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The Christian Civic League of Maine's Mike Hein calls Pam's House Blend:
"a leading source of radical homosexual propaganda, anti-Christian bigotry, and radical transgender advocacy."

He is "praying that Pam Spaulding will "turn away from her wicked and sinful promotion of homosexual behavior." (CCLM's web site, 10/15/07)


Ex-gay "Christian" activist James Hartline on Pam:
"I have been mocked over and over again by ungodly and unprincipled anti-christian lesbians."
(from "Six Years In Sodom: From The Journal Of James Hartline," 9/4/2006, written from the "homosexual stronghold" of Hillcrest in San Diego).

"Pam is a 'twisted lesbian sister' and an 'embittered lesbian' of the 'self-imposed gutteral experiences of the gay ghetto.'" -- 9/5/2008



Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality heartily endorses the Blend, calling Pam:

A "vicious anti-Christian lesbian activist."
(Concerned Women for America's radio show [9:15], 1/25/07)

"A nutty lesbian blogger."
(MassResistance radio show [16:25], 2/3/07)


Pam's House Blend always seems to find these sick f*cks. The area of the country she is in? The home state of her wife? I know, they are everywhere. Pam just does such a great job of bringing them out into the light.
--Impeach Bush


who monitors yours Bevis ?? Just thought I would drop you a line,so the rest of your life is not wasted.
--"Joe"

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Pam Spaulding

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More fun in post-racial America

by: Pam Spaulding

Tue May 13, 2008 at 13:00:00 PM EDT


As we've seen this election cycle, there's a desperation seen in the MSM talking heads and newpaper columnists, even some blogs, to declare Barack Obama's success a post-racial triumph in this country -- that racism is rapidly becoming a distant memory.

First, take a look at this lovely T-shirt being sold at Mulligan's Bar and Grill in Marietta/Cobb County, Georgia (h/t Jeremy from Cobb).

Marietta tavern owner Mike Norman says the T-shirts he's peddling, featuring cartoon chimp Curious George peeling a banana, with "Obama in '08" scrolled underneath, are "cute." But to a coalition of critics, the shirts are an insulting exploitation of racial stereotypes from generations past.

"It's time to put an end to this," said Rich Pellegrino, a Mableton resident and director of the Cobb-Cherokee Immigrant Alliance. It was among the organizations planning to gather outside Mulligan's Bar and Grill Tuesday afternoon to protest the "racist and highly offensive" shirts.

Just down the street from Marietta's famous Big Chicken, Mulligan's has carved a provocative niche in an increasingly multicultural area, thanks to its owner's ultra-conservative political views. If you live in Marietta, it's impossible not to know what's on Norman's mind, as he posts his views on signs in front of Mulligan's. Among his recent musings: "I wish Hillary had married OJ," "No habla espanol - and never will" and the standard "I.N.S. Agents eat free."

"I'm saying out loud what everyone in this town whispers," Norman said.

...Norman said those offended are "hunting for a reason to be mad" and insisted he is "not a racist." Why picture Obama as Curious George? "Look at him . . . the hairline, the ears, he looks just like Curious George," Norman said.

Not a racist. I guess he doesn't do Klan night riding on the weekends, so in his mind he's free and clear of that label. Even sadder, he's donating the proceeds to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I wonder what the MDA thinks of this?

More below the fold.

Pam Spaulding :: More fun in post-racial America
Today we will see an example, in West Virginia's primary, of how there are limitations to that fantasy. As I was driving in to work this AM I was listening to NPR and the report was on that state's primary. The reporter referred to the -- "older, less-educated, less affluent, white voters Clinton refers to as her base." At this point, there's little use in cloaking the fact that we're talking about people who will simply not vote for a black man for any reason. They are out there, and even in this PC-culture, they don't mind sharing. I think it's healthy for people to say exactly where these scared voters are coming from, so that all the kumbaya fantasists realize we have a lot of work to do, even as we see the unprecedented performance of Barack Obama.

There is an eye-opening piece in the WaPo, "Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause", about young  canvassers, many of them white, getting their first taste of bold, in-your-face racism, as they went door to door in Indiana and Pennsylvania in advance of those primaries.

In Muncie, a factory town in the east-central part of Indiana, [volunteer Danielle] Ross and her cohorts were soliciting support for Obama at malls, on street corners and in a Wal-Mart parking lot, and they ran into "a horrible response," as Ross put it, a level of anti-black sentiment that none of them had anticipated.

"The first person I encountered was like, 'I'll never vote for a black person,' " recalled Ross, who is white and just turned 20. "People just weren't receptive."

