Yesterday the Detroit News released audio of State Representative Todd Courser, one of the most conservative members of the Michigan legislature, talking with a young aide about a plan he’d concocted to deflect attention away from an affair that he was convinced would soon become public knowledge. Courser, you see, had apparently gotten himself involved in a sexual relationship with fellow State Representative Cindy Gamarat, and he’d heard that someone was going to go public with evidence of their relationship. So he came up with a bold and brilliant plan. He’d beat his adversaries to the punch, releasing an anonymous hit-piece outing himself as a “bisexual monster,” “a freak,” a “porn addicted, sexual deviant” driven by “alcohol, drugs and illicit sex.” These, by the way, are all direct quotes from Courser… If you want, you can hear the whole recording here.
Todd Courser, as you might recall, is one of the folks swept into the State House not so long ago on the wave of facts-be-damned, anti-government sentiment created by the Tea Party. A married father of four, Courser talked a good game about his close, personal relationship with God, and his intention to bring family values and Biblical principles back to Lansing. And I guess that’s why he was feeling desperate. He probably didn’t think his fellow Christian “patriots” would re-elect him if they knew that he’d been spending his days sliding his angry, little Koch brother in and out of a fellow State Rep instead of leading the charge to destroy government in the name of freedom, as he’d promised.
Hence the plan to launch an anonymous smear campaign against himself, so that, when the real news broke, people wouldn’t believe it. Or, if they did, they’d see it as “mild by comparison.” This, he figured, might be enough to keep the ill-informed voters of Lapeer from voting him out of office. “At least,” they might think, “he’s not a bisexual monster.” [It should also be noted that Gamrat, another Tea Party Republican who ran on a family values platform, is a married mother of three.]
But apparently his plan to “inoculate the herd against the gutter politics that are coming,” never came to fruition. His former aide handed the tape over to the Detroit News, and now both Courser and Gamrat are under investigation for misconduct and willful neglect of duty.
But don’t worry about Courser. He’ll land on his feet. He’s got God on his side. And I’m sure, given what he’s said in the past about what motivates him, this is all just a minor distraction in his quest to smite down “the enemies of liberty.”
The following post, to give you a sense of Representative Courser, comes from his Facebook account. It was posted this past April:
No doubt he wrote that post-coitally, as Gamrat, laying next to him, ran her fingers through is hair and told him how brilliant it was, and how it would get him one step closer to Congress. [Prior to all of this happening, Courser was talking about making a run at a Congressional seat.]
For what it’s worth, I do have some sympathy. People fall in love. Even married people. And even the best of people cheat. It’s terrible. And it ruins families. But people are weak, and things happen. If that’s all it was, though, I wouldn’t be posting about it here. Courser, however, has made a career of moralizing, and condemning others that, in his opinion, don’t live “decent” lives. He’s positioned himself as the spokesperson of God in Lansing, preaching about the immorality of gay marriage, while, at the very same time, carrying on an illicit affair with a married woman. And that’s what kills me. It’s not the crime itself, but the hypocrisy. Just read the following clip from his so-called “Liberty Response” to the Governor’s last State-of-the-State speech, and tell me Courser doesn’t deserve every bit of the disdain that is now raining down upon him. [Note how he signs the letter “In His Grasp,” referring, I suppose, to the fact that he’s completely given himself over to God.]
63 Comments
The Tea Party was a quick way to fame, fortune and power for the most manipulative sociopaths in our society.
I think he’s earned his place at the next Republican presidential debate.
“In His Grasp” is a bit different from “In His Grip”
“In His Grip” =
– recipient of a firm, Tom-of-Finland-style handjob
– my peeps, strapping a gat and representin’, yo.
“In His Grasp” =
– a prisoner of taupe and vinyl siding, at a megachurch in Northville Township.
I’m guessing it won’t end up mattering that he selfishly made up/promoted the most outrageous lies to cover up his illicit affair with Gramat … I predict that, in the next election, thousands of “good, God-fearing” conservatives will still turn out to handily re-elect them both as long as they have an “R’ next to their names, and as long as they continue to promise to continue fighting for “America as a Christian nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles (under which) God has given us incredible freedom and opportunity.”
The difference is that Republicans won’t re-elect either one if they manage to even finish their terms. Democrats ignore sexual infidelity and think “even the best people cheat”. Lacking morals, they excuse all forms of sexual deviency in their own party, yet feign moral outrage only when it concerns the other party.
http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/08/congresswoman_joins_calls_for.html#incart_river
EOS – do the names Mark Sanford or David Vitter ring a bell? Just stop with the Republicans own the moral high ground bullshit.
