Death Penalty For Gays: Ron Paul Courts The Religious Fringe In Iowa

[ProSense]

Death Penalty For Gays: Ron Paul Courts The Religious Fringe In Iowa

Pema Levy & Benjy Sarlin

Ron Paul has faced a torrent of criticism in recent weeks over newsletters printed in his name during the 1980s and 1990s which contained racist, anti-semitic, and homophobic content. He is also on the hook for accepting the support of fringe right-wing groups. While Paul dismisses these concerns, his campaign seems to have no problem working with and enjoying the support of anti-gay extremists, including one supporter who has called for the implementation of the death penalty for homosexual behavior.

Paul’s Iowa chair, Drew Ivers, recently touted the endorsement of Rev. Phillip G. Kayser, a pastor at the Dominion Covenant Church in Nebraska who also draws members from Iowa, putting out a press release praising “the enlightening statements he makes on how Ron Paul’s approach to government is consistent with Christian beliefs.” But Kayser’s views on homosexuality go way beyond the bounds of typical anti-gay evangelical politics and into the violent fringe: he recently authored a paper arguing for criminalizing homosexuality and even advocated imposing the death penalty against offenders based on his reading of Biblical law.

“Difficulty in implementing Biblical law does not make non-Biblical penology just,” he argued. “But as we have seen, while many homosexuals would be executed, the threat of capital punishment can be restorative. Biblical law would recognize as a matter of justice that even if this law could be enforced today, homosexuals could not be prosecuted for something that was done before.”

Reached by phone, Kayser confirmed to TPM that he believed in reinstating Biblical punishments for homosexuals — including the death penalty — even if he didn’t see much hope for it happening anytime soon. While he said he and Paul disagree on gay rights, noting that Paul recently voted for repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, he supported the campaign because he believed Paul’s federalist take on the Constitution would allow states more latitude to implement fundamentalist law. Especially since under Kayser’s own interpretation of the Constitution there is no separation of Church and State.

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/ron-paul-hired-anti-gay-activist-to-run-iowa-campaign.php?ref=fpa

As a candidate for the Presidency, Ron Paul should categorically denounce these views and reject this endorsement.

[abelenkpe]

1. He sould

but I'm not holding my breath.

[ProSense]

2. It's

awfully quiet in here. Wonder if Romney, given his preference for Paul over Obama, agrees with this view?

[ProSense]

3. Kick! n/t

[Hugabear]

4. Wonder if he also supports the death penalty for disobedient children?

We could also probably throw in paranormal investigators into the group of people that deserve the death penalty under Biblical law - after all, the Old Testament is quite clear on its punishment for those who attempt to communicate with the dead.

[ProSense]

5. This thread

sank like a rock. n/t

[Whisp]

6. scrubbed from Paul's website

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/ron-pauls-campaign-touts-endorsement-of-pastor-who-advocates-killing-gay-people/


Ron Paul’s Campaign Touts Endorsement Of Pastor Who Advocates Killing Gay People

.........

Update: As P.D. Shaw notes in the comments, the Paul campaign’s press release appears to have been scrubbed. However, here is the text, retrieved from Google’s cache:
ANKENY, Iowa – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul was endorsed today by renowned pastor, theologian, and prolific author Rev. Phillip G. Kayser, Ph.D.
Rev. Kayser is the Senior Pastor of Dominion Covenant Church based in Omaha, Nebraska. The Church has a national footprint including in Iowa where Ron Paul, the 12-term Congressman from Texas, is competing in the January 3, 2012 caucus.......

screenshot available at link.

[Whisp]

7. kick for Ron is apPaulling