Given the Westboro Baptist Church's protest at the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards, it's worth revisiting the old lefty canard that the group is "right-wing." The claim is especially popular in the liberal blogosphere, where it's made ad nauseum during any discussion of the group.
So let's review some history. Fred Phelps, the head of the "church," actually has a long history of support for Democrats. He has run as a Democrat for governor of Kansas three tiumes, mayor of Topeka twice, and for the U.S. Senator once.
Al Gore was apparently the family's favorite Democrat. Phelps himself was a Gore delegate when he ran for president in 1988. The Phelpses even held a fundraiser for Gore in their Topeka, Kansas home. Their support paid off. The Phelps family was invited to the Clinton/Gore inaugurations in 1993 and 1997.
Here are some pictures originally posted at the website of the Log Cabin Republicans (link above) more than 10 years ago of Gore and various members of the Phelps family:
Phelps's son, Fred Jr. (left) and Al Gore (center) at the fundraiser held at the Phelps's Topeka home.
Left to right: Fred Phelps Jr., Tipper Gore, Betty Phelps, Al Gore
Left to right: Phelps's son Timothy, Al Gore, Fred Phelps Jr.
This is all worth remembering in case a reporter picks up on this meme - currently confined to the nutroots - and pushes it into the mainstream.
(Hat tip: Coach Collins}
