Evangelist admits meth, massage, no sex

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Evangelist Ted Haggard admitted Friday that he bought methamphetamine and received a massage from a gay prostitute who claims he was paid for drug-fueled trysts by the outspoken gay marriage opponent.

Haggard resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals and step down as leader of his Colorado megachurch while the two groups investigate the allegations.

He denied the sex allegations but told reporters outside his home that he did buy the meth because he was curious, but he said he threw it away.

"I bought it for myself but never used it," he said. "I was tempted, but I never used it."

Haggard, 50, said he never had sex with Mike Jones, a 49-year-old male prostitute who sparked the scandals when he told a radio station he had had a three-year sexual relationship with the minister.

Haggard said he did get a massage from Jones after being referred to him by a Denver hotel.

I saw the interviews on the TV station's web site, and I'm not sure when they were filmed...it sure is sad about Haggerty, whether it's just a meth problem OR homosexual inclinations.

I'm off to my local GOTV offices to spend the day rounding up people who haven't voted yet. Here in Oregon we no longer have voting at the polls, it's only vote-by-mail, so calling the last few days consists of calling people whose ballots have not yet been received by the county clerk.

See ya',

Ed

Its disgusting that this great man and his loyal family are being defamed by the vermin.

Uh, somewhat. What's REALLY disgusting, though, is that this outward-appearing "great man" isn't also a "great man" in private; what's REALLY disgusting is that his family has been so duped by him; that they've trusted and stood by him and, tried in the face of all Hell to believe the best about him, only to have all of that trust and loyalty betrayed; shattered into a billion little tiny pieces; what's REALLY disgusting is that he did all of this stuff while standing in front of 14,000 people every Sunday, living a barefaced LIE in front of their faces. THAT'S what's disgusting.

Everyone has their faults.

True, but the Bible holds those in leadership to a FAR higher standard; "to be above reproach". Faults are normal and forgivable, but severe faults in leaders bear the additional consequence of disqualification from leadership.

Reverend Haggard does not hold elected office. This isnt news. It's a private family matter.

Sorry. While you're right that he doesn't hold elected office, he IS a public figure and IS involved publicly in the political arena. He's every bit a legitimate target of critique as Michael J. Fox. and Rush Limbaugh. When you open your mouth in politics and make yourself a spokesman for a given position, you also become fair game for the critiques of those who oppose your position. Haggerty's no exception. Public examination of his moral failures is, therefore, entirely valid as it related directly to his previously-stated political positions.

Look, the guy's been an outspoken critic of the concept of gay marriage, and NOW we learn he's probably been playing hide the sausage with a homo hooker. So, is it valid to publicize this breathtaking moral collapse? Given the clash between Haggerty's stated position and his personal behavior, it would be a phenomenal oversight NOT to subject his failure to public scrutiny.

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