Focus on the Family forced to make layoffs after spending $600,000 to defeat marriage equality.
By on Nov 17th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Focus on the Family forced to make layoffs after spending $600,000 to defeat marriage equality.
Colorado Independent reports that Focus on the Family “is poised to announce major layoffs to its Colorado Springs-based ministry and media empire today.” The layoffs come after the right-wing group spent more than $600,000 to defeat marriage equality in California. Praising the passage of Prop. 8, the group said that the measure “helps protect millions of children from radical indoctrination in the homosexual lifestyle.” The group also touted its involvement collecting signatures and gathering donations, patting itself on the back for being “integrally involved” in the fight against marriage equality.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
111 Responses to “Focus on the Family forced to make layoffs after spending $600,000 to defeat marriage equality.”
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Bush
Bush Legacy
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
DADT
Economy
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Franken
Global Warming
Guantanamo
Health Care
International Relations
Iran
Iraq
Justice
Krauthammer
Kyl
LGBT
Limbaugh
McCain
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Public Plan
Race
Radical Right
Rove
Sanford
Sotomayor
Steele
Supreme Court
Terrorism
ThinkProgress
Tiller
Torture
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Focus on the Family forced to make layoffs after spending $600,000 to defeat marriage equality.»
- - Dobson blew his wad on gay marriage. Kink-eeee.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:19 pmPyrrhic victory?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:23 pmGee, if they really feel they are doing God's work, I would think they would work for free.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:23 pmGood. Hope all those paid off go hungry.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:24 pmwell, i'm sure christian charity will feed those who were laid-off. they can take comfort that they've denied loving couples their rights while they avoid those bill-collection calls.
eff 'em.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:27 pmI wonder how many of those being laid off have actual families to feed. These people truly have their heads up their a$$'s.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:31 pmHow much are you paying for those signs on I-25, Dobson?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:32 pmOr are you paying anything?
They sure look like official highway signage, advertising your business... is there some part of separation of church and state you don't understand?
Maybe they can get "god" to intervene on their behalf...unless "god" is upset with their squandering money on Prop 8 also. Not sure if we are supposed to feel sorry for "focus" or not. I'll go with the latter just in case.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:32 pmLooks like Focus on the Family lost it's FOCUS.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:34 pmATTENTION I.R.S AND JUSTICE DEPT.....
NOW MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW THE BOOKS AND SLAP THESE IDIOTS WITH AN INDICTMENT.
JUST A LITTLE F.Y.I.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:44 pmFukus on the Fambly getting just desserts? Feel sorry for those who rely on a paycheck from this propaganda machine, perhaps they should go look for a real job.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:44 pmI thought that Prosperity Theology taught that material wealth will follow godly works, not that godly works will be followed by staff layoffs and budget shortfalls.
Do I have that wrong?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:44 pmCan't Dobbie the House Moron just have one of those magical types make some more money?
November 17th, 2008 at 6:46 pmWell, ain't that a shame.
-AF
Andrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
November 17th, 2008 at 6:47 pmHi Rapture Ready.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:51 pmStill nude? Doesn't it get cold and tiring waiting for the party that never happens. Oh and Dobson is a freak...
"Plane tickets, gas and lodging aren’t free."
Any god worth their merit badge could make it so if they really supported the cause...
November 17th, 2008 at 6:52 pmNothing says "Merry Christmas !!!" to families like getting laid off from your job.
Bless his heart.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:53 pmIt's like chopping off your nose because you have a blackhead - what a bunch of idiots.
November 17th, 2008 at 6:53 pm"The IRS has no authority over God’s facilities."
That's what I keep telling the g-men when they show up at my Church of the Open Beer...
November 17th, 2008 at 6:54 pm#25
November 17th, 2008 at 6:56 pmBullshit. A true god can do anything they wish. Your god clearly doesn't support the program. Can't get it together to cover transport... That sounds like a god that can't even predict the outcome of a simple election...
yet more waahhhpublican parasites scheduled to go on the dole like "joe the welfare queen plumber"
November 17th, 2008 at 7:00 pmI just can't bring myself to feel sorry for these AHoles.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:02 pma quick question for ruptured rectum-
what ever happened to living in poverty like jesus?
