Kansas group to spew hate at local soldiers' funerals [Fouled-up Fred Phelps]

The Boston Herald [conservative tabloid] ^ | Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - Updated: 05:39 AM EST | O’Ryan Johnson

[Criminal Number 18F]

A radical Midwestern hate group plans to protest at the funerals of two local soldiers killed in action, claiming the slain heroes "were cast into hell to join many more dishonorable Americans."

The Westboro Baptist Church, proclaiming "thank God for IEDs" or roadside bombs, claims the 9/11 attacks and American deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are God's vengeance on a nation that is tolerant of homosexuality.

"It's going to shock and enrage every person who sees it. That is our goal," said Margie Phelps, daughter of WBC leader Fred Phelps. The group is based in Topeka, Kansas, and has made headlines protesting homosexuality at school events, graduations and mainstream churches.

But when told about the group's plans, John Maloney, the father of slain Marine Capt. John Maloney, said his son died in Iraq to protect free speech, no matter how offensive.

"He fought and died for their right to do what they do," he said. "I may not agree with what they do. This is still the United States of America, isn't it?"

In addition to protesting Maloney's funeral, the group also plans to protest the Marblehead funeral of Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper, a Green Beret, killed in Afghanistan.

"This kid was an American hero," Marblehead veterans service agent David Roberts said. "I don't understand people like that. Any disrespect shown towards him and his family is beyond my imagination."

Margie Phelps said her father is a self-declared prophet.

"He hasn't been sent to save. He's been sent to condemn," she said, adding that group members have protested the funerals of 11 slain soldiers across the nation in the past two weeks.

Phelps said the protests may be disruptive to family members but "as long as it's being made into a public ordeal, then all bets are off."

She added, "Thank God for the mortar. Thank God for the shell that came from the gun. Thank God for the fact that it killed the fruit of America to punish it for its sins."

But Maloney, still grieving for his son, said simply, "I think they're misdirected. I'll pray for them."

[Criminal Number 18F]

I will be at one of these funerals as the soldier in question was in my unit for five years (including one combat tour). He was an incredibly dedicated man whose two kids are taking it pretty hard.

There will be scores of combat vets at this funeral (in uniform and out, including MOH recipients and real heroes of Korea, Vietnam, Somalia, and the GWOT) and none of them will harm a hair on Phony Fred's head (did you know he got his start as a liberal civil rights lawyer? Before he was disbarred, that is, and reinvented himself as a gay-hating, soldier-hating, American-hating nutball. (I suspect he picked up a drag queen in a dark alley or something).

I think Mr Maloney is a class act, and a Christian, unlike any of the creatures that nests in the Westboro Baptist Church. But if I get whacked next time out, I don't want you to pray for Fred and his skank of a daughter and their whole diseased family.

This story is a couple of days old. I searched for the title, for the words in the title, and looked up Fat Head Fred, who has apparently been doing this funeral protest shtick for a while, but did not see this posted.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[cyborg]

I think he's a democrat party implant.

[Criminal Number 18F]

Guys, have a look, please. Pass it on. -C18F

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

We will support you in spirit. Good luck.

[FreeRep]

I agree, his cult acts like a democrat party implant and he is no true Baptist.

[Dawgreg]

What a totally disgusting person! He needs to be in a mental ward somewhere.

[Windsong]

"Thank God for the fact that it killed the fruit of America to punish it for its sins."

God to the Archangel Michael: "Hmm..looks as if that Phelps character is getting out of hand..Mike would you see to that please? Thanks"

[Travis McGee]

Incredble. These inbred psychos were at a local Catholic church in San Diego 2 weeks ago, harrassing parishoners before and after church.

[Will_Zurmacht]

He ran for the Dem. gubernatorial nomination here against Finney back in the '90s. Claimed Jesus told him Joan Finney was a lesbian.

This fellow has some serious issues regarding (his) sexual identity. Not known as a a big fan of racial "mongrels" either, but He tones that down and reserves most of his bile for gays. Kinda like a old self loathing homosexual, crypto-fascist in bicycle shorts with a small cult around him.

I met him numerous times in my past life as a college democrat. His kool-aid club are the scariest. He has a family chuck full of democrat lawyers hell bent on "purification", and they somehow get tons of money funneled to them.
Oh, and besides gays, and brown folk, he hates Catholics and Da Jooos too. But you probably already guessed that....hehe.

