Melvin Sembler

by **chiggerbit** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:23 pm

Found this site while Googling around with Melvin Sembler's name. <a href="http://www.thestraights.com/index.htm">www.thestraights.com/index.htm</a>

by **chiggerbit** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:29 pm

theStraights dot com What this site is about and who maintains it . This site deals with mind-control cults and other controversial groups, particularly juvenile drug rehabilitation programs, especially juvenile synanons (more popularly known as juvenile therapeutic communities). Specific emphasis is placed on Straight, Inc. and its derivatives though we make no claim that all second-generation Straights are necessarily destructive or even cult-like. Straight, Inc. (now called Drug Free America Foundation, Inc. which no longer treats addicts, but is a major player in shaping domestic and international drug policy) was founded in 1976 in Saint Petersburg, Florida by Mel Sembler, the US ambassador to Italy, and his wife Betty. The Seed, a federally funded juvenile treatment program and Straight's immediate predecessor, was accused by the US Senate of using methods like those of North Korean brainwashing on America servicemen during the Korean War. The US Senate directed the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) which was then headed by Dr. Robert DuPont (the second US drug czar) to require Seed parents and clients to sign statements acknowledging they were participating in human experimentation. After he left NIDA Dr. DuPont became a paid consultant for Straight. In its day Straight was the world's biggest adolescent drug rehabilitation program, and also one of the most destructive. Straights were either closed by state authorities or voluntarily closed facing criminal investigations and civil suits almost everywhere they operated. Straight claims to be based on Alcoholics Anonymous but in the beginning Straight bastardized the 12 steps into its own unique, 7 step program. Straight claims to be Toughlove®, but Phyllis York, the founder of Toughlove®, denounced Straight's brutal methods. Straight is a synanon or therapeutic community where addicts aid in their own recovery, but Straight was rejected by the Therapeutic Communities of America. Straight claims to use Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT). Indeed, Dr. Maxie Maultsby who invented RBT was on Straight's advisory board and many Straight pamphlets carried Dr. Maultsby's endorsement. But Dr. Maultsby stopped endorsing Straight after he learned of the abuse. In fact he agreed to be a panelist at the Saving Our Children from Drug Treatment Abuse conference in 2001 which was put together largely by survivors from Straight. The New Jersey Law Journal calls one second-generation Straight a cult and brands the Straight treatment method medical quackery. Noted cult expert Steve Hassan calls another second-generation Straight a, "destructive, mind-control cult." Dr. Bruce K. Alexander of Simon Fraser University calls Straight's methods "brainwashing." In July of 2003 Reverend Doctor V. Miller Newton, Straight's former national clinical director, settled with a former client for $6.5 million for abuse she sustained at his second-generation Straight. He is listed by a group that tracks abusive priests. The ACLU sued Straight for abusing children. Florida’s Bureau of Criminal Justice Planning and Assistance found that many cases of child abuse at Straight had been substantiated; that though Straight received federal grants it had ‘disguised’ client fees as ‘donations’; that in its first 18 months of operation Straight had enrolled 450 youths but only one had been black; that Mel Sembler had violated federal conflict of interest regulations because federal grant money was to be used for "salaries only" but Straight had put the money in a single bank account along with other Straight funds at First Bank of Treasure Island. Worse still, Mel Sembler was on the bank's board of directors! A 1993 Florida state IG report on Straight concluded that Mel Sembler had probably interfered in a state attempt to close Straight for abusing children. In spite of all this Straight became the world's largest synanon. This was due in large part to an excellent advertising and marketing department which was buttressed by endorsements from prominent politicians who endorsed Straight in return for campaign contributions. Ambassador Sembler bought his way into politics. George Bush and Nancy Reagan were avid Straight supporters. Over forty former clients have committed suicide and we want to know why. Finally, this page examines the strange relationship between the Republican Party and controversial groups such as Scientology™, the Moonies and Straight, Inc. Who maintains this site? theStraights dot com is the publication arm of the Oakton Institute for Cultic Studies. This on-line newspaper is written as a public service for the purpose of educating the public on the dangers of destructive therapy programs. The newspaper is written almost entirely by it's editor Wesley M. Fager of Oakton, Virginia. Mr. Fager does all of the web page design and construction himself using Micromedia's Dream Weaver 4. Mr. Fager's recruitment and involvement in the Straight cult is documented here. Mr. Fager's biography is here. Mr. Fager has been a guest speaker at national and international conferences on destructive rehabilitation programs. Mr. Fager is the author of the on-line book

by **seemslikeadream** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:33 pm

