Paramount Pictures
Posted on 01/20/2005 2:59:04 PM PST by neverdem
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."
Paramount Pictures
Give me a break! I love Spongebob.
We're up close to 250 posts there. Classic example of how the Bush Majority is fundamentally divided on so-called "cultural issues".
-Eric
Amen to that. Spongebob rules.
We love SpongeBob. This is so stupid.
"On the heels of electoral victories barring same-sex marriage"
LIAR.
Name a single location where same-sex marriage existed before and was "barred"? THERE WERE NONE.
And, since 'marriage' is defined as a union of a man and a women. "same-sex marriage' is an oxymoron.
But for him to more accurately write
"electoral victories where voters in 11 states reaffirmed the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman" ... would fail the test of bias-through-insinuation.
I think if we could all watch the video ourselves we might see what the fuss is (or isn't) about.
I would need to see the video to actually have any opinion on this. If the video maker is being truthful and the video does not refer to sexuality, then Dobson over-reached a bit. However if there is reference to "sexual tolerance", then it is a problem, and Dobson is right.
See how sneaky the NYTimes is? They found a Bush-base 'wedge issue' to harp on ... or is it a "wedgie issue"? my pants hurt already.
Karl Wheezer's a little light in his loafers, though...
i dislike spongebob but how is he bad. Seems to me to be going a little far.
Spongebob possess the innocence of a child. How else do you explain his best friend being a complete idiot? I love Patrick too!
"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."
Geeez, talk about the worst possible and most inappropriate response to that crime ...
Yeah, let's teach kids to feel better about the culture that sent over the murderers to our land.
"Same article, different title"
I've noticed that even within different editions of the same day's paper with the Times.
Could you post "Republican National Committee Chair Unveils `Durable Majority` Plan" from the KC Star? If you do post it, could you ping me?
I'm signed up with enough papers, and the Star wants too much personal info. It was mentioned at the NRA website today.
Spongebob and Patrick. Batman and Robin. Starsky and Hutch. Amazing that some people actually are bothered by this.
Ever see the "Ambiguously Gay Duo" cartoons?
Dobson gives creedence to the left's belief that the right are moral whack jobs.
And what about that Simpsons opening where Bart is writing "Sponge Bob is not a contraceptive..." on the blackboard?
The bluenoses were in high moral dungeon this morning. (see the link up the thread.)
I can't get worked up about a sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea. People who see gays everywhere in cartoons need some therapy, IMO.
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