Ted Haggard Mounts A Comeback By Lying: I Was Never ‘An Anti-Gay Guy’
Ted Haggard Mounts A Comeback By Lying: I Was Never ‘An Anti-Gay Guy’
Before resigning in disgrace after a three-year relationship with a male prostitute, Ted Haggard was one of the Christian Right’s most powerful figures — president of the National Association of Evangelicals and a close confidante of the Bush White House. Haggard, now purportedly “completely heterosexual,” hosted a prayer meeting at his Colorado home last night in an attempt to mount a comeback, attracting 110 people. Saying “America loves a scandal, but they love a comeback even more,” Haggard argued he can redeem himself in part because he was never a “hateful, anti-gay guy”:
“I was always well aware of my own personal struggles, but my desire was to be more Godly,” said Haggard. “I was never a religious right, hateful, anti-gay guy — secretly running off, except right at the end. I’d say right at the end, before the crisis. That did develop a little bit stronger.” [...]
“It was good for me to go through the Christian hatred of people believing that I was a gay man — and hating me so strongly because of it. And so because of it, my compassion for the homosexual community has gone up incredibly,” said Haggard.
Haggard has experienced what it’s like to be on the receiving end of “Christian hatred,” and it’s reassuring to know that he now has more “compassion” for gay men and women. But despite his claims, he was responsible for dishing out this hatred for many years.
Haggard catered to the Christian Right’s demonization of gays, calling homosexuality a “sin” and arguing, “We don’t have to debate about what we should think about homosexual activity, it’s written in the Bible.” Haggard also said that Western civilization could be devastated by same-sex marriage:
“[W]e need the Federal Marriage Amendment is for the sake of children. … It would be devastating for the children of our nation and for the future of Western civilization for us to say that homosexual unions or lesbian unions or any alteration of that has the moral equivalence of a heterosexual, monogamous marriage.”
Will Haggard finally practice what he preaches by pushing for equal rights for gay men and women?
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Haggard (voice strained with anguish):
November 13th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Above quote from Ted Haggard’s soon to be released bio-pic. Come on Your Back Mounting.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:05 pmI feel kinda bad for this guy.
The people who are around must really push the self-loathing this guy has to feel.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:05 pmSo, you were a gay guy, pretending to be straight, lying about your homosexuality, preaching how repugnant the gay lifestyle was, and then got caught being gay.
You felt the wrath of the fundies, now say you’re straight (again), and you’re now pro-gay and say you never were anti-gay.
Why do I think he’s shoveling a load of bull?
November 13th, 2009 at 1:07 pmThis guy is just to disgusting to even comment any further on.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:10 pmTed Haggard Mounts A Comeback By Lying: I Was Never ‘An Anti-Gay Guy’
“Why how could I be? I was always happy when I was smoking pole and crack,”, explained Teddy.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:10 pmHe was ‘Never a anti-gay guy’? Do these guys know there is a wonderful invention called the ‘Internets’? That’s what amazes me about these politicains and this idiot. All you have to do is Google them, and all their hypocritical glory is right on the friggin screen. Jeez.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:10 pmHaggard argued he can redeem himself in part because he was never a “hateful, anti-gay guy”
In private. He wasn’t anti-gay in private. In fact he was pro-gay in private. He didn’t hate Teh Gay in private.
In fact he loved Teh Gay, in private.
Maybe too much. He l-errv-ed Teh Gay so much, in private.
And the crystal meth.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:13 pmTed Haggard worships the god of Power, Greed and Young Men (Lust) and will lie and do any anything to feed his addiction for his vengeful gods.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:13 pmHe is one sick bastard…
Of course they now about the internet P.D. Why in the hell so you think they want to control it? For just this reason.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:13 pmTancredo and Haggard.
Is it the mountain air that does it to you?
November 13th, 2009 at 1:14 pmIgor@10, LOL! True. Or maybe they will use it to troll for illicit gay lovers….
