Margie Phelps Of Westboro Baptist Church Says Group Will Picket Steve Jobs' Funeral

That was fast.

Just hours after the announcement of Steve Jobs' death, Margie Phelps, a leader of the Westboro Baptist Church--the group notorious for protesting military funerals--took to Twitter to announce that her organization would give Jobs the same harsh treatment. Responding to the AP's notification that Jobs had died, Phelps wrote that "Westboro will picket his funeral. He had a huge platform; gave God no glory & taught sin." In a subsequent tweet, Phelps wrote of Jobs: "No peace for man who served self, not God."

Unsurprisingly, Phelps' proclamation drew widespread scorn on Twitter. And it was ironic, many noted, that she made her announcement using Twitter for iPhone. "The iPhone-wielding Westboro members seemed unable to find any irony in their embrace of the technology of a man they condemn," reported The Washington Post.

"She used an iPhone to announce [the protests]," wrote Dave Weigel at Slate. "By extension, Margie Phelps -- nay, the entire Westboro Baptist Church -- has embraced a philosophy of tolerance for gays. Well done."

In response to her critics, Phelps tweeted Thursday morning "Rebels mad cuz I used iPhone to tell you Steve Jobs is in hell. God created iPhone for that purpose! :)"

Margie is the daughter of Fred Phelps, the widely reviled leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, a small, extremist sect whose anti-gay agenda messages pits it against celebrities, military veterans, and anyone else it deems is promoting a homosexual agenda. "God Hates Fags" is one of the organization's signature slogans.

In May, she represented the church at the Supreme Court, successfully arguing that it has the right to picket military funerals.

Comments

[PirateJohn]

10:55 PM on 10/19/2011

If I had three wishes, I think my first wish would be that all members of WBC would instantly see themselves as the rest of us see them.

Then I'd wish for a billion dollars and Jessica Alba as my personal love slave.

[Tim Temple]

07:50 PM on 10/11/2011

This group is too good to be true! If it didn't exist, the Marxists would have to invent one. Or maybe they did. This would be Great anti-Christian black propaganda to feed the kids in public school.

[RomanCatholicsAreLoving]

11:03 PM on 10/10/2011

I pray that these souls, misguided or not, be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. They deserve to be forgiven, if what they have done was wrongful. They deserve our love and respect, if we are to receive love and respect from them. Must we compete in the hatred or anger? Christians, settle down. Pray that all of these souls be at peace with God. All are deserving of love and forgiveness. – Roman Catholic

[PirateJohn]

10:55 PM on 10/19/2011

There's forgiveness, and then there's enabling.

[nebulaboy23]

03:22 PM on 10/10/2011

The fact that they are unable to see the flaming irony of using an iPhone to protest Steve Jobs just shows how out of touch with reality they really are. This group appears to believe in predestination -- which means that everything that has happened or will happen is unchangeable. Their protesting is nothing but trolling for its own sake.

[Ashleigh VeganThis Mott]

11:34 PM on 10/08/2011

Really? God invented the iPhone? I don't know what's more pathetic: the fact that people this imbecilic exist, or the fact that the media is gullible enought to give these cretins what they want. Knock it off!

[George Genung]

03:21 PM on 10/08/2011

"Stupid is as stupid does" (Forest Gump, as well as many others)
Westboro turns on its microphones and the media responds.

[GDWhiteman]

03:14 PM on 10/08/2011

A friend of mine once said, "Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly can go clear to the bone." See photo of poster child above.

If all women were as unappealing as these ladies (inside as well as out), I'd probably have to give going gay consideration.

[LibertarianCentrist]

12:41 PM on 10/08/2011

Wow... What are they going to do when scientists prove that god doesn't exist.

[Tim Temple]

07:52 PM on 10/11/2011

What are you going to do when science disproves itself? Like with FTL particles?

[PirateJohn]

10:58 PM on 10/19/2011

How would faster-than-light particles *disprove* science? Science is constantly evolving as new information is gathered.

Besides, the theory of relativity doesn't say that nothing can move faster than light. It says nothing can accelerate to the speed of light.

[twocansam]

10:49 AM on 10/08/2011

When is this "Rapture" thing gonna happen. These folks need to leave the planet now.

[GDWhiteman]

03:28 PM on 10/08/2011

Unfortunately for the rest of us, I'd guess this bunch will be left behind. :(

[victorlove1]

10:47 AM on 10/08/2011

Of the 108 top big businesses in america, Apple (a) leads the list of corporations who paid ZERO in taxes and took home a huge rebate, paid for by taxpayers, other than that no complaints about Steve Jobs, I wonder if he spoke Chinese?

[Impulse725]

03:01 AM on 10/08/2011

Stop feeding the real life trolls.

[fieryat41]

02:04 AM on 10/08/2011

Westboro Baptist Church preaches hatred, and god doesn't hate. I have no respect for them.

[Ramon Moreno]

12:40 AM on 10/08/2011

Jobs was a user; soldiers are parts. They're not being very consistent in their scorn.

[stupid humans]

11:46 PM on 10/07/2011

can't wait to attend the phelp's family funerals....

[Ramon Moreno]

12:43 AM on 10/08/2011

It's Phelps'. Not possessive.

Will you at least use capital letters in your picket sign?

[stupid humans]

04:26 AM on 10/08/2011

finger slip..whats your excuse?

[sergal stew]

12:58 PM on 10/08/2011

Phelps' is possessive. Nice try.

This comment, like yours, contributes nothing.

[ThinkCreeps]

04:01 AM on 10/08/2011

Hopefully it can be a bulk one when their meth lab goes up.

[kwaller]

10:49 PM on 10/07/2011

I am very upset that this church thinks that they are serving the Lord, but in reality they are pure EVIL. I say that with every fiber of my being. What gives these people the right to protest any funeral. No matter who they are, they have absoultely no right to disturb anyone funeral.
I think when someone from their congregation dies we should all stop doing everything in our lives to protest at their funeral just because they are from that church and see how they feel.
Westboro Baptist Church you need to learn what serving the Lord is truly about because what you are doing is pure HATRED and that is not the Lord's doing nor would it be what he would like you to do. Stay home next friday and all the other days of the week, mind your own business and GET A LIFE.

[Ramon Moreno]

12:44 AM on 10/08/2011

Pipe down, weirdo.

[TranceAnd]

01:15 AM on 10/08/2011

Is that you, Margie?

[Dave Harpe]

01:39 AM on 10/08/2011

Shhhhhhhh! The devil needs their souls. Don't let them in on the secret!