AR - Rep. Harris rehomed his adopted daughter to man who sexually abused her

[K_Z]

Well, it does sound like they were following her advice.

And just in case Nancy Thomas' techniques weren't abusive enough on their own, to hedge their bets, the Harris' apparently thought throwing in a "therapeutic demonic exorcism" would boost their success. Complete with pictures of the demons, and a little video of demons rising.

I've completely lost any residual respect I might have had for JH and his wife. I think they have committed crimes, and should be investigated and charged.

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, calling for the removal of a public official is known as a recall. 19 states give voters the right to remove an elected official from office, but Arkansas is not one of them.

There Is only one provision in the Arkansas Constitution to remove an elected official at the State level, and it has to come from inside the House or Senate.

Nate Coulter, a former visiting faculty member at the U of A School of Law who is now in private practice in Little Rock, says while petitions could put pressure on the Legislature, signatures alone cannot force a State Representative from office.

"Arkansas doesn't have a recall provision. The petition drives don't have any legal weight because there's not a provision under the Arkansas law to carry out any kind of recall," Coulter saID.

However, according to the State Constitution, an elected official can be removed by his peers. Under Article 5, Section 12, it states that an elected member of the House can be removed by a two thirds vote.

Coulter says the rules to remove a legislator from office vary from House to Senate, but the motion must be internal.

"Some member or group of members would have to circulate a petition from within that group to put on the order of business a vote to expel some member of that body."

Coulter says even the Governor's hands are tied.

"The governor has no authority to take any action in regard to removing any member of the general assembly."

http://m.nwahomepage.com/display/20386/story/3fb4252a39ef0490e8187d19bc214de5

 

[K_Z]

So, according to the above, it would take a member of the house to move for a vote for JH's removal, and a 2/3 majority to oust him. Seems late in the legislative session to go about doing that, but if they are all peeved enough and outraged enough, it could be done.

Seems like pressuring him to resign might work just as fast, IMO. The committee chairs of his committees have a lot of ways to exert informal pressure on him, and show their displeasure. Committee chairs have a lot of power to get things done......or NOT get things done, during session, KWIM?

 

[ohiogirl]

I think this will happen sooner than later. His peers are not going to continue to stick up for this sleazebag. Isn't it always the way, though. They will refuse to resign, then it gets so bad they will go. Push this asshat out the door asap! Not soon enough for those poor little girls, though. I have a feeling the head of Dhs is on her way out also.

 

[Margo/Mom]

I read the Wonkette article earlier and this part made me LOL

Apart from the demons that were invisible to everyone but the Harrises, Mary did not apparently manifest any of the classic symptoms of possession such as levitation, speaking in an electronically altered voice, rotating her head 360 degrees, or voting a straight Democratic ticket.

Read more at http://wonkette.com/579216/ark-rep-...homing-them-with-a-rapist#5tFReEZTVkxmku1Q.99

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From one of the best comments on one of the news articles was one along the lines that, of course he was right to be upset with DHS--I was really pissed the time the gave me a demonically possessed kid. Lol

 

[Margo/Mom]

Nancy Thomas' work is controversial as is Foster Cline (Love and Logic). Both have worked with children with incredible needs. I am appalled that the Harris family would utilize strategies that are meant for older children who have significant issues. I don't think any of the Harris children have been dx'ed with RAD.

On another note, the Harris family needs a new lawyer. If she thinks that a book is going to get them off the hook ----a book spouting that a child needs to almost ask to breathe as part of their family integration--- and lessen the outrage, she should have read the book. IT is one scary methodology to think it had been used on children who were not diagnosed with RAD.

I am not familiar with Nancy Thomas, but I do know a bit about Foster Cline. And my impression is that his work is with much older children--those who are really caught in a developmental quandry as they are programmed to establish independance before they have truly bonded. Extraordinary measures are called for--to establish dependance. Hardly needs to be the case at the age of these kids. More likely to have been an issue would have been inappropriately sexualized behavior--learned in other settings.

 

[daisy7]

I think this will happen sooner than later. His peers are not going to continue to stick up for this sleazebag. Isn't it always the way, though. They will refuse to resign, then it gets so bad they will go. Push this asshat out the door asap! Not soon enough for those poor little girls, though. I have a feeling the head of Dhs is on her way out also.

