More layoffs at Focus on the Family

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: The Colorado Independent

UPDATE: Focus on the Family announced this afternoon that 202 jobs will be cut companywide — more than 20 percent of its workforce. Initial reports bring the total number of remaining employees to around 950.

Focus on the Family is poised to announce major layoffs to its Colorado Springs-based ministry and media empire today. The cutbacks come just weeks after the group pumped more than half a million dollars into the successful effort to pass a gay-marriage ban in California.

Critics are holding up the layoffs, which come just two months after the organization’s last round of dismissals, as a sad commentary on the true priorities of ministry.

“If I were their membership I would be appalled,” said Mark Lewis, a longtime Colorado Springs activist who helped organize a Proposition 8 protest in Colorado Springs on Saturday. “That Focus on the Family would spend any money on anything that’s obviously going to get blocked in the courts is just sad. Prop. 8 is guaranteed to lose, in the long run it doesn’t have a chance — it’s just a waste of money.”

Read more: http://coloradoindependent.com/15287/after-pumping-mone...

[phusion]

1. awwww....

[Joe Bacon]

97. Wait a second, you mean THE BIG "G" let Dobson down?

Or maybe THE BIG "G" is sending a message to the Dogbeater!

[Swede Atlanta]

2. Yeah!!!!!

I don't like to wish bad luck on people but these people need to sit and look for a piece of bread and realize that Jesus was not about opposing gay marriage, abortion, etc. but more about poverty, torture, etc.

[msongs]

3. well we can't have James Dobson wasting money on staff that could go to himself nt

[DJ13]

4. "Were focusing on the family, so heres your pink slip"

[No Elephants]

85. You forgot :"Happy Holidays.and Much Love, Focus on the Family"

[blueclown]

5. Hopefully these morans can find new jobs and finally become productive members of society. n/t

[Bushies gotta go]

26. Sure. And pigs fly.

There's no talking... or changing... these fundies...

[LeftishBrit]

6. I'm the Anti-Thatcherite who always strongly opposes allowing businesses to fail if it causes

job losses...

but even I am prepared to make exceptions for SOME businesses!



Focus on the Family is one of the nastiest most destructive organizations I've ever heard of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me know when they toss out James Dobson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[1Hippiechick]

29. Likewise. I can't wait to see him ousted, the self-righteous hypocrite! n/t

[sarcasmo]

7. It's to bad they can't go Bankrupt.

[intheflow]

28. Considering they've cut almost half of their jobs in the past few years,

I doubt bankruptcy is far behind. You should see the freakin' compound they have down in the Springs, the size of a community college.

[sarcasmo]

32. All built by money the sheep donated, how sad.

[pstokely]

116. Won't the Moonies bail them out when they go bankrupt?

They bailed out Falwell

[asthmaticeog]

8. Ha ha.

[Seldona]

47. Thanks. I needed the laugh.

lol

[Lucky Luciano]

9. I can most definitely get behind these layoffs!

Fuck those people.

[Fearless]

11. I'd rather not get behind them if it's all the same...

[Fearless]

10. Allow me to review...

Fuck you... and have a nice day.

Cheers!
NTF

[Bushies gotta go]

27. hahahahhahaha

[Agent William]

80. Nice, the Democratic Underground Symphonic Orchestra

They've been playing a lot lately, and it's a tune I've been waiting a long time to hear.

[hvn_nbr_2]

12. Let them eat hate. nt

[No Elephants]

84. Great line.

[Frisbee]

13. 950 to go!

"Initial reports bring the total number of remaining employees to around 950."

While I normally would never wish someone lose their job, especially in these times, I'd be perfectly happy if ever last employee of FOTF was unemployed, and Dobson was forced to file bankruptcy. They are a hateful organization, and deserve every bad thing that comes their way.

[hangman86]

14. Sure it was okay for us to pump all that money into anti-gay legislation support.

We're doing God's work. He's bound to reward sometime.

*Two Weeks Later*

Hey guys....guess what! God just told me that banning gay marriage is more important to family stability than having weekly salary to provide for your loved ones soooooooo..... be out of the building by noon. God be with you!