I seem to recall your fawning over these two, EOS. You must be heartbroken.
Never heard of them before today. But I’ll pray that they repent and seek forgiveness and that they’ll somehow be able to keep their families together and seek to obey God in the future. No sin is beyond the reach of God.
There’s a BIG difference between “ignoring sexual infidelity” and ignoring the outrageous actions of two people who managed to get elected by holding themselves up as moral examples, and as paragons of virtue … largely by criticizing others’ perceived moral failings.
If Courser and Gramrat had been two “regular” politicians who engaged in an affair, it would have been a relatively private matter between the two of them, and their spouses. Regrettable, perhaps, but hardly novel or news-making.
Instead, by setting themselves up as examples of “Christian,” righteous conduct, then attempting to make up and promote outrageous lies (then attempting to force others be complicit in those lies) – they have compounded this situation and brought upon themselves everything that is sure to come after.
None (most) of us are not perfect … but most of us are also not so evil as to claim to be “a ‘bisexual monster,’ ‘a freak,’ a ‘porn addicted, sexual deviant’ driven by ‘alcohol, drugs and illicit sex.’” as a smokescreen to deflect attention from our own lies and duplicity.
Meanwhile … generous tax breaks continue to flow to our state’s wealthiest individuals and corporations (largely paid for by increases in “sin” taxes paid by our poorest citizens), private (corporate) schools continue to profit from our public tax dollars (while our public schools and communities continue to be squeezed), and there is still no sustainable plan to fix our crumbling roads and bridges– yet I don’t see nearly as much outrage (or headlines) regarding these matters as I do for the sad spectacle of these two despicable individuals.
THAT should be the real outrage.
It is not more virtuous to have no standards than to set high standards and fail to meet them.,oj
Is that an OJ Simpson quote, EOS?
No, it’s a typo. lol
I’m not defending Courser and Granrat. Probably more upset than others because they called themselves Christians and led their constituents to believe that they would adhere to certain values and standards. But it’s also hypocritical to believe that sex outside of marriage matters for one party but not the other.
This scandal isn’t about political affiliation, or religion (or a lack thereof).
It is about a shocking lack of integrity, and a blistering contempt for the people who trusted them enough to elect them to represent them as legislators.
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Only in EOS’ brand of Christianity does sinning render one no longer Christian. Kinda missing the point there.
“It is about a shocking lack of integrity, and a blistering contempt for the people who trusted them enough to elect them to represent them as legislators.”
Exact reasons why I dislike Boehner and McConnell. It’s pervasive in Washington and crosses all party lines.
No, Jean Henry. didn’t say anything like that. But they are poor examples of Christians. They certainly aren’t following God’s commands in this instance. And they will be judged for their actions if they don’t repent. They now have to deal with the consequences of their sins, which are unavoidable. “But I’ll pray that they repent and seek forgiveness and that they’ll somehow be able to keep their families together and seek to obey God in the future. No sin is beyond the reach of God.”
“Probably more upset than others because they called themselves Christians” Pretty sure that line implies doubt that they could be Christians, EOS.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5
No, it merely points out that they were self identified as Christians. That they had publicly claimed to be Christian. Once they claim to be Christian, the rest of the non-believing world tries to find a flaw so that they can call them hypocrites.
But you should read all of Chapter 7.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [n]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
Courser speaks:
Read more:
http://www.toddcourser.com/todd_courser_responds_to_detroit_news_hit_piece
When one of them fucks up, EOS responds by saying that they were only “self identified as Christians”. In other words, Christians can do no wrong.
No, not “only self identified” merely “publicly identified”.
No human is perfect. 1 John 1:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
In fact, the difference between Christians and non-believers is that a Christian has admitted he is a sinner and has no hope of salvation except through Jesus Christ.
Hypocrites and liars are just that – hypocrites and liars. They deserve to be exposed and ridiculed.
Whether they are (or claim to be) Christians, Republicans, Democrats, etc., is beside the point.
However, in the case of these two, trying to achieve and maintain some degree of power by CLAIMING that they’re Christian (and by extension, worthy of judging other people’s lives and choices) adds a contemptible level of hypocrisy that makes their attempted cover-up that much more contemptible.
(In case you’re wondering EOS, I felt much the same way when President Clinton claimed — in a video deposition, no less) that he “did not have sex with that woman.”)
Christians are not worthy of judging other people’s lives and choices. God is our only Judge. However, as we live on this earth, we should do our best to discern how to obey God’s commands and avoid personal sin. For example, if I choose not to participate in a homosexual wedding, it is not to condemn any individual or point out their flaws, but to avoid acting in a way that does not glorify God.