November 17th, 2008 at 7:02 pmdo you often support charlatans like your preacher?
Guess this proves that Hate does have a high price...
November 17th, 2008 at 7:03 pmtwo things.
first, i'm at least as liberal as the next guy (let's see who posts after me now!), but i know that the people who worked for dobson's group are real people and a lot of them have real families. and the fact that fotf blew its wad on persecuting gays and now has to lay off its employees does not diminish the importance, in their minds, of making sure gays can't get married. it also doesn't make the layoffs any less tragic. schadenfreude, perhaps, but not less tragic.
so please don't try to turn that into a "just desserts" argument. the employees were people who believed strongly enough in something to devote their livelihood to it, and that's something even if you don't believe it. i certainly don't.
but this goes double for "RaptureReady". the fact that some of the readers here will lash out at fotf is not a license to be smarmy.
your moniker already tells us that you consider yourself superior to us; you don't have to be a jerk as well, and it's not going to make you any friends.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:03 pmRupteredRectal - Go blow your preacher, you freak.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pmYo Daryl,
November 17th, 2008 at 7:04 pmGo Spank the Devil, then go Phuck yourself and your god.
stjack Says: "and a lot of them have real families"
as oppossed to the "fake families" of gays and lesbians who they worked so hard to maintain as second class citizens? sorry, i am not as big of a christian as you. i say fcuk them and the horses they rode in on.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:07 pmRaptureReady: "It’s basically a non-profit group (Church). The IRS has no authority over God’s facilities."
1. Many Churches make profits. That's why many of their places of worship are so opulent and grand.
2. Organized religion was granted tax-exempt status not because of it's purported "non-profit" identity, but because religion and secular government were to be kept separated. If organized religion wants to take part in the political process of our secular nation, they should pay taxes. The more churches take part in the political process, the stronger the movement will be to tax them. There is already talk in California of an initiative to mandate that churches pay California taxes since the churches spent so much money taking civil rights away from 10% of the population.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:07 pmNevar Says:
--------------------------------------------------------------
How much are you paying for those signs on I-25, Dobson?
Or are you paying anything?
They sure look like official highway signage, advertising your business… is there some part of separation of church and state you don’t understand?
Maybe now they will disappear.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:10 pmRaptureReady: "The IRS has no authority over God’s facilities.”
That's not true at all. The IRS often investigates political behaviour by churches and sometimes imposes fines or taxes on them. You've got it backward - "God" has no authority over the IRS facilities.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:10 pmBy the way, RaptureReady:
It’s basically a non-profit group (Church). The IRS has no authority over God’s facilities.
---
i guess you haven't been paying attention to the latest discussions concerning the tax exempt status of churches, the development of real property law, or physics.
the irs has authority over "God's facilities" (the physical church and its finances) because the federal government is the source of title for all land within the borders of the united states. so yes, they do have authority over the land and the building, and even the finances.
some churches have been saying they should be able to endorse candidates from the pulpit as well, challenging the Johnson-era rule that they would lose their tax-exempt status for doing so. and despite the fact that a church may be "non-profit," it still enjoys tax-free benefits such as police protection, firefighters, road repair, and other things that *our* property taxes pay for. so it's not as if the church lives on God's land but everyone else lives on caesar's.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pmBut doesn't the Bible say "as ye sow, so shall ye reap."?
November 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pmRaptureReady Says:
Libs, please cease the idiotic comments.
Daryll, F_ck you and the President-Elect Huckabee you are riding.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pmDaryl/Rapture, "biblical facts" is an oxymoron. It's a book of faith, as you well know, not science.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:17 pmI wonder if dobson realises this is the wrath of god for preaching hate?
November 17th, 2008 at 7:19 pmBozo The Neoclown Says:
stjack Says: “and a lot of them have real families”
as oppossed to the “fake families” of gays and lesbians who they worked so hard to maintain as second class citizens? sorry, i am not as big of a christian as you. i say fcuk them and the horses they rode in on.
