Does Fred Phelps Also Hate CO2?

Thanks to Jason for passing on what must be the oddest political story of the day - connections between Al Gore's past presidential campaigns and Rev. Fred "I Hate Fags" Phelps:

Fred Phelps, Sr., pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., and creator of the notorious "God Hates Fags" website, said that when Gore was running for president 12 years ago, he enlisted "members of the Westboro Baptist Church to help run his 1988 campaign in Kansas."

Al Gore and wife Tipper with Fred Phelps, Jr. and his wife Betty in 1988.

"In fact, Fred Phelps, Jr. [son of Westboro pastor Fred Phelps, Sr.] was one of his delegates," he said.

Also, in 1989 Phelps claims to have held a fundraiser at his home for Gore, attended by an estimated 500 people and "considered a success by any political standards."

So grateful for that support was Gore, said Phelps, that four years later, in 1992, Phelps was provided tickets to the inauguration of President Clinton. He was also sent tickets to the 1996 inauguration, he said.

It's a little low-res, but allegedly this is a photo of Al Gore and wife Tipper with Fred Phelps, Jr. and his wife Betty in 1988.

And who could resist from observing that a Gore + Phelps team brings a whole new meaning to the term "strange bedfellows"?

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