Strip club king goes to church looking for votes

[DoYouEverWonder]

July 17, 2006

TAMPA - It may have been the least likely place for a man who doesn't believe in God to receive a standing ovation, but it happened Sunday morning when Joe Redner went to church.

Bishop Randy White, senior pastor at Without Walls International Church, invited the strip club owner to join him in the pulpit and talk about his campaign for the Hillsborough County Commission District 5 seat.

"All right, he's not running for pastor. My job's not up," White jokingly told parishioners while introducing Redner, as their continued applause prompted Redner to stand and nod his head in thanks.

Redner said the crowd of about 4,000, and countless others watching the 11 a.m. church service on the Internet, was the largest audience he'd ever spoken to.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/17/Tampabay/Strip_club_king_goes_.shtml

Politics certainly makes strange bedfellows.

[Tempest]

1. It makes sense

Most of the male congregation most likely frequents his establishment.

[Turbineguy]

2. What do fundie churches and strip clubs have in common?

Society can manage without them.

[shain from kane]

5. Fig leaves? n/t

[htuttle]

11. They share the same tent at the sideshow?

Strippers on Saturday night, Sermon on Sunday Morning.

[Lerkfish]

3. I"m not comfortable with any politician in a pulpit, even a dem.

but hey, maybe that's just me.

[Ian David]

4. Well, the guy's a Democrat...

I think many people are so tired of the Repukes, that they'd vote for Larry Flynt, so long as he had a "D" next to his name.

But yes, it is strange....





<snip>

In 1999, when Tampa City Council took up the issue of banning nude lap dances, White mobilized his church to make 40,000 calls, telling people to attend meetings to support the ban.

It put him on opposite ends of the battlefield with Redner, Tampa's strip club king.

White said Sunday if he had to do it again, he'd use the church's resources elsewhere, like offering more help to the city's homeless.

Today, White calls Redner "my dear friend."
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/17/Tampabay/Strip_club_king_goes_.shtml

"He may be a homosexual godless Atheist pornograper... but at least he ain't no gosh-darned REPUBLICAN!"

[flvegan]

6. Campaigning in church. Sounds so very wrong.

Redner is a bit of an icon around here (Tampa). Nice guy, but the whole strip club thing just...I don't know.

[Javaman]

12. I was thinking the same thing, isn't this a violation between the

separation of church and state?

[melnjones]

7. I've gotta give the church props

for doing what other churches won't. I'm not in support of campaigning in the pulpit, but at least there's a church who isn't afraid to let more than one side campaign. I hope you all read the whole article and not just the headline...it's a good article.

[Vidar]

8. Kudos to the candidate & the pastor. The other sid has been doing

this for decades.

[WhiteTara]

9. does this "church" have a non profit status?

We should ask the IRS to investigate.

[laylah]

10. Maybe Bishop and "The Strip King"

need to read this

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060718/ap_on_el_ge/ca_irs_churches