Voicing her religious and political views loud and clear, Jessa Duggar took to her State Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., to fight for what she believes is right. The 19 Kids and Counting cast member showed support for pro-life issues, participating in the March for Life, a peaceful demonstration that protests abortion. “Headed to Little Rock right now,” she wrote on Instagram. “Join us at our state Capitol at 2 pm, and together let us take a stand for the life of the unborn. ❤” While Jessa didn’t reveal which family members joined her at the event, the TLC star did share pics from the scene including one poster she approved of. “God loves life every life from beginning to end,” one sign read. Whether he was present or not, older brother Josh Duggar, who moved to D.C. to work as a political activist, would surely approve of her endeavors. As would parents Jim Bob and Michelle, whose outspoken views have won them millions of fans but just as many critics saying the Duggar family is a cult . The Duggars’ aren’t just conservative in thinking, they’re at the forefront of the political battles against abortion and same sex marriage, and unabashedly so. In the past year, Michelle Duggar has wielded her considerable political clout to change policies geared toward making life easier for gay and lesbian citizens. She fought a law passed to protect gays from discriminatory employment and housing laws, and in the process, critics accused her of hate speech. On the flip side, Duggar supporters believe their rights to freedom of religion and speech are unfairly under attack by those who happen to disagree. In any case, Jessa and her equally if not more outspoken husband Ben Seewald show zero signs of breaking free of the family mold in this regard. Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald Photos 1. Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald: In Love Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald in one of their many sweet Instagram moments. Her shirt sums it all up, really.
For fans, the Duggar family of TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting fame has long been a symbol for old-school Christian values and the virtues of family life. However, critics claim that there’s something much more nefarious going on behind the family’s wholesome facade, and now they may have found the proof. Testimony from several former cult members does not paint a pretty picture … In the past, the proud parents of those 19 kids, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, have publicly stated that they were followers of disgraced minister Bill Gothard . Before becoming involved in a sex scandal that brought down his career, Gothard was the leader of an organization known as the Institute of Basic Life Principles. Following allegations of harassment and claims that he helped cover up cases of child abuse, Gothard stepped down and several of his former followers have since spoken out about the leader who’s shaped much of the Duggar’s belief system: “I have no problem calling it a cult,” ex-IBLP member Micah Murray tells Radar . “What the Duggars are doing is putting Gothard’s philosophies on display as a positive thing, and they are not positive.” “From my experience, it has all the hallmarks of what makes cults so damaging – abusive authority structures, the way that people’s thinking and behavior is controlled, the way that people aren’t taught to trust themselves and trust their leader unquestioningly.” “I have seen a number of episodes [of 19 Kids and Counting] and it makes me very uncomfortable.” 9 Things BANNED in the Duggar Family 1. Dates Without Chaperones The Duggar parents often accompany their kids on dates in order to maintain “accountability” and “keep things from going in the wrong direction,” per Jim Bob. The girls are fine with this, as being alone with men puts them in grave “moral danger.” When the parents aren’t available, their older siblings will often tag along, making every date a group date and a family affair. “I think the Duggars are probably very nice people. I think they are very sincere people. But I think that the teachings of Bill Gothard are destructive.” Murray grew up in the IBLP and broke away from the organization at age 21. He says that seeing the Duggars’ method of raising their children brings to mind his own severely strict upbringing, during which he was forced to abide by a dress code and a bizarre set of rules regarding inter-sex interaction, in accordance with IBLP teachings. Kari Underwood is another former IBLP member who founded the organization Recovering Grace in order to expose the Gothard and his more destructive teachings. She says the Duggars are quite clearly victims of Gothard and company’s sophisticated brainwashing tactics. “They seem like a lovely family,” Underwood says. “I see the Duggars as sincere people as my parents were…I believe they have made some decisions for their family that are not healthy.” Underwood points to the Duggars’ strict courtship rules , as famously depicted at length on the popular reality TV program, being particularly problematic: 5 Duggar Family Dating Rules 1. It’s Called COURTING! Dating means you’re shopping around, says Jim Bob Duggar, while courtship is the path toward marriage. Courting is getting to know each other in a group setting, both families spending time together and the couple setting goals together to determine if they are meant to marry or not. “Bringing up your children in such a way that the father makes all the decisions, sons have no choices until they’ve moved on, women have no choices, it’s a hierarchy of protection. But it’s no protection.” She adds that the family’s decision to star in a reality show is the only manner in which they’ve broken from Gothard’s teachings, but that the leader is likely accepting of this choice, as it helps bring in donations. However, such a decision may prove confusing to Michelle and Jim Bob’s children: “The children probably don’t watch much television, yet they’re on a TV show,” Underwood says, adding that right now, “Their life is confusing and inconsistent… It’s important to be consistent when you have that many rules.” Hit the comments below and tell us what you think, and watch 19 Kids and Counting online to decide for yourself if the Duggars are what critics say they are. Are they victims of an insidious cult or simply a devoutly religious family living in an increasingly secular world? We turn the discussion over to you … 13 Biggest Duggar Family Scandals 1. Jessa Gets Strapped Jessa Duggar and her then-boyfriend Ben Seewald began courting controversy almost from the moment they started dating, posing for photos like this one – a picture that now seems tame considering what they’ve been stirring up more recently.
