National Polygamy Advocate

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel spoke for 7th time with producer Kerry O'Connor for "On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren" on FOX News television network, on July 31, 2006. This was the seventh of nine (7of9) discussions with this producer over the following months in 2006. That week, famous actor and one of the few known conservative and pro-Christian actors, Mel Gibson, had been arrested for drunken driving and was recorded making racist rants to the officer. Conservatives and Christians responded that they cannot be defined by what one person does.  Mark Henkel noted that that is exactly his own argument when conservatives try to condemn all UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, by the anecdotes of Warren Jeffs and his FLDS cult.  Mark Henkel even noted how one example of TV interview he gave earlier that year on which a conservative pundit had tried to do exactly that to him - and how Mark Henkel correctly used the same argument in reply back then that conservatives were suddenly also using about this later "Mel Gibson story." Over the previous weeks, the producer had indicated that the show was then-currently focused on war reporting "all the time." Even so, they needed a "pitch" for bringing him on to their show. Mark Henkel noted how this "Mel Gibson news story" could be such a possible angle to "pitch." The producer said she would talk with a fellow producer friend (of another show on FOX News) to see if that other show might want to use this angle even if she could not this time. Unfortunately, nothing became of it, but this was not the last time they spoke either. Subsequent interviews between the two will be broadcast in the forthcoming podcast episodes.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel spoke for 6th time with producer Kerry O'Connor for "On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren" on FOX News television network, on July 19, 2006. This was the sixth of nine (6of9) discussions with this producer over the following months in 2006.  Mark Henkel had noted that, the day before, the US House of Representatives had failed to pass the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment.  Although interested in that story angle for bringing Mark Henkel onto her show, the producer indicated that the show was then-currently focused on war rerporting "all the time" for at least another week.  Subsequent interviews between the two will be broadcast in the forthcoming podcast episodes.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed a 5th time by producer Kerry O'Connor for "On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren" on FOX News television network, on June 27, 2006. This was the fifth of nine (5of9) discussions with this producer over the following months in 2006. Mark Henkel had noted that the three-year-anniversary (6/26/2006) of the US Supreme Court decision of Lawrence v. Texas (6/25/2003) had passed, removing their opportunity to use that news-story as the way to get him onto the show. The producer followed-up with more questions about the then-current story about “Heartland Ministry” in Missouri having their children removed by the federal government. Mark Henkel said that he could find no connection to polygamy. The producer admitted that the suggestion had come from an attorney for the government. Mark Henkel replied that that person was simply a rumor-mongerer.  The interview also brought up how renowned Christian leader, Jerry Falwell, was fully and publicly aware of Mark Henkel over the previous three years. The reporter stated that she knew Falwell’s publicity people and that she would see if that might open a way to bring Mark Henkel onto the show. The producer re-iterated that they need to come up with some "angle" they can use for her to pitch to her bosses as the way to get Mark Henkel onto the show. Again, subsequent interviews between the two will be broadcast in the forthcoming podcast episodes.

http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed a 4th time by producer Kerry O'Connor for "On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren" on FOX News television network, on June 5, 2006. This was the fourth of nine (4of9) discussions with this producer over the following months in 2006.  In this interview, the producer asked about a then-current story about “Heartland Ministry” in Missouri having their children removed, and how the federal government had dropped an innuendo that that Christian community “might” also be “involved in polygamy.” When Mark Henkel called it a rumor and asked who had put that rumor out, the producer said that it was “from the government.”  Mark Henkel said that he had never heard of the ministry but said he would put “feelers” out within his organization for more information.  This interview addressed other issues as well. Mark Henkel gave a new version of his “right to imagination” soundbite in which he explained that people even have a right to believe that “square wheels will roll,” but government has no authority to marriage control. He also provided an extensive education about the actual anti-polygamy case of the 1878 US Supreme Court Decision, Reynolds v. United States. Impressed with Mark Henkel’s extensive knowledge of the case and the US Constitution, the producer said, “It’s amazing that you hold that all in your head.” She said she would check out the legal issues and see if they can come up with a “pitch” to get Mark Henkel on the show. In the end, the producer re-iterated, “I appreciate that you call me, I really do. Don't feel like you shouldn't.” The subsequent interviews between the two will be broadcast in the forthcoming podcast episodes.

