WHY THE OUTRAGE OVER OUTFEST ARRESTS?

Philadelphia Daily News ^ | 1/13/2005 | Michael Smerconish

[dirtboy]

PC IS A DIRTY acronym in my house. My negative views of political correctness are so strong that I recently wrote a book on the subject.

So when I first heard reports that political correctness stopped Christians from assembling and preaching the gospel at a gay rally, I thought I knew on which side I would stand. Trouble is, I know the players. And politically correct they're not.

I refer to the brouhaha over October's Philadelphia celebration of OutFest. Now, months later, because of a combination of criminal prosecutions, Internet kerosene and a segment on "The O'Reilly Factor," there's a growing national controversy over what happened that day.

Here's what's not in dispute: OutFest is a day for coming out of the closet. (Not that there's anything wrong with the closet!) Repent America is a Christian organization whose members attended OutFest. They came to preach that homosexuality is a sin, against the teachings of the Bible.

Things got verbally ugly between the gays and Christians. Eleven members of Repent America were charged with criminal offenses. Charges remain against four members, carrying a combined penalty of 47 years (though conventional wisdom expects only probation).

The online spin is that the City of PC Love favored gay rights over Christian rights. Singled out for criticism have been District Attorney Lynne Abraham, Police Chief Inspector Jim Tiano, and Police Captain William Fisher. Which is where my suspicion began.

Somebody needs to tell the national wing nuts that Lynne Abraham doesn't cower to the forces of political correctness.

We're talking about the woman who prosecuted Mumia in the face of criticism from the Hollywood left, the person who prosecuted the Republican convention protesters who threw a bike at Police Commissioner John Timoney, despite objections from so-called civil libertarians, and the individual who twice pursued third-degree murder charges against pothead Daniel Brough, the guy who started a fire that killed two firefighters, even after a judge said murder charges didn't apply.

Here's how police arrest records summarize OutFest:

"... The protesters were ordered by both Capt. Fisher and Chief Inspector Tiano to move, but the group failed ignored [sic] the order to move. Once more they ordered the group (3) more times but all three times the group failed to comply with police orders to move. The protesters then proceeded to go in the opposite direction in which they were ordered to go. By this time the crowd was in excess of 500 persons.

"The protesters refused and were ordered to halt but continued through the crowds to 13th and Locust where the main event stage was set up.

"The entire time that the protesters were making their way to the main stage, they continued using the bullhorn to shout their anti/gay lesbian message to the crowd which surrounded the protesters. The crowd has to be restrained by plainclothes police to ensure the safety of the protesters."

When I read this to Michael Marcavage, the leader of Repent America and one of those facing charges, he didn't deny disobeying police commands. ("They said to go to Walnut Street so we turned and walked the other way in an effort to be able to stay in the event.")

I told him that it seemed like he'd come to cause trouble. He told me he was there to preach the gospel, and to convert gays to a straight life.

"What we did is we went into the event with some signs with biblical passages concerning homosexuality, that homosexuality is sin, but Christ can set you free. And that's what we're there to do, to proclaim the Gospel."

Whatever his motivation, he clearly has a right to be there - as long as he respects the rights of others to do likewise. But I have to believe there are more fertile recruitment grounds for evangelical Christians than a gay-rights rally, so why not just let these folks have their day?

"That is not necessarily true. We do see people who are in tears, who have called me, who have said that they are not happy living this lifestyle anymore. They would like me to counsel them, work with them, to help them overcome this lifestyle. So it's not like there aren't any converts," Marcavage told me.

At fault here is whoever interfered with another group's right to be heard. I wasn't there, but I strongly suspect that was Repent America. What I know for sure is that those who are portraying this as another case of PC run amok just don't know the players.

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Michael Smerconish's column appears Thursdays. He can be heard weekdays 5:30-9 a.m. on the Big Talker, 1210/AM. Contact him via the Web at www.mastalk.com.

[dirtboy]

Somebody needs to tell the national wing nuts that Lynne Abraham doesn't cower to the forces of political correctness.

She cowers to another form of PC - the politically connected. Smerconish knows damn well about Don Adams and how he was the target of a politically-motivated malicious proscution by Lynn Abraham's office, all to try and protect John Morris, then-head of the Pennsylvania Teamsters. But he ignores that - he knows Abraham personally and tries to pretend she has integrity.

[dirtboy]

Ping.

[odoso]

Some things should just be done in the privacy of your residence --- and that should be the end of that.

One or many cannot go to far in protesting and trying to eliminate from society public displays of perversion... no matter the disguise.

[frog_jerk_2004]

They came to preach that homosexuality is a sin, against the teachings of the Bible.

Where, oh where, did they get this gem from?!?!?!?

[frog_jerk_2004]

But I have to believe there are more fertile recruitment grounds for evangelical Christians than a gay-rights rally, so why not just let these folks have their day?

Because they have a 1rst Amendment right to be there, you jackass!

