Low Down Dirty Shame

Dad of a fallen Marine perseveres against protests at military funerals
By Gordon Lubold/Yahoo News

Washington – A father of a Marine killed in Iraq says he won't pay the legal fees of a protest group who picketed at his son's funeral in 2006 – at least not until he hears from the US Supreme Court on the matter.

Albert Snyder, whose son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, was killed in Iraq, learned Friday that a federal appeals court is requiring him to pay more than $16,000 in legal fees to the Westboro Baptist Church, a Christian fundamentalist group that demonstrates during military funerals to gain attention for its antigovernment, antihomosexual message. The group rallied at Matthew Snyder’s funeral in March 2006 in Westminster, Md., chanting antigay slogans and carrying signs such as “Thank God for dead soldiers,” says Albert Snyder’s attorney, Sean Summers.

The group was protesting about 30 feet from the church’s main entrance, and Mr. Snyder had to enter through a separate entrance, Mr. Summers says.

Snyder subsequently sued the Westboro group for emotional distress and won a $5 million judgment. But on appeal, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, finding in favor of protecting the protesters' free-speech rights. About three weeks ago, the Supreme Court agreed to take the case and is expected to hear it in the fall. (Last year, the high court had declined to take up the issue.) Meanwhile, the circuit court has ordered Snyder, a salesman, to pay the church’s court expenses.

Snyder, of York, Pa., told Fox News on Tuesday that he would not pay the Westboro Baptist Church "until I hear from the Supreme Court."

“It’s fair to say that they are not getting any Christmas cards from Mr. Snyder,” adds Summers, in a phone interview. “He obviously thinks they are despicable and doesn’t understand why they would target him.”

The Westboro group has been protesting at military members’ funerals for years. The church leader, Fred Phelps, preaches that American deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are punishment for the nation’s tolerance of homosexuality. (He was among those banned from Britain last year for fostering hatred or extremism.) The protests have nothing to do with the fallen service members' sexual orientation, and the church says its protests are held within a “lawful distance” of the funerals.

UPDATE: Bill O'Reilly has offered to foot the bill for Snyder's legal fees.

I usually try not to get too serious in the blog. I think we're all wound a little tight right now with the economic downturn and the state of partisan politics. It becomes obvious so when politicians are being threatened and targeted over a vote. It's not okay to target people for performind a task or exercising a right. Except these wastes of time from this Kansas Church. If these people were struck dead we would probably all be the better. I'm not advocating murder but if Fred Phelps is beaten to death with a snow shovel tonite I'm not going to shed any tears. If someone poisened the group's coffee before their next rally I wouldn't be too upset. I'm not saying anyone should do it. But if they do - I understand.

P.S. - If Bill O'Reilly and I can agree on something then I'm pretty sure it's clear cut. Also, props to Papa Bear O'Reilly for taking care of that tab.