I agree with most of what you write Demetrius.
It grosses me out when people flaunt (or exagerrate) their religious preferences for political gain. People that use their religious status for personal gain arrive dead on arrival as far as I am concerned. I am less concerned about the later infidelity and the insane, after the fact, plan to coverup the infidelity.
The acknowlegment that “I am a sinner” is perhaps the most basic acknowledgment required in order to be a Christian. Eos knows that. I think every Christian knows that.
… Christians are not worthy of judging other people’s lives and choices …
You do this all the fucking time on this website EOS. You simply hide behind the whole ‘I don’t want to make my sky wizard upset with me’ bullshit that justifies your delusion.
Tommy,
If you are feeling condemnation, then perhaps it is God working to change your heart. I don’t know you, neither do I judge you.
Thanks for the pro tip EOS. I’ve read the bible. I’ve studied the bible. The bible was so inconsistent in its dictates and so clearly written by different people with different agendas, and then translated by more men with more agendas, and then interpreted by other men with other agendas, that, by high school, I could only see it as an instructive document, not as a holy book. I’ll stick with Jesus as the son of man– you know, what he said (by all accounts) about himself, not what others said about him. I feel a lot less lost now than I did then.
http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Son-of-Man.html
“Christians are not worthy of judging other people’s lives and choices.”
Entertaining.
http://www.venganza.org/about/frequently-asked-questions/
EOS I thought you’d do better than respond with interpretation. The standard response is a few bits of scripture in which Jesus refers to God as his father– which was common usage at the time and still is in church, isn’t it? The OT reference to Ezekiel as son of man in particular is problematic. Jesus, in referring to himself as the Son of Man, would have known this to mean he was a prophet like Ezekiel, not a Messiah. I really looked and looked during my crisis of faith for something that could make me think that Jesus viewed himself as a Messiah or even wanted to be viewed as one. I just didnt find it. Every once in a while someone like you provokes me to read other viewpoints on the Son of Man Son of God issue, and its nothing new under the sun:) Hold you views; I will respect them. And Ill hold mine. No one told me what to think about this. It came from my personal relationship with God and the text of the bible. No one has yet been able to convince me that my interpretation does not hold water. They seem to twist themselves in knots to make sense of the question and then they tell me what to think/believe. But were working from the same text. And we both have equal chance of being wrong. We are both almost certainly wrong in interpreting what Jesus believed. The only thing clear to me is that moral certainty about biblical teachings or the will of God can only be worshipping a false god and so, a sin.
http://www.godandscience.org/cults/jesus.pdf
Look a little harder. Open your mind to the possibility. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help your interpretation. If you are sincere in seeking, you will find the truth Ask God to reveal Himself to you. God will not reject anyone who is truly seeking – of that I am certain. We can’t construct the attributes of God to our own liking.
same back at you EOS
Hey EOS,
I assume you don’t believe in Odin, Vishnu, Wotan or Buddha. If not, you are an atheist. The difference between you and I is that I believe in one less God than you.
Sorry, that makes no logical sense. An atheist is someone who denies the existance of any God. Clearly I believe in a Creator God who made the universe and everything in it. I also believe in the law of non-contradiction. If the God of the Bible exists, then the fictional gods of pagans and cults don’t. If you believe in all “gods” then you have no consistent ideology. The mere existence of a conterfeit god does not dispute the fact of the genuine God.
Lame.
“The law of non-contradiction.” –oh man, that’s rich.
No, it’s one of the 3 basic laws of logic:
http://www.logicwarrior.net/tag/law-of-non-contradiction/
I think you violate the law of the excluded middle. You want to believe in a God that is different than what He describes.
EOS, is the Logic Warrior (http://www.logicwarrior.net) related to the God Warrior?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3mDLsyn6ns
I think maybe my real issue is that I don’t believe in logic. it’s seems that whenever anyone brings it up, they are in the midst of intense self-rationalization. my belief is that I don’t know and you don’t either. there is a lot of wisdom in the bible re crisies of faith. I don’t feel even the Christian God as constructed in the Bible would take issue with my questioning. Questioning seems as close to ‘logical’ as humans will ever get.
I think EOS was referring to Elviscostello’s seemingly illogical statement. I don’t understand what EC is trying to say at all.
Not exactly FF. Elvis violated one law of logic while Jean violated another. But if she doesn’t believe in logic – I guess the conversation is over. There’s no common ground.
