Tammy Baker denied there was any wrongdoings at PTL

[Archae]

I'm being dumped on, by a few people, since I said that Tammy Faye was a crook.

She was.

It was tragic how she died, no one doubts that.
But how many of those Jim and Tammy screwed royally got ANY of their money back?
Easy answer: Not one.


Bakker was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison but the term was reduced to 18 years in August 1991. Tammy Faye, after countless declarations of loyalty to Bakker, subsequently divorced him and later married Christian construction magnate Roe Messner.

In a statement on Saturday night, Bakker said his former wife "lived her life like the song she sang, 'If Life Hands You a Lemon, Make Lemonade.'"

Messner admitted the demise of PTL and her marriage were a challenge to her faith.

"I was so disappointed that God would allow all that to happen," Messner told the online magazine Salon in a 2003 interview. "But after the fact I realized that He allowed it for my good."

(snip)

She also denied there had been any wrongdoing at PTL.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2126310320070722

[Bluebear]

1. You're being dumped on, so you start ANOTHER thread on this?

What is this to you?

[Lex]

2. A "look at me!" one.

:eyes:

[Bluebear]

3. Good gravy. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. But, she was a highly amusing crook.

And, as an entertainer, she and Jim made buckets of money from the suckers.

[Cooley Hurd]

5. If you're gonna dance, don't trip on the headstone...

:crazy:

[Rhiannon12866]

27. I agree. I always kind of liked Tammy Faye, as well.

I used to watch her and Jim when I worked obscene hours, and when I got home, since they were the only thing that was on at that hour. But I never felt any malice in her, and regret her passing. ;(

As for me, I'm still here, but will be leaving soon.:shrug:

[stirlingsliver]

6. I LOVE Popcorn!

I was looking for something to watch while I eat my popcorn.

Thank you -- THANK YOU -- very very much!

[DU9598]

7. Why wasnt she ever charged

And she certainly was never convicted.

Let her soul rest in peace!

[ShaneGR]

8. Jim Baker ran the "show"

And that's why he was charged and convicted. Tammy responded by divorcing him. She went on to do a lot of good works.

[Archae]

9. WHAT good works?

How much money did those Jim and Tammy pay back to those they, (yes, THEY,) screwed blind so Jim and Tammy could live in obscene luxury, while Tammy kept saying nothing was done wrong at PTL.

[Bluebear]

10. "WHAT good works" - read around GD for about 5 minutes. nt

[ShaneGR]

24. Seriously man, have you even been reading DU for the last day?

She did a TON of stuff for the gay and lesbian community.

[Maddy McCall]

11. In my opinion, you can blame Falwell for people not receiving refunds...

because he gleefully took over PTL in the midst of that scandal.

Why didn't Falwell sell off PTL assets and reimburse contributors?

[Bluebear]

12. I forgot about that blowbag barging in

Of COURSE he did. $$$$$$$$$

[Maddy McCall]

13. The amazing part of that...

was that, although Tammy Faye despised him for his part in that scandal, she eventually forgave him.

Imagine that. Forgiveness.

[terrya]

14. That's exactly right.

This is talked about in "The Eyes of Tammy Faye", a movie I wish more people would see. To give some perspective to those who solely think of her as a crook.

[Maddy McCall]

16. There's no excuse for willful ignorance.

DUers (was it you?) suggested to this poster last night in the lounge that he watch the movie.

But, even if he has no taste for actually sitting down and watching a documentary, all one has to do is come to GD and READ why people respected her in her later life. It's all right here, in peoples' own words.

[terrya]

19. Well, yeah.

I was one of the DU'ers who recommeneded the documentary.

You're right, though. All anyone has to do is come here (and LBN and the Lounge) and read the heartfelt comments about her. I was quite moved reading some of the posts last night...it is obvious that she was respected and liked.

[Maddy McCall]

20. Cboy's and Nancy's posts...

touched me deeply.

There have been many beautiful tributes to this woman in the past couple of days.

