I live up the street from you? I own a benz? (I love the little dash of materialism there too) Are you serious?

Now my post appears irrelevant. Ms. Early, or someone else, deleted her daily sermon.

Gee, thanks alot Mr. Hale. Its like finding one of those "complimentary" pamphlets under your windshield wiper. So, Ms. Early, do you go out amongst the heathens and preach, or just limit yourself to the ease and somewhat anonymity of the internet? Do you think people would pay any attention if you were to stand at the corner of Eastman and Stone, or outside Wal- Mart holding a sign or two, maybe rattling off some of the juicy stuff like that last post? Really, I want to know.

For years I have wondered what this scripture meant, ?The kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force.? I have conducted research after research. On one of my educational journeys, I went to a private college that offered Hebrew and Greek classes. Although I dropped out of those classes, this scripture was a topic of discussion. I left class not knowing what it meant. Now you come along Ms. Early and use this scripture in a way where I understand it more the ever before. Could you please expound on the passage./////////Signing of from the Kingdom

For years I have wondered what this scripture meant, ?The kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force.? I have conducted research after research. On one of my educational journeys, I went to a private college that offered Hebrew and Greek classes. Although I dropped out of those classes, this scripture was a topic of discussion. I left class not knowing what it meant. Now you come along Ms. Early and use this scripture in a way where I understand it more the ever before. Could you please expound on the passage./////////Signing of from...

Abuse you? Lets all read the definition of the word "abuse" from the Merriam-Webster dictionary: Abuse- language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily. Do we also need to post the definitions of the words used to define "abuse"? How many times have you dramatically said your goodbyes here only to re-appear soon after due to the internal burning desire to shower us all with adulation?

Scripturally? You mean he would agree with the bible verses you recite, correct? LOL. Sounds like you two are definitely on the same page. What about all the additional rhetoric thrown in to spice things up eh?

What in the world is wrong with you people? Someone picks a name of someone you don't like and you blow a fuse? Are you that small? Or do you have this hate in your soul?

This is why our country that was formerly on life support, is now starting to die. Hate.

Do you think whats his name in D.C. gives a flip how you feel? It's now time for us to save ourselves. They've proven they can't help us.

Ah theres nothing wrong with an old, uneducated and bigoted witch calling people queers. Hell, I'm a queer. And that old balancing jesus game of "love the sinner not the sin" is an act nearly all of the jesus followers are incapable of performing. If I was run out of a local church in Kingsport, I'd probably be very unhappy with just about everything too, including us queers.

I first want to say that I am not a Republican or a Democrat. I always try to choose the best candidate. When I voted this year, you will find that I voted for some of each. Now, I just have one question that no one seems to know the answer to.If people are voting straight Republican because they are against abortion, then can you explain to me why when there is a Republican in office, they never try to pass any laws to ban abortion? From 2000-2006 we had a Republican controlled House and Senate and we had a Republican President. Did they ever try to overturn Roe vs Wade at all during that time? If they did, I didn't hear about it. And, if they didn't, then what makes you think they will any other time? I really am curious. Am I missing something?

Well...Ms. Early. It appears that you have totally missed the teachings of Christ. He was not a bigot, nor was he judgemental, as you appear to be. Obama is no terrorist. That type of ignorance is what is wrong with our Great Country. Your way is not the only way. Remember, the only judge is God, not you. Hypocrisy runs rampant in your vile, hateful words. You may want to get back to your Bible and truly understand what it teaches.

now that barack obama is going to be the president of the united states.. this man should feel like a total idiot. his poor child.. named after losers. i hope the mom changed her name back to what was originally planned and gave her husband a good kick in the rear.

It would seem that we have a prima facie case of self importance. Res ipsa loquitur. Ms. Early, if you do not know what that means, ask Mr. Taylor.

Have you thought earnestly of joining a travelling circus? You know, they just let you get up in the middle of the ring and say random, jumbled, sentence fragments to the delight of the crowd. It's like after decades on this earth, one still hasn't mentally aged a day. You could definitely find an entertainment market for yourself if the, ummm, office work slows down. Your last comment was simply too embarassing for one to even read.

Mr. Mulkey, please accept my apology. I misunderstood.