“I guess the conversation is over. There’s no common ground.”
now you know how the majority of readers feel about your posts. yet your persistent posting proves that the law of non-contradiction has no bearing on blog commentary. better stop reading logic and move on to sociology, psychology, anthro…
“The only thing clear to me is that moral certainty about biblical teachings or the will of God can only be worshipping a false god”
Amen, Jean. EOS, please pray on this. Jesus accepts you. Pride and shame will be forgiven.
Jean has a different interpretation of the bible and I don’t know how that is a logical error on Jean’s part. I, however, don’t know how someone can go around saying they do not believe in basic logical principles (in any sort of coherent way). Care to elaborate on that point?
Yawn.
kjc – except look at the thread. 12 different people called me out by name. How many times have you seen, “Gee, I wonder what kjc thinks?”
I believe logical principles help humans communicate ideas to one another and provide a structure upon which we can build a narrative that helps us make sense of the world. but I also believe that all logic is flawed and all that scientific inquiry has revealed is a fair amount of chaos behind what we see as fixed. I think, like language, logic is an architecture for attempting to understand and communicate our world, but that perspective is inherently limited dimensionally and experientially and almost certainly wrong. and I think that’s a beautiful thing. but I will never hang my hat on human logic as a path to truth– whether the result is Atheism or Christianity or any other belief system. They are all flawed logic models. That’s my final cheap philosophy girl post on this thread. it was just a bedtime tale for Dr Larsen. night night Peter.
http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/03/baloney-detection-kit-carl-sagan/
You’ve definitely been called out a lot. I’m not sure that means what you think it means.
Thanks for taking the time to make that more clear for me, Jean.
You might want to open a file for Josh Duggar too.
“The Duggar family just released a statement from Josh on their personal website in which Josh not only confirms the fact that he has been “unfaithful” to his wife, but he also confesses to having developed a “secret addiction” to pornography over the past several years.”
He was working for the Family Research Council while cruising Ashley Madison for anonymous sex.
http://gawker.com/josh-duggars-apology-i-have-been-the-biggest-hypocrit-1725405629
If you add Duggar, but sure to add Christian vlogger Sam Rader.
Read more:
http://gawker.com/viral-christian-pregnancy-youtuber-sam-rader-had-a-paid-1725258643
To be fair, it wasn’t Duggar’s fault that he molested his sisters and cheated on his wife. Satan is the real culprit.
http://contemptor.com/2015/08/20/in-response-to-ashley-madison-hack-josh-duggar-blames-satan-for-his-addiction-to-porn/
I wish people who are addicted to bad/ evil things would take more responsibility for their addiction. Years of habitual indulgence played a huge role in developing his current addictions. Change your habits, dude! It is not Satan’s fault!
FF,
You keep on using that word addiction. I do not think it means what you think it does. If he can just change his habits, he’s not an addict.
Duggar calls himself an addict. The brain chemistry, structures, and chemistry change over time with addicts. It does not happen over night and it is not permanent. Are you suggesting it is permanent change, JCP2? I have found that keeping the concept of “habit” at the forefront to be beneficial. I know that my emphasis on “habit” and its role is not popular at this time…
I’ve got another name for you.
Islamic preacher Hamza Tzortzis.
His name appears on the leaked Ashley Madison client list.
“Tzortzis is known for his radical Islamic views and has openly expressed his stances on sexual morality and homosexuality. He was believed to have made several controversial remarks such as those who leave Islam “should be killed” and has voiced his support of setting up an Islamic Caliphate.”
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ashley-madison-hack-islamic-preacher-105942741.html
I’m sure he only did this for “research” purposes, or whatever … or because he wanted a way to connect with wayward young women so he could lead them toward the “religion on peace.”
Seriously, is there really NO limit to the number of douchebags out there who use “religion” to position themselves as “moral guardians” on issues related to women, children, family, sexuality, etc. (usually enriching themselves in the process) – who then inevitably turn out to “sin,” “fall from grace,” ” “beg for forgiveness,” “find redemption” … then somehow weasel their way back to positions of “moral authority” … usually leaving a trail of broken and lied-to women, children, genuine believers, and financial supporters in their wake?
Fallwell, Haggard, Duggar, Courser, and now Tzortzis …
Is there really no limit to the number of men who will attempt to use this scam to blatantly take advantage of others?
Is there really no limit to the number of people willing to believe and follow them, and help fuel their hypocrisy?
The Duggar story is getting more interesting. A porn star is now involved.
http://gawker.com/did-josh-duggar-really-have-sex-with-this-porn-star-1726634494
Both Gamrat and Courser are now out of the Michigan House.
Read more:
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/10/courser-gamrat/71996554/
It looks as though it was Gamrat’s husband who was blackmailing her and Courser.
Read more:
http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/11/cindy_gamrats_husband_behind_e.html