Out of the land of East Texas, which brought us Louis Gohmert (R-Crazytown) of "baby terrorist" fame, we now have the shining example of KETK TV, an NBC affiliate who has joined forces with their local right wing AM radio station KTBB AM 600 to bring us today's dose of homophobia. You can even go to KTBB's website to vote in their poll on the question- it's down the page on the left.
You'll have to click here to see the actual video, as I don't know how to imbed it. I've provided a transcript below for those who don't want to click through.
Bob the Anchor: A record number of openly gay appointees to the Obama Administration, and there are other gay men and women who, who perhaps don’t wish to, wish to keep their lives secret who are also in the Obama Administration perhaps on the, on the, as judges as well.
Callie the Anchor: Yeah! A record number I believe, in fact somewhere close to 150. He’s only been in the office for two years so that sort of says something about the issue. Something that was brought up yesterday not really getting any coverage though, but that’s what we’re talking about this morning with Garth Maier over at KTBB, morning again Garth.
Garth Maier: Hey good morning Bob and Callie, yeah President Obama campaigned really strong among the gay and lesbian community when he ran for the white house in 2008, uh has recently pressed Congress to life the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and of course was even criticized by the homosexual community for not doing enough here about six months ago.
Less than halfway through his one four-year presidential term, President Obama has already appointed more openly gay government officials than any other president in US history. According to gay activists, he’s made about 150 openly gay appointments, that’s a number far surpassing even the last two administrations together. The positions range from agency heads to commission members. Gay and lesbian activists say President Obama has at least partially fulfilled his promise to make his administration diversified. And even though the majority of Americans oppose gay marriage and have turned it down in every state where it has gone before voters President Obama has been a very strong supporter of gay rights groups. He’s the first president in US history as well to ever appoint a transgender to his administration. It was Amanda Simpson who was appointed as a senior technical advisor in the Commerce Department. So, President Obama, very aggressive with his appointment of homosexuals.
Christian conservatives, of course, criticizing Obama for what is considered by many to be an immoral lifestyle. Add to that last week, we find a new study reveals 1 in 10, 1 in 10, ten percent of teenagers have a same sex partner for their relationship. According to the research, that is double the number just eight years ago. In 2002, only 5% of teenagers say they had a same sex partner, today it is 10%. It was in 1996 that the last Democrat president Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act which means the government would NOT recognize same sex marriage and since then five states and Washington DC have granted same sex marriage licenses only by legislation, judicial ruling never by voter-approval.
Whaddya think? The acceptance of homosexuality pushed hard by the gay rights activists, will it be the fall of this country? 593-5822
Wow, teh gays are takin' over the White House! Nobody wants them there but the Agressive President! The Children, look at what's happening to the Children! Oh, get me my fainting couch, ohhhh!
By the way, the area code is 904 for those of you playing at home, and wishing to call in tomorrow morning for the show.
So what did the callers have to say?
Female caller: I’m not in agreement with any of that. What we need to do it stop the hate. Because what if a gay is capable of fulfilling a job through his highest capacity. That gay is at an intellectual level to complete a position in the government and you want to kick him to the curb?
Wow, right out of the gate, someone who believes people should be qualified for their job rather than just simply be straight. But hand on to your hats, folks, this is where it get's bumpy:
Female Caller: Pretty soon we’re going to have a gay president, and that would be the worst! The will of the people isn’t being followed! We the people doesn’t count anymore! It’s what the president and his little group wants. They’re getting it passed and we don’t have any say so. It’s terrible! We say no in the voting booths that we don’t want ‘em and then they pass it anyway!
She seems to think that something got "passed". Does she know that teh gays still have no rights in Texas?
Here's a guy who thinks Obama had no choice but to hire gays- they've taken over Washington DC, doncha know?
