Sponge-Brain James Dobson:
Conservative group targets 'pro-homosexual' SpongeBob video
WASHINGTON -- On the heels of electoral victories to bar 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 Dobson, 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.
And:
Now, Dobson said, SpongeBob's creators had enlisted him in a "pro-homosexual video," in which he appeared alongside other children's television characters such as Barney and Jimmy Neutron, among many others. The makers of the video, he said, planned to mail it to thousands of elementary schools later this spring to promote a "tolerance pledge" that includes tolerance for differences of "sexual identity." He urged his allies to stand together to stop it as part of a "spiritual battle" for the country.
The video's creator, Nile Rodgers, who wrote the disco hit "We Are Family," says Dobson's objection stemmed from a misunderstanding. Rodgers said he founded the We Are Family Foundation after the Sept. 11 attacks to create a music video featuring 100 well-known cartoon characters -- of many species -- dancing to his song in order to teach children about multiculturalism.
The video has appeared on Nickelodeon and other networks, and nothing in it or its accompanying materials refers to sexual identity. The "tolerance pledge," which was borrowed from the Southern Poverty Law Center, is not mentioned on the video and is available only on the group's Web site.
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."
Maybe Dobson is trying to deflect attention from the fact that he is using tsunami relief efforts as a chance to distribute excerpts from a book he wrote:
Proselytizing during relief efforts divides Christian groups
Many evangelical Christian groups, which put a stronger emphasis on winning new converts, believe relief can be packaged with religion as long as immediate needs are addressed first. After all, they say, this is when people are asking life's deepest questions.
That logic motivated Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family to include excerpts from a book written by Dobson, founder of the influential media ministry, in 300,000 survival packets bound for the region.
But Dobson had time to go to Washington, D.C. and participate in a little self-congratulatory backslapping with his fellow Christian Mullahs:
FRC Celebrates Value Voters
To qualify for the prestigious conservative award, members must have voted 100% in favor of a pro-family stance on a number of critical issues during the second session of the 108th Congress. Votes taken in to account include, for the House, The Unborn Victims of Violence Act, rejection of legalized prostitution, protection of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and sponsorship of a Marriage Protection Amendment. In the Senate, votes included opposition of "hate crimes" legislation, approval of pro-life judge confirmation and sponsorship of a Federal Marriage Amendment.
Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council was on hand to present awards and Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Gary Bauer of Traditional Values and the Honorable Claude Allen took the stage as key speakers for the over 350 attendees.
Sounds like a fun crowd.
I am going to sleep better knowing that I am safe from gay marriage and legalized prostitution (outside a few Nevada counties, anyhow,) and that both the Port of Vancouver and the Port of Portland are inspecting every single container that passes through their facilities...oh wait, never mind.