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