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| Sen. Jim DeMint |
Looks like some fun has come down my way and wouldn't you know it, Sen. Jim DeMint is involved.
From the Charleston Post and Courier:
Supporters of U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint have contacted Charleston area television stations urging them to pull the plug on an ad featuring a comment DeMint made about homosexuals teaching in public schools, according to the group that produced the ad.
The local stations have continued to air the 30-second piece, said Warren Redman-Gress, director of the Charleston-based Alliance for Full Acceptance.
“We are really thankful the TV stations see the value in what we’re doing, and, in that first salvo, have stood by us,” he said.
The ad begins with a hypothetical question: “What if you saw this headline? ‘Senator Jim DeMint: Jews Should Not Teach Public School,’” and then swaps the word “Gay” for “Jews” in the headline.
DeMint supporters argued the ad falsely portrays DeMint as anti Semitic.
The ad refers to a controversial 2004 remark that DeMint made about a state GOP platform item saying gays should not teach in public schools. Asked about that platform during a televised debate, DeMint said, “I don’t think they should,” adding that government should not endorse particular behaviors. “We need the folks that are teaching in schools to represent our values.”
Sen. DeMint's whine is so pitiful that I doubt anyone is falling for it. But here is the ad so you can judge for yourself:
Personally, I think that no one watching the ad would mistake Sen DeMint for being anti-Semitic. A serious homophobe, yes. But anti-Semitic? No.
Of course reasonable people should ask what's the difference between being anti-Semitic and homophobic?
Neither are things one should aspire to be, particularly if one is a United States senator.
Regardless of color, shape, or form, bigotry is bigotry.
Please help AFFA keep all 3 of their ads on local TV
you can view them at
www.affa-sc.org/imagine
http://www.affa-sc.org/affa/donate.htm
Please help AFFA keep all 3 of their ads on local TV
ReplyDeleteyou can view them at
www.affa-sc.org/imagine
http://www.affa-sc.org/affa/donate.htm
help bring SC sceaming and kicking into the 21st century!
It clearly states "ACTUAL HEADLINE" when the real headline appears. They couldn't have made that much clearer. I think what might have been more effective is if it changed from Jews to Women to Blacks to Gays (and kept the words "actual headline" to cover themselves. I think it might have made the point more universal and less vulnerable to criticism.
ReplyDelete"Of course reasonable people should ask what's the difference between being anti-Semitic and homophobic?" Isn't it kind of rare to find a reasonable republican? Kinda like a five leaf clover?
ReplyDeleteHe's not upset because he's being called homophobic, but because it's being put in the same camp as anti-semitism.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, whether you are Jewish or Homosexual, being denied the opportunity to teach "humanistic" values is ludacris!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I don't know where you are going with your statement, anonymous.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that the advocates against this ad take offense at DeMint being portrayed as an anti-semite, but don't have any problem with him being portrayed as a homophobe. It shows that not only do DeMint and his supporters have no problem with blatant homophobia, they also do not equate it to other forms of bigotry. The radical right who base their campaign platform on gay-bashing will one day be looked upon in a similar manner to how today's society looks upon the likes of George Wallace and the segregationalists of the days of the Civil Rights movements. They're dinosaurs who will hopefully be all but extinct.
ReplyDeleteJoel makes a salient point. In their futile attempt to maintain status quo, our state politicians are only ensuring that South Carolina maintains its place at the bottom of the roster. How long will it be before they realize that there are bigger and better fights to pick?
ReplyDeleteSenator DeMint is upset because his hateful language in 2004 is a matter of public record and he cannot deny that. Shame on you senator.
ReplyDelete