[datura]

"But when told about the group's plans, John Maloney, the father of slain Marine Capt. John Maloney, said his son died in Iraq to protect free speech, no matter how offensive."

I'm sorry, but there is a line between sedition/treason and free speech. Maybe not out there in Kerryland, but in Flyover country, there's a difference.

IMO, these "protesters" who think America needs to be punished need to be banished. Forever.

[Criminal Number 18F]

I can't blame the Democrats for this creep. Satan maybe. The Democrats are as creeped out by him as we are.

• NNDB on Fred - Interesting to note that daughter Margie quoted in the article is employed by the Kansas Department of Corrections, if this site is right. Have they no standards? Also, he has 13 kids, 11 of them lawyers (one of 'em also disbarred). That's evil in and of itself. He's been busted for assault and ODing on drugs (which might explain a lot. Maybe he is a Democrat after all!)

• Here's a dated page on Phelps by the ADL.

Google turns up some more interesting links but I am in my military office and the filters lock me out of them. Phelps's own sites are off limits as hate speech, of course (not that I am anxious to go there).

Excuse me now. I gotta go scrub, and scrub, and scrub, to get clean after thinking about this rat.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[cyborg]

LOL wow that's amazing. You got his number big time.

[Cool Multiservice Soldier]

Margie Phelps said her father [Fred Phelps] is a self-declared prophet.

That line right there shows how nutty this a$$hole is. Anyone who says that they are a "self-declared" anything is an idiot and a phony.

I'm happy to know that there are people with restraint like John Maloney and Criminal Number 18F out there who can have people yell these words of hate at them, and not let the words get to them. I just know if someone said those same words of hate to me, they'd be swollowing some teeth.

[DTogo]

Another charlatan using "free speech" as a cover to, indeed, spew hate. Someday he'll protest the wrong people...

[sinkspur]

These cretins thrive on attention.

No attention, and they wilt like an uprooted sunflower.

Ignore, ignore, ignore.

[Will_Zurmacht]

I had quite a run in with his daughter at a democratic convention in my misspent youth.

Granted, I was pretty liquored up, but the last thing I needed was a Hillary! look alike trying to explain to me the secret Gay-Zionist plot that uses the black man to subvert white women. Freaked me out and ruined my buzz....big time.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

These fruitcakes are only going to make themselves look even more stupid than they already are. Hey, Fred, that church of yours-incest much?

[cyborg]

Wow that's as bad as meeting the real Hillary *lol*

[Will_Zurmacht]

hehe..

She was then wearing the 1970's specs. Remember the pics of Bill and Hill circa 1973? Now picture being stuck with that on an elevator in the Topeka Ramada Inn. You're half drunk, she's fully crazy, and the nights just gettin started.....

When I first met the Fredster he was in his typical attire, Gay bicyclist on the prowl, trolling for boy scouts ensemble. He approached me at a Dem. barbecue and the first thing he said to be was, "Son, do you ever feel sexually attracted to men?"

Sweet Christ!

I knew right then this was gonna be a bad Democratic fundraiser.

I told him to ^&%$ off. A lil freaked out, I then told some other YD's about it, they busted up, and explained the guy was probably recruiting.

I swear I though I was being hit on by an old queen!

[cyborg]

You didn't hit that did you? I mean the girl, not Fred Phelps :o)

[Southack]

First of all, you've got to take note of the Phelps' family zip code number.

Total for this search: $5,105

Contributor	Occupation	Date	Amount	Recipient
PHELPS ROPER, SHIRLEY J TOPEKA,KS 66601	PHELPS CHARTERED	1/20/1989	$1,000	Kansas Democratic Committee
PHELPS, HARRY K MANHATTAN,KS 66502	DEVELOPER	9/20/1989	$500	Slattery, James Charles
PHELPS, HARRY K MANHATTAN,KS 66502	DEVELOPER	8/30/1990	$500	Slattery, James Charles
PHELPS, HARRY K MANHATTAN,KS 66502	PROPERTY DEVELOPER	1/13/1992	$500	Slattery, James Charles
PHELPS, JONATHAN B TOPEKA,KS 66601	ATTORNEY	6/10/1992	$1,000	Phelps, Fred W
PHELPS, ROLAND R KANSAS CITY,KS 66105	BARNES & DODGE INC	7/12/1989	$535	Sheet Metal/Air Conditioning Contractors
PHELPS, ROLAND R KANSAS CITY,KS 66105	BARNES & DODGE INC	7/10/1990	$535	Sheet Metal/Air Conditioning Contractors
PHELPS, ROLAND R KANSAS CITY,KS 66105	BARNES & DODGE INC	4/2/1991	$535	Sheet Metal/Air Conditioning Contractors