Losers.

[tclambert]

18. God's work? He's all powerful. If He wants gays to disappear, He can miracle them all away.

It would take less than .0001% of his available power. (Add as many zeroes as you want.) Wait, the gays are still here? Then God must be willing to tolerate them. QED.

Note to religious fanatics, including Al Qaeda: Anytime you think you need to fix God's world, remind yourself that He is all powerful. He could fix it himself if He really wants to. And He's all knowing, so He can figure out how to do it efficiently and expeditiously. And if He hasn't arranged the world the way you think it should be, YOU may be the one with the wrong idea because, ipso facto, it is the way He wants it.

[spag68]

69. god

If you really want to be correct about this god thing, you need to substitute she for he in every other sentence.

[tclambert]

108. To be hypercorrect, shouldn't God be referred to as an "it?"

[jberryhill]

119. I never understand referring to a unique deity as a "he"

If there is no "she", then what makes God a "he"? Does God really have a penis?

[Night_Nurse]

109. Amen. nt

[ksimons]

15. yay!!!!

Now they can all get jobs officiating our weddings.

[santamargarita]

16. I hope these bastards go out of business

~

[tclambert]

17. Focus on the Family is against forming new families?

Okay, I get it. It's the Republican "name it the opposite of what it really is" strategy. No Child Left Behind encourages dropping out, and costs schools money that could have been used for education. Clean Skies initiative lets polluters voluntarily limit their pollution, . . . or not. Middle class tax cuts means tax cuts mostly for the top 1%. What Bush called Forest Management was essentially clear-cutting. And Reagan called the MX missile "The Peacemaker." Oh, and Bush's "War on Terra," which is Latin for making war on the whole wide world. Wait, he might have got that one right.

[riverwalker]

19. 202 wife beaters and child molesters with time on their hands

lock your doors in Colorado Springs.

[Ken Burch]

54. WIth time on their hands AND in really bad moods.

[Dinger]

20. I Am Honored To Send This To The Greatest Page!

[Patsy Stone]

21. Families will be much better off

without so much focus.

[mwooldri]

22. Remind me what they're focusing on now...

It appears that they lost their focus and are focusing on things other than family.

[mollymongold]

23. I was brought up around them and their products for children.

good riddance

[Bushies gotta go]

24. I'll be happy when I see the windows and doors shuttered

maybe turn it into a big box store... that would be SO fitting.

[beltanefauve]

43. I wouldn't mind seeing

a Planned Parenthood myself.

[zelta gaisma]

25. WOOOHOOO!! LET PARTY!!! yeah! free drinks all around!

"layoffs at Focus on the Family" i haven't heard better words all week!!

[MineralMan]

30. Dobson is a poisonous sort of...

reptile. I would be overjoyed to see him out of business and, even better, found to have broken some serious laws. A decade of time in a nice comfy prison would do him a world of good. Well...it'd do my heart a world of good. And think of the nice folks he'd meet there...

[smoogatz]

31. Cry me a fucking river.

May bankruptcy be just around the corner for these jerkoffs.

[ladywnch]

33. unfortunately I don't think they'll ever 'go out of business'.... there will always

be some 'benefactor' who would step in and rescue them....so they can 'continue to do God's work'....or some other bullsh*t reason....there are always sheep to buy this kind of crap.

I know will can all dream, but I doubt we'll ever live to see it.

[GinaMaria]

46. seems the republiCONS are crashing and burning

and collapsing all around us...with a little more time there might not be some benefactor and these tools will have to compete for real jobs like the rest of us. Maybe if they had been focused on their own family (employees) instead of other people's business,they wouldn't be in this mess. This is the modern version of Rome burning, full of corruption and entitlement. The rats are scattering in every direction. It's everyone for him or herself! It's the end of the conservative era. Let's drink to the dawn of the progressive era! :cheers:

[liberalmuse]

34. 'So help me god....

if I have to spend my last dime, lose all my friends and my soul to hell, I will defeat teh gay.' - James Dobson

BWAHAHAHAHA! Do NOT fuck with teh gay, Mr. Dobson. You shall not prevail.

