Always Looking for Offense, Christians Claim Super Bowl Ads with Neil Patrick Harris Mock Them

One has to wonder about those who seemingly are constantly looking for offense and slights in virtually anything and everything.  But when it comes to Christofascists, they take this phenomenon to unbelievable heights.  Perhaps it is because they are not in touch with objective reality to begin with.  That certainly applies to the folks at World Net Daily, a/k/a Wing Nut Daily, who now have their patties in an utter wad over new ads being run by CBS for this year's Super Bowl game.  The source of the shrieks and outrage?  The ads feature Neil Patrick Harris which, in the minds of the unhinged translates to mockery of Christians.   I increasingly believe these "godly Christian" types belong in mental wards rather than loose in society.  Queerty looks at this latest batshitery.  Here are highlights:

“America’s Independent News Network”, WND, claims CBS is mocking Tim Tebow, and in effect Christianity itself, with new Super Bowl ads featuring openly gay actor Neil Patrick Harris.

“CBS, the television network airing the big game this year, is now using an outspoken homosexual actor to mimic Tim Tebow’s style of trumpeting messages in eyeblack on his face,” said the site. “One football fan who watched the CBS promo Sunday made the connection between Harris and Tebow, saying, ‘They’re pushing a gay agenda by using him, and they’re mocking Christians at the same time.’”

Speaking of pushing an agenda, WND also publishes the magazine, Whistleblower, featuring a cover proclaiming Barack Obama “The First Muslim President.”

WND even included an unnecessarily long poll asking if CBS is mocking Tebow and/or Christianity with the majority of voters (all 352 of them) choosing “Yes, and every effort should be made to boycott CBS and its advertisers.”

Of course, for some football fans Tebow represented the second coming. For New York Jets fans, however, NPH would probably make a more desirable quarterback.

1967 CBS Reports: The Homosexuals

I graduated from high school in 1970 in at the time conservative Central New York. In addition to the area's general conservatism and my Roman Catholic indoctrination, being gay was not something that was even capable of being considered by those of us now finding ourselves coming out in mid to later life (remember, being gay was classified as a mental illness until 1973). Reinforcing such self-denial of the truth was the general anti-gay rhetoric one saw in the media - assuming gays were depicted at al. The Advocate and other blogs are reporting on a 1967 CBS Reports special on "The Homosexuals" which is not only homophobic but sounds as if it was written by James Dobson at Focus on the Family. Indeed, one of the "experts" CBS consulted was the now discredited Charles Socarides who was affiliated with NARTH. The Advocate article that looks at the homophobic depiction of gays citizens - a depiction that the Christianists still endeavor to paint us with. The younger generation needs to watch this video to get a sense of what so many of us older gays were faced with and why so many of us tried to conform to societal expectations - assuming we could even admit to ourselves that we were indeed gay. Here are some highlights:
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The Homosexuals first aired on Tuesday, March 7, 1967, at 10 p.m. I was 2 years old then, so I didn’t catch it. In fact, it would be another 10 years or so before I ever even knew there was such a thing as a homosexual. My dad talked about “fruits” from time to time, but it never made much sense; I assumed that it had something to do with ladylike men who wanted to kiss my father against his will. Then they ate pineapple. Something like that. It was the most exotic fruit I could think of in first grade.

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I remember being shocked that network television — at a time when there were only three major networks — could have aired something so creepy and gross all the way back in 1967. Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes (who I’m sure thinks it’s all pretty embarrassing now) hosted the special, all about the “problem” of homosexuality, and over 45 minutes he detailed how it was growing and spreading like a cancer across the country.

