Fred Phelps: Hate-Filled Maniac with a Death Wish

Yep. "Good Christian" Fred Phelps is yet again picketing the funerals of American soldiers because gays exist.

Or something.

SMYRNA, Tenn. - Members of a church say God is punishing American soldiers for defending a country that harbors gays, and they brought their anti-gay message to the funerals Saturday of two Tennessee soldiers killed in Iraq.

The church members were met with scorn from local residents. They chased the church members cars' down a highway, waving flags and screaming "God bless America."

Can we please stop calling these mentally ill bigots "church members?" This isn't a church; it's a grouping of hate-crazed fanatics that wouldn't know God if he handed them an iced tea. Call them what they are, a Hate Group.

The Rev. Fred Phelps, founder of Westboro Baptist in Kansas, contends that American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors gays. The church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren and in-laws.

The church members carried signs and shouted things such as "God hates fags" and "God hates you."

Okay, we're used to the "fags" one by now, but "God hates you?" Huh? How does that make the slightest lick of sense? If God is supposedly punishing America for "harboring gays" (by the way, a bunch of gays at the harbor or docks is called a white party or tea dance), therefore, God hates Americans, therefore "God hates you," doesn't that include all Americans, including himself? Are there ANY Americans that aren't hated by God? Other than the eight or so screwballs that Phelps has managed to dupe into following him?

I know, I know.. don't try and fathom the motivations of Fred Phelps. That way lies madness.

Hundreds of Smyrna and Ashland City residents and families of other soldiers turned out at both sites to counter the message the Westboro Baptist members brought.

So many counterdemonstrators were gathered in Ashland City that police, sheriff's deputies and state troopers were brought in to control traffic and protect the protesters.

Wowzers. Kudos to the people that showed up to shame Phelps. I've always felt that ignoring him and his followers were the best way to deal with them, but I'm sure it helped the grieving families to see that show of support.

Picketing the funerals of soldiers... Jesus...

Okay, I have a question here, and I'm completely serious. Do you think Phelps is trying to get himself killed?

We are living in one of the most charged political times in our history. While the majority of Americans are against the Iraq war and the President, the opposing side is still fighting back with all the energy, venom and dirty tricks that they can muster. At a time when the phrase "support the troops" can bring people to blows, why in the hell would you picket the funeral of a soldier? We have gotten to the point in this country where you can get away with just about anything if you say that you "support the troops." People were smeared for daring to speak against soldiers that were torturing innocents, for chrissakes.

So why is he doing it? I'm sure part of it has to do with the fact that Phelps is a true media whore. He'll do anything horrible and outrageous to get his shrunken-apple head face on television or in print. I'm sure he tells himself that this is a way to "get out the message," and attract more people to his "church," but in reality he's just another microphone cocksucker.

But, is he also trying to get himself attacked? Perhaps killed? Think of all the press he could get if he were attacked. Think of how he could use an attack as a rallying cry for more lunatics.

And if he's killed... Martyr City baby! You can't buy press like that!

What do you kids at home think?

(Your faith was strong but you needed proof, You saw her bathing on the roof, Her beauty and the cross-post overthrew you...)