Apr 15, 2015: Bob Eschliman: Iowa Statesman: Formerly First in the Nation: Part 1 – History has a surprise in store for you

ON THE RECORD: May 8, 2014:
Apr 29, 2014: Caffienated Thoughts: Newspaper Editors Can’t Exercise Free Speech?: Bob Eschliman is the editor of the Newton Daily News. He is also an outspoken conservative Christian. Yesterday he wrote an article on his personal blog entitled “The deceivers are hard at work.”
Caffienated Thoughts author Shane Vander Hart wrote: "Putting the topic of homosexuality aside let’s look at the root problem with this particular story. Somebody disagrees with Eschliman and demands he be fired mainly because that person doesn’t like where he stands on a particular issue. That’s dangerous territory. Media outlets should encourage free speech. I know of journalists who won’t join anything in order to have a guise of being unbiased. That’s ridiculous. Everybody has a bias, everyone. I’d prefer to know where somebody stands and as long as they can be balanced in their reporting I’m fine. What I can’t stand is the bias of omission under the guise of being unbiased. That’s disingenuous and the examples of liberal bias towards conservatives in the mainstream media under the guise of “news” are legion."
May 6, 2014: Caffienated Thoughts: Newton Daily News Fires Editor for Criticizing Queen James Bible: A follow-up to my op/ed last week about Bob Eschliman, now former editor of the Newton Daily News, who came under fire for writing a critique of a homosexual-themed study Bible, entitled the Queen James Bible, on his personal blog. Yesterday Shaw Media, who owns the Newton Daily News, fired him.
From Bob Eshliman's blog post:
"No, I’m not suggesting the end times are near, although there are days one has to wonder. Instead, I’d like to talk a little bit about deceivers among us, most notably the LGBTQXYZ crowd and the Gaystapo effort to reword the Bible to make their sinful nature “right with God.” A few weeks ago, I came across the website for the Queen James Bible (because King James was a flaming homo, don’t you know). The editors are very keen to let folks know they didn’t remove passages from the Bible, but instead reworded them to “make it more relevant.” Calling other versions of the Bible “anti-LGBT versions,” the editors are very clear about their intent. They want to erase all references to sodomy as a sin. Here’s what they have to say about Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13: Leviticus is outdated as a moral code, but we still picked it as our most important book to address in our edits, as most anti-LGBT religious activists cite Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 as proof-positive that homosexuality is a sin, even worse, a sin punishable by death …"
May 6, 2014: Des Moines Register: Newton newspaper editor fired over 'Gaystapo' comments: The Newton Daily News has fired editor Bob Eschliman for comments he made on his personal blog about a website which rewrites the Christian Bible to be friendlier to gays and lesbians.
"Last week, he expressed an opinion in his personal blog that in no way reflects the opinion of the Newton Daily News or Shaw Media," wrote John Rung, president of Shaw Media, in an editorial published today. "While he is entitled to his opinion, his public airing of it compromised the reputation of this newspaper and his ability to lead it."
"In a response from Newton Daily News’ owner and Shaw Media president John Rung, Rung said: Last week, Mr. Eschliman expressed an opinion on his personal blog that in no way reflects the opinion of the Newton Daily News or Shaw Media… There will be some who will criticize our action, and mistakenly cite Mr. Eschliman’s First Amendment rights as a reason he should continue on as editor of the Newton Daily News. As previously stated, he has a right to voice his opinion. And we have a right to select an editor who we believe best represents our company and best serves the interests of our readers."
May 6, 2014: Jim Romenesko: Newton Daily News fires editor who blasted the ‘Gaystapo’ for trying to ‘reword the Bible’: Shaw Media’s Newton Daily News has dismissed editor Bob Eschliman for a post on his personal blog blasting “the LGBTQXYZ crowd and the Gaystapo” for trying “to reword the Bible to make their sinful nature ‘right with God.’”
May 7, 2014: New Civil Rights Movement: Local Iowa Editor: ‘The LGBTQXYZ Crowd And The Gaystapo’ Are ‘The Enemy’
That map you see above is a map of the state of Iowa. The little red dot is the tiny town of Newton. Population 15,254. A local Newton, Iowa newspaper editor wrote a lengthy religion-based piece on his personal blog (not the paper’s website) warning about what he sees as the gay community’s attempts to change the Bible.
David Badash from the pro gay rights web site "New Civil Rights Movement" used the still unsubstantiated argument that "gay rights" is the same as "racism." :: "From Brendan Eich to Donald Sterling to Bob Eschliman to David and Jason Benham, people are saying, “No, you cannot treat our fellow Americans that way any longer.” It doesn’t matter if it’s racism or homophobia or misogyny or any one of a number of hate-based beliefs. Americans have had enough."
Whether I agree or disagree with Eschliman is irrelevant, though I will go on the record and make it clear that I oppose re-writes of the Bible. The Bible is not subject to re-writes, though, when something is re-written it is not really The Bible any more anyway. Comments Can Be Made Here: Journalistic Ability is No longer a Requirement for Mainstream Journalists. Supporting Gay Rights Is.
