Evangelical Leader Says He Bought Drugs

OK. Seriously.
He needs to seek help and his followers need to wise up, take a walk outside the church and experience reality for just a few moments. If they do, they will see this for what it is--madness.

Why in the world would Ted Haggard be curious about meth? Who starts with meth? Most start a tad lower down the drug totem pole with say, marijuana. That's a crock.

And which hotel refers pastors to gay male escorts for massages? LOL!! Even if you were an unsuspecting victim, would you stay for a massage? Why would you get a massage from a guy if you were a straight male? I don't want massages from women! Another crock.

Perhaps the absurdity of all of this is amplified for me because I reside in Boston, am best friends with a gay guy and am simply exposed to a lot but sincerely, do people really, truly buy stuff like this explanation???

Remember, this guy is one of the President's top spiritual advisers. Here's a good dose of Ted Haggard, via Richard Dawkin's recent documentary. From Wikipedia:

Haggard is a firm supporter of President George W. Bush, and is often credited with rallying evangelicals behind Bush during the 2004 election. Jeff Sharlet (Harper's) reports that Haggard "talks to… Bush or his advisers every Monday" and opines that "no pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism…"

Why would you leave a voicemail asking for more meth if you never actually did it before? People only call for a refill once the original runs out. I'm guessing that it's because it won't show up in a tox screen...

Wikipedia says that meth only lasts in urine for 2-5 days. It can stay in hair for up to 90 days (hair drug tests are pretty rare), but he has short hair and I think this happened a few months back anyhow.

A massage from a male prostitute...hmm...gotta wonder what kind of massage it was!

I love those evangalists!

Don't blame Haggard. It's clearly the fault of SATAN (D, Hell) and his liberal ways that perverted the mind of this wholesome man into committing these acts of sin.

Hey I'm telling ya, meth helps you see God. You see visions! Then they sort of fade out to reveal your flaccid dripping member and someone you've just paid.

As a youngster me and a couple of friends would occasionally watch earnest angely for comedic value.

LET ALL the EVIL spirits OOOOOUT!

THese evangelical private churches are so often scams to fleece the ignorant and the old.

Hahaha! One vote for this article, which I enjoyed thoroughly!

I am now willing to shift my previous opinion on this guy as "evidence" (in the form of a pseudo-confession) has surfaced.

Based on the evidence at hand -- I don't believe for an instant that the massages stopped at massages or that the he was not using.

Kick him out of the Church -- and expose him for the hypocrite that he clearly is.

Clearly, this man is an ALCOHOLIC. He should admit himself to an Alcohol Rehabilitation Center run by Scientologists IMMEDIATELY.

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

LOL.. so he wants us to believe he wanted to try one of the worst drugs on the planet because he was curious? Hasnt he ever seen faces of meth? I thought pot was the gateway drug.. at least that doesnt kill people.

it also has a higher than adverage use in the gay community.. not sure why but that is what the stats say.

This ALL to funny to read... the guy is gay and try to cover it up. It's simple, people!

just one more rambling.
Not sure if it is a wives tale of it thee is data to back it up. But they often say people that shout the loudest against something are often guilty of it. It was put to me once that people who are extremely anti porn are ashamed they are turned on by it and try to balance out their sins with god by fighting the thing they enjoy. While that makes so sense, I tend to believe it is more to deflect suspicion. I mean if a guy acts a bit feminine or stares at you a bit strangely, you may think he is gay, but if he is an open gay basher, you'd probably quickly dismiss it as odd. Similarly if someone looks strung out, and is an open drug and alcohol opponent, then you'd probably just assume he is frequently ill. Eh just a thought. I don't think they are ashamed, they are just hiding. Just like if you are in an elevator with two other people and let a silent but stinky, it is best to quickly accuse one of the other two.

(i hate hitting spell check here, it brings back nightmares of English class with all those red lines.. i get an 'f' in almost every comment, thank god their is no grammar check or i would get an "L-" )

Ted Haggard's alibi, the short form:

Toking and stroking, but no poking.

Just what the American church needs...another scandal...brilliant.

I've always found those colossal mega churches kind of weird. 14,000 people? I've caught one or two of their sermons on TV and it's mind boggling to see 14,000 people in a church listening to these men.

14,000 X 10% of your income?

I'm not saying all Ministers, Bishops and Evangelicals are hustlers but damn, think about.

I remember watching Bishop James Meeks (He runs the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago) one Sunday as they have a live feed that is broadcast from the Church. I thought I was hearing things when his wife came up to the pulpit and said, "yeah, that's right! We taking anything you can give. Food stamps, WIC payments, we aint turning down nothin!"

People that use religion to make money are the lowest type of person there is. There are millions of people that believe these scam artists and have the utmost faith in God. These guys have mastered the art of using these poor people's faith to their advantage.

It's really sad when you think about it.

Reminds me of that time my parents caught me lighting up a joint and I said, "I know I bought it, but it's not mine, well I mean, its mine, but I wasn't going to smoke it".

On a serious note, what is wrong with his wife. Is she that beat down and brainwashed that she can't say, "I'm out".

What enrages me about this is his handlers are implying that meth use is somehow less serious of a "sin" than sex with another man. Oh no, he didn't have sex, just bought and used an illegal substance that damages the user's body, mind, and social connections. So now the sheep can say, "Oh, well, no of course he's not an evil homosexual, just has a substance abuse problem. So let's pray for him and forgive him. Now let's go strip those sinful gays of any rights or dignity or respect." This is just like the Foley scandal, quick wrap-up in substance abuse. People with real substance abuse problems should be outraged.

It's so despicable that the extreme right wing claims any moral highground, when scandal after scandal shows they have no moral ground at all.

Such is hypocrisy / deceptions with the world we live in. No one, including myself, is "holier than thou" but at least stick to your guns if you say who you are.

I'm coming late to this but I get a chuckle out of the notion that his supporters are breathing a sigh of relief that he just bought meth and a massage and didn't have the gay sex. If someone else has made this joke, please disregard.

Another upstanding alumni of Oral Roberts University. (There's a pun in there somewhere.)

I have a very simple question for Pastor Ted or "Art" or whoever he is today. Where is the meth you bought if you were just "curious" but never used it?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm???

You know what kills me about all of these clowns? You really would think that they would have learned something from the master Bill Clinton's nightmarish experience. It seems Bill O'Reilly did when he had his shall we say, "incident," and he came on air the next day and told his audience not to feel bad for him. He's a stupid guy. It was his fault. Etc etc etc.... He did what CLinton and everyone should do in such a situation--disarm the attacker.

Why this Haggard fool thinks anyone with an IQ above that of amoeba bait will buy his story is beyond my ability to comprehend.

"I bought meth cause I was curious but never used it."
"I got a massage from this gay male escort but never had gay sex with him."

RIGHTO!!!

He has bad advisors. He should have just said something to the effect of "Unfortunately, we all face challenges in our lives and I am no different than any other. I ask for your prayers as I work with my family and friends to overcome a very personal challenge that God has presented me. I hope to one day return a stonger man and as such, a stronger pastor."

The end. Goodbye. God bless. C-YA.

The gay men also waved his penis inches from Ted's face while squirting lube and lotion on his face. But then they decided that that was enough and they ended their political discourse for the night.

I get my massages from girls in Taiwan, as god intended. I hope this guy learned his lesson.