November 13th, 2009 at 1:14 pmI’ve always found it hard to understand how somebody can engage in sexual acts with another man, but still portray themselves as “heterosexual”. It’s not like Ted Haggard was experimenting at band camp.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pmA monogamous marriage, oh, you mean like that one that you had, Mr. Haggard? Scratch a right-wing morality cheerleader, like Miss Prejean and you’ll find a hypocrite and a pervert, mostly likely… She just happened to repeat her “worst mistake” some fourteen to nineteen times…
November 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pmPractice what he preaches? No, I wish he would preach what he practices.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:17 pmHaggard, now purportedly “completely heterosexual,”
Yeah right. He attended one of his own “conversion” programs and he was the teacher and the student?!?
Sorry Haggard, you are who you are and lying to yourself will only make you a miserable sob.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:18 pmMark Foley/Ted Haggard 2012!!! I’ll even donate $50 if they kiss each other a la Al/Tipper during the convention.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:19 pmTed Haggard: I Was Never ‘An Anti-Gay Guy’ because I am soooo gay…got meth?
November 13th, 2009 at 1:19 pmIt’s not like Ted Haggard was experimenting at band camp.
No fletc3her, it was at Jesus Camp, so it’s all good!!!
November 13th, 2009 at 1:19 pmHe is absolutely an “anti-gay guy”. Claiming have been cured of homosexuality kinda proves it.
Still, by all accounts, Haggard wasn’t as inflexibly homophobic as Falwell or Robertston. For all the intolerance he spewed during his sermons, he supposedly supported civil unions.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:19 pmObviously Haggard has not learned anything from his experience. Instead of becoming a spokesman for what is wrong with Christian fundamentalists, he panders to them. How pathetic. He will never be accepted in either the religious or gay community. He doesn’t get it.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:20 pmWe watched the latest Woody Allen movie “Whatever Works” the other night. Great movie. Haggard should watch it.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:21 pmRight, perfectly consistent Ted. You weren’t hateful because you always condemned teh gays with a smile on your face. You knew you were “sinning” while you were out riding the baloney pony and you are still deeply against same sex marriage because you prefer short term daliances to committed relationships. Yep, you are a man of god alright. The god just happens to be Priapus.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:22 pm5th Estate says:
Above quote from Ted Haggard’s soon to be released bio-pic. Come on Your Back Mounting.
I thought it was gonna be “Comeback Mountain”, but your title sounds better.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:23 pmIt’s just heck to have to watch some arse who’s been outed for stupidity try to shove his turdliness back in the closet. There really is a rank foul odor to this Haggard clown.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:23 pmScrew equal rights for gays…
The REAL question is: will Haggard push for equal rights for METH USERS?
November 13th, 2009 at 1:24 pmOff Topic.. I know, but I’m Sarah Palined and Carrie Prejeaned out. All friggin day, MSM has been covering these two dim-witts. Why? These stories are more suited for ‘Entertainment Tonight’. But MSM barely mentioned the fact the RNC has been covering abortions for 18 years. Now THAT is a big story.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:24 pmHaggard, now purportedly “completely heterosexual”…
_____________________________________________________________
Why does he say that like he had cancer, but now he’s completely cured? Homosexuality isn’t a disease.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:25 pmHey… you know what they say, Pebble…
“Turdliness is next to Godliness…”
God does shed his, uh, ‘grace’ on thee… at least I hope that’s grace…
November 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pmWhen a male republican has sex with a man, it’s not gay sex because IOKIYAR.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pmDid the attendees get donuts and door prizes? That’s important; ya can’t do a come back without some sort of incentive.
Of course, since the prize would be getting to spend more time with this yoyo, I can’t feature many people turning out in future. Some folks will forgive and forget though; early onset daft.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pmSaying “America loves a scandal, but they love a [1]comeback even more,” Haggard argued he can [2]redeem himself in part because he was [3]never a “hateful, anti-gay guy”
November 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pm[1] It’s not about me, it’s about my fans, and America!
[2] “Complete heterosexuality” has redeemed me, Ted Haggard, from homosexuality–not that there’s anything wrong with that–I’m just saying homosexuality is wrong, but not in a hateful way.
