-
Obama’s Assault on the First Amendment
May 22, 2013 | 150 comments
-
Obama’s Far Left Hand
May 15, 2013 | 133 comments
-
The Left’s Captive Mind
May 8, 2013 | 85 comments
-
A Sportscaster Comes Out As Christian
May 1, 2013 | 291 comments
-
The Price of Obama’s Islamophilia
April 24, 2013 | 196 comments
Political Hay
Aqua Velva Candidates
Democrats try out a new smell.
Unable to win as liberals this year, some Democratic candidates seek to win as conservatives, no matter how ludicrous the posture appears. Some of the same Democrats who campaigned against “nativists” and “Christianists” in 2008 have become them in 2010. Kentucky Senate Candidate Jack Conway, for example, is now a very pious religious fundamentalist. Who knew this proponent of abortion on demand and gays in the military read the Book of Leviticus so faithfully? Who knew this respecter of all religions had such disdain for Eastern gods?
A few years ago, a candidate like Conway might have campaigned alongside Buddhists, with Richard Gere in tow. Al Gore might have even joined him to fish for dubious donations at their temples. But this year, the left’s false idols have been banished from sight, and the Democrats now claim to live in deadly fear of “foreign” money sloshing through American politics.
Conway has also become a chivalrous defender of women, tossing and turning at night as he thinks about Rand Paul’s college-age pranksterism. The female in question admits that she participated in the juvenile prank freely and says the matter has been blown out of proportion. Still, Conway is gravely concerned about Rand Paul’s moral and theological fitness for the U.S. Senate. Paul apparently lacks the maturity, gravitas, and biblical study of an Al Franken.
Not that Conway isn’t an understanding or forgiving person, as Bill Clinton can attest. Conway’s description of Paul as a pot-smoking mistreater of women would be more appropriate as an intro line for Clinton at one of Conway’s campaign events. Conway brought Aqua Bubba into Kentucky recently, untroubled by thoughts of Bill’s forced and unforced votaries.
Clinton’s fumblings with a widow and cavortings with a bowed intern in the Oval Office are “irrelevant” to his public life, declares the dominant media. But a Rand Paul (whose prank didn’t even involve sex) or a Clarence Thomas (who stands accused at worst of talking salaciously to a female subordinate) are heckled by that same media over questions about comparatively ancient and less serious charges of misconduct. The older and thinner the charge (provided it smears a conservative), the more it raises “troubling questions” for the media.
Hence on Wednesday, in the middle of a campaign season, breathless coverage of a voice mail left by Clarence Thomas’ wife for Anita Hill ensued. Veteran correspondent Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC bit into the old tale eagerly, happy to relive the excitement of the early 1990s. At the same time, Mitchell, desperate to make an utterly irrelevant curiosity story relevant somehow, felt the need to inform viewers that Mrs. Clarence Thomas supports the “Tea Party.” Oh, my.
The New York Times also provided all-hands-on-deck coverage of this terribly important breaking story. No less than three reporters contributed to its first account of the matter, which solemnly brought younger readers up to speed by saying of Hill, “In 1991, she was at the center of a confrontation that deeply divided the country and prompted a national debate about sexual behavior in the workplace.”
Catch that last bit? It prompted a national debate about sexual behavior in the workplace. Doesn’t this qualify as insidious scandal-inflation? Even his fiercest critics haven’t accused Thomas of engaging “in sexual behavior in the workplace.” They accused him of talking coarsely in the workplace. But the Times just slips this into the story as a casual smear.
For a media that operates like this, Rand Paul is a kidnapper and Clarence Thomas is a rapist. Bill Clinton, meanwhile, according to the media’s latest burblings, is one of the most respected men in the world, going from success to success as his global foundation tackles such problems as the sexual exploitation of teenage girls.
About the Author
George Neumayr, a contributing editor to The American Spectator, is co-author, with Phyllis Schlafly, of the new book, No Higher Power: Obama’s War on Religious Freedom.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (50) | Leave a comment
More Articles by George Neumayr
More Articles From Political Hay
http://spectator.org/archives/2010/10/21/aqua-velva-candidates
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Booger | 10.21.10 @ 6:22AM
From the desk of Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway:
Dear Kentucky Voters,
I would like to take a few brief moments to address the concerns that have arisen over my having been a devil worshiper. There are a few mitigating circumstances I would like to point out to you that I believe will make all the difference.
First of all, my devil worship took place during my college years at Duke University. I believe we can all agree that ALMOST anything can be forgiven if you did it at college. The one exception, of course, would be worshiping an Aqua Buddha. Worshiping a Blue Devil is okay while you're in college, worshiping an Aqua Buddha is unforgivable. Please bear that in mind as you head to the voting booth.