http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com

National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed a 3rd time by producer Kerry O'Connor for "On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren" on FOX News television network, on June 5, 2006. This was the third of nine (3of9) discussions with this producer over the following months in 2006. As Warren Jeffs was still "on the lam," and the first season of HBO’s “Big Love” was still be broadcast, the producer for this show on FOX had, in previous discussions wiht Mark Henkel, wanted to present "the other side of polygamy." In the previous interview (on May 25, 2006), she had been seeking to get Mark Henkel on the show for June 2, 2006. That did not happen. Other news had called the producer away. Mark Henkel kept trying to reach her by phone until the call succeeded on June 5, 2006. Together, they discussed how US President George W. Bush was about to speak that day about the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment, which was about to start being debated in the Senate the next day, on the date of 6/6/6. The producer needed to have her meeting with the host, and she planned to speak again later with Mark Henkel.  When she did not call back, Mark Henkel called again on June 7, 2006, but only got voicemail. This was also a short discussion; even so, it is essential to inform of the pattern of calls between the producer and Mark Henkel over the months in 2006.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed a 2nd time by producer Kerry O'Connor for "On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren" on FOX News television network, on May 25, 2006.  This was the second of nine (2of9) discussions with this producer over the following months in 2006. As Warren Jeffs was still "on the lam," and the first season of HBO’s “Big Love” was still be broadcast, the producer for this show on FOX wanted to present "the other side of polygamy."  The producer said that she almost had called Mark Henkel on Friday, May 19th, to have him on, but other breaking news happened.  They discussed possible logistics for his possibly being on the show the following Friday (June 2).  The producer said that the host was out “fighting gators in Florida” (and other stories) and that the producer would speak with that host the next day.  This was a short discussion; even so, it is essential to inform of the pattern of calls between the producer and Mark Henkel over the months in 2006.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by producer Kerry O'Connor for "On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren" on FOX News television network, on May 18, 2006.  This was the first of nine (1of9) discussions with this producer over the following months in 2006. As Warren Jeffs was still "on the lam," and the first season of HBO’s “Big Love” was still be broadcast, the producer for this show on FOX wanted to present "the other side of polygamy." Mark Henkel provided some quick education. He helped the producer understand that not all polygamy occurs “in the Mormonland bubble” of Utah/Arizona. He adamantly declared that normal families in UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, equally oppose the crimes for which Warren Jeffs was being sought and accused (and later convicted). And Henkel told a story of one family in the TruthBearer.org organization that had been sued by a violent wife-beating ex-husband to get back child custody only because anti-polygamy laws were “on the books,” to allow him to do so - costing the family thousands of dollars to defend against that which otherwise would have been easily dismissed as a frivolous lawsuit. "So the existence of the legal law can be used to abuse with the civil law," explained Henkel. The producer exclaimed, “Wow!” and she expressed how she could see how that was possible by such laws being "on the books." Mark Henkel and the producer developed a positive rapport. She even laughed positively when Mark Henkel gave the soundbite of “marriage-phobic baby daddy males” in a contemporary society, while the hypocrisy remains of criminalizing caring husbands who deliberately want marriage responsibilities with UCAP polygamy. Thus began several interviews in trying to find ways for the producer to put Mark Henkel on their show.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by producer Alexis Weed for the Nancy Grace Show on HLN Headline News television network, on January 14, 2014. They were seeking a response to the December 13, 2013, decision by a federal judge in Utah to strike down the "cohabitation clause" in that State's bigamy law.  Although later over-turned in 2016, that temporary court decision effectively de-criminalized "de facto polygamy" (i.e., polygamy with only one wife having a government marriage license) in Utah at the time. The producer did attempt to get pushy at times, but Mark Henkel stood his ground and they positively agreed to organize a live interview a couple hours later on the show. When speaking of the false stereotyping of UCAP, Unrelated Consenting Adult Polygamy, Mark Henkel said, “You can't compare all football players to Jerry Sandusky and his crimes.” The producer exclaimed, "I like that example. I do." This podcast episode is the pre-interview with the producer. The live TV interview with the host herself, Nancy Grace, was broadcast in Episode 25 of this podcast, posted back in September, 2018.