This is unbelievable. Nyah, nyah, ha, I'm rubber; you're glue, etc. I thought only adults were involved with this thread. It seems that a few people have managed to take a very serious discussion and turn it into their own juvenile therapy session. As for Mr. Taylor's education, his writing skills "tell the tale." He obviously has a good grasp of punctuation, grammar, and spelling, as well as accurate typing skills. I assume that Ms. Early and Mr. Mulkey both have diplomas they feel are superior to a GED. Their grammar, punctuation, sentence structure,and spelling skills certainly prove otherwise. I can't wait to read what the two have to say about me now. Maybe they'll tell everyone that I have the "cooties."

From someone whose writings appear to come from an average 8th grade student.

Thats because one gets in way over their head to begin with. After that, its just a struggle to appear to stay afloat...a futile attempt.

If Jesus is God, then who is Jesus'/God's father? While on the cross, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)He also said, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me (Matthew 27:46). Since Ms. Early insists on digressing from the subject of an egotistical man looking for his 15 minutes of fame, then why don't we humor her. Let's talk about Jim Jones. For those who don't remember him, he was a religious leader of the 70's. He quoted scripture and claimed to be a Christian, but he actually only wanted his congregation to worship him (not the true God). He used various tactics, including condemnation for those whose opinions differed from his, name calling, and derrogatory remarks. He spoke scripture, but did the devil's work. I fear that Ms. Early too has become gripped by the devil (God would NEVER treat people the way she does). Please join me in praying for her.

Plug those ears and sing. Thank you for the validation.

Ms. Early, that last post is solid proof of religion robbing human beings of their rational thought process. Faith is the enemy of reason. "If you get caught at some crucial point and somebody tells you that your doctrine doesn't make sense - you're ready for him. You tell him there's something above sense. That here he must not try to think, he must feel. He must believe. Suspend reason and you can play it deuces wild."~Ayn Rand

Ms. Peavler, before you respond to Ms. Early please remember that even the devil knows what is written in the scriptures and can twist them for his own devious devices. Remember Saint Matthew 4:1-11.
Ms. Early since you like to beat a dead horse sooooo much by staying off the targeted subject then why don't you make some comments regarding the Hawkins County man who drug the mule from behind his truck? Or does that story hit too close to home?

Maybe the wife should change her namme to Barack Obama-Biden for revenge...ha?

What a thought-provoking comment Ms. Harper. Are you a teacher of any sort? Our future could use many new minds of your caliber.

While well-intentioned, its simply a lost-cause Ms. Harper. Her mirror is one of magical deceit.

yeah.. i think the best thing to do is to ignore her. obviously she feeds on creating strife and then wallowing in the negative attention she gets.

Amen, Rachel! I think you've made an excellent comment to Ms. Early. And I agree that names should mean something and I agree that your child's name shouldn't be a politic statement. I'm a rare Tennessee democrat, I believe in recycling and protecting the environment, HOWEVER I did not name my son Albert Gore. I also believe a woman should have an equal opportunity to be president however my daughter's name isn't Hilary Clinton. Their names are Ava Rebekah and Aaron Parker- all after relatives not political stances.

Not Justin, just Rachel. And I did indeed read all of the comments, and what I got was this: "If Sarah Palin were for homosexual marriage and governments sanctions of the same. Also, if Sarah Palin were for Abortion (aka murder of unborn children);then Sarah would be liked and, infact, loved by the Left winged cooks. The fact that she will be an advocate for special needs children with the power of being Vice President of the United States of America on her side should make the people commenting with such hate for Palin feel great. They all need an Advocate." This are your words. Up to this point, nobody had commented with hate for Palin. Most everyone had commented on and questioned the sanity and intellegence of Mr. Ciptak....a comment was made that he could have done something better than SNEAK BEHIND HIS WIFE'S BACK and change the name of his daughter to get his message out....it was joked that perhaps she'll grow up to be a democrat, but nowhere had anyone commented with hate towards Sarah Palin. YOU, Ms. Early, commented that these (supposed) people commenting with hate should be happy that they would have an advocate in Sarah Palin due to her advocacy for special needs children....I took that as an insinuation that the children of persons against Ms. Palin are "special needs" children....that wasn't very Christlike. I'm sorry, but most people just thought the guy was an idiot for doing what he did. Not because they are against Sarah Palin, but because now this little girl will forever be explaining how it is she came to be name McCain and Palin....do you know any little girls whose middle names are either of these? My sweet little girl is named Cadence Mary Abigail...Cadence meaning rhythm...Mary after my great-grandmother, on whose birthday my daughter was born...Abigail meaning father's joy. There was thought behind her name, and meaning behind her name, and none of it was as a political statement. Nor was it done behind my spouse's back. We just all thought Mr. Ciptak was an idiot....you were the one who started spewing religious rhetoric in a hateful manner....it had no place in this comment thread, but I felt compelled to speak about it since you brought up the issue. You commented: "I'll dare you attack my faith. Don't you know that's a no,no. You and Eric still protest just a little too much when we talk about Homosexuals", "Hey Michelle, I tried to stick with you and read the rant, but just didn't have the time. THe point was that all you people except me ,commenting on this story hate Sarah Palin."...."You are all, in my opinion , bred a little too close to the gene pool. ha." .....I consider these comments to be completely inappropriate for a Godly, Christian person. Jesus would not have spoken to the commenters in this thread the way you have. He wouldn't have made blatant innuendos that people were gay or inbred. And just because you are still human doesn't justify your doing it. Because you are a Christian, you should be better than that. But you continue to do it. And to justify your doing it by saying: "I have a testimony. A testimony means that God saved me from sin not sinning. No one is perfect except Jesus." You're right, Jesus saved you from your sin when He died on the cross, but that doesn't mean you get a free pass on behavior and morals. You should still put forth a conscience effort to be the best Christian you can be...for on judgement day, you will stand before God, and just like all of the homosexuals and abortionists and haters of Sarah Palin, you will be held accountable for your actions, too. Speak with a little humility and love, not with the same hate you are accusing everyone else of.