I wish this would happen, but the minority Chair's comments don't make it seem like he is going to push for this.

(snip)

Asked specifically if HE was calling for Harris' resignation, he said he was only urging the speaker and governor and others to "talk through the opportunity of what's best for Justin Harris" and his family. He said he didn't want to personally judge Harris, whom he described as a "great colleague" who'd done good work on legislation on adoption and other family issues. But he said the matter was deterring discussion of these and other issues and he focused particularly on the need to address pre-K education.

Armstrong said he wasn't calling Harris "guilty or innocent." Did he think Harris has a conflict of interest in a leadership position on a children's affairs committee, where he's vice chairman? He said it was distraction.

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlo...ion-on-distraction-presented-by-justin-harris

Anyone know what adoption legislation JH worked on?

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[shadowraiths]

Here is a list of the legislation he has been involved in: link

Eta ~ another link

 

[kaen]

I am not familiar with Nancy Thomas, but I do know a bit about Foster Cline. And my impression is that his work is with much older children--those who are really caught in a developmental quandry as they are programmed to establish independance before they have truly bonded. Extraordinary measures are called for--to establish dependance. Hardly needs to be the case at the age of these kids. More likely to have been an issue would have been inappropriately sexualized behavior--learned in other settings.

Foster Cline and his methods have been responsible for deaths of children. I have to think there is a better and safer way.

I should have written that I am appalled at the "techniques" used with any children. I just don't think there is solid science behind most of these methodologies. Additionally, I think that when a parent uses these "techniques" the lines are quickly blurred between "training" and abuse.

 

[kaen]

deleted

 

[Margo/Mom]

I wish this would happen, but the minority Chair's comments don't make it seem like he is going to push for this.

(snip)

Asked specifically if HE was calling for Harris' resignation, he said he was only urging the speaker and governor and others to "talk through the opportunity of what's best for Justin Harris" and his family. He said he didn't want to personally judge Harris, whom he described as a "great colleague" who'd done good work on legislation on adoption and other family issues. But he said the matter was deterring discussion of these and other issues and he focused particularly on the need to address pre-K education.

Armstrong said he wasn't calling Harris "guilty or innocent." Did he think Harris has a conflict of interest in a leadership position on a children's affairs committee, where he's vice chairman? He said it was distraction.

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlo...ion-on-distraction-presented-by-justin-harris

Anyone know what adoption legislation JH worked on?

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I suspect that everyone is still testing the political winds. The more that comes out, and the stronger the public reaction, the more likely he will be pressured by his own party to step down. Particularly if there is support for the allegation that he used his influence to push the adoption through.

 

[Margo/Mom]

Foster Cline and his methods have been responsible for deaths of children. I have to think there is a better and safer way.

I should have written that I am appalled at the "techniques" used with any children. I just don't think there is solid science behind most of these methodologies. Additionally, I think that when a parent uses these "techniques" the lines are quickly blurred between "training" and abuse.

Solid science is difficult to come by across the spectrum of children's psych treatment--for many reasons.

Tell me about deaths associated with Foster Cline. I am aware of some related to holding therapy--but I did not think that was what he was into. I could be wrong.

 

[kaen]

Cline supervised people who were accused of abuse of a child and the death of at least one child that I know of. Many of the "techniques" were his. He was sanctioned by CO and, I believe, he lost his license. You can read about him on quack watch.

Also, three articles on his links to harming children or the deaths of children.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9610/24/rage.reduction.therapy/

http://www.westword.com/news/suffer-the-children-5063807

http://extras.denverpost.com/news/news0617d.htm

 

[shadowraiths]

Former Employee Says Harris' Attempted to Pray Demons Out of Kids

One former employee of Growing God's Kingdom says the Harris' didn't just believe their adopted kids were possessed, but they also believed students at the school possessed demons as well.

The former employee and mother of a student at the school wants to be named only as Amber. She says Justin and Marsha Harris would often try to pray the demons out of misbehaving students at their pre-school, Growing God's Kingdom.