<img src="http://thestraights.com/pickets/fl-holo-011704/signs2.jpg " style="border:0;"/> http://thestraights.com/pickets/fl-holo-011704/fl-holo-report.htm David Lopez Blass released from Straight-descendent Growing Together, Oct 29 Heat from John Kerry and Florida Democrat candiate Jeff Fisher helped secure the release of David Blass. link aA new site shed's light on Growing Together. link There is a petition out to grant full Constitutional rights to David Blass and to all clients at Growing Together. petition http://thestraights.com/index.htm It is worth the pain giving a glance to its new friend, Sembler ambassador. His Excellency Melvin Floyd Sembler, beyond to being "extraordinary and plenipotentiary Ambassador in Italy", is also a "distinguished citizen" of the Scout, has had a medal from the National Conference of the Christians and of the Hebrew, it has had the Humanitarian Prize of the center Hebrew Golda Meir/Kent, but above all he is ex-president of the International Council of the Centers Trades them. In fact, Sembler is not sure a diplomats of profession. For the precision, he is a former-vendor of feminine underwear, become one of the main constructors of centers trades them of the United States. http://thestraights.com/articles/sembler-italian-kelebekler.htm They run very close to really performing psychic murder. Marge Robertson, executive director of the Cincinnati Chapter of the ACLU, speaking of Straight, Inc., from Cincinnati Post http://thestraights.com/articles/melsembler-bio.htm <img src="http://thestraights.com/images/conf2002/sign.jpg" style="border:0;"/> As of October 11, 2001 Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida and brother to the President of the United States, is on the Advisory Board for Straight which now calls itself the DFAF (Drug Free America Foundation, Inc.) And so is his wife Columba! James W. Holton, Commissioner of the Florida Transportation Commission, is on the board of directors of the DFAF. It should come as no surprise to see Jeb Bush tied to DFAF, after all Betty Sembler was his finance cochairman. And then there is SAFE. Straight-Orlando closed on August 14, 1992. On that very day Michael Scaletta Straight - Orlando's executive director (taking Loretta Parish, Straight - Orlando's marketing director, with him) opened SAFE, Inc. out of the same facility Straight had used. In the morning the kids had been in Straight; after lunch they were in SAFE. In late 2000 TV station WAMI from Miami, Florida did a two-day exposition on SAFE. Because Governor Jeb Bush had previously visited SAFE he had been contacted while the segment was being produced to get his thoughts of SAFE. Even though he had been told that the segment was going to be controversial, Jeb Bush sent the station this letter of endorsement of SAFE! Even without Jeb and Columba, the list of names on Straight's Advisory Board is nothing short of extraordinary!. Here they are: http://www.thestraights.com/news/index.htm#jeb-dfaf Edited by: <A HREF=http://p097.ezboard.com/brigorousintuition.showUserPublicProfile?gid=seemslikeadream@rigorousintuition>seemslikeadream</A> at: 7/23/05 3:37 pm

by **chiggerbit** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:38 pm

I have to wonder why our ambassador to Italy, Melvin Sembler, would be suing to get back the penis pump he threw away, The only reason I can imagine is that he might fear some DNA is left in it.