[pitohui]

15. i doubt she knew about it or knew her husband was fucking around either

as far as paying the money back, i don't see how

imagine you're married to a shithead who destroys your business by embezzling $$$ and oh by the way he's sleeping w. some bimbo too who is supporting him in destroying the evidence of his crimes

your entire life is fucked, you are crushed you are devastated and you are just supposed to forgive because jeebus said forgive?

there is no way that she could have gotten a job at the local kmart and earned enough money to pay back the money stolen by her husband, it was TOO MUCH MONEY for anyone in an honest job to earn


plus why should SHE pay back money stolen to pay off a whore and it isn't like her ex, who was in prison, could pay back the money on prison wages of 28 cents an hour

i think people have very unrealistic ideas about the kind of control a religious wife has over her cheating husband, slim and none might be close to reality, the idea that she has some golden doghouse full of bullion she could have used to repay your family is ridiculous

[MonkeyFunk]

17. ah....

it wouldn't be DU without a grave-pisser jumping in before the corpse cools off.

[Jackpine Radical]

18. I have no insider knowledge, have never particuarly followed the PTL story, but

I have always figured that Jim was the hustler and Tammy Faye was a good-hearted simpleton in a gilded cage, ridden by the demons of denial, who was as much deceived as anyone else in the whole sorry affair. I think Jimmy was the psychopathic conman of the pair, and she was his biggest dupe. I believe that she was quite capable of seeing all that ill-gotten money flowing around them and accepting it as evidence of God's blessing upon them.

And even if I'm wrong, if she deliberately and knowingly participated in the grand con schemes, then she left one final gift for her victims. She left them with an opportunity to practice forgiveness.

[Archae]

21. Funny, no one is remarking on this...

"She also denied there had been any wrongdoing at PTL."
(BTW, she said this in 1992.)

That means one of two things.
Either she was a total fucking idiot, or she was in on the corruption.

[MonkeyFunk]

23. Why do you need to do this today?

I'll never understand why so many DUers insist on going out of their way to be assholes whenever somebody dies. Is the ability to hate and hate forever a measure of one's liberal credentials?

[Maddy McCall]

26. I'm starting to wonder if he donated to PTL in the 80s...

and is still mad because he didn't get his money back.

:shrug:

[Maddy McCall]

25. You just keep holding onto that 1992 quotation.

If it keeps you warm at night.

Me, I think I'll let these quotations be the gauge by which I measure Tammy Faye:

MW: What would you say to the parent who does not want to accept their child as gay?

TAMMY FAYE: If they don't accept it I would say shame on them. When you're a parent you accept your child as he or she is. ... Your child is not you. ... I would tell that parent, love your child just exactly the way he or she is.

MW: What happens to the parent who won't acknowledge their child?

TAMMY FAYE: The parent loses.

And:

It's a choice. You ask God to help you and then you just make the choice. It's not worth living in unforgiveness. I have a saying that forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself. ...It's the only way you can have true happiness because unforgiveness eats you up inside. It's like an acid and it will truly make you sick. I think unforgiveness has been more people's problem than anything in the world. Because when you see somebody you are angry at, your tummy tenses up, your blood pressure goes up, your fists clench, you go into a different mode. And that's not good for the body. So people should forgive just to save themselves.

[Lint Head]

22. Gary Paxton is a record producer, writer and performer.

He produced Monster Mash, The Association and was a founding member of the Hollywood Argyles. He was ran into some bad luck, became basically broke and found a new beginning as a Christian writer and artist. He appeared on the PTL club many times. The 'rumor' in the music business was that he had an affair with Tammy Faye and that was the main reason Jim Baker would barely speak with her. Obviously Baker having the Jessica Hahn affair didn't help. Paxton was also kidnapped around that time and his life was threatened.
It was in the Nashville Newspapers at that time.
My Uncle lived close to Fort Mill, SC where PLT was taped. He called it 'Pass the Loot'.