I’ve always said this: Anti-gay organizations deeply disdain their own supporters and think they are a bit slow upstairs. They have no respect for their intellects and talk down to them like they are impressionable sheep.
It seems to work, because these folks eat up the condescension like it’s a Chick-fil-A sandwich. Case in point is this new anti-gay video using the Chick-fil-A imbroglio to inspire fundamentalists to vote. In a paternalistic voice, the narrator tries to rile up fundies by distorting the facts. He tries to use the controversy sparked by a few big city mayors to get fundies to vote. But it makes no sense to thinking people.
1) The mayors who spoke out are from Boston, Washington, and Chicago. They won’t be voted out by fundies, so obviously the creator of this video has an entirely different agenda’ — like getting Mitt Romney elected by making fundies feel threatened enough to vote. Talk about cynical manipulation!
2) How many Chick-fil-A’s were actually shut down or prohibited from opening? Z-E-R-O. Oh, those poor persecuted Christians so badly want to be martyrs — but no one is actually taking away their rights. They dominate one of America’s two political parties. There are churches on every corner and they can pray where they want. There has never been a time in history when fundies were as powerful and free to embrace their religious beliefs.
3) This is not simply about marriage equality. It is a bout a corporation that essentially funnels millions of dollars into anti-gay causes. Then they cry victim when people express their displeasure with the fact Chick-fil-A sponsors official hate groups.
Take a gander at this video. Watch how the narrator seems like he is talking to slow children. Take in how this group tries to exploit fundies and manipulates their emotions to get them to vote for Republicans (although they never explicitly use the R-word, we know what they are doing).
h/t Joe.My.God
A very slick ad that as Wayne says is a complete distortion. Bigot Chicken loves to sue over any thing they view as copyright infringement, such as using the phrase “eat more ____.” I wonder if there will be a lawsuit for font theft.
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get away from Chick-fil-A, so it wouldn’t be slaughtered for their sandwich.
Something else just occurred to me; this is slick in more ways than one. These people, like NOM, are now using this “chicken sandwich” as a shield. They’re sniping at us from the cover of this idiotic chicken restaurant. I wonder how Christian Cathy feels about his brothers in Christ in this maneuver.
Yesterday on 95 going into Philadelphia, I saw a billboard (new one) that said, “Obama supports gay marriage and abortion, do you?” and then at the bottom it said ‘vote republican’. I was hoping someone would spray paint ‘yes’ under the ‘do you?’ part. They’re probably dumping their money down a hole anyway (good!) since this section of PA is probably one of the ‘bluest’ in the state. Philadelphia is a very ‘young’ city with a large college age population, a vibrant gay community, and many people of color. Romney has a snowball’s chance in hell of getting the majority of their votes.
It’s no sillier than the condescending construction of the anti-Chick fil a argument (e.g. “It is a bout a corporation that essentially funnels millions of dollars into anti-gay causes”)
I would, however, agree with you if you suspect there are a plethora of hidden (and not-so-hidden)tactics being employed to wage propoganda, assert outright lies, assasinate character, initiate social media whisper campaigns, etc. etc.–all aimed at shaving off votes one way or the other. And I feel the primary condescension rolls straight down from the top of the two parties and is amplified by the media. But it could be that the architects are not so arrogant–except when it comes to attempting to shave off votes.
Melinda, how is it condescending to say that Chick-Fil-A donates millions of dollars to SPLC certified anti-gay hate groups? Do you have any idea what kinds of things those groups are responsible for?
Melinda, “condescending construction?” More like “cut and dried.” You yourself in criticizing the argument were able to state it in one sentence while this video has to explain a lot to make its convoluted argument/distortion.
RainbowPhoenix–I do know the groups–and know they likely funneled a couple thousand dollars to Republican politicians–which does not qualify them as hate groups. Two of the groups have been identified by the SPLC–and the SPLC has identified specific comments/actions for which those groups ought address. Those two groups received $6,000—-not millions–and the use of those funds went to fully legal activity. The CFA funneling boatloads of cash to hate is the smear. And smears are done because the smearers believe the hearers will be duped.
This is essentially the construction of this website. It strategically seeks the worst and the vilest and slaps that onto anyone who opposes the TWO agenda. Does that make the “worst and vilest” right?? No.
And because the conservative right crowd is seldom interested in casting light on, or addressing, the worst and vilest I am glad TWO does the grunt work and puts the stuff up.
But then it is often selectively twisted to make it worse than it is. That demonizing strategy always confuses me (not just on this issue, but whether it is opposing a politician, or a war). If something is truly evil–then the answer is light and opposition–not obfuscation, demonization, and smearing.
True evil deserves true truth. When folk oppose evil with other tactics–to me it indicates another agenda at work.
What is being selectively twisted Melinda? We’ve seen the records from Chik-Fil-A’s donations. “Ex-gay” groups. Anti marriage-equality groups. Hate groups. Many of them directly influenced the Ugandan government’s current efforts to commit genocide against its gay citizens and are trying to prevent efforts to stop said genocide. Sounds like you’re selectively twisting things to make these groups look better than they are.
Melinda, I’m confused. You admit that Chik-fil-a is giving money to anti-gay groups, some of which have been called hate groups by SPLC and yet you say this is “a construction” by this website? I mean, you admit they do it, but you say it’s not true? I think you need to go back and learn more about critical thinking. You’re basically saying “although this is true it’s not true.” Really weak.
I don’t get the fundies. We know they give money to hate groups. The AFA is first on the list, IMO. Yet they will lie through their teeth about it. We know about the donation to the group trying to get Congressial approval for the “kill the gays” bill. We know some of their pastors are calling for our imprisonment, execution, and most recently, the kidnapping of the children of same sex couples and GLBT people. We know all this and yet the fundies want to project this back on us?
Fundies wonder why they have little respect from many in this coutnry? Because if the truth doesn’t get what they want, they will lie and cheat to get what they want (see Prop H8).