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[NYT] Conservatives Pick Soft Target: A Cartoon Sponge

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by No Worries, Jan 20, 2005.

  1. No Worries

    No Worries Member

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    Conservatives Pick Soft Target: A Cartoon Sponge
    By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

    Published: January 20, 2005

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 - On the heels of electoral victories barring same-sex marriage, some influential conservative Christian groups are turning their attention to a new target: the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.

    "Does anybody here know SpongeBob?" Dr. James C. Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, asked the guests Tuesday night at a black-tie dinner for members of Congress and political allies to celebrate the election results.

    SpongeBob needed no introduction. In addition to his popularity among children, who watch his cartoon show, he has become a well-known camp figure among adult gay men, perhaps because he holds hands with his animated sidekick Patrick and likes to watch the imaginary television show "The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy."

    Now, Dr. Dobson said, SpongeBob's creators had enlisted him in a "pro-homosexual video," in which he appeared alongside children's television colleagues like Barney and Jimmy Neutron, among many others. The makers of the video, he said, planned to mail it to thousands of elementary schools to promote a "tolerance pledge" that includes tolerance for differences of "sexual identity."

    The video's creator, Nile Rodgers, who wrote the disco hit "We Are Family," said Mr. Dobson's objection stemmed from a misunderstanding. Mr. Rodgers said he founded the We Are Family Foundation after the Sept. 11 attacks to create a music video to teach children about multiculturalism. The video has appeared on television networks, and nothing in it or its accompanying materials refers to sexual identity. The pledge, borrowed from the Southern Poverty Law Center, is not mentioned on the video and is available only on the group's Web site.

    Mr. Rodgers suggested that Dr. Dobson and the American Family Association, the conservative Christian group that first sounded the alarm, might have been confused because of an unrelated Web site belonging to another group called "We Are Family," which supports gay youth.

    "The fact that some people may be upset with each other peoples' lifestyles, that is O.K.," Mr. Rodgers said. "We are just talking about respect."

    Mark Barondess, the foundation's lawyer, said the critics "need medication."

    On Wednesday however, Paul Batura, assistant to Mr. Dobson at Focus on the Family, said the group stood by its accusation.

    "We see the video as an insidious means by which the organization is manipulating and potentially brainwashing kids," he said. "It is a classic bait and switch."
     
  2. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Member

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    Wow, not surprised in the least bit.
     
  3. GladiatoRowdy

    GladiatoRowdy Member

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    Almost as good as Newt coming out against the Teletubbies (or was it Falwell?).
     
  4. No Worries

    No Worries Member

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    Falwell. I think the quote from Falwell is "everybody knows that purple is THE gay color of choice" implying the purple Teletubbies was gay.

    Harry Potter and Barney (he's purple too) also drawn criticism from the morally challenged.
     
  5. RocketMan Tex

    RocketMan Tex Member

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    Reeeeediculous, but this is the sort of stupidity I have come to expect from the Religious Right. James Dobson is an assclown of epic proportions. Always has been, and always will be.
     
  6. basso

    basso Member
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    doesn't dobson realize sponges are hermaphroditic? say...that sounds a lot like "transexual!" :eek: no wonder dobson's feeling threatened!
     
  7. RocketMan Tex

    RocketMan Tex Member

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    And this begs the question.....is it possible for a hermaphrodite to be gay...or even straight for that matter?????

    Oooh did I open up a can of worms or what?
     
  8. MadMax

    MadMax Member

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    I'm embarassed.
     
  9. ROCKSS

    ROCKSS Member
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    Sometimes we go to far. This is just silly
     
  10. Cohen

    Cohen Member

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    :D
     
  11. Cohen

    Cohen Member

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    Wow. A Teletubbie. Now an animated sponge.

    I would like some speculation on the next costumed or cartoon character that will gain the ire of the 'uber-heteros'. I always used to think that Mighty Dog had a funny voice. And what about Mr Magoo? I never heard about an ex-wife. And Barney has a little too much skip in his step, eh?

    :rolleyes:
     
  12. Cohen

    Cohen Member

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    A tolerance pledge ... how dare they. Mr Dobson must be relieved that Jesus no longers walks this earth in mortal form because he knows that Jesus would be appalled at people preaching tolerance.


    :rolleyes:
     
  13. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Member

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    Have they ever gone after a cartoon character who actually was gay?

    Queer Duck

    Queer Duck's friends include Openly Gator, Bi Polar Bear, and Oscar Wildecat.
     
  14. Cohen

    Cohen Member

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    SNL. :)
     
  15. Fatty FatBastard

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    That is the weirdest site I've ever seen.
     
  16. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    "What is everyone staring at?"

    "Nothing!!"
     
  17. Austin70

    Austin70 Member

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    Ace and Gary, were they gay?:D
     
  18. MR. MEOWGI

    MR. MEOWGI Contributing Member

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    Aren't sponges holy? :confused:
     
  19. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"
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    CNN's web coverage was great. They had a picture of SpongeBob doll with my favorite news caption ever:

    "SpongeBob lives in a pineapple under the sea."

    Aren't sponges more asexual than they are hermaphroditic? Is there a marine biologist here? Anyone a marine biologist?

    I would think those preaching abstaining from sexual intercourse would really like asexual reproduction. "Now, kids, don't ever touch one another's privates. Oh no, and don't you touch your own privates either! ... Just sit around and wait until you naturally form a bud."
     
  20. StupidMoniker

    StupidMoniker I lost a bet

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    To be fir to us conservatives, O'Reilly said that he watched the video, had no problem with it, and thought Dobson was being rediculous.
     

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