Why are Conservatives attacking SpongeBob??

[WWTBAMFAN]

This is getting really strange. Dobson (the man who takes credit for getting Bush elected) is now going after SpongeBob. See http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/20/politics/20sponge.html

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."

What is wrong with a cartoon figure asking for tolerance? Are the conservatives worried that SpongeBob is gay and if so why are they worried? This reminds me of the Dan Quayle attack on Murphy Brown.

 

[robinb]

James Dobson is a fruitcake.

 

[leahannpen]

I don't really see this as an attack...but that's just me???

 

[grinningghost]

I consider myself a moderate conservative and I never once thought of Spongebob as anything but a stupid cartoon character.

 

[WWTBAMFAN]

Dobson is accuising SpongeBob of brainwashing children. Look at the last two lines of the article that I posted.

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."

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Some people will just find anything to whine about.

Is this the same guy who thought one of the teletubbies was gay?

 

[Joanne M]

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."

Sounds like an attack to me...don't they have anything more constructive to do all day????

I read the story this morning and thought it was one of the funniest things I had heard in a long time. I emailed it to a bunch of people I thought would also find it as funny as I did.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Those freaky conservative Christians! Who cares what Spongebob's sexual orientation is.

(Besides--everyone knows that Spongebob and Pearl have been gettin' it on in the stock room over at the Crusty Crab.)

 

[shortbun]

Some people will just find anything to whine about.

Is this the same guy who thought one of the teletubbies was gay?

No that was another fruitcake! Methinks they do protest too much, eh?

 

[kmiles]

I think they spend too much time watching children's cartoons and telling everyone what "their" god wants them to do.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Some people will just find anything to whine about.

 

[kmiles]

Those freaky conservative Christians! Who cares what Spongebob's sexual orientation is.

(Besides--everyone knows that Spongebob and Pearl have been gettin' it on in the stock room over at the Crusty Crab.)

I'd hit that.

 

[ThAnswr]

Some people will just find anything to whine about.

Is this the same guy who thought one of the teletubbies was gay?

No that was that other poster child for the Christian Right, Jerry Falwell.

 

[chadfromdallas]

I like this one:

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/world/10686321.htm

Mark Barondeso, general counsel for the We Are the Family foundation, suggested that anyone who says the video promotes homosexuality "needs to visit their doctor and get their medication increased."

 

[minniepumpernickel]

No that was that other poster child for the Christian Right, Jerry Falwell.

LOL!

Did you guys hear about the anti-gay protesters that crashed a gay pride parade in Philidelphia? They got charged with some type of hate crime thing for chanting ant-gay rhetoric! I hope they get really harsh sentences!!

 

[Bichon Barb]

I'd hit that.

Yeah, I think Spongebob is into the plus size thing. I've also heard he's got a subscription to "Shark Tail".

 

[Bichon Barb]

...or was that "Whale Tail"?

 

[Bichon Barb]

Shark Tail, Whale Tail, Tentacle Sex, Playfish--I get them all mixed up.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

Shame on you BB

 

[Bichon Barb]

Shame on you BB

You silly goil! You never told me you were such a talented actress.