Republican Congressman Steve Scalise Once Voted Against Bill That Would Apologize For Slavery via Huffington Post House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) voted against a bill that would have apologized for slavery to African-Americans when he was in the Louisiana Legislature, according to a 1996 New Orleans Times-Picayune article first reported on by The Hill. The representative, who has been a target of civil rights groups after it was revealed last month that he spoke at a 2002 white supremacist conference, was one of two House and Governmental Affairs Committee members who voted down the bill. “Why are you asking me to apologize for something I didn’t do and had no part of?” Scalise asked, according to the paper at the time. “I am not going to apologize for what somebody else did.” The bill passed out of committee on a unanimous vote once it was amended to express “regret” instead. Scalise’s office didn’t immediately return a request for comment about the vote. The 1996 measure was noted on Twitter by Lamar White Jr., the blogger who broke the news that Scalise spoke before the European-American Unity and Rights Organization, a group founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, in 2002. Scalise has apologized and said he didn’t realize what kind of group he was speaking to at the time. Million Hoodies Movement for Justice, a national racial justice organization, planned a protest for Tuesday outside a Scalise fundraiser on Capitol Hill. And civil rights groups have asked Scalise to meet with them to explain his EURO appearance, though as of Monday, they had not heard back from him. WENN
Sarah Palin is probably very happy to say goodbye to 2014. The now-famous Palin family brawl that took place in September seemed to make headlines every few weeks, as new details emerged about the drunken throwdown that cemented Sarah’s place as the most Jerry Springer-ready former governor in US history. Unfortunately, Palin has chosen to start the year with a different kind of controversy by posting a photo of her youngest son Trig stepping on a freaking dog, dontcha know: “May 2015 see every stumbling block turned into a stepping stone on the path forward,” Palin wrote on her Facebook page, along with the photo on the right. “Trig just reminded me. He, determined to help wash dishes with an oblivious mama not acknowledging his signs for ‘up!’, found me and a lazy dog blocking his way. He made his stepping stone.” Trig suffers from Down Syndrome, and Palin was obviously proud of his ingenuity, but as a number of Facebook users have pointed out, the image of a 6-year-old standing on top of a dog is more distressing than cute. “Poor dog,” wrote one commenter. “And how exactly is the dog supposed to get up with a seventy or more pound kid on his spine?” Others went so far as to accuse Palin of animal abuse for not only allowing Trig to step on the dog, but posting photos of the incident online. Obviously, it’s not exactly Michael Vick-level animal cruelty on display here, but one would expect a woman who spent several decades in the political arena to be a little more discerning with regard to her social media pics. Maybe Palin should just stick to makeup-free selfies going forward. Sarah Palin Photos? You Betcha! 1. Sarah Palin in New York Sarah Palin poses here outside Fox News Studios in NYC. That place is her home away from home.