---
i think you misunderstood. i'm not a christian. at best i'm an agnostic. but i'm also a big fat liberal. my point is only that i have some friends (well, acquaintances, more like) who may be working for fotf. they have at least three kids (probably more by now), and that's what I meant by a "real family" that will really be hurting if they were laid off. my heart goes out to them. i grew up in a religious, though most often penniless, family, and my fiancee was laid off today (no, she didn't work for dobson). that doesn't mean i'm a christian or that i agree with dobson, certainly. i think perhaps it's part of what makes me a human being.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:20 pmstjack,
November 17th, 2008 at 7:24 pmsorry, as a gay man i kind of find it hard to turn the other cheek for these venemous cretins when both cheeks are bloodied by them. as for compassion towards them... ppffffttttt, where was that christian compassion when they were demonizing my life? if you expect kindness and compassion in this world you must show it towards others, a lesson most of these FOF fcuktards have failed to learn.
Shit Daryll never hangs anymore. Maybe bitblt can step in...
November 17th, 2008 at 7:25 pmcRaptureReady Says:
Libs, please cease the idiotic comments.
You first.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:28 pmOh, I forgot.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:29 pmParodyll the Failure, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
RupturedRetard. I WOULD tell you to stop YOUR idiotic comments but if you did you would never post again since idiocy is the only card in your deck. As for spending 600 thousand dollars having nothing to do with laying people off you need remedial math. I suggest someone of your obvious intellectual challenges start at a second grade level.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:30 pmRaptureReady Says:
It’s basically a non-profit group (Church). The IRS has no authority over God’s facilities.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
They do if the group engages in partisan political activity. You do know you are ignorant right?
November 17th, 2008 at 7:32 pmstjack: You do not seem to see the opportunity in this whole deal. It was not the disciple of god, James Dobson who made this decision. It was god, using his tool, james dobson, to test the will and spirit of those laid off. They will see this as a test, and will rise above the trials and tribulations of this world, live in penury, and supplicate themselves to god's will. Ten years from now when this are still poor as church mice, they will be happy. Don't worry about these folks, they have an answer for everything, from god. As an agnostic, should should get out of god's way here.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:32 pmRaptureReady Says:
No, he is a spiritual leader that preaches biblical facts, which irk liberals alot.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What irks THIS liberal is when incredibly stupid people like YOU mistake YOUR interpretations for the final word as if God spoke to you himself. You are a moron. YOU nor any of your ilk will be interpreting the bible for me
November 17th, 2008 at 7:33 pmRaptureReady Says:
Your church supports drinking strong drinks. That’s a sin. No tax exempt status for you.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You are unbelievably stupid. Jesus first miracle was to change water into wine to keep the party going. YOUR stupidity does not define reality
November 17th, 2008 at 7:34 pmSo the spent too much money in their very unchristian behavior -- too bad, so sad. My regret is that they didn't spend themselves into oblivion.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:35 pmBut even if there were no staff to pay, I suspect that Dobson would continue his millionaire life style.
These people not only are un-christian -- they are anti-christian -- they are hateful people of the kind that Jesus railed against. But these people have no conscience, so they can't see themselves for what they are.
"In a Salon interview, author Chris Hedges opined that he believed Dobson wanted to impose a totalitarian system, and referred to Dobson as a "really dark figure."[56]
A May 2005 article by Hedges in Harpers described Dobson as "perhaps the most powerful figure in the Dominionist movement" and "a crucial player in getting out the Christian vote for George W. Bush."[57] Discernment Ministries, a site that describes dominionism as a heresy, characterized Dobson as belonging to the "Patriotic American" brand of dominionism, calling him "One of its most powerful leaders.""
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dobson
PATRIOTIC AMERICAN movement: Patriotic dominionists, most of whom are not Reconstructionists, teach that political action will advance the kingdom of God in America. Using the vehicle of Christian media, they have taught evangelicals for the past three decades that America is a Christian nation and needs to return to its roots. Almost every evangelical in the pew has been influenced in one way or another by this sect. Patriotic dominionist leaders and their organizations have been closely interlocked financially and politically with the conservatives from the political Right. The secular conservatives purport to uphold morality, which appeals to evangelicals. The combined force of conservatives and evangelicals flexes its political muscles in Washington. One of its most powerful leaders is James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Patriotic dominionism was widely disseminated through the activities of Jay Grimstead, founder of Coalition on Revival (COR). From its earliest inception COR managed to successfully bring together key leaders from all three dominionist sects, including the Reconstructionists, to promote the most ruthless doctrines of dominionism.15
Grimstead’s COR Steering Council letter, dated May 1993
1. The Kingdom of God was inaugurated and the King was installed and seated in the First Century A.D. and we need not wait for the King's second coming to get the Kingdom started here on earth.