[xchrom]

35. i love heartwarming stories like this. nt

[Roland99]

36. Wonder how much ol' Dobson is pulling down per year in salary and bonuses and other benefits?

[Dystopian]

37. Dear God, please get this on the greatest page....

Amen, and pass the plate.



peace~

[Raksha]

38. At least ONE layoff is good news! n/t

[nightrain]

39. I dont have a whole lot of sympathy for folks who work

toward promoting hate and fear.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

40. Now they can stay at home and focus on their own damn families.

[Pastiche423]

41. Sweet!

[jaxx]

42. Gee I hope they get out of the business real quick.

This is one bunch of layoffs I'm glad to see. That hateful piece of shit ought to be run out of town.

[NAO]

44. Does the prove they engaged in "excessive lobbying" re prop 8

Religion groups are forbidden from political activity on CANDIDATES but they are allowed to lobby for ISSUES, as long as it is not "excessive lobbying". I think "excessive is defined as >5% of their annual (tax free) revenues.

So did Focus blow it on this one?

Somehow, I doubt it. They have "Christian Lawyers Orgs" doing all kinds of crap for them and probably covered their asses on this one too.

[LibertyLover]

90. If I remember correctly, Focus on the Family is a 501(c)(3) organization,

they have a 501(c)(4) group - Focus on the Family Action, which under the tax code can engage in more political activities. I would bet that much of the money donated to defeat Proposition 8 in California was funneled through Focus on the Family Action, making it technically legal.

[TankLV]

45. They should repeal/cancel ALL "faith based" initiatives IMMEDIATELY...!!!

We don't have money to WASTE on such idiotic things...

[valerief]

48. I won't be happy until every last one of them are gone.

[Dukkha]

49. the layoffs will let them focus on their OWN families for once

instead of dictating their 'morals' onto others

[Starry Messenger]

50. Brings a smile to my face.

happy to recommend

[Iwillnevergiveup]

51. REC #20

Dobson will be 73 years old this April.

[Ken Burch]

52. And, of course, you'll notice that these layoffs came right before Christmas.

Just like with the other good Christian capitalists.

[Hekate]

53. This comes from God's Own Department of Ironical Punishments

Hekate

[Ken Burch]

55. Will more people decide to stay "immoral and antifamily"

Because of the increased hold times caused by the layoffs?

[WillyT]

56. GOOD !!!

K & R !!!

[LynneSin]

57. I feel bad for those 202 people

I'm sure if James Dobson cared about families he'd give up some of his wealth to help keep these people. Jesus did say it was easier for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle that for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven. I realize that in life some of us just make more money than others but to do the job these fundie religious people do - well I think I know what Jesus was saying.

[w4rma]

70. I don't. They're a hateful and spiteful bunch who are happy to ruin others' lives. (nt)

[LynneSin]

86. Maybe some of them were people who just needed a job and took what they could fine

[MineralMan]

95. Those who take employment

at reprehensible organizations become part of those organizations. Besides, Dobson has a fine mission pledge that his hires must sign. Everyone there shares his poisonous views. Tough luck for them!

[LynneSin]

101. Sometimes when you need a job to feed your family you need a job

This is a tough economy and Karma is a bee-yotch. It serves no purpose to mock these people who are now out of a job.

[MineralMan]

102. Nonsense

There are more places one can work in that area. I would never take a job with any organization which had as its goal the promotion of inequality. I suppose some folks don't have that sort of standard, but FotF has a clear, public mission.

As I said, you will never be hired at that organization unless you can demonstrate that you share their ugly beliefs.

George W. Bush and his cronies will soon be out of a job, too. Have you pity for them?

[LynneSin]

103. My parents were telling me about how an In and Out Burger joint had like 500 applications

for the 50 jobs with the new store that was opening.

This is not a friendly economy.

George W. Bush and his cronies have a golden parachute - do these people losing their jobs have one?

And alot of people share neither beliefs - they're like my mother, politically indifferent. Of course she doesn't work anymore and we lived in an area without these mega fundie churches.

