Gordon Klingenschmitt

Gordon Klingenschmitt
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2015
Preceded by Mark Waller
Personal details
Born c. 1968
Political party Republican
Alma mater United States Air Force Academy
Regent University
Website Gordon for Colorado
Military service
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Air Force
United States Navy
Rank Lieutenant

Gordon James Klingenschmitt (born c. 1968) is a former American military chaplain and elected official. A Republican, he is the member to the Colorado House of Representatives for the 15th district.

Career

Klingenschmitt graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a bachelor's degree in political science and from Regent University with a master's degree in divinity, a master's of business administration, and a doctor of philosophy in theology.[1] He served in the United States Navy as a military chaplain.

Klingenschmitt served continuously on active duty in both Air Force and Navy for over 20 years and was honorably discharged.[2] Klingenschmitt demanded his own court-martial in protest of a restrictive prayer policy about Chaplains' freedom to pray at a public event while wearing their Navy uniform. The Navy court-martialed Klingenschmitt in 2006. He was found guilty (Congress later rescinded the same policy SECNAVINST 1730.7C which had been enforced against Klingenschmitt, restoring rights for Chaplains.[3]), and punished with a reprimand and by having his pay docked by 5%.[4] Klingenschmitt sued in Federal Court claiming discrimination and a violation of his free speech rights. Judge Elaine D. Kaplan dismissed the case, ruling that he had the right to attend a protest but not to do so in uniform against a direct order; she also noted that the Navy had found him unsuited for further service.[5] Klingenschmitt promised to appeal the ruling.[5]

Klingenschmitt hosts a national TV show PIJN NEWS that airs weekdays via Satellite on the National Religious Broadcasters network. His web-site called "The Pray In Jesus Name Project" has helped deliver 5 million petitions to Congress for religious freedom, pro-life, and traditional marriage causes. Klingenschmitt is a part-time college professor serving as affiliate faculty at Colorado Christian University in the division of Biblical Studies.

Klingenschmitt ran for the 15th district seat in the Colorado House of Representatives in the 2014 elections. He received 70% of the vote in the general election to win the seat.[6] Also in 2014 Klingenschmitt said he received death threats, and a suspect was arrested for sending harassing messages.[7]

Political and social views

During a 2005 appearance on MSNBC, Klingenschmitt noted that though he was at the time a Christian Chaplain paid by the Navy to talk to sailors about religion, the Navy no longer permitted him to use the name "Jesus" within those conversations or prayers. [8] However, Islamic chaplains are not forbidden to pray to Allah, Jewish rabbis may make references to Hanukkah, and Catholic priests are permitted to refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.[9] During a 2012 appearance on The David Pakman Show, Klingenschmitt debated Jonathan Phelps, of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church.[10] The interview drew media coverage as a result of both Klingenschmitt and Westboro being known as anti-gay, but not agreeing on any of the reasons why being gay is a bad thing.[11] Klingenschmitt is also known for his efforts to shut down the YouTube channel of one of his most vocal critics, Right Wing Watch, which uses video clips of his statements.[12]

In 2012, Michael L. Weinstein sued Klingenschmitt for issuing an imprecatory prayer that he equated to a fatwa. The suit was dismissed by the judge, who stated that Weinstein failed to connect the prayer to any subsequent threats or actions against him.[13]

In 2014, Klingenschmitt said Colorado Representative Jared Polis, who is gay, wanted to execute Christians; both political parties in Colorado have disavowed Klingenschmitt.[14] Klingenschmitt has also compared President Barack Obama to a demon and claims that Obamacare can cause cancer.[15]

In March 2015, in response to an assault where a woman from Longmont, Colorado, had her 34-week-old fetus cut out of her womb,[16] claimed that the incident was the result of the "curse of God" for abortion. Fellow Republicans denounced Klingenschmitt's comments.[17] As a result, Klingenschmitt was removed from the Health, Insurance and Environment Committee, and he suspended his television ministry for six weeks.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Klingenschmitt, Fornander offer 'extremes' on both ends in House District 15 race". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ U.S. Navy. "Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty" (PDF). prayinjesusname.org. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  3. ↑ Walker, Ken (January 16, 2007). "Navy chaplain ousted on grounds overturned by Congress". bpnews.net. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Navy Chaplain Guilty Of Disobeying an Order". washingtonpost.com. September 14, 2006. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gallagher, John (December 3, 2014). "Federal Court Tells GOP Legislator The Navy Was Right To Can Him For Unprofessional Behavior". queerty.com. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Election night in Colorado exciting, if anti-climactic". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Newly elected Klingenschmitt opens up about death threats". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  8. ↑ 'The Situation with Tucker Carlson', MSNBC, 12/22/05
  9. ↑ The Washington Times, 12/21/05
  10. ↑ Wong, Curtis (November 29, 2012). "Anti-Gay Pundits Come To Surprisingly Different Conclusions On The LGBT Community". Huffington Post.
  11. ↑ "'God Hates Fags' Church & Anti-Gay Navy Chaplain Debate, Agree on NOTHING". YouTube. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  12. ↑ "How Did a Conservative Colorado Preacher Get YouTube to Shut Down His Liberal Critics?". www.nationaljournal.com. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Praying for God to hurt someone is not illegal, judge rules". USATODAY.COM. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Colorado candidate claims Rep. Jared Polis wants to execute Christians". The Spot. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  15. ↑ "El Paso County GOP candidate Klingenschmitt compares Obama to demon". denverpost.com. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Longmont 911 tape shows woman pleading for help after baby cut from womb". denverpost.com. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  17. ↑ "GOP aghast at Klingenschmitt's act-of-God comment in baby's death". denverpost.com. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  18. ↑ http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27816504/klingenschmitt-loses-committee-post-recall-effort-weighed

External links