[Southack]

Gore Political Ties to "God Hates Fags" Founders Uncovered
Gore and Wife Tipper Headlined Fundraiser at Phelps' Topeka Home; Phelps Family Reportedly Invited to Clinton-Gore Inaugurations in 93 and 97

October 25, 2000

Fred Phelps (left) and Al Gore (center)
Fundraiser at Phelps Home
Topeka, Kansas

Left to right: Fred Phelps, Tipper Gore, Betty Phelps, Al Gore

(WASHINGTON) Reports linking Vice President Al Gore with notorious anti-gay activist Fred Phelps, Jr., and the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas were confirmed with the release of photographs showing Gore at a fundraiser at the home of Fred Phelps, Jr., who told the Conservative News Service on October 16 that he served as a Gore delegate on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta in 1988.

Gore, who was quoted by the Nashville Tennessean in 1984 saying homosexuality is not "an acceptable alternative that society should affirm" and said in his 1984 U.S. Senate race that he would not accept money from gay rights organizations and that he opposed a "gay bill of rights," reportedly sought the support of the Phelps family in his 1988 presidential campaign, and invited the Phelps' to the Clinton-Gore inaugurations of January 1993 and January 1997.

The Westboro Baptist Church runs a website called "www.godhatesfags.com" which includes virulent anti-gay statements and attacks on Jews and Catholics. The site calls the religious right "lukewarm cowards" and has an animated photograph of gay murder victim Matthew Shepard surrounded by flames, with a statement entitled "Matthew Shepard's Message from Hell." The Phelps family has gained international notoriety for picketing the funerals of gay people with signs that say "God Hates Fags."

Fred Phelps, Sr., pastor of the church, told CNS that the 1989 fundraiser held at his son's home was for Al Gore, and published several photographs on the church website to substantiate it, including one showing Gore and his wife Tipper arm-in-arm with Fred and Betty Phelps. Phelps, Sr. also told CNS that he provided office space and staff accommodations for Gore campaign staffers in the 1988 campaign.

Phelps, Sr. told CNS that Gore "looked us in the eye and gave us assurance, that, based on his Bible beliefs, he was against the homosexual agenda and the killing of babies."

"No one argues that Gore had an anti-gay record in the past. However, if it is true that he was allied with Fred Phelps as recently as 1997, then Al Gore's got a lot of explaining to do," said Rich Tafel, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. "At this time the sources are themselves questionable, so the Vice President can end this mystery by denying any relationship with Phelps now. Most troubling is the charge that Al Gore invited Fred Phelps to his inaugurations as Vice President in 1993 and 1997. That was less than three years ago. We need some answers."

Fred Phelps, Jr. also ran for Governor of Kansas in the Democratic primary in 1990, winning over 11,000 votes and placing third.

Log Cabin Republicans is the nation's largest gay and lesbian Republican organization, with state and local chapters nationwide, a full-time national office and a federal political action committee.

###

Kevin Ivers
Director of Public Affairs

Log Cabin Republicans
www.lcr.org

[Will_Zurmacht]

God no!, I was just a little drunk, remember....

I do remember periodic arguments throughout the evening, and at one point I was called a filthy Jew, which is when a ruckus ensued.

The oddest part was that I'm not even remotely Jewish, but for some reason I felt compelled to defend my "Hebrew brothers" for this slur....hehe

I was then amazingly joined by some young Jewish Democrats from out of nowhere and a drunken, screaming, pushing scuffle with the forces of Phelps erupted.

I never realized we had Jews in Kansas before that evening....They must have seen the Bat signal and came to my non-Hebrew aid.

Ah, ....it was an open bar and they weren't carding our underage butts......good times.

[cyborg]

LOL only on FR...this is an awesome website!

[ChristianDefender]

I doubt if this folks are true christians and true americans...

...hhhmmmm....mmmm...mmmm...

[Americanexpat]

This is dispicable.