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Some quotes, some from Wallace, some from clergy and other “experts” on the subject:

“They frequent their own bars ... where they can act out…”
“The average homosexual isn’t capable of love.”
“Homosexuality is, in fact, a mental illness.”
“The church has a great deal of sympathy for those who are handicapped in this way.”
[Being a homosexual] automatically rules out that [the man in question] will remain happy.”
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The men (no mention of lesbians is ever made) who aren’t on camera as representatives of fledgling gay rights groups at the time, like the Mattachine Society, are interviewed in shadow or behind plants, and say things like, “I know I’m sick inside ... immature.” And then comes the segment on a 1955 homosexual witch hunt in Boise, Idaho, one that apparently turned the whole town upside down with fear and paranoia, with a close-up of an op-ed piece in the Boise newspaper titled “Crush the Monster.”
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It’s a piece of historic television that deserves to be seen, especially if you’re too young to remember how quickly the world has changed in 43 short years, changed to the point where Brian Posehn and Steve Agee’s costar Sarah Silverman can go on The View, like she did last week, and respond to questions about her recent breakup and thoughts on marriage with this comment:“If you’re for equal rights, why would you get married right now? It’s like joining a country club that doesn’t allow blacks or Jews. There’s no difference.”

Why Is CBS in Bed With the Religious Right?

As I expected would be the case, CBS has rejected the broadcast of a gay theme ad during the Super Bowl next weekend - even as it continues to plan on broadcasting an ad by Focus on the Family which furthers what appears to be an ad that disseminates an outright lie. Gee, imagine that! Christianists at FOTF lying. The better question is when does FOTF not lie. But then, from my experience the far right Christianists are among the biggest liars one is likely to ever encounter. If it is viewed as furthering their theocratic agenda, then any lie is allowed. First, some highlights from Entertainment Weekly that looks at CBS''s lame excuse for its bigotry toward a gay themed ad:

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CBS has decided it will not air an advertisement from gay dating website ManCrunch.com during Feb. 7’s Super Bowl XLIV, EW has confirmed. The ad depicts two football-watching men sharing a passionate kiss after their hands touch while reaching into a bowl of potato chips. “After reviewing the ad — which is entirely commercial in nature — our Standards and Practices department decided not to accept this particular spot,” a network rep said in a statement. “As always, we are open to working with the client on alternative submissions.” A rep for ManCrunch.com also confirmed the rejection and called the refusal to air the spot hypocritical. “We are totally of the opinion the ad was rejected due to the homosexual content,” spokeswoman Elissa Buchter said. She added, “The creative is PG-rated and doesn’t feature any tongue or overt sexuality.”
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CBS and its Super Bowl commercials made headlines earlier this week when women’s advocacy groups issued statements protesting the network’s decision to air a spot sponsored by Christian organization Focus on the Family, which features Florida Gators football star Tim Tebow, his mother, and what some are arguing is an overt pro-life message.
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As for the apparently false claims made in the FOTF ad, it seems that while the mother of Tim Tebow claims to have rejected advice to have an abortion when in reality she was in a country where abortions were 100% illegal at the time. Thus, it seems unlikely that anyone ever made the claimed recommendation. As Radaronline reports, attorney Gloria Allred is threatening to file FCC and FTC complaints against CBS for its disingenuous furtherance of what appears to be an outright lie. Here are some highlights (Allred's letter can be found here):
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Famed womens' rights campaigner and powerhouse attorney Gloria Allred has joined the ever growing hoard of people angered at the CBS network's decision to allow an pro life ad to air during the upcoming Super Bowl on February 7th. In an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com Allred shares that she is outraged by CBS and fears that the motivation for money has far outweighed any commitment to truth and any duty to upholding advertising standards.

The ad, featuring college football player and devout Christian, Tim Tebow, and his mother Pam, is funded by Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian organization that places emphasis on marriage and parenthood.
In the controversial ad, Pam reportedly shares the story of her difficult 1987 pregnancy which occurred when she was working as a missionary in the Philippines. In her harrowing tale she says she fell ill with amoebic dysentery while pregnant and was treated with robust antibiotics, which she says doctors told her had caused fetal damage, prompting them to urge her to terminate her pregnancy, but she refused their advice that she have an abortion for her own safety. Going on to give birth to Tebow, the now-famous quarterback who went on to become a Heisman Trophy winner, leading the Gators to two BCS wins.