[MineralMan]

104. My last words on this subject...

People who were employed at FotF worked to accomplish the goals of that organization. Perhaps you can think of another organization where people worked toward nefarious goals. They were "just following orders."

At some point, we are responsible for our actions, and that includes our actions for our employers. I can imagine no circumstance that would see me working for James Dobson. Not one. Perhaps not everyone feels that way, but I hold everyone responsible for his or her actions and decisions.

[LynneSin]

105. That's fine and I'm not trying to ok what these companies do

but do we know what kind of jobs these people had who are being laid off? I mean, what if they're cutting the cleaning lady - should she be held accountable for the actions of James Dobson just because she took a menial task job to help take care of her family.

I just have this karma thing about celebrating anyone losing their job who is working class like me, priledged class is a different story.

[JerseygirlCT]

113. I don't

When you choose to work at a nonprofit, if you have any ethics, you choose carefully. I don't think you choose an odious place like that unless your personal morals are in sync with their motives. So yes, Dobson sucks. But these people willingly and knowingly went to work to further Dobson's agenda and push his sucky ways on the world.

I'd feel badly for those working for a religious charity that feeds people or houses them - this group exists only to further hatred and division.

[Johnboi70]

58. Dobson is a quack and a money changer!

Dobson is a "therapist" who pushes his political beliefs as psychiatry. He lives in the grey area between real religion and real medicine... a world populated with predators on the weak, the vulnerable and those without hope. I would ask what would Jesus do with such a man, but dealing with people like Dobson got Jesus crucified. Hmmm... Didn't Woody Guthrie write a song about this?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

59. Preacher James Dobson, who is about as kindly as GW Bush, is responsible for

the GOP base and Sarah Palin's being nominated.

I'm glad to see this, and it shows that when it comes to a decision between Dobson's monster salary or keeping a few people on staff, you KNOW Dobson's for-profit church organization is going to decide!

[JimDandy]

81. Oh yeah...the Sarah Palin debacle was his baby.

Good thing for us that he's also against abortion!

[trickyguy]

60. Hate to sound hateful but this is good news. I hope the entire Focus group collapses.

They have been nothing but hijackers when it comes to human rights.

And they have consistently scorned gay families and gay relationships of most any kind.

The fact that they spent all that money to take away gay rights shows you where their priorities

are at: in the toilet.

[orbitalman]

61. 202 Jobs! Such a GRAND announcement...

boy, that rivals Citi's 53,000. It just goes to show the great importance of FOTF.

[Webster Green]

62. Bwahahahaha!

Hope they all wind up homeless and strung out on heroin.

Fucking assholes!

[Lost-in-FL]

63. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

[varun]

64. I hope CWA ("Concerned" women for America)

and other fundie organizations follow Dobson's lead...and downsize!

[orbitalman]

65. 202 Jobs! Such a GRAND announcement...

Boy, that rivals Citi's 53,000. It just goes to show the great importance of FOTF.

[Wednesdays]

83. Is there an echo in here?

Is there an echo in here?

[obiwan]

66. Do you think God will lay off Father Dobson?

[Buns_of_Fire]

87. God doesn't "lay them off." God "calls them home."

Or at least that was Oral Roberts' schtick. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1677098,...

P.S. I like your Avatar.

[LincolnRepublican]

67. I guess Jesus is doling out some justice eh?

[FarCenter]

68. It almost defines "creative destruction"

[Arugula Latte]

71. Now the laid-off ones can Focus on the Famine.

[onager]

72. Also starring James Dobson as Scrooge...

'This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want.

Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it.' cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. 'Slander those who tell it ye. Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse. And abide the end.'

'Have they no refuge or resource?' cried Scrooge.

'Are there no prisons?' said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. 'Are there no workhouses?'"

Not really a good metaphor. Dobson loves Ignorance (increases the membership) and Want (desperate people are more easily led, and formed into mobs.)

[LeftishBrit]

89. No. Scrooge repented and became a nice person in the last chapter...

Dobson is incapable of such a thing.

'Dobson loves Ignorance (increases the membership) and Want (desperate people are more easily led, and formed into mobs.)'

Too right.