[3]I know you will all forgive for my lying about my homosexuality by lying now about my redemptive heterosexuality and lying about my public hatred for homosexuals.
Speaking of vain, megalomanic pseudo-Christian hacks…
Tony Alamo was just sentenced to 175 years in prison.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:28 pmhttp://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7JRsIm1DgSBIfIFSL3D_fjT1HmwD9BUPI082
It is as far as the righties are concerned, missmolly…
No doubt, committed Christian scientists are working on a vaccine for ‘Teh Gay’ as we speak…
November 13th, 2009 at 1:29 pmNothing like admitting you have a problem and then doing something about it.
You have to admit it first though….
November 13th, 2009 at 1:29 pmI caught some of the HBO documentary on Ted Haggard a few months back, and I have to say that Alexandra Pelosi (Nancy’s daughter) treated him with compassion and presented a fairly sympathetic portrait of an unmistakably conflicted man.
I had sympathy for Haggard’s plight, and for his faith-driven struggles against his true nature. I think it’s a foolish effort, but understandable given the environment in which he found professional success.
I had hoped, however, that the man would accept himself as he is and build a life on that truth.
Sadly, it doesn’t look like he’s doing that. I guess denial just pays better.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:30 pmShould anyone be surprised that Ted Haggards Evangelical New Life Church in Colorado hosts offices of Youth With a Mission and that many of the youths involved with YWAM regularly attend Haggards church. YWAM are also the owners of the house on C Street that is run by The Family. Haggard is a scary fundie who is affiliated with some of the most extreme “religious” organizations in America. Somehow I don’t see his comeback going very far.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:30 pmLuis Chapulin M says: I thought it was gonna be “Comeback Mountain”, but your title sounds better.
That was my first thought too, but ALex-Seitz Wald’s inclusion of “Mounts” in the post title tickled my synapses.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:32 pmDr. Hussein Matt says:
“When a male republican has sex with a man, it’s not gay sex because IOKIYAR.”
That’s right Dr.. When they fu(k you they do it like a MAN!
November 13th, 2009 at 1:33 pmI saw the documentary on Haggard and I honestly pity him. He is gay and he can’t reconcile that with his faith so he is completely confused and tormented. His preaching hatred of gays was a result of that confusion and his self loathing. Hey Ted! Come to grips with your sexuality you’ll be much happier!
November 13th, 2009 at 1:34 pmSinclair Lewis wrote about these vermin. They are con men. The launch of his redeemed career just means he is trying to get another shot at fleecing the gullible. If the proverbial “flock” is stupid enough to be taken in by Haggard, it is their own fault.
Also, I kind of like the fact that he says he is hetero. It would be embarassing to me to be of the same sexual orientation as this clown.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pmthe religious right will use this man. They will use him agianst gays when it is to their advantage and he will become a dangerous person.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:37 pmThis guy wishes he had Haggard’s political clout about now:
November 13th, 2009 at 1:37 pmhttp://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j7JRsIm1DgSBIfIFSL3D_fjT1HmwD9BUPI082
You guys may be missing the point…just a thought..but consider this…Teddy may be angling for a spot on the same ticket as Tommy Terrrffffiiixxx Tencredose… for Co. Guv…!! This would be great!! Tommy and Teddy…How sweet…they could campaign in their pink bus with the little balcony out back…..nice hey???
November 13th, 2009 at 1:40 pmHaggard, Tancredo, Palin, Gingrich….what is it with these Righties? They preach on and on about how Government is not the solution, but they are all desperate to regain their mealtickets. All were big failures, disgraced in their own ways, but are convinced that they deserve a second chance while trying to deny our duly elected President even ONE chance.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:43 pmWhy doesn’t he just shut up, get an honest job and keep his head down? God didn’t say that Haggard was owed a living by preaching hate and division. Why should anyone believe this hypocrite?
November 13th, 2009 at 1:54 pmWide stance, wide grin…
November 13th, 2009 at 1:56 pmBREAKING: A fundy nut conservative lies it’s ass off!!!