Earlier today, President Obama spoke out on Sony’s decision to pull The Interview from theaters in response to terrorist threats linked to North Korea. The POTUS agrees with Hollywood that the studio shouldn’t have caved, and he offered a sort of consolation prize to the movie-going public by offering up some unintentional comedy of his own: President Obama: Flubs James Franco’s Name “I think it says something interesting about North Korea,” said Obama while addressing the press. “That they decided to mount an all-out assault on a movie studio because of a satirical movie starring Seth Rogen and James Flacco.” Yes, in his mind, Obama seems to have combined James Franco and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco into one perfect being with a passion for art and a desperate desire to make the playoffs. It’s an understandable slip-up, but it probably served as a colossal blow to Franco’s famous ego, and the actor will probably spend the entire weekend rage-painting in the style of a hysterically sobbing Jackson Pollock. Of course, James seems to be taking the news that his latest project will never see the light of day surprisingly well. The same day it was announced that The Interview would never hit theaters, Franco went partying with Lady Gaga and Courtney Love . Although that might be a form of mourning, we’re not sure. Either way, when you’re as fame-obsessed as Franco, seeing the president eff up your name has gotta sting. Could be worse, dude. Remember the time Obama called Kanye West a jackass ? Even Republicans agreed with that one. 9 Things We Learned From the Sony Hacking Scandal 1. New Ghostbusters Cast Revealed! One email reveals that the studio is hoping to have Jennifer Lawrence, Melissa McCarthy, Emma Stone, and Lizzy Caplan star in the upoming all-female Ghostbusters reboot. Well, “all-female” isn’t quite accurate. The ladies will be joined by an A-list male star, who will apparently need to be dragged to the set kicking and screaming…
Elizabeth Lauten, the Congressional aide who sparked controversy by slamming Sasha and Malia Obama on Thanksgiving, is resigning from her job. Lauten, who was the communications director for U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-TN), raised eyebrows over the holiday weekend thanks to a Facebook rant. She wrote about the First Daughters’ appearance at his pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey in terms you would not describe as flattering. “Dear Sasha and Malia,” Elizabeth Lauten began, “I get you’re both in those awful teen years, but you’re a part of the First Family, try showing a little class.” “At least respect the part you play. Then again your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter,” she went on. “So I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department. Nevertheless, stretch yourself,” Lauten went on. “Rise to the occasion.” The newly unemployed Lauten wrote of the more casual outfits that Malia Obama, 16, and Sasha Obama, 13, wore to the event, as well as their expressions: “Act like being in the White House matters to you. Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar. And certainly don’t make faces during televised, public events.” She deleted the initial post, going on to write another message apologizing for her initial reaction, but the second note no longer appears on Facebook either. Following the widespread backlash to her viral post, Lauten told NBC News on Monday, that her resignation from Rep. Fincher’s team is “in the works.” Probably for the best. Bullying teenagers seems a little out of bounds, even though politics is obviously a heated environment wrought with partisanship. Next time, maybe stick with something more universal, that everybody can get behind and come across the aisle to denounce: Michelle’s school lunches … Students Say #ThanksMichelleObama for Gross-Looking Lunch 1. Mystery Meat… … and an apple!
Marion Barry, one of the more controversial political figures of modern times, died this morning from causes not yet known. He was 78 years old. Barry rose to national prominent after he was caught by the FBI while smoking crack in a hotel room with a young woman. He screamed “she set me up!” upon being arrested by authorities, but, incredibly, this incident did NOT derail his career. Barry served four rearms as Mayor – including a re-election after serving time in prison – and was often the butt of jokes from comedians, talk show hosts and, most often, on Saturday Night Live. Barry was a council member for Washington’s 8th ward at the time of his passing. “Marion was not just a colleague but also was a friend with whom I shared many fond moments about governing the city,” Mayor Vincent C. Gray said in a statement today. “He loved the District of Columbia and so many Washingtonians loved him.” Celebrities We Lost in 2014 1. Philip Seymour Hoffman R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014). He will forever be missed!
With critics calling for TLC to cancel her reality show, Michelle Duggar has launched a counter-petition to save 19 Kids and Counting from cancelation. A Change (dot) org petition to cancel 19 Kids and Counting was actually started earlier this year, after Michelle made controversial headlines politically. She allegedly recorded a robo-call allegedly asking Fayetteville, Ark. residents to vote to repeal a law that prevents discrimination. Yes, that prevents it. The law in question condemns property and business owners to oust or fire people based on gender identity. In other words, transgender Americans. Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar then sparked an even bigger public controversy this month when they invited fans to share kissing photos on Facebook . After they reportedly took down submissions from gay couples, they faced backlash online, and the aforementioned petition began to widely circulate. Both incidents are rooted in the family’s support for “traditional” marriage, and form the crux of the rebuttal petition Michelle is promoting to save the show. “The Duggar Family is under attack from anti-marriage advocates for standing for traditional marriage,” the Ipetitions (dot) com note posted by Michelle reads. “We commend The Duggar Family for their brave stand in defending marriage as ordained by God between one man and one woman,” the petition goes on. “No individual’s sexual behavior and chosen lifestyle has the right to redefine marriage. Sign our petition today to let TLC know that you support the Duggars.” 13 Biggest Duggar Family Scandals 1. Jessa Gets Strapped Jessa Duggar and her then-boyfriend Ben Seewald began courting controversy almost from the moment they started dating, posing for photos like this one – a picture that now seems tame considering what they’ve been stirring up more recently. As of this posting, it has about 6,000 signatures. The petition to make TLC axe the series now has 130,000, although it has been online since August 20. The scandal is not the first surrounding the Arkansas family, and it almost certainly won’t be the last. The question is whether or not the network will cave. The couple did not address the Facebook controversy specifically, but recently put out a statement saying they will always stand for truth and values . Don’t expect them to back down, in other words. Your move, TLC …
U.S. attorney Loretta Lynch has emerged as the top choice to replace Attorney General Eric Holder. Holder announced in September that he would step down…