Some wags have also noted that to this day I still proclaim my loyalty to the Blue Devils (not to be confused with Aqua Buddhas) of Duke University. Well, you really need to understand, there is a big social network of Duke graduates out there, fellow travelers in youthful Devil worship, if you will, and it's important I keep in contact with them for professional purposes. And yes, I do sing the Duke Alma Mater, which does pledge my unending worship and loyalty to the Blue Devils. But what can I say? You have to be true to your school.
Seriously people, you know the whole "Blue Devil" thing is just a college gag, right? It's not something serious and anti-Christian like, say, an Aqua-Buddha. Remember, Blue Devil good, Aqua Buddha bad.
Finally, as to the last rumor out there: If the top basketball prospects in the state of Kentucky want to go to Duke instead of the UK, that's their business. So what if a sitting senator helps them to make up their minds that way? After all, you've got to be true to your school. Remember, Blue Devils good, Aqua Buddha and Wildcats bad.
Sincerely,
Future Senator and Current Devil Worshiper Jack Conway
Judge Not| 10.21.10 @ 8:41AM
Sexual Harrassment Hearings Concerning Judge Clarence Thomas
"His conversations were very vivid. He spoke about acts that he had seen in pornographic films involving such matters as women having sex with animals and films showing group sex or rape scenes. He talked about pornographic materials depicting individuals with large penises or large breasts involved in various sex acts. On several occasions, Thomas told me graphically of his own sexual prowess. "
"Eeew!" as Margie would say . . .
r| 10.21.10 @ 8:51AM
Judge Not, thanks for reviving my memory of the sexually-deviant Judge Thomas.
I don't think Bill Clinton would be so crude as to discuss the type of perverted sex acts that excited (excites?) Judge Thomas.
Peverted sex acts? Well, if you're a right winger, and deviant sex turns you on, AmSpec readers will not take offense.
Steve A| 10.21.10 @ 10:36AM
Hey r, I swear you made me laugh. Let me get this straight.. You are holding up Cigar Bill as a champ of human decorum in the sexual morality category?? I swear, it just gets more comical every day.
Ms. Erto| 10.21.10 @ 10:44AM
I seriously doubt "women having sex with animals" would be a turn-on for Bill.
Only a very small segment of the adult male population would watch this unspeakably horrid porno, and an even smaller segment would be foolish enough to admit to it or boast of it to his female colleague.
Mr. Bravo| 10.21.10 @ 10:46AM
You know, Ms. Erto, that the red states--the most politically and religiously conservative states--consume the most porno, especially the most distasteful porno.
Three reports have borne this out.
gypsy| 10.21.10 @ 12:14PM
yeah, and I'm sure that the compilers of these "scientific" reports have absolutely no axe to grind. Just like Anita Hill wasn't a flagrant damned liar who was cooked up at the last minute by "progressives" whining like the bed wetting little crybabies they are because they couldn't "bork" Clarence Thomas
Kishego| 10.21.10 @ 4:30PM
That just means there are a small number of liberals out there that are real good at operating a computer one handed.
Steve A| 10.21.10 @ 10:58AM
Give a polygraph test to Anita & I will bet all of my blue chips on a fail. Gimme a break.
DRed| 10.21.10 @ 11:09AM
I think you meant to say 'second polygraph'. Gimme a break.
Steve A| 10.21.10 @ 11:16AM
I am talking about a real one, there DRed. Not the 2 hr marathon nonsese session she was fed.
Kishego| 10.21.10 @ 4:25PM
"I don't think Bill Clinton would be so crude as to discuss...." You're right, Bill Clinton just gets right to it and drops his drawers and exposes himself, he doesn't mess around with all that talking.
Albert| 10.21.10 @ 7:31PM
It's already been demonstrated that Hill's charges are not only unsubstantiated and uncorroborated, but the allegations date to a time before she even met Clarence Thomas. It is likely that Hill WAS sexually harrassed, but it is clear that it was NOT by Thomas. Let it go.
Devout| 10.21.10 @ 4:17PM
A Prayer for Our President
God, our Father, all earthly powers must serve you. Help your servant, President Obama, to fulfill his responsibilities worthily and well.
By honoring and striving to please You at all times, may he secure peace and freedom for the people entrusted to him.
Amen.
Marcia E.| 10.21.10 @ 4:17PM
. . . and Amen.
ccw40cal| 10.22.10 @ 11:32PM
The problem with this prayer is that Obamessiah would not approve it.
