Ted Haggard's Gay Revision Destroys Political Capital

Ted Haggard would do well to keep his mouth shut.

After years of living in relative silence, the preacher man has recently attempted to resurrect his career, first by opening a new "congregation" in his backyard, and then announcing that said church would embrace gay people. He has learned the error of his hateful ways, he claims, and deserves a second change. Too bad he's totally squandering it.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Haggard, once president of the National Evangelical Association, insists that he "over-repented" for the gay sex scandal that very nearly destroyed his career. That's weird, because when it was revealed Haggard had sex with a gay masseuse, he confessed "sexual immorality."

"I take responsibility for the entire problem. I am a deceiver and a liar. There’s a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been warring against it for all of my adult life,” said Haggard before being sent into exile. His latest statement, however, calls his confession, as well as his wife's, into question, and deals the final blow to his last shred of credibility.

Just last year, hoping perhaps to shore up some sympathy, Haggard's wife, Gayle, wrote a book in which she detailed why she stood by her husband, and even told Oprah that Haggard had told her that he "struggled with some thoughts." "I felt it was the thing that could destroy Ted if he gave in to it," she admitted. "So I prayed for him and I felt as though he was winning the battle." Clearly her prayers were in vain.

America's a land of forgiveness, though, and Haggard hoped to build support for his new congregation by "opening" his arms to the lavender set. "All are welcome. Whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, gay, straight, bi, tall, short, addict, recovering addict," he insisted, “I believe Jesus’ arms are open to all.” Too bad that pledge was immediately undercut by the revelation that Haggard still refuses to condone gay marriage. If that "big announcement" was lip service, then this latest interview amounts to pure, unadulterated rubbish.

Political capital isn't reserved for elected officials. Anyone with a soapbox, television show or pulpit can build up political capital. Haggard certainly did so when he was at New Life Church, and gained access to the highest right wing circles in Washington. I had sincerely hoped he would use his reemergence to spark actual political and social progress among religious conservatives; clearly that's not the case.

Haggard conceded four years ago that he had improper contact with the gay prostitute. Today, however, he's now describing it, as the Journal paraphrases, a "massage gone awry." Sorry, buddy, but no amount of relaxation can lead to an unexpected, unhindered sexual experience.

With his new, improved denial, Haggard has demolished any prayer of getting back on top. If anything, he's fallen farther than when the scandal first broke so many years ago.

Photo credit: Feast of Fools