[Wheee The People]

Now that we can arrest Christians for expressing their views, I say we arrest so call journalist too.

[Tribune7]

Further I don't think anybody has a problem with the arrests. They have a problem with the felony charges and a possible 45 year jail sentence.

If some homosexuals disrupted a service at a church -- as has happened, although I can't recall one in Philly -- I don't think any judge would threaten them with a 45-year sentence

[Sovek]

Don't take this as an attack but I don't think you quite get it. They wern't there to "recruit" more Christians but to counter act the homosexual agenda. I would be willing to bet that that is paid for by taxpayers, I dont want my money being spent on something that goes against the Bible. While I agree that he shouldn't have done some of the stuff he did, I do think he had every right to be there, preaching the Bible. It's getting to point that preachers and pastors can't talk against homosexuality (in their own church mind you) without getting thrown in jail. What people (and demoncrats) fail to tell you is that they want anyone who speaks out against homosexuality arrested for "hate" speech. Several bills have been proprosed that just paves the way for this. Im sorry but, I still have to side with these Christians.

[dirtboy]

Don't take this as an attack but I don't think you quite get it.

This isn't my point of view.

[SkyPilot]

Michael Smerconish is alienating his conservative audience here in New Jersey and Philadelphia with his daily broadside against Christians and the Philadelphia 5.

Last Friday's broadcast was an outrage, he accused the Christians and their attorney of "spinning the facts" and allowed homosexual callers to spew lies and hate about the group Repent America.

Smerconish broadcasts on 1210 AM (The "Big Talker") in the morning slot in Philadelphia, and supported GW in the last election. But I take it from his on the air comments that he dislikes evangelical Christians in particular. On Monday's broadcast, he we ballistic on callers that favored a court decision banning homosexual "couples" from adopting small children.

He must be feeling the heat, because everyday on his broadcast he is defending his comments, but he always seems to step in it further and alienate his audience even more. This article is par for the course. He also has stated his website is getting overloaded by hits because of photos about terrorists he posted. I suspect that is not the case. His website is being overloaded by people e-mailing to tell him they are outraged by his defense of the Philadelphia thugs who are prosecuting the Christians.

[Sovek]

then disregard that line.

[bvw]

Smerconish has a blind spot for "gays" -- his line is "Nothing wrong with that."

He has raked innocent callers over the red hot coals of a demeaning public berating broadcast in realtime to tens of thousands when he has misunderstood them and suspects them of being against homosexuality in any way.

[motherteresa]

Maybe the author should check out the video of the incident at: http://www.afa.net/t (it is referred to as the "Philadelphia Four"). It certainly appears to be a planned attempt on the part of the Outfest organizers to prevent the free speech rights of the "Repent America" group. The author must never have attended a pro-life march, as the peaceful marchers (many who are quite young) are subjected to the most vile and disgusting shouts of hate-filled messages spewed from the mouths of pro-abortion protesters on the sidelines. I have never seen the police make any move to ask them to move to an out-of-the-way spot.
The charges against these people should outrage us all.

[SkyPilot]

What I know for sure is that those who are portraying this as another case of PC run amok just don't know the player

By this comment, Smerconish is bragging about again about his friends in the Philadelphia legal and law enforcement community (Smerconish is an attorney). Smerconish never even bothered to watch the videotape of the "OutFest" event before he had members of Repent America on his radio program. Either he is lazy, or he didn't want the evidence to get in the way of the facts.

His friendship with these people have clouded his judgment. Smerconish is also "good friends" with Sen Arlen Spector, and he boasts about this on his show as well.

[RobRoy]

I've been looking for an article like this. I have been withholding judgement on this thing becuase I had unanswered questions on how the "Christians" were behaving and what evidence was being used in the charges against them.

I wondered if it was their message that got them in trouble or the way they "shared" it.

That said, I still don't have enough information to form an opinion on this, but since I am not the judge nor a member of the jury, and I live across the country, my opinion is not relevant. I'll focus on cetting rid of our corrupt governor here in Washington.

[SkyPilot]

That said, I still don't have enough information to form an opinion on this

Rob--watch the videotape brother.

[bvw]

William Penn was arrested and tried in London. His Jury locked in the Tower of London without food and water until they would return a verdict of guilty.

They refused. They refused. They refused. Three times!

In the last they won out. Penn was freed -- of what charge against him?

Inciting to Riot.

[Sloth]

Once more they ordered the group (3) more times but all three times the group failed to comply with police orders to move. The protesters then proceeded to go in the opposite direction in which they were ordered to go.

If the defendants were simply charged with disobeying police instructions, then we could talk about the rightness or wrongness of that.

But that isn't the case.

[Catspaw]

The downside to acts of civil disobedience is that one may well get arrested and charged with a crime. It sounds like this case is headed towards trial. I'll be interested to see how it comes out.

[70times7]

PC IS A DIRTY acronym in my house.

Mac users... Sheesh...