{cross-posted from Scrutiny Hooligans}
BlogAsheville: "Did anyone else notice the HUGE two-page spread ad in the middle of today's Asheville Citizen-Times Home & Garden section? Was anyone else horrified and offended?
If you haven't seen it, let me tell you about it. The header on the left-hand side reads "What the Bible Says About SODOMY." Followed by, you guessed it, lots o bible verses, several taken out of context, as far as I can tell. Then there's a box at the bottom of the page that reads: "According to the Word of God, the gay lifestyle and their claim to be Christian does not agree with one another."
[...]
"Page two announces a rally to be held in Pack Square on Saturday at 11:00 "in SUPPORT of CHRISTIAN and CONSERVATIVE BUSINESSES and their RIGHT TO OPERATE according to FAMILY VALUES SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE (between one man and one woman) WHOLESOME WORK ENVIRONMENT (without oppression from the Sodomites & The Liberal Media)."
All punctuation errors and screaming caps are theirs, not mine."
Learn Who's Behind This Hate Rally After the Jump
The second page of the advertisement had a list of approximately three thousand names of individuals, churches, and businesses who, ostensibly, endorse the view put forth there. At the very bottom of both pages is the name of the ad sponsors, "Christians United" and "IBOM".
IBOM stands for International Baptist Outreach Missions and is headed by Dr. J. Wendell Runion, whose lively mug adorns this post. The most interesting tidbit about Dr. Runion is near the bottom of his bio page, "Dr. Runion has also served with the Congressman of the 11th Congressional District as an advisor on church and religious matters since 1990."
The Congressman of the 11th District is, of course, our Charles Taylor. Taylor is one of the dirtiest campaigners in the nation, and this hate rally officially marks the beginning of his '06 run to keep his seat in Washington.
Here's the phone number to Taylor's local office: (828) 251-1988 (other contact info here) Please call and ask if Taylor supports the views of his religious and church advisor or if he plans to sever all ties with him.
Charles Taylor needs to know that a hate campaign will backfire on him. Dr. J. Wendell Runion has the right, as a private citizen, to run around hating whomever he likes. But Taylor has a responsibility to every constituent in his district, gay or straight, liberal or conservative, Christian or Pagan and must rebuke Dr. Runion for his hatemongering. Get on the horn, Hooligans, and take a stand.