Local election worth watching

February 28, 2005 7:53 AM

In Topeka, Hate Mongering is a Family Affair. As the city of Topeka goes to vote on Tuesday for annual city council elections, one race is attracting national attention. Tiffany Muller, head of the Kansas Unity and Pride Alliance and first openly gay council member, is running against Jael Phelps (granddaughter of Fred Phelps), of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church. Add an ordinance that would call for specifically discriminating against gays and you have one of the most interesting local elections seen in decades. [this excellent post provided by a new member]
posted by mathowie (33 comments total)

My money's on Muller. I figure most Topekans (even Conservatives) would consider the Phelps' an embarassment.
posted by jonmc at 7:58 AM on February 28, 2005

I'd like to know more about this race. Is there any polling?

The Jael Phelps link is to an article about Howard Dean.
posted by Juicylicious at 8:06 AM on February 28, 2005

Juicylicious, scroll down past Howard Dean, it's the second article on the page.
posted by mathowie at 8:09 AM on February 28, 2005

Yeah...I spent a month in Topeka one week. Whereas I don't think Phelps is likely to win, like the article said, I'm willing to bet that the ordinance will be overturned.
posted by dejah420 at 8:16 AM on February 28, 2005

I found a target and fixed the link.
posted by mathowie at 8:16 AM on February 28, 2005

i have always found phelps fascinating. i think most topekans do consider him an embarrassment, i seem to remember the local paper dug into his little fiefdom a while back but i can't find a link. and thanks for posting this for the new member.
posted by quonsar at 8:16 AM on February 28, 2005

I also recall reading somewhere that most parishoners at his church are members of his own family. Anyone know the straight poop on that?
posted by jonmc at 8:20 AM on February 28, 2005

You're welcome, quonsar.

And jonmc, this is pretty much true. There's been a few notable exceptions - I believe former Shawnee Co. Treasure Rita Cline has some form of ties - but for the most part, they're clannish.
posted by Hot Like Your 12V Wire at 8:25 AM on February 28, 2005

I remember a website with Fred Phelps soundclips (maybe his own), that included a great one of him saying "Topeka... City of whores."

I'd dig it up, but don't know that I want to be cruising his site at work (or home for that matter).
posted by cosmonaught at 8:26 AM on February 28, 2005

loving god's hate: an in-depth look at fred phelps and the westboro baptist church
posted by quonsar at 8:27 AM on February 28, 2005

He carried a strong presence into the courtroom and garnered several civil rights awards for representing minorities.

This is the part that's baffling. Or maybe not. Homophobia's roots are more psychological, whereas racial prejudice is often more politically rooted. Still disheartening, though, although it explains his furious single-mindedness on this issue.

Phelps made headlines when he and others from WBC picketed the funeral of Matthew Shepard, the gay man beaten to death in Wyoming.

"I found it almost impossible to believe that human beings could be so brutal and vicious to a hurting family," said the Rev. Jerry Falwell.

He managed to chok and disgust Jerry Falwell. That must win him an MVB* award. or something.

Most Valuable Bigot
posted by jonmc at 8:34 AM on February 28, 2005

He shocked Jerry "9/11 happened because of gays and feminists" Falwell? Wow.
posted by clevershark at 8:39 AM on February 28, 2005

Jerry Falwell and I were of the same mind as regards Phelps and his actions at the Shepard funeral?

I believe the sky may really be falling in, Chicken Little. Whew.

On topic: I never thought I'd want to follow a not-in-my-city election so closely. This is very interesting.
posted by angeline at 9:20 AM on February 28, 2005

They protested in front of the Springdale Baptist Chruch a few years ago because it was too gay-friendly. The younger members of the tribe, his grandsons I believe, were bending over on the sidewalk and pointing to their butts and nonsense like that. The church goers pretty much ignored them.

The funny thing about protesting in front of that church was that the pastor has received death threats before after some pretty harsh sermons about the sin of homosexuality. It is the largest church in the area and the Sunday morning service is televised, I about halfway think that is the only reason Phelps targeted it.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 9:36 AM on February 28, 2005

The younger members of the tribe, his grandsons I believe, were bending over on the sidewalk and pointing to their butts and nonsense like that.

The temptation to kick must have been unbelievable.
posted by jonmc at 9:39 AM on February 28, 2005

One has to wonder how empty those people's lives are, that they devote so much time and energy to keep hate alive.

I don't think I'll ever know what drives those types, and frankly I think of myself as better off for not knowing.
posted by clevershark at 9:42 AM on February 28, 2005

I don't think I'll ever know what drives those types, and frankly I think of myself as better off for not knowing.

That's where I disagree. When you know what revs the motor, you can hopefully figure out a way to turn it off.
posted by jonmc at 9:45 AM on February 28, 2005

The first time I saw that site, I thought it was a satire...how wrong I was. Seems like they have a little cottage industry going....God Hates Fags, God Hates America, God Hates Sweden, they even have GodHatesFags.com en español!
posted by lobstah at 10:06 AM on February 28, 2005

When you know what revs the motor, you can hopefully figure out a way to turn it off.

That doesn't take free will into account. The call of hate, and particularly homophobia, is very strong and people who are otherwise level-headed will respond strongly to it.

There is no shortage of people who are of the opinion that it is anti-gay hate that was ultimately the deciding factor in the November election, and that the evangelists who "tipped the scale" this time around were drawn not by enthusiasm for the GOP candidates, but by pastors who urged them to actually get out and do whatever they can in order to support anti-gay-rights initiatives which were on the ballot in a record number of states. Once those types of people were there it's not too hard to guess what party they voted for... it certainly wasn't the party of liberalism.

