Brownback: 'Fruits' comment not gay joke

KansasCity.com ^ | January 30, 2006 | Associated Press

[DBeers]

WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, a potential presidential candidate, said Monday he meant no offense to homosexuals when he used the word "fruits" in a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

In a lengthy profile titled "God's Senator," the magazine quotes the Kansas Republican as criticizing countries like Sweden that allow civil unions between same-sex couples.

"You'll know them by their fruits," Brownback said, quoting a biblical passage from Matthew 7:19. Rolling Stone writer Jeff Sharlet said in the story, appearing in the magazine's current issue, that Brownback appeared to be calling gay Swedes "fruits," a derogatory term for homosexuals.

After gay and lesbian advocacy groups denounced the comments last week, Brownback issued a statement Monday saying his quote "was in no way referring to sexual orientation."

"While this biblical passage was pertinent to our overall conversation about faith and deeds, it apparently led the writer to believe I was making a joke," said Brownback, a frequent critic of gay marriage who is pushing a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. "I was not and would never do so with such a personal and sensitive issue," Brownback said.

His explanation was greeted with skepticism by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights organization.

"It's nice to know that Senator Brownback doesn't resort to name-calling from the 1970s, but unfortunately his anti-gay agenda continues to speak for itself," said spokesman Brad Luna.

[DBeers]

After gay and lesbian advocacy groups denounced the comments last week

Yup -there is no culture war -there is no homosexual agenda -there are no homosexual activists -the morally devoid leftists are not attempting to silence the opposition to the destruction of society they promote...

/sarcasm off

[DBeers]

Homosexual Agenda Ping!

FReepmail if you want on/off the ping list.

Free Republic homosexual agenda keyword search

Next president?

[NormsRevenge]

Uff and DUhhh! (/'haPPy' swedes)

[Recovering_Democrat]

Oh, for goodness' sake!! What a bunch of friggin' CRYBABIES.

[madprof98]

"You'll know them by their fruits," Brownback said, quoting a biblical passage from Matthew 7:19.

It was wicked of the senator to cite a book his audience had never even heard of.

[Brilliant]

Hoooo! Let the Dems try to make something of that. They'll just end up alienating even more Christians than they already have.

[jocon307]

I can't believe how stupid these people are. Now, had he said "You'll know them - they are fruits" I could see their point.

[JOE6PAK]

Brownback Mountain?

[admiralsn]

If the Black mayor of New Orleans can refer to his peeps as 'chocolate,' then a United States Senator can quote the Bible. Oh, wait, THAT'S the problem here.

[DBeers]

ROTFLMAO!!!

[toddlintown]

Ya can call 'em queers, fags, or gays (as they call each other)..but not fruits? I don't understand....

[lesser_satan]

Too bad it wasn't meant as a joke, 'cause it's damn funny (and punny)!

[jamesm51]

When I first read this post, I thought brownback was the gay joke!!!

[Blogatron]

So they're affended. So what? The more you bow and scrape in submissiion to their posturing, the more the rest of us will be expected to yield.

If you're offended by what I do or say it's your fault! You chose to be offended.

[dalereed]

That's too mild, just call them queers and be done with it!

Hell, I do it to their faces!

[ansel12]

Seems like the article could have printed the passage.

[Hardastarboard]

Rolling Stone writer Jeff Sharlet said in the story, appearing in the magazine's current issue, that Brownback appeared to be calling gay Swedes "fruits,"

Only to a moron who's never heard of the Bible. God, can these people be any more stupid? I'm surprised that the phrase "Dumb as a journalist" hasn't entered our language by now.

[DBeers]

Nagin actually was misquoted when referring to his citizenry -he described them as Cadburys (Chocolates, Fruits & Nuts)...

[laney]

But they are *Fruits* truth sometimes hurts.

[DBeers]

Seems like the article could have printed the passage.

That would violate leftist propaganda protocol rules of engagement...

[ansel12]

Shouldn't it be Matthew 7:20 ?

[King Moonracer]

"I was not and would never do so with such a personal and sensitive issue," Brownback said. "I mean, these poor people smell like vaseline, and can't possibly sit down for days on end."

[cgk]

It was wicked of the senator to cite a book his audience had never even heard of.

I concur ;).

[skr]

Sen. Brownback was right, although one would have to either not understand what the Biblical passage is saying or twist the meaning altogether. Homosexuals are fruitless by nature.

[Graybeard58]

had he said "You'll know them - they are fruits" I could see their point.

And had he said that, he still would have been accurate.

[frossca]

At least he didn't call them "niggardly"...

[RightOnline]

"After gay and lesbian advocacy groups denounced the comments last week, Brownback issued a statement Monday saying his quote "was in no way referring to sexual orientation."

ohfercryinoutloud.............

Hey fruity types...........just get over yourselves, will ya??????

Man can't even quote the Bible using a verse with the word "fruits" in it and they go apes**t.

How low we have sunk in this country.........

BACK in the closet with the LOT of 'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[onyx]

"You'll know them by their fruits," Brownback said, quoting a biblical passage from Matthew 7:19. Rolling Stone writer Jeff Sharlet said in the story, appearing in the magazine's current issue, that Brownback appeared to be calling gay Swedes "fruits," a derogatory term for homosexuals.




ROTFLMAO! "You'll know them by their fruits."

[Sister_T]

"It's nice to know that Senator Brownback doesn't resort to name-calling from the 1970s, but unfortunately his anti-gay agenda continues to speak for itself," said spokesman Brad Luna.

"He didn't call me a fruit but I'm going to cry like a baby about it anyway!"

[Freebird Forever]

"You'll know them by their fruits," Brownback said, quoting a biblical passage from Matthew 7:19.

Ya gotta love a guy who can turn Scripture into a double entendre and still stay on message.

[Disambiguator]

"You will know the fruits by their fruits."

[CheyennePress]

No, your honor, I was not calling the fairies "fruits."

[Horatio Gates]

What a bunch of Nancy's. Hell, there's some gals I know by their melons

[taxesareforever]

In this case there is no difference between the homosexual community and Islamofascists. They both are pushing their agendas by attempting to stifle free speech.

[DBeers]

Shouldn't it be Matthew 7:20 ?

Matthew 7:15-20 (NAB)

15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.

16 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

17 Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 So by their fruits you will know them."

[BigSkyFreeper]

LMAO!

[onyx]

Me too! Hilarious. The unintended statements are the best. This is perfect.

[One4Indictment]

Texas Voters Approve Ban on Gay Marriage...or...TEXANS DEFEAT PACKERS

[Horatio Gates]

Unnnggghhh!...LOL.

[ElkGroveDan]

They sure look like fruits to me

[CheyennePress]

No, your honor, I was not calling the fairies "fruits."

[detsaoT]

I'm surprised that the phrase "Dumb as a journalist" hasn't entered our language by now.

*Yoink!*

[Stellar Dendrite]

lolz

[NCjim]

[digitalbrownshirt]

Yeah, even the article about being misquoted misquotes the Bible.

[SALChamps03]

It's a good thing he didn't comment on frugality and call them niggardly. Then the proverbial stuff would have really hit the fan. PC garbage.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Moby and Mick.

[dighton]

Senator Pulped by Grape and Lemon Alliance

[bpjam]

You could have never heard of the Bible and it still doesn't refer to gay people. Apparently the queer (their word, not mine) lobby hasn't ever heard of the fruits of ones labor. Maybe they should get a job instead of sitting around waiting to be insulted. (Not that they should have to sit for long considering the effort they put into be worthy of insult)

[Frank_2001]

So anyway, how do you make a fruit codial?;)