"If they got in too much trouble they would pray on the kids, do a circle around them, put their hands on their heads, saying, trying to rebuke demons." Said former employee, Amber.

Amber was an employee at Growing God's Kingdom for about five months in 2013. She says Justin Harris fired her after a difference in opinion on how to discipline students. Though she says she learned a lot about the Harris family during those five months.
​

link

 

[K_Z]

Ok, now that's pretty interesting, shadowraiths. It sounds like the "demon" thing wasn't just a one time thing for the Harrises.

Public money for education being used "on the clock" to perform demon exorcisms. Mmkay. That's just a bit more involved than a standard "time out".

Is there a parental consent form for demon exorcisms for preschoolers? Wondering.... wondering....

Is there a "policy and procedure" for the school for "how" the demon exorcisms will be performed? Roles identified, etc?

As I said before, I won't be surprised to hear if naked moonlight human sacrifices will be next? This is immensely embarrassing and infuriating for the image of all of Arkansas, IMO. This man needs to either resign immediately, or be removed from office. This is just beyond disgusting, IMO. Praying the demons out of preschoolers?? Who is going to lay hands on, and "pray the demons" out of Justin Harris??

 

[shadowraiths]

Is there a parental consent form for demon exorcisms for preschoolers? Wondering.... wondering....

Is there a "policy and procedure" for the school for "how" the demon exorcisms will be performed? Roles identified, etc?

One thing that I find interesting is that even though "Amber" was fired after only 5 months, she continued to let her son go to that pre-school, demon cleansing and all. And did not withdraw him until the exorcism story broke. Which she claimed was due to her concern of possible media exposure, as opposed to the school, itself. Also, if you watch the video, only one parent was willing to speak with the reporter, and he was clearly quite happy that his child is attending, and receiving religious instruction, at that preschool. Therefore, and imho, if this sort of sentiment is common in that area, I simply do not see Harris stepping down. I would even go so far as to predict, in that sort of climate, he will win next year's re-election.

Eta ~ this whole thing has an underlying cultish vibe (i.e., cutting off contact when he had the adoptive girls, the behavior when the media reached out to the school, etcetera).

 

[K_Z]

Agreed, shadowraiths. Even Michelle Bachmann (with her and her husband's "Pray away the gay" clinic) has a large base of supporters, and has been re-elected, lol!

Who knows? JH might be a rock star in his district. :doh:

 

[shadowraiths]

Arkansas Matters interviewed the babysitter. link

Imho, her story does not cohere. On one hand, she claims they kept the girls separated, yet, on the other, she claims:

"I've baby sat many years and I mean they were like little girls, they would fight when they didn't want to eat their vegetables, and they would blame each-other of course, and they would play like little girls, barbies and all."​

Another interesting thing from the interview, is that Marsha's mother apparently provided "orientation" for the first time she babysat. She also mentions that she could take them out of their rooms whenever she wanted. And finally, she says she babysat for 3 months, after school, and that she watched the boys, on occasion, as well.

All things considered, and imho, her story is all over the place, which leaves me feeling skeptical.

 

[believe09]

This story cries out for a national media platform.

 

[daisy7]

This story cries out for a national media platform.

It's really odd that national media is not even covering it. USA Today is the only one I've seen so far. Only a few states have laws against re homing and, surprisingly, mine is one of them.

Only a handful of states have enacted laws to regulate "re-homing," according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Colorado and Wisconsin regulate the advertising of adopted children, while Louisiana and Florida have criminalized the "re-homing" practice. Ohio has safeguards against trading money or goods in return for an adopted child.


Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article12882434.html#storylink=cpy

 

[daisy7]

Here is a list of the legislation he has been involved in: link

Eta ~ another link

I started browsing through the bills he sponsored. One is from this legislative session and is titled to Amend the Law Concerning a Child Care Facility and he is the lead sponsor. Basically, it's saying that centers who do not have commercial cooking facilities do not have to have a sprinkler system.

He shouldn't even be voting on a bill like this, let alone sponsoring it. It's basic Robert's Rules that you abstain if you have a conflict of interest, which he clearly does!!

http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2015/2015R/Pages/BillInformation.aspx?measureno=HB1554

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