"Jessica Brown OMGOSH how in the world could anyone dream that reason up ?????"
"Obviouly, people that are commenting on this website and they do not read the article first." "Carolyn Harper writes books not comments"...I just cant picture jesus making such snide remarks. We can go round and round Ms. Early. Lets stop while I'm ahead.

Thank you Mr. Taylor. Chivalry is not dead. Ms. Early, pray tell me, exactly when did I step on your toes or should I say fingers on the keyboard? Why don't you find another story you can make good use of your wit and might actually be able to stay on topic?

Ms. Murray, you are correct it's no body's business, but when a man gives interviews to both PUBLIC television and newspapers it becomes everybody's business and EVERYBODY will have a comment about it. He also just changed the name with out his wife's consent. If the wife kills him or divorces him that will be PUBLIC knowledge as well.
My opinion, he was use to being the center of attention until this pregnancy and had to find a way that all eyes would be on him. *sigh* I saw on the news his wife wouldn't even make comment during the interview.

Sorry to be the outcast here, but I really don't think it's any of anyone's business what he named HIS child, except his wife. Be u a democrat or republican, be u a christian or other WHAT in the world is wrong with naming YOUR child what YOU want to name that child, no matter the reasoning? Has anyone ever stopped to think that should her name stay as it is, her first name is SARAH, a beautiful classic name. Why are so many people making this into something so much bigger than it is....

"But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not. So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, 'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her...'. I'm glad you are without sin Ms. Early, I am not, so I feel ok in saying that I feel God is frowning on your behavior. Talking down to other people because they don't share your views and/or beliefs isn't very Christian (which is to mean Christlike) of you. Jesus didn't walk around condemning everybody who didn't believe....He loved everybody in spite of their disbelief. Ya ever hear the saying 'you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar'? Jesus loved us ALL...including those homosexuals and abortionists, even when he didn't like their actions, HE LOVED THEM STILL!!

Wow! You know some people just don't think. Or maybe he did. That's one sure way to get attention. What's next, somebody naming their kid Joe Obama Biden???? And thanks Mr. Ciptak for making the area look stupid. Switch it back to Ava, that's my daughters name, its much classier, maybe a bit more democratic though.

To those of you with rational responses to the "issue" this comment thread has morphed into, thank you. For years upon years, public comments from some "Christians" in this area have been downright intolerant and bordering on hate speech. All the while the ambition of these confused Christians is to "get the sinners saved", through threats and derogatory, judgemental remarks. There are thousands of religions spread all across this beautiful planet. Each religion holding believers who truly, unwaveringly accept their own personal belief as the only way to a positive life after earth. It gives me hope, seeing the comments refuting such careless, holier-than-thou remarks in the name of "salvation." We can either co-exist on this small planet peacefully, or we can destroy ourselves with intolerance and wars, all in the name of "loving gods."