First of all, it refers and is addressed to "God", whom the Clown in Chief has twice omitted from the preamble of the Declaration of Independence.
Second, it addresses God as "Father", which is a designation that is highly offensive to the brand of religiosity to which out Fearful Leader holds.
Third, it calls upon God to "help" the prsident fufill his duties, which Obama would never do because, well, that would be a violation of the First Amendment.
Fourth, it claims that Obama strives to please God at all times. This stiff suit in the White House has never striven to please God. He refuses to say the name of God, (or even the word "god"), he calls the Koran "The Holy Koran" while refusing to call the Bible, "The Holy Bible" or even simply "The Bible". He uses, instead a term of diminished reverence, "the good book".
David prayed impreccatory prayers for his enemies. we should pray that this president's ungodly, leftist policies be thwarted and cast down, to be replaced with policies that promote "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness", and which truely honor and strive to please God.
Tellthetruth| 10.22.10 @ 11:47AM
Booger.......SO funny! Being a Blue Devil worhiper in KY could sink a candidate........I should know, being a Wildcat fan and despiser of Duke.
Could you submit this to the Lexington Herald Leader (LH Liar as it is known to most of us)?
Appleby| 10.21.10 @ 6:53AM
I was there for the Original Sixties. This retread farce is no more appealing and has lost quite a bit by its obvious residence in the Composter.
Here in Toronto we have a Mayors Race that is even funnier than the Kentucky Fried Fracas: an openly gay candidate who is known to have presided over the mislaying of $1Billion (with a B) in provincial money in a previous job, telling debate audiences on television that (1) his major opponent is too fat to be Mayor; and (2) the other candidate is too short to be Mayor. These blatant accusations, made before a television audience, elicited audible gasps and in the case of the short candidate, Joe Pantalone (*Joe Pants*), the Gay Guys apology was rejected. (Mr. Ford, the fat guy, merely remarked that his belly had been paid for solely by him and not by government funds.
Anyone who mentions that George Smitherman, the mendacious candidate in question, is too gay and too crooked to be Mayor is called a Homophobe.
Who needs reality teevee?
JimH| 10.21.10 @ 7:59AM
I guess we shouldn't be too surprised. Some readers here have objected to a Gov. Christy candidacy on the grounds of his waist measurement. It would seem that prejudice against fat people is an acceptable form of bigotry these days. Mr. Tyrrell himself has been known to make some comments. But he confines himself to the calorically challenged on the left. I say eat what you like and die like a man.
Hspin | 10.21.10 @ 1:23PM
There are a great many ways to die. I prefer fried chicken if I am allowed to pick.
WGMOW| 10.21.10 @ 4:22PM
Predjudice against fat people is acceptable only if the fat person is on the right side of the fence. If he's on the left side, it's a hate crime
gypsy| 10.21.10 @ 12:18PM
Funny thing is, if anyone had made a joke about the gay candidate being thin because he's on the AIDS diet plan, that would have been a "hate crime". But call a guy fatso, that's just A-OK
for the record, I'm anything but fat myself. Just standing up for the rights of all "differently weighted" Americans
Tim*| 10.21.10 @ 7:36AM
We are in a Media War with The Liberal Mainstream Media Agendists .
Bankrupt The Mainstream Media .
KyMouse| 10.21.10 @ 8:24AM
I've seen Jack Conway's disgraceful TV ad that questions Rand Paul's right to call himself a Christian. Apparently, Conway wants a religion test for elected officials.
The ad presents the "Aqua Buddha" (not Aqua Bubba) prank as fact, but gives no attribution for it. It's a sleazy ad all round -- and I'm saying that as a voter who is not completely in Dr. Paul's corner.
Old Soldier| 10.21.10 @ 8:58AM
Blue Dogs are a joke. I like the Pelosi Index as a method to rate them - as well as the House leadership they elected.
http://www.nationalrepublicant.....mplete.php
Citizen Jerry| 10.21.10 @ 10:23AM
To paraphrase the Bard, manure by any other name would smell the same.
All Hail The Supid Party!| 10.21.10 @ 11:37AM
It doesn't matter how much cologne you pure on garbage. It is still garbage nonetheless.
canuckistani| 10.21.10 @ 11:57AM
I am more concerned about Thomas and Scalia actively attending events that leave them open to criticism. We all know the Roberts' court has a 97% rate of affirming judgement for corporations, but to actively participate in fora about this suggests their bias is not only obvious, but assured. The same goes for the other side, but is there no institution left that can keep their views neutral?