4. At this moment of history, all humans on earth, whether Jew or Gentile, believer or unbeliever, private person or public official, are obligated to bow their knees to this King Jesus, confess Him as Lord of the universe with their tongues, and submit to His lordship over every aspect of their lives in thought, word and deed.
5. Biblical evangelism according to the Great Commission of Matt. 28:18-20 is not truly accomplished unless that message of Christ's lordship from point #4 above is given to the person being evangelized so that they know that an attempt at personal neutrality before King Jesus is sin and treason in this universe.16 [emphases added]
November 17th, 2008 at 7:37 pmstjack Says:
I agree with both or your points. Hungry children are never a good thing. A family suffering diminishes us all.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:37 pmRaptureReady Says:
Libs, please cease the idiotic comments. They are going through a temporary trial that had nothing to do with $600,000. That $600,000 was used to restore God’s law. If we have to spend to uphold his world, we will.
Seems to me that you people are substituting yourself for God. What enormous hubris.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:39 pmDarryl says something dumb:
"No, he is a spiritual leader that preaches biblical facts, which irk liberals alot."
I think it should irk his employees a bit more that they are going to lose their jobs when he spent money to defeat a bill that gave other Americans equal rights, couldn't that money have been spent better to feed the poor, teach job skills, provide healthcare. You know, that stuff Jesus talked about? Actually, I don't think you do....
November 17th, 2008 at 7:39 pmIt must be annoying to people like RaptureReady that there is no mention of "god" in the constitution. "God" is only mentioned twice in the entire Federalist Papers and only in a "god only knows" sense. And, in the Declaration, they talk about how each man is endowed by "his creator."
Add the fact that at least three or four of the Founders were probably athiests and even the most conservative among them had a healthy disregard for christianity and you have a picture of the Founders of our country that I think RaptureReady would find disconcerting.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:42 pmRaptureReady babbles:
The IRS has no authority over God’s facilities.
I didn't realise god needed "facilities".
And whatever happened to "render unto Caesar..."?
November 17th, 2008 at 7:42 pmNext week Dobson will be asking all those laid off families to donate their last paychecks:
"God wants you to dig down deep, and give all you can. Because Jesus just told me he needs a new car, and he wants me to drive it for him."
November 17th, 2008 at 7:43 pmOkay, so Focus on the Family used the scare tactic of "protect the children from the evil gays".
Except, the majority of violated children are usually molested by a family member, who is HETERO.
So, shouldn't Focus on the Family be focusing more on the family, instead of worrying about non existent threats?
Because believe you me, I'd much prefer my children befriend a homosexual, rather than the likes of cRaptureReady aka Mr. "I've remained pure by shaking the devil off".
November 17th, 2008 at 7:44 pmAnd although I'm a proud Christian, I just don't trust the extreme right pseudo-(c)hristians, like Parodyll the Failure, who are suppressed and hateful!
RaptureReady Says: "No, he is a spiritual leader that preaches biblical facts, which irk liberals alot."
Well, at least you categorized your facts.
Have you got your hunting license yet Daryll?
November 17th, 2008 at 7:47 pmVelocirapture season starts tomorrow.
Saruhh says there's some really big ones up her way, and they're easy to hit, being all sluggish from the cold.
Things just keep getting better and better for Dobson's haters...
Praying for torrential rain for Obama speech - Clear as a bell and above average temps in Denver...ahhh..
Oops, was that a HURRICANE that interrupted that little get together in Minnesota??..tee hee...
Spend all your stolen gains on another hate initiative in California which passed but will be declared unconstitutional by the Ca. Supreme Court - again...Poof! You loose..
What's next?? Are you going to adopt the magic underwear???
These folks need some serious mental help....
