question that should be asked? nt

[Mnemosyne]

9. Must be, the republican party exists. n/t

[Azathoth]

10. 'Cult' is a sociological term, not a legal term

There is no real legal distinction between a "cult" and a "religion." The Church of Latter-day Saints, The Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Church of Scientology could all be considered "cults" depending on the particular flavor of definition one chooses to apply. The first amendment makes no distinction between a proper religion or a "cult"; it simply makes it very clear that the government shall not interfere with the free exercise of religion. If a group of people choose to worship oreo cookies and pray to the Keebler elves, that is their constitutional right. Occasionally, some "religious" groups are not recognized as actual religions by the government, and thus are not granted tax-exempt status, but that in no way makes the group itself illegal.

Phelps and his merry band have gotten into trouble with the government before, mostly because Phelps has used his legal knowledge to abuse every aspect of his first amendment rights. For instance, he installed an olympic-sized swimming pool in his backyard, and then attempted write off the expense on his taxes by claiming that it was a church-related expense. (He claimed that he performed baptisms in the pool.) All that aside, however, Phelps has every legal right to form his own church and preach whatever nonsense he chooses.

[Atlas Mugged]

6. Do beer goggles count? n/t

[Warpy]

8. Not when he started, but definitely since he's broadened his

horizons to include military funerals and relief rallies (eg, tsunami relief). He started out as a raving homophobe, discovered the intoxication of publicity, and is now being well paid to demonstrate that free speech can be a royal pain in the ass.

Two guys back home in Albuquerque had the right idea. When Phelps was making a public ass of himself, they just went into a soul kiss in front of him. They said they barely knew each other, it was just a spontaneous thing that seemed like the right response. It sure was.

I disagree with the laws being passed. The laws we already have on the books about creating public disturbances and inciting to riot will cover the little pimple quite nicely.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. I know. We can disagree all we want

but when the laws are passed, they will be used against all.