For all the hope and excitement Obama's candidacy is generating, some of his field workers, phone-bank volunteers and campaign surrogates are encountering a raw racism and hostility that have gone largely unnoticed -- and unreported -- this election season. Doors have been slammed in their faces. They've been called racially derogatory names (including the white volunteers). And they've endured malicious rants and ugly stereotyping from people who can't fathom that the senator from Illinois could become the first African American president.

...Documentary filmmaker Rory Kennedy, the daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy, said she, too, came across "a lot of racism" when campaigning for Obama in Pennsylvania. One Pittsburgh union organizer told her he would not vote for Obama because he is black, and a white voter, she said, offered this frank reason for not backing Obama: "White people look out for white people, and black people look out for black people."

And it's not just bold declarations of fear of white privilege we're talking about. These young people are getting a terrible taste of the dark side of America, one that has been allowed to fester because we have trouble discussing color-arousal issues without escalating the conflict.
The bigotry has gone beyond words. In Vincennes, the Obama campaign office was vandalized at 2 a.m. on the eve of the primary, according to police. A large plate-glass window was smashed, an American flag stolen. Other windows were spray-painted with references to Obama's controversial former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and other political messages: "Hamas votes BHO" and "We don't cling to guns or religion. Goddamn Wright."
This is going on even as Obama has won 30 of the 50 Democratic primaries and caucuses held so far. That achievement is remarkable and historic, and the feeling of optimism should not be quashed by such bigotry. On the other hand, this WaPo article is a rarity in that it dares to raise the issue of negative, race-based voting patterns and a resistance and fear that are very real.

Putting our heads in the sand is dangerous; I am glad that these people are gutsy enough to admit their prejudices aloud so that we are reminded that racism isn't relegated only to a region south of the Mason-Dixon line. It's more about class and a population that has a base fear of further displacement and denial of their American dream by the "other," a seemingly ascendant population -- blacks -- who are going to somehow exact retribution on them via Barack Obama as president. I hate to break it to them, but white privilege will not be erased with the election of Barack Obama, and the ones who hoodwinked them out of the American dream were BushCo and the GOP.

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If MDA
accepts that redneck's money, I'll be very disappointed in them.  They need to tell him to shove his proceeds up his ass.

I recently had a run-in with an out-and-proud racist.  During Spring Break we took the kids on a driving trip through Missouri, and spent a day hiking in Lake of the Ozarks.  Our car has an OBAMA '08 bumper sticker on it.  While on a remote trail, a guy passed us, and we exchanged pleasantries.  When he was about 30 feet away, he turned around and yelled, "is that your black car in the parking lot?"  I thought he was gonna tell me I left my lights on or something like that.  I said "Yes", and he replied "I'm just wondering what it's like to support a black, racist, American-hating......"  I was so shocked and so caught off guard that I didn't even hear the rest, but yes, he said those exact words in that order.

We left, and I was nearly speechless for two hours.  Then I realized that although I know these attitudes still exist in people's minds, I thought most people who have those beliefs had moved beyond spewing their racist hate publicly.  I realized I had NEVER personally heard someone say such things to my face.  It was shocking and terribly disheartening.  And it was so sad to have to explain this aspect of our society to my children, to replace their innocence with the grim reality of racism in this country.


Yup, that's rural Misery for you.....
There are a lot of pockets of bald unashamed racism/white supremacy in rural MO. Some "sundown towns" (see a recent documentary shown on PBS re sundown towns, one of the three featured was Pierce City MO), also home of major white supremacist Christian Identity church/publishing house presence.

A friend of mine, 50-ish year old black woman, energetic leader type, great personality for canvassing and motivating others, has been on the campaign trail for Obama in the midwest since well before Iowa. She's had some rude experiences canvassing.


[ Parent ]
Who owns Curious George anymore?
I hope it's Disney, because they'll sue this guy so fast it'll make his head spin.  That's called copyright infringement right there on that t shirt.

The owner of the copyright is considering a lawsuit to stop the sales
The publishing company that owns the Curious George image says it is considering legal action to stop the sale of a T-shirt depicting Barack Obama as the monkey from children's books.

Rick Blake, a spokesman for publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which owns Curious George, said Wednesday that the company didn't authorize the use of the character's image, but hasn't been in touch with anybody selling or manufacturing the shirts.

"We find it offensive and obviously utterly out of keeping with the value Curious George represents," Blake said. "We're monitoring the situation and weighing our options with respect to legal action."


http://www.ajc.com/metro/conte...

If you want allies, you have to be an ally.