November 17th, 2008 at 7:49 pmAs Frank Zappa said in his song Heavenly Bank Accounts
And if these words you do not heed
Your pocketbook just kinda might recede
When some man comes along and
Claims godly need
He will clean you out right through your
Tweed
That's right, remember there is a big
Difference between kneeling down
And bending over...
He's got twenty million dollars
In his heavenly bank account...
All from those chumps who was
Born again
Oh yeah, oh yeah
He's got seven limousines
And a private plane...
All for the use of his
Special friends
Oh yeah, oh yeah
He's got thousand-dollar suits
And a wembley tie...
Girls love to stroke it
While he's on the phone
Oh yeah, oh yeah
At the house of representatives
He's a groovy guy...
When he gives thanks
He is not alone...
He is dealin'
He is really dealin'
Irs can't determine
Where the hook is
It is easy with the bible
To pretend that
You're in show biz
They won't get him
They will never get him
For the naughty stuff
That he did
It is best in cases like this
To pretend that
You are stupid
He's got presidential help
All along the way
He says the grace
While the lawyers chew
Oh yeah
They sure do
And the govenors agree to say:
"he's a lovely man!"
He makes it easier for
Them to screw
All of you...
Yes, that's true!
'cause he helps put the fear of god
In the common man
Snatchin' up money
Everywhere he can
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
He's got twenty million dollars
In his heavenly bank account
You ain't got nothin', people
You ain't got nothin', people
You ain't got nothin', people
Thank the man...oh yeah
As DL Hugely said. I believe in God. I just dont think all the people who SAY they are working for him really are.
When Dobson foregoes HIS salary or lays HIMSELF off get back to me RR
November 17th, 2008 at 7:50 pmPoor Darlyy, still claiming to have the ONE TRUE faith.
Like all the others who claim to have the ONE TRUE faith.
Problem is, they can't all be right.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:02 pmBut they just might be all wrong.
RandomChaos Says:
Yo Daryl,
Go Spank the Devil, then go Phuck yourself and your god.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I am pretty lefty liberal. I am also religious. One of the reasons I am so liberal is my religious beliefs. Posts like THIS one make me queazy to say the least. I understand the frustration brought on by the RR haters and their agenda. I join you in contempt for the messenger but this kind of post disrespects those like me in an unacceptable way. I think you should show a bit more respect for your religious political brothers.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:02 pmWho would Jesus descriminate against? Where did Jesus address this issue in the Bible? He didn't. Dobson is making it an issue.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:06 pmYou first.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:07 pmWait ... for the fund-raising letter talking about how they're going broke defending Us Gud Cris'shuns from Teh Gayz ... and how they need your money to keep up the good work and not lay people off....
Cheers,
November 17th, 2008 at 8:08 pmDobson saves the world from the homo menace and hands out;
Pink slips?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:08 pmDobson, Robertson, Falwel, Hin, Baker, Schwagert et all these are the modern day equivalent of those Jesus threw out of the temple false profits and Calvinist's one and all and those who follow them are doomed tools
November 17th, 2008 at 8:08 pm“helps protect millions of children from radical indoctrination in the homosexual lifestyle.”
Now we need an organization, that can be tax exempt, to help protect millions of children from radical indoctrination in religion.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:08 pmthis is how we will
win and daryl will
lose.
*
thank you emily.
you can't beat love.
*
November 17th, 2008 at 8:09 pm"Strong drinks"? Beer has lower alcohol content per ounce than wine, and Jesus turned water into wine. Was THAT a sin?
November 17th, 2008 at 8:13 pmI'm sure when President Obama sets up his Cabinet there will be a gay person and may the Focus Group and ask for a grant. Now those who worked for Focus can now apply for unemployment and hope that the President who believes in equal rights will extend the unemployment. Gays as Black and all minorities should be born with equal rights and not have to have a bill passed to get it.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:15 pmDammit! I knew someone would have nailed Daryll with the "you first" rejoinder but I went ahead with it without scanning the thread.
My apologies DRxJ.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:16 pmRadical indoctrination into the extreme bigot and homophobic lifestyles of the christ-o-nutcases.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:18 pmDobson is a snake oil salesman who know how to play on peoples fears and inhibitions. Money grubber extraordinaire.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:24 pmWow, Raptureready is truly a complete dolt-- nothing intelligent to say, but everything religiously bigoted to spew. Very sad to see someone so delusioned who feels he/she must spend so much time on this site. Like a demented stalker...