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by producer Anne Hartmayer for "OPEN COURT: Bloom & Politan" on CourtTV on September 19, 2007, for his appearance on the show the next day. Mark Henkel had previously been on Vinnie Politan’s CourtTV-radio show a number of times, as organized with producer Mark Goldman. Anne Hartmayer was the producer for the TV show that Vinnie Politan co-hosted with Lisa Bloom, so she was already used to working with Mark Goldman. (She learned of Mark Henkel from Mark Goldman.)  When another producer for another CourtTV television show, Deb Cote for “Jami Floyd: Best Defense,” learned of Mark Henkel’s booking for “OPEN COURT: Bloom & Politan,” Anne Hartmayer shared the referral, putting Deb Cote in contact with Mark Henkel too. On Tuesday, September 18, 2007, Deb Cote interviewed Mark Henkel to book him for her other show. They discussed looking into making arrangements for him to fly to New York City – at his own expense - to appear live on her other show and perhaps other shows the next day (or vice versa). (Listeners here should note that that interview was broadcast on the previous podcast episode before this one.)  The next day, Mark Henkel emailed Anne Hartmayer. He questioned whether it made sense for him to be paying for the airflight out of his own pocket, which was not his usual method of arriving at media appearances. Anne Hartmayer called Mark Henkel (which is this interview episode here). With his past appearances on both of their shows, Anne Hartmayer and Mark Goldman had long built an excellent working relationship and great rapport with Mark Henkel. The idea of Mark Henkel paying for his own airfare worried Anne Hartmayer. As the prosecution in the Warren Jeffs trial in Utah had rested their case (the day before), she quickly realized that it was unknown how much longer CourtTV would even be covering the story. Hence, it was possible that Mark Henkel would buy airfare, only to possibly have his appearance cancelled. This unknown but real possibility greatly worried Anne Hartmayer, foreseeing how that possibility could harm the working relationship that she and Mark Goldman had already built up with him. Since she had referred Mark Henkel to Deb Cote, who had only just met him the day before, she wanted to protect that working relationship from any possible misunderstanding or harm.  This episode is that phonecall interview with Anne Hartmayer.  In the end, it made the best sense for Mark Henkel to do “phoner” interviews (i.e., by telephone) on all three of the shows.  Everything worked out positively with all the shows. Mark appeared multiple times, and his working relationships with all three producers and shows was strengthened.  

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National Polygamy Advocate ™ Mark Henkel was interviewed by producer Deb Cote for "Jami Floyd: Best Defense" on CourtTV on September 18, 2007. This was in preparation for Mark Henkel's first appearance on the host's show. That day, the prosecution in the Warren Jeffs trial in Utah had rested its case. Mark Henkel had been a previous guest of another show on CourtTV, "Open Court: Bloom & Politan," as well as on a separate CourtTV radio show hosted by Vinnie Politan. The producers for the three shows all wanted Mark Henkel to be on their shows. In this interview, this producer was trying to book Mark Henkel while knowing that he was also being sought for the other shows on the same network. Mark Henkel had been looking into the cost flying himself to New York City (to be paid out of his own pocket) to do a "tour" of the shows. The producer and Mark Henkel also discussed possibilities of his driving to a CNN studio in Boston. Two days later, Mark Henkel appeared as a "phoner" guest (i.e., via telephone), first on the show, "Open Court: Bloom & Politan" and then on this producer's show, “Jami Floyd: Best Defense," both on Thursday, September 20, 2007. Mark would appear on this producer's show a couple more times after that, as well.

http://www.NationalPolygamyAdvocate.com