Eric Deaton
Claims to fame: Constitution Party candidate for U.S. Senate from Ohio, 2010; “family values” Teabagger; steward, Bear Creek Church of the Brethren, Dayton, Ohio; Cub Scout leader; husband; father of three; accused sexual molester
Video after the jump.
Moral apex: Indicted August 31, 2010, after a grand jury weighed the evidence to support the claim he’d had a year-long sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl he met through his church.
Charge: Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony.
What does he say? Deaton denies “these false allegations,” and says he thinks the timing of the indictment is politically motivated.
That would be dirty politics! Yeah, it would — except that WHIO-TV asked for and received a timeline of the investigation, which shows the cops first learned of Deaton’s alleged dalliance in October, 2009, and carried out the investigation until May, 2010 — and then, from “June until August, police said the Grand Jury reviewed the evidence.” Doesn’t sound to us layfolk like the timing is fishy; sounds like a pretty normal timeline for any such case.
What could he get if he’s guilty? Up to five years in the can and a $10,000 fine.
What happens next? Deaton is due for arraignment September 14, 2010.
What’s this “Church of the Brethren”? We didn’t know either, so we turned to Wikipedia:
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination originating from the Schwarzenau Brethren (German: “Schwarzenauer Neutäufer” or “Schwarzenau New Baptists”) organized in 1708 by eight persons led by Alexander Mack, in Schwarzenau, Bad Berleburg, Germany. The Brethren movement began as a melding of Radical Pietist and Anabaptist ideas during the Protestant Reformation. The first of its churches in the United States was established in 1723. These church bodies became commonly known as Dunkers and more formally as German Baptist Brethren. The denomination holds the New Testament as its only creed. Historically the church has taken a strong stance for non-resistance or pacifism. Distinctive practices include believers baptism by trine immersion; a threefold love feast consisting of feet washing, a fellowship meal, and communion; anointing for healing; and the holy kiss.. . .
Since the end of the Second World War, church and member positions on social issues have caused further disagreements between congregations, districts, and individuals within the church. Particularly difficult issues which have been the source of much debate and division include the authority of the Bible, the ordination of women, tolerance of homosexuality, and the promotion of ecumenicalism.
. . .
Promoting the more liberal ideas — including changing the name of the church because it is seen to be exclusionary of women, acceptance of homosexuals as members and ministers, and increased social and political activity — are groups such as Womaen’s Caucus, Voices for an Open Spirit, and the Brethren Mennonite Council on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Interests.
Although a great divide exists within the church on these issues, the official position of the Church is that the Bible is the Word of God and that covenant-relationships between homosexuals are unacceptable.
More at the link.
Memorable Vast-Ignorance-of-U.S.-History-on-Display quote:
The United States was founded as a Christian nation with values derived from biblical principles and morality from our God.— Eric Deaton
deatonforsenate.com
Which explains why Deaton is endorsed by such radical-fringe right-wing groups as:
• VOTE family Values (their capitalization, not ours): anti-gay, anti-equality, anti-choice, anti-science biblical literalists who endorse candidates as far removed from reality as they are.
• Liberty Candidates: extreme fiscal conservatives who love their guns — probably more than they love their wives.
• Mansfield North Central Ohio Tea Party Association, as well as the Akron Tea Party, who seem to be laboring under the impression that Deaton understands the United States Constitution.
• Virgil Goode, homophobic bigot who wants to elimate any legal recognition of same-sex partnerships and fearmongering xenophobe who equates undocumented aliens with terrorists and drug dealers.
Suggested Bible reading for Mr. Deaton:
Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
— Amos 2:6-8
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