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Home Front: Culture Wars
Dr Dobson: Spongebob's in the Cartoon Closet....
2005-01-21
On the heels of electoral victories barring same-sex marriage, some influential conservative Christian groups are turning their attention to a new target: the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.
Damn, that Lavender Brigade is getting bigger by the day....
"Does anybody here know SpongeBob in a biblical way?" Dr. James C. Dobson, the 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. SpongeBob needed no introduction. In addition to his popularity among children, who watch his cartoon show, he has become a well-known camp figure among adult gay men, perhaps because he holds hands with his animated sidekick Patrick and likes to watch the imaginary television show "The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy."

Now, Dr. Dobson said, SpongeBob's creators had enlisted him in a "pro-homosexual video," in which he appeared alongside children's television colleagues like Barney and Jimmy Neutron, among many others. The makers of the video, he said, planned to mail it to thousands of elementary schools to promote a "tolerance pledge" that includes tolerance for differences of "sexual identity." The video's creator, Nile Rodgers, who wrote the disco hit "We Are Family," said Mr. Dobson's objection stemmed from a misunderstanding. Mr. Rodgers said he founded the We Are Family Foundation after the Sept. 11 attacks to create a music video to teach children about multiculturalism. The video has appeared on television networks, and nothing in it or its accompanying materials refers to sexual identity. The pledge, borrowed from the Southern Poverty Law Center, is not mentioned on the video and is available only on the group's Web site.

Mr. Rodgers suggested that Dr. Dobson and the American Family Association, the conservative Christian group that first sounded the alarm, might have been confused because of an unrelated Web site belonging to another group called "We Are Family," which supports gay youth. "The fact that some people may be upset with each other peoples' lifestyles, that is O.K.," Mr. Rodgers said. "We are just talking about respect."

Mark Barondess, the foundation's lawyer, said the critics "need medication." On Wednesday however, Paul Batura, assistant to Mr. Dobson at Focus on the Family, said the group stood by its accusation. "We see the video as an insidious means by which the organization is manipulating and potentially brainwashing kids," he said. "It is a classic bait and switch."
I always thought homosexuality was the mother's fault....now I guess it's too much Saturday morning TV...
Posted by:Desert Blondie

#10  Dobson's Focus on the Family is a wonderful organization. Dr. Dobson himself is a terrific person. But I am having trouble placing Sponge Bob on my parental radar screen.

My kid's know what the Bible says about homosexuality and God, and they are capable of faulting the sin, not the sinner.
Posted by: Captain America   2005-01-21 5:29:14 PM  

#9  nice shot Jim! How's the foot? Jeebus....
Posted by: Frank G   2005-01-21 5:15:33 PM  

#8  dobsons a neocon?
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2005-01-21 5:04:03 PM  

#7  Has he been slumming with that b*tch Tinky Winky again?
Posted by: BH   2005-01-21 5:02:14 PM  

#6  I've always thought that religious conservatives' obsession with homosexuality involved a whole lot of displacement. These are people who are not at all comfortable with their sexuality.

Besides, SpongeBob and Patrick are just friends. Really.
Posted by: Jonathan   2005-01-21 4:06:39 PM  

#5  Crap like this makes Neocons look stupid.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2005-01-21 4:02:38 PM  

#4  Well Spongebob is gay but I don't think it's queer.
Yes that is an oxymoron.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2005-01-21 2:59:28 PM  

#3  proving that the only difference between the loons on the left and the loons on the right are the causes that they champion. Meds for all.
Posted by: 2b   2005-01-21 2:22:55 PM  

#2  goddamit! were gotta protec our kids from em fag sponges!!! ima kepin my eye the dishrags to
Posted by: muck4doo   2005-01-21 2:15:14 PM  

#1  Doc, you got a lot of time on your hands, don't you?
Posted by: tu3031   2005-01-21 2:13:16 PM  

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