Well, Ms. Early, if all this ranting and rhetoric is just a joke, why didnt you say so? It is now actually funny, since it was meant to be a humorous play-on-words.

i thought my previous comment of, "what an idiot.." pretty much summed it up. however, there was one person who posted the strangest thing.. that somehow.. what this man did was being judged differently by democrats and republicans. so miss early, i would like to clear a few things up for you. what this man did was wrong"." if you're a christian, you of all people should know that and not justify it. i'm willing to bet that when this man got married he took vows before his god, family and friends and made a promise to his wife to love, honor and obey. sneaking around without her knowledge and changing their daughter's name was in no way loving, honoring her or respecting a decision they had previously made together. and shame on him for wasting other people's time and money on a whim. yes, papers will be filed, processed and mailed around and our taxes will pay for it. it was childish and thoughtless to say the least. next, miss early, you injected abortion and politics into a discussion where it had no value. what that had to do with this news article was absolutely nothing.. but since you wanted to hijack this comment section, let's get to it. you seem to think that voting for mccain and palin will stop murder but mccain supports the war in iraq. estimates by the world health organization suggest that over 150,000 iraqis have died because of our actions, with a higher possible estimate of 223,000. there have been many iraqi civilians who have died and many innocent iraqi children who have as well. then there are our own casualties of war. over 5,000 of our american soldiers have died for a war without reason and not all deaths are counted. there are many young soldiers who come home with so many emotional problems that they end up taking their own lives because our government has failed to help them. on top of those facts, you need to realize that mccain has never fully committed to the pro-life party and he seems to think it's a joke when talking about bombing iran. talk about a lack of respect for human life. but do those lives mean anything to you miss early? or do they not count because they aren't just like you? your judgmental attitude has truly irked me. your holier-than-thou thought process is the same thought process that killed 3,000 americans with airplanes. your blind faith and what you perceive as "the truth" is no less dangerous. trust me, the "terrorists" who flew our own planes into the twin towers, the pentagon and a field were as equally as devoted as you are, they were just raised in a different religion. had you been born in to an extremist family in the middle east you wouldn't be sitting behind a computer whining about gay marriage and abortion, because of your faith, you would be screaming for the blood of the infidels, stoning another woman to death for exposing too much of her face or strapping a bomb to your chest and running into a crowd of people. or hey, maybe our military would accidentally bomb your child's wedding and kill you and your whole family. your religion, their religion, the world's major religions have done so much damage to our civilization it's disgusting. look at your comments, shunning members of your community merely for disagreeing with you. your suggestion that they are gay was obviously said out of spite and shows where your heart truly is. i don't think your words here have inspired anyone for the better. so.. do all of us a favor.. turn off your computer and spent time doing something like volunteering through your church for our community. turn your negative projections into something positive and productive.

Someone needs to do a drug test on that man. If the wife was ever looking for a reason to justify a divorce, she just found one. Although then she would be stuck with 3 kids on her own. Something tells me she is already stuck with 4 kids though. A man like that can't be much of an adult. I would like to know what she really thought. Not just a typical comment to save face for hubby, but I would like to have been a fly on the wall when she found out what that idiot did to her newborn child.

I was born and raised in Kingsport, I now live in Manhattan. Imagine my surprise when I opened a New York paper on my subway ride to work yesterday morning and found this. It made me laugh at first. Then I became sad when I realized that this is what makes national news from the Tri-Cities.

Mr. Mulkey, you posted...but to "herass" them?
I don't know if it was a typo or a play on words but it is so appropriate! Well Done!

Typical Republican ideology: The woman doesn't get a say, the man decides for her.

Not sure why this guy is so happy about the press he's getting on this. He's showing himself to the rest of the world to be the stereotypical low information voter who constantly votes against his own interests that we all associate with the state.

The guy has no money, yet votes Republican. Typical. Feel sorry for the kid.

Course, what should I expect? Seen a picture of this clown? Looks like his family has done a little breeding a little too close to the gene pool

"I'll dare you attack my faith. Don't you know that's a no,no." Hey, I know a few Bible verses too. Lets read Leviticus 19:27...anyone had a hair cut lately? What about a ham sandwich, or bacon with your eggs (Leviticus 11:7)? Like seafood? Check out Leviticus 11:12. Stephen Roberts couldnt have said it better "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." Now, back to the Palin baby...

It's pretty terrible that adults are insulting on the internet. I'm sorry to inform you that if this were on a street corner or in a department store, none of you would be acting like such children. In fact, you would most likely be very chivalrous to each other. Instead, you are commenting about John McCain and Sarah Palin instead of the issue addressed. That is a terrible act to follow.

No hatred here. Just people who are appalled that a father/husband would do this for his 15 minutes. No hatred. Just disgust with the FATHER/HUSBAND. Not Palin. Not McCain. OK?

