Ron Paul Scrubs Endorsement from Controversial Death Penalty for Gays Pastor
However, the page is still available in Google cache.
This morning Talking Points Memo reported the following:
Death Penalty For Gays: Ron Paul Courts The Religious Fringe In Iowa
Pema Levy & Benjy Sarlin
December 28, 2011
Ron Paul has faced a torrent of criticism in recent weeks over newsletters printed in his name during the 1980s and 1990s which contained racist, anti-semitic, and homophobic content. He is also on the hook for accepting the support of fringe right-wing groups. While Paul dismisses these concerns, his campaign seems to have no problem working with and enjoying the support of anti-gay extremists, including one supporter who has called for the implementation of the death penalty for homosexual behavior.
Rev. Phillip G. Kayser
Paul’s Iowa chair, Drew Ivers, recently touted the endorsement of Rev. Phillip G. Kayser, a pastor at the Dominion Covenant Church in Nebraska who also draws members from Iowa, putting out a press release praising ‘the enlightening statements he makes on how Ron Paul’s approach to government is consistent with Christian beliefs.’ But Kayser’s views on homosexuality go way beyond the bounds of typical anti-gay evangelical politics and into the violent fringe: he recently authored a paper arguing for criminalizing homosexuality and even advocated imposing the death penalty against offenders based on his reading of Biblical law.
‘Difficulty in implementing Biblical law does not make non-Biblical penology just,’ he argued. ‘But as we have seen, while many homosexuals would be executed, the threat of capital punishment can be restorative. Biblical law would recognize as a matter of justice that even if this law could be enforced today, homosexuals could not be prosecuted for something that was done before.’
Reached by phone, Kayser confirmed to TPM that he believed in reinstating Biblical punishments for homosexuals — including the death penalty — even if he didn’t see much hope for it happening anytime soon. While he said he and Paul disagree on gay rights, noting that Paul recently voted for repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, he supported the campaign because he believed Paul’s federalist take on the Constitution would allow states more latitude to implement fundamentalist law. Especially since under Kayser’s own interpretation of the Constitution there is no separation of Church and State.
Update - added screen captures.
960 pixel wide screen capture available here.
Text of endorsement available here.
Ron Paul/Rev. Phillip G. Kayser Endorsement - Fig. 1
Ron Paul/Rev. Phillip G. Kayser Endorsement - Fig. 2
Hat tip: LeftsideAnnie