by **chiggerbit** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:47 pm

Hope this is clickable. <a href="http://www.rickross.com/groups/straightinc.html">www.rickross.com/groups/straightinc.html</a> This page contains information The Rick A. Ross Institute has gathered about Straight Inc. Visitor Comments Church question moves toward a new ruling Suffering Together A Case of One Man's Trash, or Hitting Below the Belt? Sembler agitator's latest ploy earns attention, judge's order Keeping 'Cult' Out of the Case Drug War Casualties Lingering Torment From Rough Therapy Suit Settled Ex-Straight Leader Files To Helps Kids Halfway House Rumor Is Called Outrageous Rehab Program A Family Affair Straight Chief Twisted Arms, Report Shows Clients Offer Mixed Views On Programs Treatment Center Lives In Name Only Down The Straight Path Treatment Center's Headquarters Closing Audit Says Straight Inc. Got Breaks Critics Say Straight Inc. Target Of Fraud Investigation FBI Seeks Dope On Fraud Claims At Rehab Center Drug Program Under Investigation State Investigating Straight Inc. Drug Program Drug Program Closes Its Doors Drug Client Sues Straight Inc. Over 'Spit Therapy' Session Drug Treatment Center Closes Drug Program Got Good Review Drug-Treatment Program Under HRS Scrutiny For Mistreatment Is Going Straight for Everyone? Straight Sues Client Families States Take Hard Look At Straight Locally Based Treatment Center Closes In Virginia Drug Center Closes Amid Allegations Straight Inc. Faces Financial Problems Different Views On Straight Straight Shuts Another Clinic Drug Rehabilitation Center Closes Chesapeake Clinic Straight Client Wins $721,000 Suit Drug Treatment Center Loses Case Straight Program On Trial Drug Center Gets License To Operate Parents Back Program Drug Center`s Model Also Drew Fire Judge: Girl's Treatment Smacks of Abuse Straight Inc. To Get License // One-Year Renewal Follows New Policy On Restraining Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services: HRS Straight Says It Has Fixed Problems Senate Panel Questions St. Petersburg Developer Straight Inc. Appeals Limit Drug Program To Alter Policies Cited By HRS 2nd Straight Center Gets Limited License Yet Another Hot Potato Falls Into His Hands Prosecutors Want Ex-Counselor Jailed Straight Program In Cincinnati Closes Straight not responsible for breakdown Mom Blames Straight For Son's Breakdown Children can be forced into drug treatment Drug Program Having Problems Drug Center Lays Off Workers The Story Of A Young Man's Struggle Against His Addiction To Drugs Pinellas Plays Host To Vice President Red Eyes Basis Of Drug Diagnosis, Court Told Amabassador Melvin Sembler, Straight supporter

by **albion** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 6:44 am

Sembler gets quoted today in this interesting article about the US Naval presence in Italy: <blockquote>Quote:<hr> US presence grates in Sardinia Clamor grows for nuclear subs to leave island By Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times | July 24, 2005 [...] Sardinia may be best known as a lush playground for the rich and famous who cavort amid its pristine waters and secluded beaches, but it also hosts US nuclear submarines and more military installations and activity -- American, Italian, and NATO -- than any other place in Italy. Plans to draw down the US military elsewhere in Europe and the United States do not apply here. That does not sit well with the man who governs Sardinia and a small but growing number of activists who say the soldiers and sailors have overstayed their welcome. ''The real issue for us is, after 30 years, we still have an American base here in our archipelago. Is that necessary?" Sardinia's regional president, Renato Soru, said in an interview in Cagliari, the capital city at the opposite end of the island from La Maddalena. For too long, Soru said, Sardinia has borne the brunt of this military presence, and it is time for other parts of the world to do their share. Moreover, he said, repairing and resupplying nuclear subs in a pristine area of national parks is dangerously inappropriate. It is not that Sardinians do not like Americans, he insisted. It is a matter of national sovereignty. 'We love American tourists, entrepreneurs, professors. . . . We are good friends with the US," Soru said. ''But would you want a nuclear submarine next to your house?" [...] Residents who oppose the military presence blame it for holding back Sardinia's economic development. No-go zones set up by the Navy, NATO, and the Italian armed forces cut into potential tourism and other public uses, the critics contend. [...] The campaign led by Soru has undoubtedly drawn attention. The US ambassador to Italy, Melvin F. Sembler, has sought him out on several occasions. According to an account by Sardinian sources, Sembler suggested to Soru that he reconsider both his opposition to playing host to the military and his ban on coastal development. Sembler held up his native Florida, where the ambassador ran a huge construction business, as an example of development coexisting with military installations and attractive beaches, according to the account. The bottom line of the issue, as the Sardinians acknowledge, is that Soru is powerless to do anything about the US military presence because it is regulated by treaties between national, not regional, governments. <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2005/07/24/us_presence_grates_in_sardinia?mode=PF">www.boston.com/news/world...ia?mode=PF</a><hr></blockquote> I wonder exactly what kind of 'coastal development' is Ambassador Sembler talking about? <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/frown.gif ALT=":(">

Melvin Sembler

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