Interesting theory about the Westboro church gang

[freeplessinseattle]

Found this on the Facebook page about "Slutwalk Seattle", which they are planning to protest.

"Fred Phelps does not believe what he is doing. This is a scam.

It's a business. They travel the country, set up websites telling you exactly when they'll be there, and using the most inflammatory statements all over the place, just to get someone to violate their rights for profit. Then they sue the military, the police force that was to protect them, and everyone that is around them for money. This is a sham, and it is a trap to get people sued. Every member of his family is an attorney. Phelps does not break the law. What he does is try to make you break the law by trying to punch your sensibilities about everything you hold dear, and then sue you and everyone municipality around him to the max.

This is a scam.

Whether he believes his posters or not is irrelevant.
He's using this as a moneymaking scheme.
Lay one finger on him, do one thing that violates him, and he will sue you, and more importantly, the city, the police department, the US Military, and any private property owner he happens to be standing on to make money off of it."

more at link:

http://kanewj.com/wbc/

[matt819]

1. This has been reported previously

If this is the case, or suspected of being the case, then shouldn't these grifters be investigated and indicted? As a nation we seem to have lost the ability to prosecute anything other than poor black men. Sure, there are the few showcase trials - Rajaratnam, Madoff - but where are the indictments of Goldman Sachs execs and the oh so gentle treatment of politicians; Ensign gets to resign and manages to avoid prosecution for actually breaking the law? Hmmm. . .

[Brother Buzz]

2. Theory or fact? Revenue from legal settlements has been their cash cow for years

[blondeatlast]

10. That seems to be the prevailing wisdom, but I'm skeptical.

Of course, I know the entire family are lawyers, but the biggest award I've seen to them is $16,500.

I work in the legal field, and I just don't see how, based on the costs involved in bringing suit vs. the expected awards, that that is their main source of revenue.

My guess is that they have a generous, anonymous benefactor. :shrug:

[ThoughtCriminal]

12. What about out of court settlements?

from the insurance companies that cover the municipalities. I think their chances with a jury are pretty close to nil, but I suspect that in many cases, they collect on the bluff.

[blondeatlast]

13. Quite plausible. Municipalities would maybe not want to risk the expense of a trial.

I'm not an attorney, but if I were a defendant who settled out of court I would insist on having the award made public. I doubt the insurance companies would allow that though.

They are shrewd, no doubt.

[Brother Buzz]

14. Think Non-Disclosure Agreements

They are a pariah to society, scorned by all. Even the ACLU is becoming leery of them of late. There is no secret benefactor. Bank on it.

[BonnieJW]

3. Of course it's a scam.

We've all known that from the beginning. Just like Glenn Beck is a scam. Does anyone really think he believes the shit he says?

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

8. Only other batshit crazy people believe him n/t

[Ian David]

4. I think it's both. I think Phelps and his clan believe their BS *and* want to sue you.

Just watch an interview with Shirley Phelps Roper. She's completely batshit.

[Mopar151]

6. Batshit has uses (guano)

She's nuckin' futs, and fluckn Quazy.....

[Mopar151]

5. Wish this were true....

Fred is a monster, who beat (with a pick handle!) his children, and is terminally obsessed with "teh gay". The thing about lawyers and $$$ (Fred has been disbarred) is true. Pond scum is higher on the evolutionary scale.......

[jberryhill]

7. This has been known for ages

[Exen Trik]

9. But it should be known by more

Let's say exactly what these jerks are about loud and often.

[jberryhill]

11. Their beliefs are sincerely held, this is just how they make money

They are good and brainwashed. They don't go back home and yuck it up, and they have thoroughly indoctrinated their kids.

You might want to read the stories of the ones raised in that family who got out.

Anyone is entitled to sue for redress of a violation of their rights. That is the least odious aspect of their freak show.

[nichomachus]

15. Of course they are. If you're going to successfully sell anything, you have to believe in it

However, people are able to convince themselves of almost anything in order to make money. I used to have contact with the tobacco industry. These people really believed that their product was harmless and people weren't addicted to it. Normal people couldn't survive selling a product that, when used as directed, killed people.

[undeterred]

16. Maybe its some kind of genetic personality defect.

[eppur_se_muova]

17. "Gang" is exactly the appropriate term to use.

Church? Nah. Cult? Probably. Gang of bullies? Ab. so. lutely.

[jmowreader]

18. Fred Phelps completely believes what he's doing

The OP is partially right, though: Protesting Teh Gay is a full time job that pays nothing. To be able to eat and live indoors, Phelps incites all the violence he possibly can so he will have grounds to sue, sue, sue.

Phelps and Orly are poster children for strengthened vexatious-litigant laws, but he is completely sincere in his beliefs. And yes, they are insane but so is Fred.