10/01/2008
Canadian Candidate Tells High School Assembly: Execute Gays
Police launched a criminal investigation yesterday after independent federal candidate David Popescu told more than 200 high school students and a host of competing candidates in Sudbury, Ontario, that he felt gays should be executed in response to a question about same-sex marriage:
"Popescu introduced himself with a public prayer, blaming environmental damage and economic unrest on the wickedness of society. His comments were met with silence as some students grimaced and shifted in their seats. Near the end of the more than two-hour event, students were invited to ask the candidates questions. As a long line of pupils waited to speak, Popescu told a young female student who asked about stem cell research that, 'God would hurt' those who had an abortion. The crowd jeered and many rose to their feet in protest after Popescu answered another teenager's question on gay marriage. During a telephone interview later in the day, Popescu reasserted his view. 'A young man asked me what I think of homosexual marriages and I said I think homosexuals should be executed,' he said. 'My whole reason for running is the Bible and the Bible couldn't be more clear on that point.' Candidates and teachers looked on in silence as students called for him to be 'cut off.' Despite their outrage, the discussion moved to other topics."
Kill gays, candidate says [barrie examiner]
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 11:31 AM EST by Andy in Canada, Education, Gay Marriage, News | Permalink
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Well, he's as smart as he is beautiful.
Posted by: JeffRob | Oct 1, 2008 11:46:37 AM
Fucktard.
Sweet Jesus, save us from your followers!
Posted by: Christopher | Oct 1, 2008 11:46:42 AM
This is a man the police need to watch very carefully. He's an extreme religious zealot who is disenfranchised by current society and he's made a serious threat. People like this often turn out to be the Ted Kaczynski's of the world and their delusions usually play out violently as they attempt to call more attention to their cause.
Posted by: JerzeeMike | Oct 1, 2008 11:48:00 AM
I'm sorry, but by law, making a public threat against a person or group of people, does that not qualify for arrest? Under our laws (and I'm not certain of the specifics of free speech in Canada), freedom of speech is granted but only to a certain point. In cases where speech incites violence, etc. certain law comes into effect in which participants of such speech are under prosecution.
Posted by: CJ | Oct 1, 2008 11:59:09 AM
As loathsome as this guy is, I just think it's a farce to have the police involved. Unfortunately, his opinion is a very common one, and he gave a simple, direct answer to a simple direct question. This unpleasant and insulting exchange is the essence of freedom, as ugly as it is.
Posted by: Yeek | Oct 1, 2008 12:00:14 PM
Religion is EVIL
http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi1950089241/
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Oct 1, 2008 12:01:28 PM
Yes, there are limits to freedom of speech. Inciting a violent act, for one, crosses those boundaries. The instigator can be held accountable.
Which is interesting that the fuckhead that shot up the UU church a couple months back was acting on propaganda from the likes of Dan Savage, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reily.
I do not know how the Canadian systems work, but to place someone with such extreme and terroistic beliefs into a public forum is just careless. What group invited or supported this person's place at the table. That, folks, is the group I would be looking at.
Posted by: Rad | Oct 1, 2008 12:07:57 PM
The only difference between this dick head and Dan Savage, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reily, and the other right wing nut jobs is that he has no edit button.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Oct 1, 2008 12:14:47 PM
Rad - think you meant to say MICHAEL Savage as opposed to Dan Savage :)
This man frightens me - and no Yeek, his view is absolutely NOT common.
Posted by: scientitian | Oct 1, 2008 12:15:06 PM
Here's the poop for Canada -- we do not have guaranteed Freedom of Speech as in the U.S., and we have broader definitions of limiting it. Inciting others to violence is one case, but the Act even includes he word "could" as in "could expose others to violence to humiliation". Canada also has an extra-legal Human Rights Commission which can punish or fine -- which I do NOT agree with even though it has been used in gay cases, precisely because it is extra-legal and NO complaint has ever lost his case. In short, this guy may well be charged. But, silver lining -- CHEERS to the high school kids who stood and booed in protest on hearing his answer! Only adults can teach evil.
Posted by: Strepsi | Oct 1, 2008 12:21:56 PM
See? We have crazy candidates up here too!
Posted by: David D. | Oct 1, 2008 12:27:07 PM
Strepsi: Thanks mate. How goes it in Canada? I live between Rochester and NYC, used to hit Toronto all the time (before the dollar tanked, I miss the days of shopping at Holt Renfrew and getting top goods for almost half the US dollar *sigh* - now the jokes on us lol).
Posted by: CJ | Oct 1, 2008 12:29:22 PM
Yikes! The Fred Phelps of Canada.
Posted by: Mr. E | Oct 1, 2008 12:33:31 PM
This toad does us a great service by illustrating the logical conclusion of religious dogmatism. Those christianists who cite these very scriptures in an effort to deny us civil rights would probably balk at advocating execution, but that's exactly what the Bible says in its current translations. Do they take the book literally, or not? It's a good question, and one that religious zealots need to ask themselves more often. Showing them what their bigotry really means can be helpful to us, as most bigots won't go that far.
Posted by: The Milkman | Oct 1, 2008 12:35:11 PM
He might be mentally ill.