November 17th, 2008 at 9:12 pmI hope it was worth it, Mr Dobson. Not only trying to wreck the lives of gay people, but actually wrecking the lives of your own employees.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:13 pmI imagine any day now, we'll see Dobson going to Washington, DC with his palm out, praying for a bailout.
Of course, the real losers are the gay people of California.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:17 pmMaybe they should have focused on their families, rather than poke their nose in everyone else's life.
Which, I suspect, is the real problem with these reichwingers: They are nothing but a bunch of Peeping Toms, always obsessing about what goes on in their neighbor's house.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:04 pmEugeneDebs Says:
I think you should show a bit more respect for your religious political brothers.
ED,
My comment was in no way meant to disrespect you or anyone other than RR. It was explicitly directed towards it. I am sorry if my comment affected you negatively. I will try to keep that in mind in the future.
Sincerely,
November 17th, 2008 at 11:22 pmRC
Isn't that the group who protects the ted hagerty?
November 17th, 2008 at 11:33 pmThink how many people they could have fed with that type of loot. Looneybins
November 17th, 2008 at 11:35 pmGay couples shouldn't get married. We must maintain the sanity of the most holy union.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:34 amA word from the agnostic blogger (me)--if a church pokes it's nose into political agendas then it should, and there is a law for this, LOSE ITS TAXFREE STATUS. Hey, I think I just found a way to make a whole lot of money for Obama!
November 18th, 2008 at 1:42 amthe Lone Voice of Reason Says:
The Chuch like any other tax exempt entity has every right to voice their opinion on ISSUES. What they CAN NOT DO is engage in partisan political activity. Here in Arizona the Catholic Church TOLD their parishoners to vote for Bush last election and THEY should lose thier tax exempt status immediatly. Also the Priest who said anyone who voted for Obama could not get communion THAT church should immediatly lose their tax exempt status or the Church that told the Democrats they should leave the Church. Churches MUST follow the same rules as all other tax exempt organizations or they should lose their tax exempt status. Render unto Ceaser after all.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:20 amI appreciate that Random Chaos Thank You
November 18th, 2008 at 3:22 amVerily, the God of the Right is a weak God. His flock got creamed in the general election and are out of dough. Maybe the wingers need to sacrifice a goat.
How to Tell Your Party Is Dead:
November 18th, 2008 at 6:34 amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qi4ezdmO08
Hey, RuptureFreddie, tell that to the IRS when they come knocking on your door. Of course, you can alway hope that you mom prevents them from searching the basement, a place you call "home."
November 18th, 2008 at 8:12 amEugenedebs-"The Chuch like any other tax exempt entity has every right to voice their opinion on ISSUES. What they CAN NOT DO is engage in partisan political activity"
How was this proposal not partisan political activity?
November 18th, 2008 at 8:13 amNo, your pastor gives you money for you to go away!
November 18th, 2008 at 8:14 amI have good friends who happen to be attracted to the same sex and they were hurt by this proposal. I love and defend my friends, these good people who would give you a hand in anything you ask, not asking for anything for themselves except to be treated with respect and with the rights that everyone else has. I have been kicked out of three churches in my hometown for defending their position on their rights to marry if they can find a church or official to do so and for daring to question those churches' political motives. To preach that these CHURCH NAZIS are doing "God's work" is the ultimate hypocrisy. My friends do more good work for others than these people do in their entire lifetimes of bible-thumping, so if this makes one of those "faith-based" loonies go down in flames all the better.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:32 amWhile I have compassion for anyone who loses their job in a layoff, I am thrilled to learn that FOTF is having financial problems and that the organization is now paying a price for its involvement in the Yes on Prop 8 campaign.
It is a wonderful day. This could be the sign of the much-deserved decline of James Dobson and his heinous organization.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:47 am______
Jackie Says:
I’m sure when President Obama sets up his Cabinet there will be a gay person and may the Focus Group and ask for a grant. Now those who worked for Focus can now apply for unemployment and hope that the President who believes in equal rights will extend the unemployment. Gays as Black and all minorities should be born with equal rights and not have to have a bill passed to get it.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
______
Obama has said he supports civil unions, but not gay marriage.