[ Parent ]
oops... I didn't mean to say "lawsuit", I should have said "legal action"


If you want allies, you have to be an ally.

[ Parent ]
Hey, it's CUTE.
You think that these a**holes could refrain from mentioning African Americans and monkeys in one breath? I mean, just make this BIG effort not to.

But then; most of the Republican party, starting with Dennis Hastert, look like pigs wearing unconvincing toupees.


oh behalf of all pigs, domestic or wild,...
hey!

[ Parent ]
Racism in Kentucky
I'm from Kentucky, and was switching radio stations yesterday when I happened upon this gem.

Apparently the Herald-Leader (Lexington paper) had printed an article entitled "Obama's race is the elephant in the room in Kentucky primary". The talk show host was complaining about how people in Kentucky are not racist. Evidently, 53% of Kentuckians did not think Obama's race would be a factor in the primary.

A caller calls in, and in the most stereotypical hick accent in the world, says that he is not a racist, and that is why he is NOT voting for Obama.

The talk show host is like "that's right, you're not a racist. See, the Herald-Leader is wrong!"

Caller goes on. "My daddy taught me that racism should not be a part of your life. That means black on white racism too." He manages to use the phrase "cotton-pickin'", though sadly, I can't remember the exact context, and then goes on about how Obama is a racist and Wright is bad.

Talk show host continues praising this dude's non-racism.

This is our world. :(


[ Parent ]
wrong place to comment
oops

[ Parent ]
It looks more like W. to me.
If I were going to say Curious George resembles anyone, I'd have to say he looks more like W.!

I Was Thinking
the very same thing.

Seriously, unless this bar owner got legal permission to use the likeness of Curious George, then he is in violation of the copyright laws and could be prosecuted. And if Disney does own the rights, then God help the bar owner! Disney doesn't play around with their copyrights.


[ Parent ]
Not Disney

It seems the Curious George books and logo and I assume pictures are owned by Houghton Mifflin Company. I copied and pasted the copyright info below from their website:
http://www.houghtonmifflinbook...

CURIOUS GEORGE® and the CURIOUS GEORGE logo are registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Company.

Illustrations © Houghton Mifflin Company.


[ Parent ]
I was thinking that as well
I actually saw a picture once that had several photos of Curious George W spliced next to photos of actual monkeys and the resemblance was uncanny.

Has anyone contacted Houghton Mifflin Company to bring the copyright infringement to their attention?

watashi no yomeiri wa doko desu ka


[ Parent ]
The one time...
...I wish I still worked there.  

[ Parent ]
My response to Mr Norman
...Norman said those offended are "hunting for a reason to be mad" and insisted he is "not a racist."

No, I'm not.

Yes, you are.


Thoughts...
We should start a fundraising drive and tell the MDA that we will double whatever this a**hole offers them as long as they do not accept this vile/racist man's money.

I too have seen the overt and in your face racism on many levels around this campaign.  Even some from my own family, which has set me off.  They now think of me as the mad man.  I also cringed this morning when I saw an interview with a West Virginia voter who said that she would never vote for Obama because he is a Muslim.  The reporter then said "You know he is not a Muslim" and the voter said that she just didn't believe that (he was not a Muslim).  

Ignorant people to me are those who choose not to use reason even though the have the capacity and intelligence to learn and know the difference.

These are not people who deserve a pass because they are not intelligent, they do have they ability to learn--maybe not as much as others, maybe even more than others.  They are simply ignorant and deserve to be called to the mat for it.


Pam, I share your disgust
for these Neanderthal racial bigots and, in fact, did my own post on the issue earlier today.  Not only do these folks need to be exposed for their bigotry, but hopefully rational viewers will start voicing their disgust with those among the talking heads that are indirectly assisting in the dissemination of untruths - e.g., Good Morning America this morning on the Muslim issue.

Of course, the ultimate irony is that the more racist and bigoted residents of areas like West Virginia and rural Missouri act, the less inclined business and tourists will be to relocate to or visit their areas.  This in turn will only further harm their failing economies and make these areas all the more backward and economically depressed.  Bigotry has a price that these folks are bringing upon themselves yet they are the last to see this reality.

As for West Virginia, most Virginians feel we lost nothing when West Virginia split away during the Civil War era.


Tourism is booming in the Lake of the Ozarks - Branson region of MO


[ Parent ]
...Yeah?
But how many of the gay performers and artists are OUT? 

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.


[ Parent ]
We spent the majority
of our trip in and around Branson.  Neither my partner nor I had ever been through the Bible Belt, and we won't be going back ever if we can help it.  It was bizarre and surreal.  My gaydar is pretty damn good - I can usually spot a closet case a mile away - and we didn't see a single one our whole trip.  We didn't even see a person of color until our 4th day there!

