Two anti-gay nuts for Monday afternoon

1. What's the deal with Joe The Plumber?

Joe The Plumber: I Would Never Let "Queers" Near My Children

Joe the Plumber, aka Samuel Wurzelbacher, sat down for an lengthy interview with Christianity Today to discuss his views on the future of the Republican party. Wurzelbacher took the opportunity to speak out against gay marriage, which he says is wrong. The unlikely conservative spokesman went so far as to say he doesn't allow openly gay people "anywhere near" his children.

The word "queer," Wurzelbacher noted, "means strange and unusual."

Christianity Today: In the last month, same-sex marriage has become legal in Iowa and Vermont. What do you think about same-sex marriage at a state level?

Wurzelbacher: At a state level, it's up to them. I don't want it to be a federal thing. I personally still think it's wrong. People don't understand the dictionary--it's called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It's not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we're supposed to do--what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we're supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I've had some friends that are actually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn't have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they're people, and they're going to do their thing.

No he didn't! If I wasn't so mature, I would be going for my razor right now.

THIS is what the Republican Party is reduced to? Sad.

I'm going to put it more succinctly. I refuse to believe that Wurlzebacher has any gay friends. That's right - I think he is lying and channeling the standard I'm not really prejudice because I am friends with THOSE people line that I've heard on occasion when some whites talk about African-Americans.

But just in case he is telling the truth, someone needs to give those "gay friends" a talking to about self respect.

2. Hey Stephen Baldwin! THIS is what persecution looks like

Last weekend, former actor, born-again Christian, and dismal talking head Stephen Baldwin claimed on Larry King Live that folks like him and Carrie Prejean who are against gay marriage are being "persecuted." However, when pressed about said persecution, Baldwin couldn't give any details.

Persecution, you dipstick, looks a little like this:

‘THEY KILL PEOPLE LIKE US,’ SAYS GAY IRAQI

Widespread violence is down across Baghdad, but not for one minority group.

Iraq’s gay population is being targeted by militia groups in a wave of killings that has claimed the lives of up to 25 young men and boys in the past month.

"They know I am gay. I don’t know if I am going to be killed, this is up to God," said Moyad, a 38-year-old Baghdad resident who would not give his last name out of fear for his safety. Visibly frightened, he said that he has many friends who have been sadistically tortured, some even murdered. "They are sticking glue up their anuses; some hospitals refuse to treat them. Is it a war waged against homosexuals?" he asked.

International outrage Most of the attacks have happened in Baghdad’s Shia neighborhoods, and many believe that religious leaders have used Friday sermons in Sadr City as a platform to incite hatred and violence toward homosexuals. The bodies of three gay men were reported to have been found in Sadr City in April with pieces of paper bearing the word for "pervert" attached to them.

Posters and leaflets have been distributed in the Baghdad neighborhoods of al-Shola, al-Hurya and Sadr City with orders to, "Cleanse Iraq from the crime of homosexuality."

Baghdad police didn’t respond to inquiries from NBC News about the attacks, but the surge in violence has gained attention by the international media. In a letter to Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki in April, Amnesty International called for "urgent and concerted action" to stop the killings of men because of their sexual orientation.

More here.

Maybe it's just me but being booed at a pageant doesn' t exactly rank up there with what's happening to gays in Iraq.

Monday midday news briefs

Oh, the shameless irony - This is a huge lie. Marriage equality advocates do not want to silence those who are against it. Hell, if NOM shut up, who could I laugh at?

Is Cantor suggesting that the GOP will go pro-gay and pro-choice? - All together now - HAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Pro-LGBT clergy to hold press conference to support hate crimes legislation and ENDA - Now THIS is how it should be done.

Bill would extend medical leave law to LGBT families -Support this bill!

One News Now tries to make Prejean a hate crimes martyr

Still smarting over the U.S. House of Representatives passing lgbt inclusive hate crimes legislation, the phony news site One News Now have decided to use the quickly passing Carrie Prejean/Perez Hilton controversy to make an illogical point:

A Virginia congressman says the anti-Christian hatred and bigotry of homosexual blogger Perez Hilton and his supporters underscores one of the fallacies undergirding federal "hate crimes" legislation.

. . . Congressman Randy Forbes (R-Virginia) is a former ranking member of the Judiciary Crime Subcommittee, and founder of the Congressional Prayer Caucus. He recently took to the House floor and provided a powerful example of how the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" does not ensure equality under the law.

Congressman Forbes compared the protection Miss California Carrie Prejean would receive under the bill to the special protection homosexual blogger and Miss USA judge Perez Hilton would have been afforded.

"Had [Hilton] done what he said he would do and stormed that stage and pulled that tiara off [Prejean's] head and [inflicted] bodily harm when he did it, there would not have been one ounce of protection under this piece of legislation for that young girl," Forbes stated.

First of all, the article is solely about Hilton. Whoever his "supporters" are, there is no further mention of them.

Secondly, I never believed Hilton when he made that statement. It's very easy to talk about what you would have done after the fact. But had Prejean won, Hilton would have kept his seat with his mouth open, no doubt thinking of nastier invectives to make against Prejean on youtube.

The Congressman really reaches for straws when he says this:

. . . if she had in response made a statement back about the very sexual orientation that had led him to his hatred and dislike for her, and if she had responded by slapping him or any physical injury, she would have had the potential of a ten-year federal piece of legislation coming against her."

The Virginia Republican also argued that if beauty contestant's father had rushed onto the stage at the Miss USA pageant and responded to Hilton's hatred in a physical way, he would have been open to prosecution under the hate crimes bill as well.

I take it that the Congressman is saying that if Prejean has made an anti-gay slur while slapping Hilton, she would be in trouble. I don't think so.

As much as it would have been fun to see Prejean snatch off her earrings and heels and get "ghetto" on Hilton, I seriously doubt she would be arrested on hate crimes violations no matter what she said while doing it. Hilton's actions would have clearly been assault and Prejean would merely be defending herself.

Also, as much as I hate to admit, she would have a few gays in her corner for taking care of business against someone who would dare try to "snatch her crown."

As for her father, hate crimes legislation probably wouldn't apply either.

You gotta admit though, it would be a very interesting clip on youtube.

However in all honesty, this controversy is petering out. One News Now and those on the right would do themselves a huge favor by letting it die a silent death.