"I believe that American society can choose to carve out a special place for the union of a man and a woman as the unit of child rearing most common to every culture."
Barack Obama
November 18th, 2008 at 9:37 am______
Gregor Samsa Says:
Maybe they should have focused on their families, rather than poke their nose in everyone else’s life.
Which, I suspect, is the real problem with these reichwingers: They are nothing but a bunch of Peeping Toms, always obsessing about what goes on in their neighbor’s house.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
______
People of faith have as much right to oppose societal changes as others do to support those changes.
“Surely, secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering the public square…”
“To say that men and women should not inject their “personal morality” into public-policy debates is a practical absurdity; our law is by definition a codification of morality, much of it grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition. What our deliberative, pluralistic democracy does demand is that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion specific, values.”
Barack Obama
November 18th, 2008 at 9:43 amGood riddence to BS organizations like Focus on the Family that try to villainize same sex marriage. Looks like they've shot themselves in the foot.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:47 amI wonder how many of those layed-off folks think that it was a small price to pay to advancing God's crusade against gays.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:14 ammaybe Dobbie's FoFwill finally collapse. We should be so lucky.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:23 amThose laid off employees need not worry, God will provide.
November 18th, 2008 at 10:57 amTP is intentionally misleading by suggesting that the reason Focus is having layoffs is because of the $600,000 used in the CA Prop 8 approval.
This threads is entitled
Focus on the Family forced to make layoffs after spending $600,000 to defeat marriage equality.»
While this statement appears accurate, it suggests that one action - the layoffs - was the results of another action - promoting approval of Prop 8 in CA.
Apparently TP, and most posters, want to read the title as
Focus on the Family forced to make layoffs because it spend $600,000 to defeat marriage equality.»
This is patently not the case.
One of the linked article says that layoffs will be about 20% of Focus' workforce, truly a massive cut. This article says that the amount contributed toward Prop 8 approval would only support 19 Coloradans at the state per capita of $29,133 per year.
Focus would have had massive cuts without its involvement in the approval of Prop 8.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:24 amThe following is an excerpt from Focus on the Family’s website “About Us”at
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/about_us.aspx
bit believes the organization’s mission statement accurately reflects the Truths of the Bible.
Focus on the Family's Mission Statement:
Vision:
Guiding Principles:
The Preeminence of Evangelism
The Permanence of Marriage
The Value of Children
The Sanctity of Human life
The Importance of Social Responsibility
The Value of Male and Female
Focus on the Family may go away, but this Biblical principles are not going to change and are not going to go away.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:02 pmdbadass wonders what bitblt attributes the decline of said group to? Besides if I god wanted them to succeed in said mission would that god not see to it that they did?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:04 pmThey should lose their tax-exemption, too!
November 18th, 2008 at 12:42 pmI have to admit- when I first saw this article... I laughed..
I do feel compassion for the ones who will be laid off.. it is an especially difficult time to face joblessness.. I also wonder, were they informed of the critical nature of the organizations finances and asked if they would prefer to make the donation- or keep their jobs for at least another couple of months?
A comment re: one of their Guiding Principles- "The Permanence of Marriage" - where is the outcry over the legality of divorce? One would think that would be the primary political action of banning... eliminate all divorce as one cannot have permanence in all marriages with it...