This is the same kind a crap these maggots pulled in Vietnam. Someone will get shot over this before it is over. This a**hole will cross path a grieving family and they won't give a flying f**k about his free speech rights, they will put two in his lousey chest.

[Archangelsk]

Bud, I don't know how you and the rest of crew are going to contain yourselves at Chris' funeral (yeah, I know, quiet professionals).

This guy Phelps is so far below whale crap it astounds me.

[Squantos]

Anger........lots of anger on my part for trash that disrupts the funerals like this. I won't take the time to hate em as I hate nothing, never will. Takes too much time and trouble to do so. But these idiots faces are pure fist magnets IMO.

Damn C18.......please tell your troops friends and families how grateful myself and my family are for the sacrifice that their son, husband , father and brother made and the pain they endure is shared by all in our home. Hopefully the pride makes the pain something easier to endure.

Prayers up....

[Joe Brower]

I'd say that if these worthless f*cktards show up and attempt to disrupt such a somber and honorable event, it would be time to seriously crack some skulls.

[WildSoul]

What a horrible thing to say.... and by the way, as you might already know, liberal thinkers are a heck of a lot more accepting of the homosexual population than conservatives/Republicans. Ignorant, too!

[investigateworld]

Well Good Morning Mr Wild Soul.
Enjoy your stay.

[cyborg]

Hmmm...just signed up eh?

[Darksheare]

"and by the way, as you might already know, liberal thinkers are a heck of a lot more accepting of the homosexual population than conservatives/Republicans. Ignorant, too!"

Do you realize that you just said that liberal 'thinkers' are ignorant?

[Interesting Times]

When and where is the funeral?

Regards, Scott

[somniferum]

Signed up today to say that?

[Criminal Number 18F]

Scott and all who posted in this thread --

First, thanks.

Now for a brief AAR. I did not attend the funeral of Mr Maloney's son. I did attend the Chris Piper viewing and funeral in Marblehead, Mass. I had a bag of Afghan sand to scatter in Chris's gra, which I wound up not using. It was an incredibly powerful service in a Congregational church (where his father is a Deacon of long standing). Chris's brother who lives in Alaska gave the eulogy and made all of us who knew Chris laugh.

The 7th Special Forces Group at Ft. Bragg provided a very professional burial party and sent their brother off with honour.

One special treat was the attendance of an Air Force special operations weatherman who was the SWO on one of Chris's missions with 20th Group. He was in the USA after being wounded seriously at Gardez, and was walking with a cane. He has lost six inches from his left leg and is fighting a medical board to stay in the Air Force -- and in SOF combat weather. A very impressive man.

Chris's previous unit, C Co. 1/20th SF, was well represented. The now-retired ex-SOG company sergeant major that originally accepted Chris into the unit was present, and looking like he'd be ready to do another tour (the Army forced him out at Age 60). About thirty members of the company were present in uniform and a similar number in civilian clothes -- impressive when you consider that there are 83 men in an SF company on paper, and this unit has men overseas right now. The veterans of the SF association also turned out, as did over a dozen local vets of World War II and a large number of Vietnam vets.

One peacetime vet wore his Class A jacket with SP4 stripes proudly, and the ushers sat him next to the SF men with all their baubles.

An Air Force unit was also present in large numbers as Chris's best lifelong friend is in that unit (and now deployed in Iraq).

I was in civvies and almost didn't get in, as the police had barricades. Then I noticed a tall man with a small entourage -- one aide and a photographer -- who was certain to be waved through, so I went through the barricade with Sen. Kerry.

Kerry did not speak at the funeral. The aide was his vietnam-phony "veterans outreach" guy, teh one with the goatee who sings love songs to Ho Chi Minh. I don't know if the photographer was from the Kerry campaign or the Boston Globe (as if there's a difference) but after I pointed her out she got a lot of pictures of Kerry looking presidential in front of a backdrop of the backs of uniforms.

I will give the man the benefit of the doubt, the photog notwithstanding, and think that he came to pay his respects to a great American, and a better man than he (or I).

Kerry did not speak. C-1-20 remembers his speech at the Dan Petithory funeral and was determined not to have a repeat. But any differences the combat soldiers have with Kambodia Krismas Kerry pale next to our differences with Phelps, and I'm sure you are curious about that.

