General Discussion

bobclark86

(1,415 posts)

5. Ahh... intimidation of someone expressing their First Amendment rights...

Sun May 26, 2013, 11:34 AM

May 2013

God bless America!

(BTW, I 3/4-jokingly post as a troll... but the 1/4 point still stands: They have a right to protest. When groups like Westboro get shut down, and have courts agree they should be shut down, that sets a precedent, that will be upheld by a future court, no matter the makeup. That is one more precedent to hold against OWS protesters, or anti-war protesters, or G-20 or WTO protesters... It's not a "slippery slope," but how constitutional law works. That's why I think Larry Flint, the man who brought us the "beaver shot" and the Jerry Falwell Campari ad, is probably the greatest defender of the First Amendment of the later 20th Century.)

The best part is, they didn't even show up! Now THAT is terrorism for you -- just like Al Qaeda making it so I can't wear my shoes and getting me digitally undressed so I can get on an airplane, now we can't have a funeral these days. It keeps them in the news even when they don't do anything... THAT is public relations, and in PR, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

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"Westboro decided to come protest in Moore Ok. This is part of what met them." [View all] kpete May 2013 OP

According to the article, the Phelps Merry Incestuous Band MineralMan May 2013 #1

They haven't been showing up to a lot of "events" lately Warpy May 2013 #26

That's true. They make those announcements, and MineralMan May 2013 #28

You might be on to something there. Arkansas Granny May 2013 #32

Some of the nazi and white supremacist groups do the same thing. murielm99 May 2013 #71

You're absolutely right loyalsister May 2013 #49

And the lawsuits. jonthebru May 2013 #54

How do they make money off their lawsuits? marble falls May 2013 #66

Let me guess... GoCubsGo May 2013 #33

For these grifters, there's no profit motive Cirque du So-What May 2013 #2

Suing would be contingent on survival MNBrewer May 2013 #3

I'm still willing to bet Cirque du So-What May 2013 #6

It will be interesting to see what happens to that cult once Fred kicks the bucket. MNBrewer May 2013 #7

My personal guess Cirque du So-What May 2013 #8

I dunno... Seems he's the glue that keeps the Kult together MNBrewer May 2013 #15

My bets are on mercuryblues May 2013 #18

That's a problem for them, as Shirley(?) is the public face of that group at the moment. MNBrewer May 2013 #21

Yup mercuryblues May 2013 #29

Maybe we should gather at the cemetery and sing O Happy Day with Ilsa May 2013 #46

Dumbest hobby EVER. nolabear May 2013 #14

It would appear to be nothing more substantial than a hobby Cirque du So-What May 2013 #19

Most of them SwankyXomb May 2013 #37

Huh, I wonder if DTG is a Phelps? uppityperson May 2013 #34

Oh swell. Cyber picketing. But no payoff there. nolabear May 2013 #40

A common tactic used against the Westboro Baptist is to state the obvious especially in small towns. gordianot May 2013 #65

Patriot Guard Riders, ho! DinahMoeHum May 2013 #4

Ahh... intimidation of someone expressing their First Amendment rights... bobclark86 May 2013 #5

Freedom to protest (speech) does not give you the right to disrupt a funeral. NutmegYankee May 2013 #10

" You can say whatever you want someplace else. " reminds me of w's free speech zones leftyohiolib May 2013 #16

That you chose to compare not interupting a funeral to a "free speech zone" is just sad. NutmegYankee May 2013 #23

^^^ THIS ^^^ Junkdrawer May 2013 #35

Then where is the laws preventing it? n-t Logical May 2013 #25

While I find the activities of the Westboro Baptist Church deplorable..... Swede Atlanta May 2013 #38

There are lots of them... bobclark86 May 2013 #43

I agree they do. And I know people are breaking the law to stop them. I do not agree with it. I... Logical May 2013 #51

I don't see the courts shutting down Westboro protests. cyberswede May 2013 #11

What I find interesting, and sad MNBrewer May 2013 #17

Hey, Westboro had every right to show up. It seems they lacked the faith in Zorra May 2013 #20

Did they actually say they were showing up? bobclark86 May 2013 #42

No, free speech is being met with more free speech. jeff47 May 2013 #22

Snyder vs Phelps mercuryblues May 2013 #31

Do you mean the Phelps or the counter protesters? Who is getting intimidated or have courts shutting uppityperson May 2013 #36

A lot of small town laws have been passed bobclark86 May 2013 #41

They have a right to protest, and other people have a right to protest them gollygee May 2013 #52

I didn't know bikers were a legislative body! Scootaloo May 2013 #55

So the Patriot Guard can not use their First Amendment Rights? Lady Freedom Returns May 2013 #58

The state isn't involved in the counter protest. Gore1FL May 2013 #68

Still can't figure out WinstonSmith4740 May 2013 #72

One of my friends is there madokie May 2013 #9

That's really cool ismnotwasm May 2013 #12

Tell him I say Bravo!!! malaise May 2013 #24

Good for him! Buns_of_Fire May 2013 #39

Good for him! bobclark86 May 2013 #44

That is what it is with my friend madokie May 2013 #45

I wish more people cared about such things. bobclark86 May 2013 #47

I applaud him for this. Ruby the Liberal May 2013 #48

Sounds like a man after my own heart! Lady Freedom Returns May 2013 #59

whoa Liberal_in_LA May 2013 #13

Westboro Baptist is Evil! hrmjustin May 2013 #27

westboro baptist= teabagger homophobia sigmasix May 2013 #30

The Westboro Baptists are a bunch of cowards. backscatter712 May 2013 #50

I hate to think that Westboro Baptist is considered mainstream Christianity. hrmjustin May 2013 #53

We can't get rid of those assholes but this is awesome that these riders showed up! Initech May 2013 #56

I just hope some people were out to run them out of where survivors are camped. Lady Freedom Returns May 2013 #57

I feel like my lifetime is racing, Iwillnevergiveup May 2013 #60

Sadly this group was around long before the wars. Lady Freedom Returns May 2013 #61

Good for them! Westbouro is just a giant Tax Dodge anyway... Up2Late May 2013 #62

Good for them rl6214 May 2013 #63

the Patriot Guard KrazyinKS May 2013 #64

i live in a very red area and what concerns me is while this sort of stuff is cool against westboro dembotoz May 2013 #67

The second I saw the lead-in here I thought the same thing... VPStoltz May 2013 #69

The Westboro Baptist Church Anthem amb123 May 2013 #70