Bartholomew's Notes

From 9-News, yesterday:

[1:12]

Interviewer: Do you know Mike Jones?

Pastor Ted Haggard: No, I do not know Mike Jones.

[2:14]

I: Do you…have you ever done drugs?

H: I have never done drugs, ever. Not even in high school.

[2:42]

I: Why would he pick you out of everyone?

H: I have no idea, I have no idea. He says he saw me on TV.

[7:05]

H:…if somebody has an accusation, we have a system to investigate that, and we will do that, and, erm, and we trust that that will happen. We’re not hesitant at all with an independent group asking the questions, of…what’d you say his name was?

I : Mike.

H:…Mike, and, erm, hearing him, and then investigating it and deciding what I should, what should be done with me.

From the AP, today:

Evangelist Ted Haggard admitted Friday that he bought methamphetamine and received a massage from a gay prostitute who claims he was paid for drug-fueled trysts by the outspoken gay marriage opponent.

…Talking to reporters outside his house Friday, Haggard denied the sex allegations but said that he did buy meth from the man because he was curious.

…Haggard, a married father of five, said he never had sex with Mike Jones…He said he did get a massage from Jones after being referred to him by a Denver hotel.

Alas for Haggard, this qualified admission might have had a bit more credibility had it not been for the earlier performance (which was very impressive, although the “what’d you say his name was?” gilded the lily slightly).

As others have noted, Haggard’s attraction to meth may perhaps have been connected with his interest in weight loss; a year ago he published The Jerusalem Diet, for which Amazon has the Publishers Weekly review:

Haggard, pastor of the huge New Life Church in Colorado Springs, proposes a diet that was born in, yes, Jerusalem. Haggard was there in 1998 when he realized he’d gained too much weight to comfortably fit in his clothes. He decided that for one day, he would eat only fruits, veggies and nuts. Voila! He felt better and looked better in his clothes. Gradually, one day at a time (and about one pound a week), he returned to his target weight. Now, whenever he gains a pound or two, he restricts his diet for a day and exercises for an hour; within 24 hours, he’s usually returned to his target. In fact, he finds that the routine of weighing himself every day serves as a good deterrent to overeating…

(Pic via Out Front Colorado)

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