So, while it IS noble and good to fight hate (you'll get no argument from me on that score) it is more often than not a Quixotic undertaking.
posted by clevershark at 10:21 AM on February 28, 2005

they even have GodHatesFags.com en español!

That's rather surprising. You'd think that Phelps would strongly endorse anti-catholic views as well as anti-gay ones...

(Hispanics are overwhelmingly Catholic)
posted by clevershark at 10:23 AM on February 28, 2005

That doesn't take free will into account.

I don't deny the existence of free will at all. And I believe that the Phelps of the world should reap what the sow. But I also realize that people don't develop in a vacuum. Some people react to the world by becoming criminals, say, others by becoming professional homophobes. While people most certainly made conscious choices to do either, it's doubtful that the idea just occurred out of the blue to be either. We search for root causes when it comes to criminality and terrorism, I don't see why we shouldn't do the same for homophobia, misogyny or racism. Not that we should ever excuse any of the above in anyone or that we shouldn't fight it's instituional manifestations. Just that more investigation is in order if we ever want to make any progress.

on preview:That's rather surprising. You'd think that Phelps would strongly endorse anti-catholic views as well as anti-gay ones...

That's what's truly weird about this guy. According to the article, he had a strong record as a lawyer on civil rights. This seems to be his one hang-up. And boy, is he hung up.
posted by jonmc at 10:31 AM on February 28, 2005

That's rather surprising. You'd think that Phelps would strongly endorse anti-catholic views as well as anti-gay ones...

Catholics can be converted. Homos will burn in hell forever, no matter what god they pray to.

Fred Phelps pisses me off more than George Bush. And that's saying something.
posted by salad spork at 10:47 AM on February 28, 2005

From what I've read, his "civil rights" record was more about getting rich suing on behalf of Black plaintiffs -- often for frivolous reasons -- which forced the defendants to settle out-of-court to avoid an ugly trial since Phelps would otherwise play the race card for all it's worth. He hasn't exactly been a crusader for minority rights.
posted by DaShiv at 10:53 AM on February 28, 2005

Jerry Falwell and I were of the same mind as regards Phelps and his actions at the Shepard funeral?

Sure. Jerry's smart enough to know that the completely batshit crazy God-fearing bigots make life difficult for all the normal decent God-fearing bigots.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 11:09 AM on February 28, 2005

Than ordinance has no chance at survival because it violates equal protection and it is basically the exact same situation as Romer v. Evans
posted by cloeburner at 11:16 AM on February 28, 2005

If you're at all interested in knowing more about Fred Phelps, and you have about two hours to spare, you must absolutely read this.

It's an in-depth expose on Fred Phelps' past: it goes into how he got started hate-mongering, how he lost his law license, how he dominates his family and much, much more. Supposedly written by a reporter at the behest of the Topeka Capital-Journal newspaper, and then supressed, it was to be the central part of the Journal's issue on Phelps.

Read in horror, but without suprise, about how Phelps made his five-year-old children run in marathons, and how he mentally and physically abused his wife. The man is scum for many more reasons that his pathetic hatemongering...he's a outright domestic abuser, thief and possibly worse.
posted by thewittyname at 11:25 AM on February 28, 2005

Phelps notwithstanding, anyone have an idea how the ordinance might actually fare? I mean...this is Kansas, afterall.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:28 AM on February 28, 2005

Anybody notice the phallic peeling banana ad next to the Time article? Doh!
posted by fungible at 12:29 PM on February 28, 2005

I've known a couple of people of Phelp's ilk. They derive great comfort in delineating themselves from evil. There's really very little to understand about them. They just keep trying to demonstrate how far above the rest of humanity they are. They are truculent, arrogant and impossible to get along with, especially if they perceive you as a rival to their holy-ego trip.

I don't know Kansas, but I've lived much of my life in the Midwest. There are things people hate much more than homosexuality-- people who make them look provincial, and individuals who are overtly cruel or boastful. Sure you'll have some cranks that want to feel holier than thou by voting for a Christian, but I imagine most Kansans will hate Jael Phelps and the way he makes them look in the eyes of the nation.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 4:39 PM on February 28, 2005

He's one of the few people on Earth i would actually physically kill if i ever got the chance. /bad person
posted by amberglow at 4:58 PM on February 28, 2005

I live in Topeka right now, and Jael Phelps works at the law library where I go to school. She grabbed me a new toner cartridge for the printer just the other day. It is kind of weird how easy it is to interact in a normal everyday manner with someone whose ideas you find completely and utterly repugnant.

I am not sure what is going to happen at the polls tomorrow. It has been pretty surprising to see so many Jael signs (she has only been using her first name on all her campaign material - I wonder if people who might not know who she is will figure it out when they look at their ballot) around district 9 where she is running. I would have to say that I see way more Jael signs than Muller signs - at least on my way to and from school (not a very scientific sampling).

I want to agree with the Topeka mayor's take on the whole Phelps thing. He says something along the lines of "Topeka is one of the most patient and tolerant cities in the US. Who else could put up with such extreme examples of free speech?" I guess we will find out tomorrow if it is really patience and tolerance, or maybe just agreement with Phelps.
posted by sp dinsmoor at 5:25 PM on February 28, 2005

An update for those interested —
Tiffany Muller made it past the primaries, kicking out Jael Phelps, AND the ordinance was defeated. Wewt.
posted by Hot Like Your 12V Wire at 7:32 AM on March 2, 2005

excellent news, Hot.
posted by amberglow at 7:46 AM on March 2, 2005