[Jim Sagle]

73. Now THESE are layoffs we can REJOICE in!!!

[nahant]

74. Focus on the Family

Well now that is just dandy! Hope the whole organization goes down the Toobz! It would serve them right to try and take away rights that are inherent and not given by the state! Lets outlaw their brand of Religion!

[Monk06]

75. I wonder how many of those people have families. Family values indeed.

[Castleman]

76. I'd love to see...

a continuation of what my friends and I indulged ourselves in this afternoon when this came out. Call their toll free donation line (800) A-FAMILY (232-6459) and tell them how sad you feel about their having to lay off people, spin them a sympathetic story, and tell them you want to make a BIG donation, and then tell them you're grabbing your credit card, wait a few seconds and yell "PSYCHE!" into the phone and tell them you'd never give a nickel to the hater bastards.
It really pisses them off. For a variation, tell them you forgot, you already gave to the "Overturn 8 Fund".

[really annoyed]

77. What a Shame!

[swimmernsecretsea]

78. That is sad, I may cry.

Oh wait. What were we talking about?

[rpannier]

79. They could probably save a fortune and many jobs by axing dobson

and putting their money towards something constructive.

[Kitty Herder]

82. Wow. This is the first time I've ever wanted to celebrate news of layoffs.

I do hope they can find work, though. Who knows? Maybe some of them will find work that, rather than causing harm, is meaningful and actually contributes to the good of society. Like, oh, I don't know....pumping septic tanks or shoveling manure.

[jdadd]

88. I've got just one thing to say.....

Karma

[namelessone]

91. Layoffs

Awww too bad. It couldn't happen to a more deserving group. It's very hard to believe the ignorant intolerance accepted by some people! When does James lay himself off? ummmmm.... That sounds like... oh nevermind

[Ian David]

92. Layoffs at Moral Oral Roberts Univerity, too...

Oral Roberts University to lay off 100 employees
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[yardwork]

93. The White House will no longer be funnelling money to these organizations.

They've been supported by our tax dollars for at least eight years, illegally diverted through the White House to do political work.

[JerseygirlCT]

114. You might be on to something there -

at the least, as they're looking at prospective grants for 2009 and beyond, the horizon is undoubtedly looking less rosey than it did in the past.

[nichomachus]

94. I would love to see their unemployment insurance forms

Q. What was your occupation?

A. Bigot

Q. WHat were your duties?

A. Bigotry

[earth mom]

96. Karma. nt

[Bake]

98. MAYBE those laid off will reconsider

their involvement in such a hateful slimy group.

Bake

[no limit]

99. That sucks, a lot of those employees probably dont give a shit about the politics of it

just doing their job.

How sad is it that these fuckers would lay off a bunch of people while spending half a million dollars on stupidity.

[Lucky 13]

100. More time to focus on their own damn family.

These are one set of layoffs I'm happy to hear about.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

106. I will K&R the crap out of this one

couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of puritanical wankers.

[mrbarber]

107. To everyone wringing their hands for the layed off employees.....

Spare us.

If they didn't believe in what FOTF was doing but still helped further there cause, than there just as guilty as those who did.

Screw em. This is good news.

[muntrv]

110. They can always work as Wal Mart greeters.

[sarcasmo]

111. A swift Kick back to the top of the page, :)

[Strelnikov_]

112. It's a message . . . . . from God n/t

[L0oniX]

115. James Dobson and his "Fucking the Family" can go fuck himself!

He's a wolf, devouring widows assets and manipulating the minds of the sheep. His place in hell is reserved!

[Chovexani]

117. My only commentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq6Xec15Ung

[sarcasmo]

118. Kick again, every time I see this on the main latest breaking news page it makes this Atheist smile.

[workinclasszero]

120. The Church of W is laying off?

And right before Christmas too? There's the Christmas spirit eh Dr Dobson???

Guess the FOF peeps can join the ex GM, Ford and Chrysler workers in the unemployment line. All of those jobs killed by their false god Bush and his Wall Street cronies.

I'm sure Rush and Hannity will be sad for your loss...

[underpants]

121. WHAT WE TELL THE CHILDREN?????????