And to think - the California Supreme Court has already ruled on the issue of not allowing same-sex marriages and said that not to allow one segment of the population the same exact rights which the rest enjoy is unconstitutional... and now they have been given another opportunity to reach the same decision... and ultimately, that $600,000 was for naught.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:01 pmthe Lone Voice of Reason Says:
How was this proposal not partisan political activity?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Because it was about an ISSUE not a candidate or party. It is pretty much the same as the Catholic Church working against the Death Penalty or Quakers working against a war. You know where I stand on the issue we are talking about. I think Dobson is a weasel and comes pretty close to this line quite often but as long as a church sticks to ISSUES and not candidates or supporting a particular party they are not violating their tax exempt status.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pmbitblt Says:
Focus on the Family may go away, but this Biblical principles are not going to change and are not going to go away.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I hope FoF goes away. Dobson is a fundy nutball who thinks, as you do, that YOUR interpretations ARE the word of God. YOu are both arrogant to pretend this is so. Dobson, and you, are hateful, divisive and arrogant. I dont need EITHER of you to tell ME how to believe. Both of you can take a long walk off a short pier.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:15 pmMore Focus on the Family sites:
http://www.lovewonout.com
November 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pmbitblt Says:
If I wanted to read the bitter, hateful, bigotry and ignorance from Focus on the family I would go to their website myself loser.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:22 pmOr else I would beat my head against a handy and hard surface until the insane impulse went away and sanity returned
November 18th, 2008 at 5:25 pmAccording to this announcement the number to actually be laid-off is less than the number reported by the newspaper at the link above. Paper is accurate in that 202 positions will be lost, but 53 of those positions do not currently have a person filling them.
http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000008708.cfm
Dr. Dobson: 'I Ask Our Listeners to be in Prayer for Us'
dbadass Says:
dbadass wonders what bitblt attributes the decline of said group to? Besides if I god wanted them to succeed in said mission would that god not see to it that they did?
November 18th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
This announcement should be taken to be the answer to your first question.
bit will leave answering the second question to another time.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:31 pmIt will be a good day when hatefilled idiots like Dobson speak and people either laugh at him or shake their head in the pity he so richly deserves.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:35 pmbit:
November 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pmWouldn't the Christian thing to do have been for the head whackjobs to offer to take a cut to help maintain the livelihoods of those whose jobs will be lost. I figure that Old Dobbie the House Oddity is doing okay. Now why can't you tell me why the big cheese just doesn't git r done? I think gods laugh and clowns like Dobson and crew...
and = at
November 18th, 2008 at 5:47 pmI didn't even have an account for this site (or any otehrs like it) before I saw this, but . . . . First, there have been several comments addressing the hateful nature of Focus on the Family, ironically with hateful language. Clearly hateful language does not help one's case when critisizing someone else for being hateful, so let's get past that and look at the issue. I am a Christian. I am also a moderate. I also believe gay/lesbian marriages/unions should be politically allowed, but that churches, ministries, and people of any and all religious beliefs should be able to express their beliefs and even try to (gasp) persuade others of these beliefs, whether they agree or disagree with homosexuality. (FYI - There are some churches who accept this lifestyle and even some started by and for gays/lesbians.) I mean, that is why we have discussions of morality or even discussions like these. A large part of you are trying to persuade others that Focus on the Family is a hateful organization that deserves this fate (or worse). A few are trying to persuade others that the organization is good, and a few others to persuade that there is a little more to think about here than the two extremes. We all, and that includes religious organizations, have the right to try to persuade people to a certain belief, just not force it on others. Should churches advocate certain candidates or parties? As someone else said before me, no. That would violate church and state. Should they have the right to speak on issues that fall under their moral/religious beliefs. Yes. That is called Freedom of Speech, and if they were legally suppressed from exercising this right, it would violate separation of Church and State. It would also degrade the value of so much work that was done over the years from pulpits to gain civil rights for racial minorities. (Remember the REVERAND Martin Luther King Jr.) I also noticed a post implying that the Dobson signs along the highway were paid for with public money. I find it hard to believe anyone would believe this, but if you have any proof that tax-payer money WAS used, then I'd definitely like to know because that would be seriously problematic.
Well, I could go on, but this is much longer than any of the other posts I've seen, I think, so I will let it end here fo now.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:17 pmcraigdr Says:
Actually no, hateful language to RESPOND to hateful language is fighting fire with fire. It is no more ironic than you hitting someone back who punched you in the nose. Saying you think homosexuality is wrong, and THIS Christian disagrees, is one thing. Equating it with Nazism or beastiality like fundy nutbag Dobson has done is another thing entirely. Our society, our LAWS are not based on the bible or Christianity this simply is not in dispute. Our laws are based on British common law the roots of which predate Christianity being introduced there. You can make religious arguments about why you fell homosexuality is wrong but it is not in keeping with our system to make biblical arguments about what the law should be. Why in the world would non Christians who are as American as anyone else be bound by biblical prohibitions?
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:27 pm