Posted by: anon | Oct 1, 2008 12:35:24 PM
isn't he simply identical to the whacko bible-thumpers with megaphones stationed at major intersections of most major cities... passerby crowds only regard them as absolute lunatics.
it's one thing to choose to literally believe in the fictional bible, it's quite another thing to literally shove it down another person's throat.
Posted by: Noah Ark | Oct 1, 2008 12:39:59 PM
David D
But you guys deal with your crazies. If this guy had said the same as an american citizen in america, he would be lauded as a hero by the religious right.
The only reason american's can't stomach the phelps clan is the protests at soldiers funerals. If Phelps had never done such then the religious right would be praising phelps as a hero.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Oct 1, 2008 12:53:24 PM
the difference between the US and Canada is that this guy says wacko things up there and won't get elected. When people say wacko things here, they do.
Posted by: Dan B | Oct 1, 2008 1:12:25 PM
demented sumbitch.
Posted by: nic | Oct 1, 2008 1:14:28 PM
Re: Canada: The last I heard, Conservative Stephen Harper may win a majority gov't in the upcoming snap elections. Say it isn't so! If McPalin wins here, we want to move to a place that's electing a liberal.
Posted by: David R. | Oct 1, 2008 1:55:46 PM
And yes, way glad to hear the kids booed this religious fanatic. I can't wait to see Religulous.
Posted by: David R. | Oct 1, 2008 1:57:26 PM
If McCain-Palin wins, I was hoping to move to Canada. I guess they have crazies up there, too. Canadians should deport them down here and tolerant people should move to Canada. Whee.
Posted by: Brendan | Oct 1, 2008 2:59:10 PM
I think the news here, Andy, is that the students booed him, not that he had anything particularly interesting to say. By making the focus of your story this particular nut job you are only giving attention to his views. By making the responses of the students the focus of your story, you are giving attention to them.
Posted by: gwyneth cornrow | Oct 1, 2008 4:08:14 PM
I still stand by my comment that the belief that gay people should be executed is a common one that is widely held throughout the world, and by a significant number of people in the United States. This fact makes the belief no less repugnant. However, it makes it almost impossible for police to pursue this case, since there is no shortage of examples of this being an actual religious belief held by millions. Hence, Fred Phelps is actually allowed to live and not be imprisoned.
Unless anyone can really prove that this asshole really meant to go beyond the general religious edict for death to homosexuals and intended to incite immediate violence (rather than state an opinion that he *believes such violence should be legal*), he's scott free. I know it seems crazy, but there's precedents for this thing all over the place.
If there's doubt about this fact, then by all means look into it...but I'm skeptical that anyone really thinks he broke a law, and getting the cops involved seems like harassment at its best. The way to deal with this asshole is to shun him and publicly humiliate him, not to try and silence his opinion by intimidation.
Posted by: Yeek | Oct 1, 2008 4:11:04 PM
Yeek, did you miss the part about this being a Canadian politician, speaking in Canada, where freedom of speech has many limitations we don't have here in the US?
Or are you just an idiot?
Posted by: 24play | Oct 1, 2008 4:24:58 PM
Phelps has never been a hero to evangelicals because, a) he's condemned them all to Hell several times and b) he's an avowed anti-racist (used to be a civil rights attorney too). As a lawyer, he's also too clever to say something as stupid as all gays should be executed. Phelps has basically turned Calvinism into buffoonery. This guy is just nuts.
Posted by: anon | Oct 1, 2008 4:40:29 PM
Well the police got involved simply because he publicly advocates "executing" those he dispises. Not only to schoolgoers but also as part of a campain. That and the fact that he breached his probation order due to an assault on his own mother back in 03.
Yeah he's not exactly the type of candidate you want campaigning around your kids!
Posted by: Shabaka | Oct 1, 2008 5:53:27 PM
He honors his Romanian heritage.
Posted by: Chris | Oct 1, 2008 7:58:46 PM
ANON, Phelps has said many times that he believes the death penalty should be imposed on homosexuals.
Posted by: DCN | Oct 2, 2008 12:50:45 AM
Sudbury is my home town - about 4 hours north of Toronto. It's a regional centre of about 100,000 people. Formerly a conservative blue collar mining town, it has a great culture and arts scene, particularly francophone, a thriving university, and has developed, in the 30 years since I got out, a supportive and supported gay community.
And at least one crazy homophobic homicidal loonie nut case.
The full article makes it sound like the kids at Sudbury Secondary knew what they were dealing with, but the principal erred on the side of letting the "candidate" have his hateful say. All in all, it sounds like the outcome will be positive, and that the discussion coming out of the events will be constructive.
Posted by: MammaB | Oct 3, 2008 4:34:14 PM
Thinking like he does, a fundamental christian conservative, out of fear and emininent danger, you should kill him before he kills you. He believes the way he does because without the threat of death, he would be having gay sex 24/7. Know your enemies and win the war against them. See the footnote regarding the assault against his mother. Did she call him a fag?
Posted by: Vi Agara | Oct 4, 2008 10:15:20 AM
When is one of us going to rise up and take out one of these bigots??
Posted by: Ty | Oct 5, 2008 2:32:48 AM