Looking for outrage to feed the base

I knew it as soon as I saw it. In fact, at the Super Bowl party I was at, we predicted it and joked about it. Of course I was hanging out with a bunch of liberals. Quite predictably, Coca Cola's Super Bowl add featuring America the Beautiful being sung in different languages by a culturally diverse group of people has generated right-wing faux outrage designed to appeal to the bottom rungs of the GOP. Even worse, the commercial featured a gay couple. Let's be honest....the people who are outraged probably couldn't sing the words to America the Beautiful if their lives depended on it. This is about bigotry, pure and simple. Our country was built on the backs of immigrants and continues to depend on their labor, menial and intellectual, to move forward as the greatest country on earth. The far right wing of the GOP however depends upon outrage to keep it relevant. Sad.

From Talking Points Memo:

Former tea party congressman Allen West even took time to write a blog post during the game to voice his displeasure. For West, the ad started out strong enough.

"Then the words went from English to languages I didn’t recognize," a troubled West wrote, calling it "a truly disturbing commercial."

"If we cannot be proud enough as a country to sing 'American (sic) the Beautiful' in English in a commercial during the Super Bowl, by a company as American as they come — doggone we are on the road to perdition," he wrote.

Michael Patrick Leahy over at Breitbart was offended, too.

Not only did Coke use "a deeply Christian patriotic anthem whose theme is unity – in several foreign languages," but Leahy noted that the "ad also prominently features a gay couple."

Fox News commentator Todd Starnes doesn't like hearing foreign languages during the Super Bowl either.

Couldn't make out that song they were singing. I only speak English.

— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) February 3, 2014

So was Coca-Cola saying America is beautiful because new immigrants don't learn to speak English?

— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) February 3, 2014

Coca Cola is the official soft drink of illegals crossing the border. #americaisbeautiful

— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) February 3, 2014

The ad even inspired a #BoycottCoke hashtag on Twitter.

I think I may drink two Cokes today just to show my support.

 

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A dangerous precedent

A House education subcommittee on Thursday evening backed House Bill 11, which would require Virginia textbooks to note that the Sea of Japan is also referred to as the East Sea. The bill now heads to the full House Education Committee. A Senate version of the legislation has already passed. Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Thursday that if the bill makes it to his desk, he would sign it.

I know this bill has been championed by the Korean community and I understand their resentment based on a cruel Japanese occupation, but it seems to be a slippery slope we're climbing here. When politicians start dictating textbook contents I see nothing but trouble. We've seen some screwy legislation come out of state houses...what's to keep our state legislature from writing into code that all textbooks purchased for use in Virginia must include intelligent design instead of the theory of evolution? Is it just me, or is this something to be concerned about?

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Yes to guns....no to flags

A small American flag on a stick may be used as a dangerous weapon, but a dangerous weapon apparently isn't a threat as a dangerous weapon. In what continues to pass for rational, reasoned thinking in our state legislature visitors to the state house are not allowed to have any sticks or club-like objects, including small American flags.

A group of gun violence prevention activists discovered this when they arrived on Monday to attend a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event. According to Virginia Capitol Police, the groups were informed beforehand of the restriction barring sticks at permitted rallies, because they can be used as weapons. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America’s Gena Reeder said they were aware of the rules, but “certainly not in our wildest imagination thought that could apply to the American flag.” While the moms tore out the dowels of their flags, capitol grounds visitors with firearms were ushered through the entrance. That day, Virginia Citizens Defense League and other gun rights groups organized a “Guns Save Lives” day. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that about half of the crowd was armed, packing weapons that ranged from handguns to assault rifles.

So let's run through this one more time. A small stick with an American flag could be used as a dangerous weapon and is banned but a handgun or assault rifle apparently doesn't cause the same level of concern about possible use as a dangerous weapon....right....thanks for straightening that out. I feel much better about who's in charge now.

 

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The problem with Democrats

 

Every person has a right to practice their religion without interference from the state or others. Every person has the right to be protected from the practice of your religion. Herein lies the problem with marriage equality laws. The problem with Republicans is they want the government out of our lives unless we're talking about bedrooms. The problem with Democrats is they don't know how to pick the right fight. It didn't take Mark Herring long to shake things up in Richmond. With his announcement that he wouldn't defend Virginia's ban on gay marriage, he started a mini firestorm. Not only is he not defending the ban, he will join those challenging the ban in court. Now while I agree with Herring, I disagree with his timing and approach. Herring has opened himself to charges of being an activist attorney general more interested in pushing a personal and moral agenda than in doing his job. It's also a kind of "in your face" action directed at a republican controlled legislature. Maybe it's just me, but I think he could have waited, allowing current court challenges to make their way through the process. Instead, he's contributing to the divisiveness that abounds in Richmond already.

 

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The war on women that isn't

Do Republican's even here themselves when they speak? This is meant to be serious? If it weren't Mike Huckabee speaking you would think this is satire, but unfortunately this is what passes for a serious Republican.....how's that rebranding thing working out?


"If the Democrats want to insult the women of America by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing for them a prescription each month for birth control because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of government then so be it! Let us take that discussion all across America because women are far more than the Democrats have played them to be," Huckabee said.

Yoga and Rock Music

The Reverend E. W. is the gift that just keeps on giving.  So many revelations, so many inane comments...how can this be coming from just one individual.  So much light is now being shed on the Reverend's financial difficulties, from his bankruptcy to unpaid taxes, that it's going to hard to take him seriously as a fiscl conservative. Of course, let's be honest...it's just hard to take him seriously. According to the Reverend, yoga is a pathway for Satan to take over your body.  Yoga is an attempt to empty your mind...and we all know when you empty your mind something has to fill it up and that something is Satan. Watch out parents....check you children's bookshelves for books on yoga!  An now, according to a book written several years ago by the Reverend, rock music is another pathway for Satan.  I'm not sure where he stands on dancing, but I'm pretty sure he's againist that also.  

Meanwhile, Ken's office is in a little trouble for providing legal advice to a gas company being sued by individuals for nonpayment of royalties.  When did it become part of the job description of the Attorney General's Office to assist corporations in legal disputes against Virginia residents? Isn't this supposed to work the other way around?  No one needs doubt where Ken's loyalties lie.

While the Republicans selected their ticket in a closed convention, the Democrats are show how a democracy works with an open primary.  It's a stark difference and one that should be a lesson to all voters.  It's an indication of how the parties would govern.  

Bad News for Ken

The most Reverend E. W. Jackson wants everyone to know that he and his running mates are on the same page.  In a recent radio interview he said this about the Republican ticket:

“I've heard that this ticket is probably more homogeneous than almost any ticket in the history of Virginia, so there’s no stark disagreement between us,” he said.

Now I'm not sure that's the kind of statements that Ken Cuccinelli wants to hear.  He continues to struggle with how to deal with his running mate stating again that he won't be defending his partner in crime, but sure does want him elected.  Mark Obenschain, on the other hand, is trying to put a little distance between E. W. and himself.  He states that he does not agree with the Reverend's statements on gays, but he won't go so far as to condemn him as wrong and ugly.  

Personally, I think the Reverend is the only one being 100% honest.....there isn't any disagreement between the members of the ticket....they're all extreme in their beliefs.  Too extreme for Virginia.