Scott Rigell Endorsed by Hate Group, Wacko Conspiracy Theorist

Rigell also endorsed by Nick "Demons" Rerras (4.00 / 1)

Rigell also lists former State Senator Nick Rerras as endorsing him.  Check this out.

Several mental health advocates say state Sen. D. Nick Rerras has twice during the past four years expressed extreme and insensitive positions about the origins of mental illness, including the belief that psychological disorders are caused by spiritual demons.

[...]

Bob Armstrong, a member of the Norfolk Community Services Board, was sitting near Rerras when the conversation turned to mental illness. Armstrong, who has a daughter with mental illness, was chairman of the Norfolk chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill for about 15 years before recently stepping down.

During the discussion, Rerras said he believed mental illness was caused by demons, according to Armstrong and another person who heard the conversation. Neither Armstrong nor the other participant are associated with the Protogyrou campaign.

Rerras also said he believed that God may be punishing families by giving children mental illnesses, according to the other person who heard the conversation. Armstrong and the second witness said the people who heard it were shocked. "We hadn't heard that kind of stuff in 30, 40, 50 years," Armstrong said.

Rerras recalls the conversation differently. As he remembers it, he did not say all mental illness is caused by demons. He said he asked the group whether demonization was a possible explanation for illnesses such as multiple personality disorders.

Armstrong said Rerras called him within the past two weeks and acknowledged that he made the comments and apologized. In interviews this week, Rerras declined to answer several questions about whether he believes mental illness has spiritual causes. "Mental illness is a valid illness," he said. Most problems are physiological, he said, but "we're more than flesh and blood."

Within the past year, another mental health advocate questioned Rerras about his stance on mental illness. Honey Biberman, a Norfolk resident who is active in the local NAMI chapter, said she approached Rerras in June at a club wrestling event at Granby High School.

Biberman asked Rerras whether he still believed that mental illness was caused by spirits. According to Biberman, the senator restated his belief that mental illness had spiritual origins.

Rerras said he did not remember the exact details of the conversation but said he again mentioned demonization as a possible component of mental illness.

Some Christians believe that demonization plays a role in certain mental illnesses, Rerras said. Rerras would not say what he believes.

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by: lowkell @ Wed Oct 27, 2010 at 10:40:38 AM UTC

Also re: Rerras, check out this story (0.00 / 0)

from Raising Kaine, 2/6/07

Court Candidate "Shocked, offended and embarrassed" at Sen. Nick Rerras

By: Lowell
Published On: 2/6/2007 4:17:19 PM

Today's Virginian Pilot reports on a truly disturbing incident (if accurate) between Mary G. Commander, a candidate for a Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court judgeship, and State Senator Nick Rerras (R-Norfolk).  According to the Pilot, Rerras - who "holds exclusive power to nominate candidates for the city's judgeships" - held a bizarre meeting with Commander at his office in Richmond this past Friday.  Here's an excerpt from the Pilot article:

In a letter addressed to Rerras and copied to 17 other legislators, Commander wrote that she met with Rerras at his office in Richmond on Friday. She said Rerras told her that he thought ideal judge candidates should oppose abortion and be active in the Republican Party.

She interpreted his remarks on being an active Republican "as a solicitation for monetary contributions." She also said he used the term "FemiNazi" during the interview.

She wrote that she "was shocked, offended and embarrassed by our conversation... I know that I will never be able to pass your litmus test. My conscience, however, will not let me remain silent about what you have done."

Wow.

Of course, Rerras denies Commanders' account, saying that "[s]he took so many things out of context" and that "[s]o much of what she wrote was misleading."

Is this a case of "he said, she said?"  How do we get to the bottom of this story?  What do you all think?

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by: lowkell @ Wed Oct 27, 2010 at 10:44:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

And in other news...Rigell doesn't know (4.00 / 1)

where JFCOM is located, apparently.



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by: lowkell @ Wed Oct 27, 2010 at 10:49:21 AM UTC

Crazy Lou Sheldon (0.00 / 0)

The man is wacko!

but then most of those of that ilk are too.

Mere parsimony is not economy. Expense, and great expense, may be an essential part in true economy.
Edmund Burke

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by: blue bronc @ Wed Oct 27, 2010 at 11:30:38 AM UTC

Right, and Scott Rigell is one of them! (0.00 / 0)

n/t

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by: lowkell @ Wed Oct 27, 2010 at 11:38:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lowell, Thanks (0.00 / 0)

for picking up the story.  Rigell is a Kool-Aid drinking Christianist and he needs to be forced to disavow Sheldon and some of the other extremists who have endorsed him.  Otherwise, you're right that it proves that he agress with their hate-filled views.  We do NOT need a nutcase in Congress.  Keep up the good work!

michaelinnorfolk

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by: michaelinnorfolk @ Wed Oct 27, 2010 at 12:01:42 PM UTC