It was impossible to imagine being gay and willingly living there.  Before we went on the trip, I Googled "gay Branson" and literally NOTHING came up, except for a few speculations about Richard Branson's sexuality!  LOL!

I can't say if there were any gay performers because we didn't see any shows - I'd say about 80% of them had a religious and/or "family values" theme.  IMO, you'd have to be suffering from the worst case of internalized homophobia to work in that environment.


[ Parent ]
I think
the voters of West Virginia would find it perfectly lovely in Branson and Lake of the Ozarks!

[ Parent ]
Um, Mark, you do remember that West Virginia broke away from Virginia
in order to remain part of the Union after Virginia seceded?    The heinous t-shirt and sign were spotted in Marietta GA, which has a long history as a Klan stronghold.

"If the apocalypse comes... beep me." -- Buffy Summers

[ Parent ]
"Michelle Obama hates America"
Yep.  That's an exact quotation from my 70-somethin'-year-old, conservative, white, suburb-dwellin', America-lovin' stepfather.

I asked him if he was serious.  Unfortunately he was.

Even though I always knew he was conservative, and thus, we often disagreed, I always thought him to be a more thoughtful, honest and intellectually productive human being.  

This is what America will offer as support for their conservative ideology throughout the remainder of this election campaign.  We must overcome.


I hate to be predicting so accurately, but...
This is exactly the problem: Decent people are ashamed to be racist.

I think it's healthy for people to say exactly where these scared voters are coming from, so that all the kumbaya fantasists realize we have a lot of work to do...

I agree that it's healthy to air this stuff so that the dreamers who've got hope but no experience with racial thinking can get reality.

I only wish that this reality therapy were mandatory for all Americans, but it's not.

So when will we know that we've done enough airing, needless to say without any actions flowing from the sharing, and it's now counterproductive to offer a platform to this type of thinking?

I'm having a cynical day, but that's because I'm the Ohio-raised child of KY and WV parents which means that I've been bathing in racism and ignorance for the past month. As far as I can tell, not one vote moved, while I had to live with the shame of being related to a bunch of backward, angry ignoramuses.

Is this why most white people prefer to avoid the topic of race entirely?



But wait, there's more!


And I only feel comfortable saying that
because I don't care if y'all think that I failed because I didn't do it right.

I failed because they are backward, angry and ignorant union and post-union Democrats.

So while I had hope that this country could be healed, I also had my eye on some property in Canada. One of those things is still with me at the moment.

But wait, there's more!


[ Parent ]
Bayard Rustin said in "From Montgomery to Stonewall" (1986):
[T]he job of the gay community is not to deal with extremists who would castigate us or put us on an island and drop an H-bomb on us. The fact of the matter is that there is a small percentage of people in America who understand the true nature of the  homosexual community. There is another small percentage who will never understand us. Our job is not to get those people who dislike us to love us. Nor was our aim in the civil rights movement to get prejudiced white people to love us. Our aim was to try to create the kind of America, legislatively, morally, and psychologically, such that even though some whites continued to hate us, they could not openly manifest that hate. That's our job today: to control the extent to which people can publicly manifest antigay sentiment.


-----
~~Autumn~~

As if there were safety in stupidity alone.
--Henry David Thoreau


[ Parent ]
Shades of Past and Future
I read an article where a WV 70-ish couple were asked if they'd vote for Obama if he were the eventual nominee.  They stated that they'd always voted Democratic, but they'd never vote for a black and remembered fondly the days when blacks had to ride in the back of the bus.  Oh, and by the way, they said they're NOT racist.

Uh-huh.

I think this election year is going to bring the ugly underbelly of America into the light more and more before it ends.


I disagree,
  The reason is most Americans would rather avoid puplicly admitting they have a racial problem.  They will know they didn't vote for Obama because of his skin color and skin color only and will say something like, 'I just didn't agree with his policies' and that will be the end of the Q&A with these people. Because if you did a follow up question, 'What policies do you disagree with?'  be prepared for the deer in the headlights look.

If I make sense? it was quite by accident.

[ Parent ]
LINK to VIDEO
www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/05/14/bojorquez.obama.tshirt.controversy.wsb


It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.


that the Tshirt Video
Found on CNN HOME NEWS page.

It's the Hammer of JUSTICE,
It's the Bell of FREEDOM,
It's the Song about LOVE between,
my Brothers and my Sisters
...All over this Land.


[ Parent ]
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