In her exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com Allred slams the ad and CBS's decision to air it, pointing out factual inconsistencies with Pam's story. One glaring one is the fact that the act of abortion is totally illegal in the majority Catholic country of the Philippines - under all circumstances including rape and incest, and even without a provision in the circumstance that the mother's life is in danger. The law has been in effect since 1930.
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Allred says she believes it an impossible scenario to believe that Philippino doctors would of ever suggested abortion as a viable option for Tebow in the first place. And when you learn that physicians and midwives who perform abortions in the Philippines face six years in prison, and may have their licenses suspended or revoked, and that women who receive abortions - no matter the reason - may be punished with imprisonment for two to six years, it's easy to see why.
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It's a shocking turn around on policy for the network, who in 2004, were criticized by many liberal organizations for rejecting an ad by the United Church of Christ highlighting the UCC's welcoming stance toward gays and others who might feel shunned by more conservative churches. CBS cited at the time their strict "no advocacy in advertising" policy. Something that has obviously changed for some unapparent reason.

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The United Church of Christ ad which was rejected by CBS can be viewed below.

A Gay Dating Ad for the Super Bowl?

I wrote recently about the hypocrisy of CBS in refusing to broadcast an ad submitted by the United Church of Christ which carried the simple message that the denomination was welcoming to all people, gays included, because it was "controversial, yet CBS will run an ad by the foul haters at Focus on the Family. Now, rumors are running that CBS is pondering running a gay dating ad during the Superbowl. It's likely just a ploy to try to diffuse criticism over the planned broadcast of the FOTF ad (which in my view is akin to running an ad by a Neo-Nazi organization) and I'm not expecting the ad to actually run.. Nonetheless, I applaud the advertiser's efforts to hold CBS' feet to the fire. In the unlikely event the ad actual gets broadcast, watching the likely hysteria generated amongst the Christo-fascist set will probably be more entertaining than the Superbowl itself. Here are some highlights from The Advocate:

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An ad for gay dating site ManCrunch.com may still be under consideration for airing by CBS during the Super Bowl on February 7. According to Fox News, “The 30-second spot shows two men excitedly watching the game, before their hands brush as they both reach into a bowl of chips. Suddenly, the two begin making out, much to the shock of a guy sitting close by.”
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The merits of that message aside, ManCrunch.com said it believes the network will pass on the ad in the end, but it does not want to “officially ‘reject’ the spot out of fear there may be a backlash from gay advocacy groups,” according to Fox News. CBS denies that claim, however. The network says the ad, like many others, is still under review.
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The potential airing of a gay dating site ad arrives as CBS is under fire for its plan to air a pro-life advocacy ad starring University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother during the big game. Under an earlier network policy that has since changed, CBS rejected an ad from the United Church of Christ that focused on tolerance toward LGBT people.

The Hypocrisy of CBS

I have previously posted about CBS's agreement to air a commercial by Focus on the Family ("FOTF"), one of the most ant-gay "family values" organizations in the USA and a constant backer of the "change myth" which is used to keep LGBT Americans second class citizens. FOTF's founder, James Dobson (pictured at left) has literally raised millions of dollars over the years by demonizing gays and seeking to depict LGBT Americans as less than fully human and as some type of "other." As many will recall, CBS - and all of the major networks - refused to run ads by the United Church of Christ that demonstrated that the domination did not exclude anyone, including same sex couples. Why, because the ads which were well done and hardly in your face pro-gay ads were deemed "too controversial." In my view, CBS's selectivity of whose ads it will run is hypocritical and, excuse my French, utter bull shit. My fellow blogger, Lyndon Evans at Focus on the Rainbow, who is himself a former CBS employee, has a great post that takes CBS to task for its double standards. Here are some highlights:
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On January 16 this writer was one of the first in the media to voice opposition to CBS Television’s decision to sell ad time during this year’s Super Bowl to the anti-gay hate group Focus On The Family.

