Watch: Joy Behar Hopes Fred Phelps Will Die Soon; WBC a No-Show at Elizabeth Taylor Funeral

Joy Behar speaks with Nate Phelps, the estranged son of Fred Phelps, who claims his father physically abuses the family, about the WBC's attacks on gays, and their plans to picket Elizabeth Taylor's funeral.

Says Behar: "There's a sickness to it. There's an obsessive quality to it that rings of mental illness to me."

Behar says she hopes the elder Phelps dies soon.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Incidentally, the WBC was a no-show to Taylor's funeral, which was held yesterday at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park in Glendale:

Glendale Police Department officials said the department was asked to assist in security for the three dozen to four dozen family members and friends expected to attend the service because of the proximity of an elementary school. No details were given to the media about who attended the service.

Scotland Beavers, 47, left work early after reading posts on Facebook that suggested anti-gay protesters might be picketing. "We need to get there and try to block them," he said.

They had umbrellas ready if protesters showed up, but they never materialized.

Taylor was laid to rest near her good friend Michael Jackson. 

Watch the Behar clip, AFTER THE JUMP...

Watch: Son of Westboro Baptist Church Pastor Fred Phelps Says Father Beat Wife and Kids 'So They Bled'

Nate Phelps, the estranged son of Westboro Baptist Church pastor Fred Phelps, appeared on Jane Velez Mitchell's show Issues to clarify statements he has made in the past about physical abuse of the family by his father.

Said Phelps: "He used his fists. He used his knees, he used his feet, and he used the handle of a mattock. He used that in such a way that it split the skin on the back of the kid's legs so they bled."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Watch: Interview with Nate Phelps, Estranged Son of Westboro Baptist Church Leader Fred Phelps

Here's the Canadian TV interview I mentioned yesterday featuring Nate Phelps, the estranged son of Westboro Baptist Church leader Fred Phelps.

Says Phelps: "Everything that's going on in America right now in [Fred Phelps'] twisted mind is about God being upset with America because they're moving in the direction of supporting equal rights for gays. So everything that's happening is a manifestation of God's wrath at the country for that."

Another revelation: Fred Phelps is a Democrat.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...