In Other News fire is hot
November 13th, 2009 at 1:59 pmSomewhere bit is shedding tears…
November 13th, 2009 at 2:09 pmWhen I was in the custom cabinet making business with my brothers we hired a guy who’d worked for a scenery/set workshop and who had fabric/upholstery skills we didn’t, but which we needed given some of the jobs we were being sent to bid on.
Six weeks of working with him and we all got along really well–he was skilled and personable and we were glad to have him.
Then he told us h had a some really important and serious news he was really nervous about it telling us, but that he felt he just had to bring up.
Paul took a big breath, and then said “I’m gay”.
Our collective response was to confess to him that we were all straight and that he shouldn’t condemn us for our sexuality over which we had no control.
Then we congratulated him on his honesty and courage and told him that we were ‘offended’ by his ‘bigoted’ assumptions about how we regarded him, but that we were happy he didn’t have to worry about his ’secret gay identity’ any more, which we’d just correctly assumed from day one.
Paul’s fear about our reaction to his sexuality was learned from a larger societal and ‘industrial’ antipathy, not from our working environment.
With the one-sided tension broken, we all carried on as normal, with the exception of Paul could completely be himself (i.e exactly the damned same to us as far as we were concerned; still gay, still a good guy and still really good at his job).
November 13th, 2009 at 2:25 pmAs one of the problems of the MegaChurches, I predict that there are enough still of the Ted Haggard cult who will just eat up the “Jesus changed me” story.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:32 pmTed Haggard Mounts A Comeback By Lying
That’s not lying, that’s just the normal Republican rewriting of history. Standard operating procedure. Nothing to see here. Move along, please.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:33 pmHaggard: I demand to regain my riches by duping the gullible!
November 13th, 2009 at 2:34 pmEpilogue to #50:
Paul’s gay presence benefited our business, and had no effect on on anyone-else’s taste in porn etc.
Oh, and no crystal meth use either.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:37 pmTed’s born again megay-church.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:53 pmPardon me while I roll around on the floor, laughing in complete and total hysterical abandon!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
November 13th, 2009 at 3:03 pm#50 – dbadass says:
—————————————————-
“Somewhere bit is shedding tears…”
November 13th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Actually, I’m kinda surprised that bitbit isn’t here to post on a gay-themed topic! It’s about the only thing that attracts him to ThinkProgress. He’s never here to post about other topics on which Jesus taught, such as providing aid and comfort to the poor or other humanitarian issues. Bitbit only seems concerned that gay people might show how happy they are the God made them gay.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:06 pmP.D. says:
… All you have to do is Google them, and all their hypocritical glory is right on the friggin screen. Jeez.
P.D. – I once had a wingnut tell me (seriously) that she would NEVER go to a link from tinyURL – because it was OBVIOUSLY a left-wing site.
So, the answer to your question is, most likely, that they and their wingnut supporters will NEVER go and look…..because everyone knows that Teh Google has a liberal bias.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:20 pmAnnie, I can top that: from the Troll Hall of Fame®:
troll jay said:
Can’t get much less interested in new information than that.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:26 pm5th Estate says:
Epilogue to #50:
Paul’s gay presence benefited our business, and had no effect on on anyone-else’s taste in porn etc.
Haggard’s problem is he wants acceptance back in the religious community that was very eager to stone him because he sees religion as a way back to $$$$. What he should have taken out of the whole experience was that there are a lot more people who do not care about his sexuality as much as they care about him. He is trying to get back into the community that will never accept him for what he is so much that he has to pretend heterosexuality. Certainly he could find a church where no one cares about his past. But it most likely will not be as lucrative. In the end, the fundamentalists will pay lip service to acceptance while they secretly harbor their prejudice. But he will never achieve the status he had before the scandal. Personally, I think he would find an equal status by reaching out to religious communities who would be happy to genuinely accept him. I have no doubt that he would have a lot of speaking engagements where a new audience would be eager to meet and hear him.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:30 pmSure, he wasn’t anti-gay in the motel bedroom. But really– does he expect anyone to believe this sh*t??