Yesterday CBS stood behind it’s decision to sell ad time and that it will not drop Focus On The Family as a Super Bowl advertiser. In an article at Broadcasting and Cable (B&C) reporter John Eggerton wrote in part, The network said it does not reject advocacy ads out of hand, and added that it would consider “responsibly produced ads from all groups” for the “few” remaining spots in the broadcast. . . . “It is not inflammatory or divisive,” a CBS exec told Atkinson last week.
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The ad in question may not be inflammatory or divisive but Focus On The Family certainly is. The following is an open letter directed to Les Moonves, President and CEO of the CBS Corporation.
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As a former and once proud employee of CBS Broadcasting I find your decision as head of CBS Broadcasting to allow Focus On The Family to buy ad time during this year’s Super Bowl broadcast, putting corporate profit above the fight against discrimination and to allow a group such as Focus On The Family which dictates what it deems should be the moral conscience and decency of Americans and to publicize themselves to a national and international TV viewing audience, to be unconscionable.
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When I was the commercial continuity manager at the CBS Radio Group in Hartford, CT and managed barter ads for program distributors such as Westwood One, I was not allowed to schedule certain radio spots.
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I was not allowed to schedule ads from XM Satellite Radio as it was deemed a competitor. I was not allowed to schedule ads for Trojan prophylactics as the ad subject matter was deemed inappropriate for our four stations in the radio group.
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Part of my job was to bring to the attention of the Director of Operations and the General Manager of the Radio Group ads which may have “underlying political messages”, inappropriate content matter for the radio stations and ads which may be of a competitive nature to the radio broadcast industry (with the exception of TV or Cable Networks).
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Should I be remiss in my duties and neglect to become “suspicious” of ad content, as I did once with Radio Shack co-oping with XM, my ass was handed to me on a platter, to put it in blunt terms.
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Not only is your descision to accept advertising dollars from Focus On The Family an affront to LGBTs, women and those who believe in reproductive choice, it is a major disappointment I am sure for a great many loyal employees of the CBS Corporation and it’s divisions, this a Corporation which in its employee policy does not tolerate intolerance among the CBS Corporation and its various division’s employees.
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Today and until such time as you make the decision not to air the Focus On The Family ad, I am ashamed to have been part of the CBS family.

Sincerely,

Lyndon Evans

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It would be interesting to see whether CBS would broadcast a patriotic sounding ad sponsored by a neo-Nazi organization. Somehow, I suspect not. Yet, CBS is running an ad by an organization equally hateful in its actions and objectives.

Lessons From Walter Cronkite

Years ago I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Walter Cronkite at the University of Virginia where he was one of the Student Legal Forum's guest speakers. He was amazing and thus, like many, I am saddened to hear of his passing yesterday He was indeed a news and journalism legend who in many ways set the standard for how news and journalism should be done. Unfortunately, those standards are increasingly rare in network and cable news not to mention most newspapers. In many ways, Cronkite's standards now only exist in the blogosphere. If we had more Cronkites and true investigative reporters today, this country may well have avoided the disaster of the Iraq War and eight years of the Chimperator and Emperor Palpatine Cheney.

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I was not yet ten years old when Cronkite became the CBS evening news anchor and he literally was a daily part of my life growing up as we watched the evening news - often with conflicting opinions between family members erupting on any number of issues, particularly the student unrest in the late 1960's and Vietnam. I recall Cronkite's reporting the day John F. Kennedy died and in respect to so many other momentous events. In some ways, Cronkite helped me to develop into a news junkie and meeting him was a truly awesome experience. One surprise was that he was much shorter than I had pictured him because he seemed so much larger than life on television. It was a different era and I suspect many of today's youth have no concept of the level of authority Cronkite commanded.

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The New York Times as a brief piece with some comments by the president of CBS which conveys Cronkite's uniqueness:

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“There probably will never be anybody who has the presence and the stature and the importance that Walter Cronkite had in this country,” Mr. McManus said in a telephone interview, recalling what he told his children. “I tried to explain to them that most people in America expected to get both good and bad news from one man, and that was Walter Cronkite,” he said. “That will never be duplicated again,” because of the fragmentation of the media.

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Mr. McManus sensed that his children had a hard time comprehending what he meant. “It’s really hard,” he acknowledged, “to remember just how influential and important he was.” He cited Mr. Cronkite’s famous declaration that the Vietnam war would end in a stalemate.

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A little more than a year ago, Mr. Cronkite paid a surprise visit to the news headquarters. Even the interns who weren’t yet born when Mr. Cronkite was anchor were “literally looking up to him,” Mr. McManus said. “When he walked in the newsroom, it was like Thomas Jefferson walking into a history class at a university,” he said.