More on the Haywood County Jihad

The N&O has a picture of pastor Chan Chandler up in today's edition, and we invite you to gaze into that hard face of early 21st-century fundamentalism. All he needs is a turban. He's already got the narrowed angry eyes of the fanatic.

The brouhaha at East Waynesville Baptist Church has apparently made all the tabloid-style TV shows, which we don't watch, as well as many of the network morning shows, which we also don't watch, so much so that maybe the Rev. Chandler has commenced to worry a little about what he's done. Through his lawyer, The Rev said, "No one has ever been voted from membership of this church due to an individual's support or lack of support for a political party or candidate." A baldfaced lie, according to every news report and the testimony of church members on Chandler's side in this purge. But perhaps he's actually worried about his IRS status as a tax-exempt institution. (There are limits, after all, to strict fundamentalism, especially when it comes to money.)

CNN says the pastor has been spooked by the media storm and is trying to call it "a great misunderstanding." The Asheville Citizen-Times says that the service at the church yesterday -- with ousted members, their lawyer, and several members of the media in attendance -- was the first in months where the sermon was NOT political in nature.

In this diary on dKos, 'southlib' reports on interviews with various church members that go a good deal beyond what any regular news reporter has so far turned up ... that the real shock troops in Rev. Chandler's dictatorial administration of the church are a cadre of "brainwashed" teenagers who hooted, clapped, and cheered when the nine or so ousted members walked out of the deacons meeting a week ago. (Thanks to Irmaly for the link.)