November 13th, 2009 at 3:34 pm59 – Ralphie….
Wow. Just …wow.
IAPOI (Ignorant And Proud Of It)
November 13th, 2009 at 3:35 pmThe only thing this creep is concerned about is getting back on the wealth ministry gravy train…
November 13th, 2009 at 3:41 pmYou reap what you sow Mr. Haggard.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:42 pmHaggard needs money and after seeing Sarah Palin lie and get a book sale with people buying her lies why not come back. He knows most people will fall for his lies if he uses God’s name. It worked with Bush and many Law Makers who are Poster representatives for Christian Family Values while having affairs and stealing. Haggard wants to continue living the life style with the church money. Look for him to get the idiots to believe his bull.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:51 pmI’m with Ralph The Wonder Llama…I have a little sympathy for Haggard, but only because it’s clear that he’s still completely in denial about his own behavior and remains totally oblivious to the fact that he’s only digging himself a hole with his own words. Qui s’excuse s’accuse…
He claims to have a lot of compassion for the gay and lesbian community, yet doggedly continues to insist that he’s not one of them despite the fact that he has by his own admission been struggling with homosexual feelings his whole life. If he has so much compassion for gays, why is he still so afraid to accept the possibility that he might be one of them? A man who feels attracted to and sometimes has sexual contact with other men as well as women might not technically be gay — but he certainly isn’t “completely heterosexual” either! Kinsey was right…the best way to picture sexual orientation is in shades of gray rather than in black or white.
Haggard is also afraid to acknowledge the hypocrisy within the evangelical Christian community, demonstrated by the way in which he says people turned on him when they believed him to be gay. Where in the New Testament does it indicate that Jesus of Nazareth advocated hatred? Nowhere, to the best of my recollection — yet it seems clear that not only does Haggard not want to examine that too closely, he’s also unwilling to acknowledge his own participation in it.
The $250,000 question here is…does Haggard still believe that homosexuality is sinful and the result of voluntary choice, and is he still firmly opposed to gay marriage? If so, then it seems clear that he really hasn’t learned much of anything — and this means it’s a very safe bet that the closet door Haggard is so determined to keep shut will almost certainly swing open again at some point in the future.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:25 pmQuoting Kirk Lazarus from Tropic Thunder: “I KNOW what dude I am. I’m the dude playin’ the dude, disguised as another dude!”
I think Teddy boy is in danger of losing track of what dude he is.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:26 pmI know one group that wants gay marriage very, very badly. Divorce lawyers. New potential clients. More money.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:14 pmSome say Haggard will host special meetings for homosexuals, featuring “laying on of hands” ceremonies. He has also endorsed the Teabaggers, citing their “stiff opposition to the Liberals” and calling them “stand-up people”. Its’ all crystal clear to me now, Haggard was reported saying.
November 13th, 2009 at 6:19 pmWhat some people won’t do (or say)for almighty Buck (another name for god)!
November 13th, 2009 at 6:51 pmDoes Mr. Dupe think “divorce lawyers” want gay marriage more than actual gay people who are currently deprived of equal rights?
Does Mr. Dupe think that the support of divorce lawyers means that marriage equality is inherently bad?
Or does M.r Dupe just not think through what he posts, ever?
November 13th, 2009 at 7:48 pmI would be thrilled if Teddy came out to the public and admitted he was gay, has known it all his life, and NOW understands what he and others have put the gays through. That would be beautiful.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:42 pmHe just needs a good spitroast to take care of the remaining issues.
Come out, come out, wherever you are…
November 13th, 2009 at 10:52 pmI wouldn’t blame him. He’s been brainwashed – years and years of indoctrination. He’s no different then a member of a cult.
November 14th, 2009 at 2:28 amPractice what he preaches? It seems that it would be enough if he simply preached what he has practiced!
November 14th, 2009 at 11:51 pmTed Haggard…still confused after all these years.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:16 am