Male Caller: I do know that there’s more gays in Washington DC than in San Francisco or Southern Florida or anywhere in this nation. I mean they’re double, twice as many, twice to three times as many gays in Washington DC than there is in San Franscisco, you know, so if he hired a bunch of ‘em, it’s probably because it was what all that was there to work! So I mean, you need help? You need help! But as far as being the downfall of this country… (cut off)
And then a ray of light:
Male Caller: The fall of America happens when you rob someone’s pursuit of happiness. Homophobia is the new racism (cut off caller).
Male Caller: The gays should have the same rights as anybody else.
Yea for sanity in Texas!
But then the darkness rears it's head, like Putin over Alaska:
Male Caller: Yeah, I believe it’ll be the fall of the United States. The main reason is because the preachers all over the United States is not speakin’ against the different things the govmint is doin’. They not servin’ the Lord!
Female Caller: It goes right back to the bible in Genesis even in Sodom and Gomorrah. That’s why god destroyed the world because of wickedness of what was goin’ on, and not only that’s going on but you got your (unintelligible), your child molesters, you got people killing up children and stuff all the way back to Revelation and things the Bible is fulfilling. And you know what? I’m sorry to say this but Obama was a Christian he wouldn’t be doin’ this!
Female Caller: In the bible it says that god made man and god made woman and told ‘em to multiply. And I believe that the gay people, this is a man-made thing, this is not god, and I do think it will be the downfall of our nation, I really do.
Whoever said god was dead hasn't been to Texas lately. Whew! That fire and brimstone is tough to work with, folks!
And then we have this guy, who really wants to support the gays, but has an odd way of explaining it:
Male Caller: I challenge all the Christians out there to go to their preachers and ask them what do we do with these people who are born with both sexual organs? Should we just burn ‘em at the stake, is that what the preachers want us to do? Men are born with female brains sometimes, females are born with men’s brains sometimes, it’s a scientific proof, it’s not imaginary. I think the true downfall of this country will be because of the religious right and their extremist views.
But he gets points from me for taking on the religious nutjobs he has to live with out there in Tyler, TX!
Our final caller doesn't get the point at all:
Male Caller: I think the whole issue with homosexuality is a bit overblown. We seem to be so conscious of being politically correct. According to most of the statistics, homosexuals only occupy about 7% of the population, so why are we spending 30% of our time talking about it?
There's not enough of them to even matter, people. Why should they have rights? They can't hurt us, so it's no big deal.
The anchors really liked that last guy:
Garth Maier: Uh, yeah that last caller makes a very good point. It’s because the 7% are pushing the agenda on the other 93%. You can’t avoid the issue, everyone whispering about it, we’re talking about it! Will the acceptance of homosexuality in this society be the downfall of America? 593-5822. Will it be that which destroys American society as we know it right now? You see it everywhere, accepted at every level, and certainly in the entertainment industry since the late 1980’s, all over gay characters on television shows, in the movies, so on and so forth. Whaddya think? The acceptance of homosexuality- will it be the downfall of this country? 593-5822, if you want to weigh in this morning.
Bob the Anchor: Again, the last caller hit the nail on the head, Garth. Obviously, the mainstream media, Hollywood, caters to less than 10% of the population. They have a very strong voice in this country politically and in pop culture as well.
Garth: Yeah, you can’t avoid the issue. Two major reports out in the last couple of days, one being 1 in 10 teenagers has a same sex partner, double the number since just 2002, and President Obama in less than two years appoints more gay, openly gay appointments to his administration than any other president in US history, also the first transgender appointment of any US president. How do you avoid it in the news? Well, we’re talking about what the fact are. Do you think the acceptance of homosexuality will be the fall of America? 593-5822.
Callie the Anchor: Wow, some great comments this morning! Garth, a good topic as always.
Bob the Anchor: Well, buddy, we’ll talk to you again tomorrow morning.
Garth: We’ll do it! Thanks guys!
They want to continue the conversation, ya'll. I think we should let them know what we think tomorrow morning! Call in to 904-593-5822 and let them know what the rest of America really thinks about their homophobic fear-spreading tactics.