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  International Edition
Friday, September 21, 2007
Mayor's task: 'Get rid of the media'
HILDALE, Utah (CNN) -- Members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a polygamous sect, moved to this remote part of the desert to get out of the spotlight. But the harsh glare of public scrutiny is all they've been getting lately.

Their self-proclaimed prophet, Warren Jeffs, is on trial charged with being an accomplice to rape for arranging the marriage of a 14-year-old girl to her 19-year-old first cousin. So, the news media has descended on the area in search of compelling interviews and unique angles.

It's a development that's upset many residents.

Click here to read more

-- From Amanda Townsend, CNN Producer
and Gary Tuchman, CNN Correspondent
Posted By CNN: 5:55 PM ET
  13 Comments
Yeah...of course they want the media out of there!! That way they can marry more little girls off to those geezzey old men!

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.
Posted By Cindy : 6:33 PM ET
I’m interested in how a man like Jeffs who apparently sees women as property and as nothing more can be represented by a woman? What can you guys tell us about her? I mean one would think that of any person who would need or want a man representing him it would be Jeffs. Was she court appointed?

Thanks for keeping with this story it fascinates me to no end.
Posted By Marcy B. Mobile, AL : 6:40 PM ET
I would like know what is going to happen to the husband. Will he be charged with rape or is he also considered a victim? He did what Jeff's expected of him by marrying her. I can not imagine anyone regardless of their age or religious beliefs is in a right state of mind when they marry and have sex with their 1st cousin.
Posted By Amber, Ft. Wayne IN : 6:41 PM ET
If they've been led to believe throughout their existence that their way of life is God's way, they will continue to support Jeffs and not cooperate with the media. Years of brainwashing cannot be undone overnight. If anyone in that sect truly wants to change and get out of that lifestyle, they have to have extraordinary courage and strong desire to do so, and we've seen some of these people featured on the 360 show. I admire these people immensely.
Posted By Lilibeth, Edmonds, Washington : 6:57 PM ET
Since it is Jeffs that is on trial and not the townspeople, why does the media after all this time of covering the story have to continue to bother these people? Whether we agree or not with their religious beliefs we should respect their privacy.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL
Posted By Annie Kate : 7:14 PM ET
Maybe these people saw or heard how the media covered the O.J. case in Las Vegas, and they just don't want to play the same game.

It is my understanding that this is now in the hands of the jury, and until there is a verdict, move on.

How about taking a drive down to Phoenix and doing a story about the police officer, Nick Erfie, who was shot and killed on Tuesday by an illegal immigrant, who had previously been deported. I bet you'd be able to find some people willing to talk to you about that.
Posted By Jan from Wood Dale, IL : 7:19 PM ET
That was a very "Presidential" thing to say, wasn't it?
Posted By Riley R. - Exeter, Ma. : 7:24 PM ET
Wow! I think Gary's report was a first for television -- a mayor with the guts to politely but firmly asking reporter to leave their town alone, and a TV show with the guts to show it on air! I can only hope that CNN takes his advice and leaves them alone. I know the issue of "what we the audience wants to watch" has come up a lot this week with all the "news" about OJ (and I agree with the blogger who'd rather see Homer Simpson than OJ). With all this access to our opinions via the Internet, I hope that we don't have to do any more "sensational" stories to death anymore. The only democratic means express our dismay is to change the channel, but I really hate to do that. So last night, I watched PBS during primetime, and tuned on the AC360 rebroadcast at 1 AM EDT instead. I am very tired now...

Susan Lemarie, Fairfax, VA
Posted By Anonymous : 9:48 AM ET
This is one of the most dangerous problems facing our society today.
Brainwashing.
Posted By Lamar in NY : 11:29 AM ET
It is interesting to note that the man stating "I don't talk to the media," said that to the media!

Sometimes I think that the media does indeed exploit stories like this. I think it is rather odd that this is a big deal, since in other countries, the age of consent is set at 14 (Austria, Canada, depending on the circumstances, and in Bolivia it is actually "at puberty")! I'd say the biggest problem with the Warren Jeffs scandal really reflects on our society as a whole trying to inflict our personal religious values onto other groups. Isn't "religious freedom" one of our rights as Americans?
Posted By Dawn Marks : 3:51 PM ET
Of course they want to get rid of the media. Aside from the fact that polygamy is illegal, they don't want the country to know just how young the brides are, what is really taught in their schools, and how each new generation is brainwashed. A great deal of these young people would flee if they had anywhere to go or anyone to help them. The way to keep the flock obedient is to prevent them from knowing what the rest of the world is really like.
If they had nothing to hide, they wouldn't be afraid of disclosure. Unlike the Amish, who allow their young adults a year away in which to decide if they want to embrace the traditional community, the FLDS don't want their young to even know there is an outside world. The media being there is a two way road to information, both in and out of the community.

Janet, BC Canada
Posted By Anonymous : 6:42 PM ET
The bible warns us about nuts like this... Prophets are supposed to be messengers of God. Why would these folks want to hide out in the desert if he is suppose to be a prophet. How would he be able to spread God's message out in the desert. Humm, appears the message he's delivering is a secret one involving sex, power, and exploitation of innocent children. Sounds like false prophet to me. Speaking of falsies, wheres Al Sharpton and Jess Jackson when a crimal needs helping hand? Oh, forgot, this guy is white.
Posted By Anonymous : 1:43 AM ET
I think that Warren Jeffs is a sick man. He has his followers brain washed, I feel sorry for the women that is married to a polygamist. A lot of them thinks this is the way is suppose to be, but that's because they all been brain washed - some of them wake up and realize they want to get out of the situation, but by then they already have kids and don't know which way to turn. So they just stay in it and expect it. that's a sad way to live your life.

I think that Warren Jeffs should be put in prison and never see the light of day. I'm sure their will be someone to step up to take his place. Hope he is brought to justice also, I don't like it when a man thinks he can have his cake and eat it too.

I just so thankful that, I don't have to live like those women do - whenever I get married I'm not going to share my husband with anyone. I'm sure that I am speaking for most of the ladies out their.

Jennifer - Anderson, South Carolina
Posted By bluediamond (Jennifer) : 11:10 AM ET
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