Apr 29, 2014: Caffienated Thoughts: Newspaper Editors Can’t Exercise Free Speech?: Bob Eschliman is the editor of the Newton Daily News. He is also an outspoken conservative Christian. Yesterday he wrote an article on his personal blog entitled “The deceivers are hard at work.”
Caffienated Thoughts author Shane Vander Hart wrote: "Putting the topic of homosexuality aside let’s look at the root problem with this particular story. Somebody disagrees with Eschliman and demands he be fired mainly because that person doesn’t like where he stands on a particular issue. That’s dangerous territory. Media outlets should encourage free speech. I know of journalists who won’t join anything in order to have a guise of being unbiased. That’s ridiculous. Everybody has a bias, everyone. I’d prefer to know where somebody stands and as long as they can be balanced in their reporting I’m fine. What I can’t stand is the bias of omission under the guise of being unbiased. That’s disingenuous and the examples of liberal bias towards conservatives in the mainstream media under the guise of “news” are legion."
May 6, 2014: Caffienated Thoughts: Newton Daily News Fires Editor for Criticizing Queen James Bible: A follow-up to my op/ed last week about Bob Eschliman, now former editor of the Newton Daily News, who came under fire for writing a critique of a homosexual-themed study Bible, entitled the Queen James Bible, on his personal blog. Yesterday Shaw Media, who owns the Newton Daily News, fired him.
From Bob Eshliman's blog post:
"No, I’m not suggesting the end times are near, although there are days one has to wonder. Instead, I’d like to talk a little bit about deceivers among us, most notably the LGBTQXYZ crowd and the Gaystapo effort to reword the Bible to make their sinful nature “right with God.” A few weeks ago, I came across the website for the Queen James Bible (because King James was a flaming homo, don’t you know). The editors are very keen to let folks know they didn’t remove passages from the Bible, but instead reworded them to “make it more relevant.” Calling other versions of the Bible “anti-LGBT versions,” the editors are very clear about their intent. They want to erase all references to sodomy as a sin. Here’s what they have to say about Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13: Leviticus is outdated as a moral code, but we still picked it as our most important book to address in our edits, as most anti-LGBT religious activists cite Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 as proof-positive that homosexuality is a sin, even worse, a sin punishable by death …"
May 6, 2014: Des Moines Register: Newton newspaper editor fired over 'Gaystapo' comments: The Newton Daily News has fired editor Bob Eschliman for comments he made on his personal blog about a website which rewrites the Christian Bible to be friendlier to gays and lesbians.
"Last week, he expressed an opinion in his personal blog that in no way reflects the opinion of the Newton Daily News or Shaw Media," wrote John Rung, president of Shaw Media, in an editorial published today. "While he is entitled to his opinion, his public airing of it compromised the reputation of this newspaper and his ability to lead it."
"In a response from Newton Daily News’ owner and Shaw Media president John Rung, Rung said: Last week, Mr. Eschliman expressed an opinion on his personal blog that in no way reflects the opinion of the Newton Daily News or Shaw Media… There will be some who will criticize our action, and mistakenly cite Mr. Eschliman’s First Amendment rights as a reason he should continue on as editor of the Newton Daily News. As previously stated, he has a right to voice his opinion. And we have a right to select an editor who we believe best represents our company and best serves the interests of our readers."
May 6, 2014: Jim Romenesko: Newton Daily News fires editor who blasted the ‘Gaystapo’ for trying to ‘reword the Bible’: Shaw Media’s Newton Daily News has dismissed editor Bob Eschliman for a post on his personal blog blasting “the LGBTQXYZ crowd and the Gaystapo” for trying “to reword the Bible to make their sinful nature ‘right with God.’”
May 7, 2014: New Civil Rights Movement: Local Iowa Editor: ‘The LGBTQXYZ Crowd And The Gaystapo’ Are ‘The Enemy’
That map you see above is a map of the state of Iowa. The little red dot is the tiny town of Newton. Population 15,254. A local Newton, Iowa newspaper editor wrote a lengthy religion-based piece on his personal blog (not the paper’s website) warning about what he sees as the gay community’s attempts to change the Bible.
David Badash from the pro gay rights web site "New Civil Rights Movement" used the still unsubstantiated argument that "gay rights" is the same as "racism." :: "From Brendan Eich to Donald Sterling to Bob Eschliman to David and Jason Benham, people are saying, “No, you cannot treat our fellow Americans that way any longer.” It doesn’t matter if it’s racism or homophobia or misogyny or any one of a number of hate-based beliefs. Americans have had enough."
Whether I agree or disagree with Eschliman is irrelevant, though I will go on the record and make it clear that I oppose re-writes of the Bible. The Bible is not subject to re-writes, though, when something is re-written it is not really The Bible any more anyway. Comments Can Be Made Here: Journalistic Ability is No longer a Requirement for Mainstream Journalists. Supporting Gay Rights Is.