Scraping the bottom of that barrel again with the "homosexual marriage" and "murder of unborn children". I just may attend a Republican Election night party. The total devastation on those folks faces might even be better than the joy of the Democrat Party. Sarah Palin is a blatant liar, and seemingly incompetent on just about any issue other than her firm belief we all walked around with dinosaurs 4,000 years ago.

A similar thing happened to my late husband. He didn't find out until he signed up to go to Vietnam that his first and middle names were legally reversed! His dad had gotten drunk and changed it on the birth certificate. He went through 3 tours and more tiime with the Army under one name, but used his legal one for everything else. All those years he thought he was going by his first name, but it was actually his middle. No harm was caused to his psyche, or to his mother's.

If I was the wife, I would file for divorce and change the kid's name immediately!

Gosh I sure would like to see a follow up article on the wife's reaction!

My son was born in 1989, the week after Hurricane Hugo came through the area and caused a little excitement. And even though my wife and I had picked Michael Christopher as his name, I thought it would be really cool to change his name to Hugo Christopher. However, having been married before, I asked before I did anything. Earlier this month, Michael Christopher turned 19 and goes into the Marines in December. Moral of the story....if you think it's a GREAT, laugh out loud idea but your explanation to your wife starts with "Hey, what would you think if we.......", DON'T DO IT!!!

What a stupid idea!

I agree, this has to be the biggest idiot in east Tennessee. Perhaps this kind of mindless stupidity would have gone over well in his hometown of Cleveland Ohio but it's considered stupid around here. What kinda man goes behind his wifes back and changes the name of thier child without consulting with her first as if she has no say in the matter? Mr. Ciptak are you the type of man who controls his wife? Do you allow her to speak or think for herself? If you don't then you should because it's clearly not your strong point, oh, but I and many more can tell you what your strong pont is though it's being an idiot !! What a goober#@!

Mr. Ciptak said..."I took one for the cause" and "encourage somebody" and "to get the word out" about the campaign.
To bad Mr. Ciptak doesn't know he can volunteer at the local republican head quarters. There he could help get people registered to vote, help give out signs, plan fund raisers. Instead he decided to change his daughters name from Ava Grace to Sarah McCain Palin Ciptak with out her mother knowing.
This guy has to be the BIGGEST IDIOT in the country. I hope this little girls mother changes the name back to Ava Grace.
Maybe little Ava Grace / Sarah McCain Palin Ciptak will grow up to be a democrat!!!!!

15 minutes of fame for dad = lifetime of therapy for the child. Lets hope Tenncare isn't on the hook for the bill.

Look at what some of the more well-known personalities have named their children...Apple, Rumer just to name two. Leave the man alone. Just because famous people use weird names they are "cutting edge". If his wife agrees, fine. If not, they will change it. Which ever way it goes, it is their child.

This has got to be the most moronic, stupendous thing I have ever in my entire life, have ever heard of in my life. What in the world is this man thinking about as a father that is IF he really is a father? I mean, first of all it is very plain to see that there is a difference between a man that gets a woman pregnant, and doesn't do his father role, and then there is a man that takes his role seriously, and does right as a parent. BUT this? What does being a republican have to do with being a father? I can assure anybody that this republican party or democratic party has nothing to offer or to do with this baby, neither will they absolutely care or do anything to help take care of this child as it grows up. This man needs a true reality check, quickly. And, what in the hell does he mean, I have called family and friends for prayer support? If they were any kind of a friend or family member, they should have totally ignored his request, and set him straight on his priorities, concerning the naming of his child, especially if they are parents.
And lastly, I really feel that this kind of foolishness that is yet very serious, should have NEVER been published in anybody's paper, for the sake's of the mother and the child, cause this child will have to live with the embarrassment for the rest of their life, including the mother. What a total shame, and I mean a total shame. People, this is just sick, sick, sick........ And for the people there in Nashville, they should not do anything to support the foolishness of this family, over what he did. They should make this family deal with this for life. I mean, why should they be allowed to get special treatment to rename their child, just because he?s a republican? OH, I forgot, we live in a republican state. I?m sorry people. But yet it?s the truth.

Wow, communication isn't a strong point in this family, is it? Apparently politics sure is. Are they taking their parental responsibilities seriously or having fun at the child's expense? I think it's shameful.

what an idiot..

Most people will think this is funny but I don't. This man is not a father nor husband but a sicko.