Phelps may indeed be a Democrat, but it's hardly fair to impute his disreputable, despicable behaviour to all Democrats. So, they are supporting the other side in the war, so what, they've done that in every war since 1860, but most of them have enough class not to try to disrupt a funeral. There were more Democrats inside that church than there were in Phelps's protest (about eleven people). And this is a Republican town, and Democrats in special ops are uncommon... but nobody was there as a republican or democrat, just as an American. And Phelps, he was there as I dunno what. A Martian.

The police handled the protest well. They set Phelps up in an area right by the church. Then the State Police's mounted unit put their horses between the Phelpsians and the humans. As the casket was brought in the cops turned the hind ends of their horses on to the protesters, who received the benefit of all substances that issued from the horses for the duration of their protest. Periodically the protesters would try to set up a chant, but every time they did a littla lady with a big set of bagpipes would launch into a hymn or a patriotic or martial tune and drown them out utterly.

In the church, the Piper family and the other mourners never heard a word from the protesters, and the pipes did not interfere with the service at all.

A very professional performance by the police. Phelps excercised his right to a tantrum and no one had to be affected by it.

Still, I can't help but think royal thoughts: "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?"

Thanks to all who posted in this thread.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[dfwgator]

Not only that, but I'd be willing to bet that secretly he is a "Friend of Dorothy."

[Southack]

Thanks for your restraint, and for paying your respects (at the same event). Ditto for the update.

Now, as for Senator Kerry showing up and Phelps showing up, I for one will hardly think it to be mere coincidence. But I won't let that overshadow the paying of respects here.

Just don't fault me for watching to see if Phelps and Senator Kerry appear simultaneously at more planned events in the future...

[Doctor Raoul]

Margie Phelps said her father is a self-declared prophet.

Someday Dad The Prophet will hand Margie a purple shroud, some Nikes and a cup of applesauce...

He's a fraud and she's nuts.

[Doctor Raoul]

Fred was a big contributor to Al Gore and was also a delegate to a Democrat Convention. THe media never goes near those facts.

[Doctor Raoul]

Someday when Fred meets his Maker, I doubt he'll be addressed as "Rev".

[Lurker]

Tell you what. If I ever see this puke, I'll happily kick the living snot out of him, and then throw my own bail.

L

[Southack]

"Fred was a big contributor to Al Gore and was also a delegate to a Democrat Convention. THe media never goes near those facts."

If the shoe was on the other foot, the Corrupt Old Media would "Associate" Phelps and the RNC to death. Had Phelps been a Republican Convention delegate instead of a DNC voting delegate, the news media would make *every* story about him read as "Republican Convention Delegate Phelps said..."

But since he's a Democratic Convention delegate, they refer to him as "reverend Phelps."

Same thing with Senator Byrd. If Senator Byrd was a Republican, then every mention of him in a news story would be "Former Ku Klux Klan Kleagle Senator Byrd said xyz..."

But since he's a Democratic Party Senator, the news media refers to him as "Senior West Virginia Senator Byrd said xyz..."

It's the glaring double-standard. Lord knows that the news media "associated" Ruby Ridge and Waco victims in this same manner: "White Separatist Randy Weaver said..."

Our Corrupt Old News Media insists upon the derogatory label being mentioned/associated with every utterance of the name of their disliked person of the moment.

[satchmodog9]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/kmbc/20050805/lo_kmbc/2866367


Yahoo just posted this headline today. (0 days is apparently long enough to revive a story as long as it can bash Christians, the war effort and lump us all in with this kook. I didn't know if you wanted to re post this.Really pissed me off when I read this today.

[Polybius]

Get a lawyer and sue them for a "Hate Crime".

Emotional distress, harassment, invasion of privacy, civil rights violations................the lawyer will fill in the rest.

Even if you lose, your large group will be better able to afford legal fees than their smaller group.

[Criminal Number 18F]

I'm not surprised that Fouled-Up Fred and his Satan worshippers are still doing this. It brings them publicity, which has always been one of his objectives (apparently one of the others is adolescent boys. What a guy!)

As far as suing him, Phelps is a lawyer (albeit disbarred for chronic misconduct) as are many of his kids. His followers are mostly his kids, about 13 of them.

Can you imagine someone protesting in 1944 at GI funerals, claiming that Kamikazes were doing God's will?? He'd have been slung into some cold stone prison.

Now judges -- liberal Democrats, mostly -- support him and spit on our soldiers alongside Fouled-up Fairy Fred.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[91B]

They're at it again.