Score one for the pic's URL, too.
Posted on 01/25/2005 11:31:27 PM PST by Cableguy
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings denounced PBS on Tuesday for spending public money on a cartoon with lesbian characters, saying many parents would not want children exposed to such lifestyles.
The episode of "Postcards From Buster," which has not yet run, shows the title character, a bunny named Buster, on a trip to Vermont, a state that recognizes same-sex civil unions. The episode features two lesbian couples, although the focus is on farm life and maple sugaring.
A PBS spokesman said late Tuesday that the nonprofit organization had decided not to distribute the episode, "Sugartime!," to its 349 stations but that the Education Department's objections were not a factor in that decision.
Um, er, "Sugartime"?
Sheesh.
Could have been worse. Could have been set in Hershey, PA.
Ping
It would depend on which route they use to get there.
Ping
Score one for the pic's URL, too.
It would be amusing to see it if it had hairy legged, army boot wearing, fat, tatooed, ugly, and therefore man hating lesbians. You know. The sort of lesbians you actually see in real life.
Even so, and regardless of which breed of lesbian, it's nothing I'd want the kids to see.
LOL!!
Why are our tax dollars still paying for some of this crud?
You'd think a Republican House, Senate and President could address this issue.
It may not be number one on the agenda, but couldn't it have been the last agenda item in the first term? Heh heh heh...
Fuller AP Article:
WASHINGTON -- The nation's new education secretary denounced PBS yesterday for spending public money on a cartoon with lesbian characters, saying many parents would not want their children exposed to such lifestyles.
The not-yet-aired episode of "Postcards From Buster" shows the title character, an animated bunny, on a trip to Vermont -- a state known for recognizing same-sex civil unions. The episode features two lesbian couples, although the focus is on farm life and maple sugaring.
A PBS spokesman said late yesterday that the nonprofit network has decided not to distribute the episode, called "Sugartime!," to its 349 stations. She said the Education Department's objections were not a factor in that decision.
"Ultimately, our decision was based on the fact that we recognize this is a sensitive issue, and we wanted to make sure that parents had an opportunity to introduce this subject to their children in their own time," said Lea Sloan, vice president of media relations at PBS.
However, the Boston public television station that produces the show, WGBH, does plan to make the "Sugartime!" episode available to other stations. WGBH also plans to air the episode on March 23, Sloan said.
PBS gets money for the "Postcards from Buster" series through the federal Ready-to-Learn program, one aimed at helping young children learn through television.
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said the "Sugartime!" episode does not fulfill the intent Congress had in mind. By law, she said, any funded shows must give top attention to "research-based educational objectives, content, and materials."
"Many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed in the episode," Spellings wrote in a letter sent yesterday to Pat Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of PBS.
"Congress' and the Department's purpose in funding this programming certainly was not to introduce this kind of subject matter to children, particularly through the powerful and intimate medium of television."
Spellings has made her criticism of the publicly funded program's depiction of the gay lifestyle one of her first acts as secretary. She began Monday, replacing Rod Paige.
Spellings issued three requests to PBS:
That her department's seal or any statement linking the department to the show be removed.
That PBS notify its member stations of the nature of the show so they could review it before airing it.
A refund "in the interest of avoiding embroiling the Ready-to-Learn program in a controversy that will only hurt" it.
The department has awarded nearly $100 million to PBS through the program over the past five years in a contract that expires in September, said department spokesman Susan Aspey.
The show about Buster also gets funding from other sources.
THink maybe "Sugartime" is being held back for a special PBS membership drive?
A PBS spokesman said late Tuesday that the nonprofit organization had decided not to distribute the episode, "Sugartime!," to its 349 stations but that the Education Department's objections were not a factor in that decision.
-yeah righto -was that a genuine spokesman or a lying spokesperson? PBS' government funding should have some 'strings' attached to children's programming...
hahaha
"sugartime"...
...indeed ;)
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings appears to be an ally of us bigoted heterosexuals -I wonder what her take on the NEA is?
..speaking as a bigotted ego-centric and self-centered heterosexual over the hill white male working stiff..I say, LET PBS SHOW THEIR DAM LESBIAN CARTOON, because its for the CHILDREN afterall...and I'm a S E N S I T I VE guy :D
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