In a world where some Christians think their faith is compatible with hyper selfish strains of Libertarianism this seems like it was bound to happen. The mixture has been brewing for 20 years and now we have the final, distilled result. Scott Esk, a candidate for Representative of the 91st Congressional District in Oklahoma has been in the news yesterday and today for taking an unusually blunt stance on just what he thinks should be done to homosexuals if one so chooses.

Here’s what he’d had to say on the subject on his Facebook page in a thread regarding the Pope’s statement last year about reserving judgement and condemnation of homosexuals.

Very Taliban. However this isn’t the first time Erst has gotten himself into trouble. Back in 2010 when he was leader of a local Tea Party movement he was arrested for “threatening violence on a local minister. Esk was held in Oklahoma County Jail for several days while he raised his $25,000.00 bail (court docket here). Esk was arrested for violating 21 O.S. 1378 for threatening people including a pastor of a local church.”

Here’s a link to all of the Facebook of Erst’s initial exchange on the topic. Reading them, I can remember a time when people like this were forced out of the public conversation rather than allowed into it and greeted warmly. I just can’t understand how letting people who are this extreme, be they Left or Right, into the tent to discuss the best way ahead is productive or helpful in a country that currently has a lot of problems. Hate just seems to beget more hate as we saw in Oregon yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks9vD6sNcqk