Embattled Bishop Eddie L. Long Speaks for First Time Makes Light of the Media Attention, Doesn't Repudiate Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

Eddie L. Long is at the podium really smug and being sarcastic, with that ridiculous looking wig on his head. There is a cult-like atmosphere abound at Newbirth Missionary Baptist Church this morning. He said this is an extremely difficult time for his family and the people in his church. He's joking about the whole thing. He says it's a time when you see the veil drop and see who's with you and who's not with you. He said he wants to help everybody and wants to thank all the pastors who left their churches to come to his church -- sons and daughters.

He said he wants to talk to congregation of how to handle difficult and painful situations. He started with Psalm 34:19 "many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from all of them." He's stumbling over his words. Still no admission or denial of accusations. He's just dancing around the issue. Painful situations. Another scripture. Isaiah. He says life is filled with painful situations which makes the time of joy and happiness not as magnificent as we would like. Life will be unfair. He said we are all subject to face distasteful and painful situations. Said Bishop Long will have some bad situations. The righteous face painful situations with a determination. Comparing himself to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, terminally ill people, blankety, blankety!

The remedy for painful situation is described by David -- Psalm 23. He said David gives an insight on how to get through painful times. Must stay focused on the spiritual things that brought us thus far. Must be committed to prayer. He's talking about early voting. Cannot allow these allegations for outreach. Must continue to minister to those who are lost. Must focus on the power of worship. Encouragement. Must be there to encourage one another. Resolve. Must not forget our strength is not in man but in God.

He said he has never portrayed himself as a perfect man but is not the man being portrayed on television. He said "that is not me." The church breaks out in applause. He said he will not try case in the media. He said it will be tried in the court of justice. He said that's the only place he'll get justice. He said he feels like David against Goliath. He said he has five rocks and hasn't thrown one yet. Sorry, but isn't that a threat? He hasn't said I am not guilty. Wait, is there another accuser waiting to come forward? Maybe that's why he made that reference. He danced around the issue. Eddie L. Long is a master manipulator. Take a look at all the cases of sexual misconduct made against famous people -- Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods, Jimmy Swaggart, Ted Haggard, Jim Bakker, Earl Paulk, Paul Crouch (co-founder of TBN) and others -- the truth prevailed and they were guilty of the allegations.

UPDATE#1 (09/26/10): Long just held a press conference that amounted to nothing. What he said there, he would have said last week when the story first broke. During the service he kept on saying he isn't a perfect man. That tells me that there is some truth to what the young men are alleging and he doesn't think what he did rose to the level of sexual coercion. Eddie L. Long didn't tell his congregation emphatically that the allegations are untrue. He prefaced it by saying he's not a perfect man and he's under fire. From a public relations standpoint he did nothing to quell the firestorm against him.