As the Kansas State Board of Education prepares for yet another round of battles over creationism and evolution, a member of Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church is actually running for a seat on the board. He’s every bit as loathsome as you would predict:
Jack Wu isn’t shy about his beliefs.
Topeka is evil. Harry Potter promotes witchcraft. Christmas trees are pagan idols. Cancer is a judgment from God. And the teaching of evolution should be rooted out of Kansas schools because it’s a satanic lie.
He also believes that America’s public schools are cultivating a culture of “liars, thieves, murderers and perverts.” …
Yet the 29-year-old Wu says it’s better to be loved by God and live in heaven than be loved by man and rot in hell.
“The truth matters more than the opinion of other men and women,” said Wu, clutching his green cloth-bound King James Bible during a recent interview on the grounds of state Capitol about a block away from the Kansas Department of Education’s offices.
“The Bible says if you’re hated by other people for taking a stance that’s not popular, it’s like a sign you’re chosen by God, almost,” added Wu, who describes himself as a reality television fan who works as a self-employed computer programmer and designer of video games.
His last-minute decision to file for the seat in June is drawing attention because he also attends Topeka’s Westboro Baptist Church, which has gained national notoriety for picketing military funerals with signs that read, “Thank God for dead soldiers,” “God hates the USA” and “God hates fags.”
And since this is Kansas, and he’s running as a Republican, it’s not out of the question that he might win.
22 comments
Skip to comment form ↓
timgueguen
October 4, 2012 at 10:39 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Designer of video games? The only kind of video games acceptable to the Westboro dupes would be unsellable even to the majority of fundies.
Modusoperandi
October 4, 2012 at 10:50 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
timgueguen, he actually just designs add-ons that make it easier to grief other players.
machintelligence
October 4, 2012 at 10:55 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
He isn’t actually a member (yet). From the interview:
Reginald Selkirk
October 4, 2012 at 10:55 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I agree with Jack Wu about something!
theschwa
October 4, 2012 at 11:02 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“timgueguen, he actually just designs add-ons that make it easier to grief other players.”
I assume it is a Call of Duty add on that allows you to emotionally torment the families of the fallen soldiers of the opposing team.
5 point kill streak: Predator missile.
6 point kill streak: “Thank God for Predator Missiles (Also, God hates fags!)” signs at military funeral.
jonrowe
October 4, 2012 at 11:02 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I feel sorry for Jack. He’s a strange closet case. There is an interesting video of him with the WBC. He was not, and still may not be a “member,” but someone who attends their church. They pretty much ignored him and behaved as if he weren’t even there like a fly on the wall. From the way he spoke it sounded like he had a serious mental illness.
thisisaturingtest
October 4, 2012 at 11:06 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Well, there ya go. Who better to decide on the reality to teach our children than someone who’s a fan of “reality” TV and video games, right? Seems of a piece with his “reality” of “GAAAWWWD!”
Area Man
October 4, 2012 at 11:16 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“Topeka is evil.”
An interesting platform to run on. “I want to represent you, people of Topeka, because you are evil!” Talk about pandering…
Taz
October 4, 2012 at 11:29 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes it is. Westboro is universally reviled, and as unaware as the American electorate is, they’ll be aware of this. He doesn’t have a chance.
glodson
October 4, 2012 at 11:30 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“Democratic operatives and non-partisan educators say they’re taking Wu’s candidacy seriously, but the Star reports that he had only received $5 in contributions through July, the most recent reporting period.”
Taken from here.
He’s a joke, but I’m glad that his opponents are taking him seriously. As that is a good way for a joke to win, the joke being ignored.
Also from this article: “The poor governor needs to obey the commandments of God and stop being a vile Catholic,” in response to Brownback opting not to support Wu.
joe321
October 4, 2012 at 11:46 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“The Bible says if you’re hated by other people for taking a stance that’s not popular, it’s like a sign you’re chosen by God, almost,”
So atheists are almost chosen by God?
Westley C.
October 4, 2012 at 12:30 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m guessing this must be Jack at about 8:45.
Phillip IV
October 4, 2012 at 12:43 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
joe321 at #11:
Atheists, NAMBLA, Justin Bieber fans, Adolph Hitler, Emos, the list goes majorly on …”chosen by God” requires a pretty big tent by Mr. Wu’s standard. And probably quite a few bullet-proof room dividers inside of it.
Uncle Glenny
October 4, 2012 at 12:51 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wesley C:
That was freaky. And I only watched from about 8:30 for maybe 3 minutes.
Michael Heath
October 4, 2012 at 1:06 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Westley C. writes:
My gaydar is pretty crappy but here it was hitting 11. It appears young Jack is tormented with fear that because he’s gay or bisexual, he’s doomed to eternal suffering. If true, and it’s irrelevant for the following point since we already know millions of others who either have or continue to suffer from this affliction. That this is just one more illustration on how theologically conservative Christian denominations predominately abuse people given their primitive bigotry.
slc1
October 4, 2012 at 1:35 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Re Phillip IV @ #24
Just as a matter of curiosity and as someone who has never heard or seen anything by Mr. Bieber, is he as totally untalented as a number of critics who make snide remarks on various blogs seem to indicate? I have been around long enough to remember Elvis Presley, whose fans behaved in a similar manner and who actually was a pretty good singer when the rubber hit the road.
slc1
October 4, 2012 at 1:36 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Re #16
I meant Phillip IV @ #13.
csadams
October 4, 2012 at 2:20 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ed says,
And since this is Kansas, and he’s running as a Republican, it’s not out of the question that he might win.
Bingo. Even though it’s questionable whether Wu can find his butt with either hand, unless his affiliation/obsession with the Phelps clan is well-known he could win by a good margin simply because of the (R) after his name.
Know a Kansan? One who lives in District 4 (map here)? Please make sure they know to spread the word!
d.c.wilson
October 4, 2012 at 3:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
As near as I can tell, virtually all of the members of the Westboro Baptist Church are part of Fred Phelps’ extended family. Does that mean Wu would have to marry one of Fred’s daughters to officially join?
twincats
October 4, 2012 at 4:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Agreed. I don’t know how Kansas writes their voter information, but here in CA, a candidate can opt to include a statement or not in the voter info pamphlet. Unfortunately, for a lot of people, that D or R after the name tells them all they think they need to know…
Red-Green in Blue
October 4, 2012 at 6:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Jack Wu (from the article):
“Almost” “like” a sign? Jeez, if you want Fred Phelps to take notice, you’re going to have to stop being so half-hearted about your Christianity, Jack!
(mutters) Backslider…
peterh
October 4, 2012 at 6:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Christmas trees are pagan symbols, not pagan idols.