My problem with Thomas was not any of the he said-she said episodes, but his apparent disinterest in participating in decisions and verbal questions. A bit of a dud on the bench.
Sad.
As far as pols being given a pass on indiscretion, they are not appointed for life and must pass muster with the electorate from time to time.
gypsy| 10.21.10 @ 12:21PM
That's very true, Supreme Court appointees have lifetime tenure. So why did we just grant a slot to a woman who has NEVER been a judge, not even for a beauty pageant? Is it because she still has more real world experience than the guy who nominated her?
Ed in Texas| 10.22.10 @ 8:13AM
Apparently you have never learned that an open mouth, like a well used keyboard, isn't always a sign of either intelligence, or engagement. According to the Law Clerks, Justice Thomas is very engaged, and influential, in the "behind the scenes" work on case decisions.
manolo | 10.23.10 @ 3:48AM
A Prayer for Our President
God, our Father, all earthly powers must serve you. Help your servant, President Obama, to fulfill his responsibilities worthily and well.
By honoring and striving to please You at all times, may he secure peace and freedom for the people entrusted to him.
David March| 10.21.10 @ 12:11PM
The NY Times, CNN et all wonder why there going bankrupt and then they print useless trash like this.
JeffW| 10.21.10 @ 12:50PM
I find it very amusing that the party that constantly screams about the seperation of Church and State has a canidate questioning another man's religon as a "Moral Indicator". The same party has issues with Dr. Pauls college indescretions (of which the female was a willing participant) but shrugs off the current Presidints own admission of cocaine use in college as just a young dumb college mistake. If the hypocrisy wasn't so stunning it would be laughable.
Priapus| 10.21.10 @ 1:12PM
As for Bill Clinton and sex with animals--any woman he ever slept with can justifiably claim to have committed bestiality.
Mojo Risin| 10.21.10 @ 1:28PM
And I bet Conway could come across as a different candidate altogether if he removed his toupee and wore glasses, or some such thing...
Wallace| 10.21.10 @ 1:34PM
Rand Paul STARTED this ugly mess by boldly bragging about his Christianity. The dude is an Ayn Rand atheist for Christ's sake. And he always was - until he decides to run for Senate. So, once he pulls that I am a Christian BS, he then becomes a target for hypocrisy. Just like you guys for 2o years have been targeting Bill Clinton for his claims of being Christian. Now these two guys (and Spitzer) are bad but not as bad as the complete hypocrites like: 1. Ensign, 2. Foley, 3. Craig, 4. Gingrich, 5. Vitter, 6. Bakersfield Assemblyman, who SHOUT about family values and then have sex with other men and woman who are not their wives. Especially, Gingrich, having sex with his mistress while his wife is in the hospital with cancer.
Naw, the pro-segregated lunch counter, climate change denial guy asked for it and got it. And because of that, and his overall insanity, he may lose.
GeeBee| 10.21.10 @ 2:17PM
Aren't you confusing N Gingrich with Edwards?
Regarding Clinton's behavior, didn't he confess on the Simpsons to "real live no-foolin' pigs?".
JeffW| 10.21.10 @ 2:54PM
Good Grief, just because he agrees with Ayn Rand views on goverment and she was a atheist does not make him one. Using that logic and reading your phrase "Christian BS" I would be lead to believe that you too are a atheist. Last I checked no one was saying Bill Clinton was not a christian, they just said he was a lying womanizer.
Appleby| 10.21.10 @ 4:40PM
I was a big disciple of Ayn Rand when I was in my mid-to-late 20s and always figured her shrill anti-religion side was part of being reared a Soviet. I have a lot of friends who have some weird ideas that I do not embrace -- heck, I have sisters who marry the third world as a political statement! The fact that I love my sisters does not mean I embrace their ideas. And vice versa, i am sure.
ghostwriter| 10.21.10 @ 2:56PM
Let's keep history straight. Clinton was not "cavorting" with a bowed intern.
It was a reenactment of an old American Indian Ceremony - he was Sitting Bill, Monica was Kneeling Fox.
Wallace| 10.21.10 @ 4:22PM
@ GeeBee. The sheer scale of right wing ignorance about Republicans infidelities is startling. Edwards, like Gingrich, had an affair. Edward's wife was not in the hospital with cancer at the time of the affair. Edward's did not tell his wife, when she was in a hospital bed that he was divorcing her for his mistress. Gingrich did. Most importantly, Edwards was not a righteous, family values type like Gingrich and Vitter and Ensign and Craig and Foley.
@JeffW. Um, the point of Rand Paul's group in college WAS to make fun of Christianity. He never practiced Christian faith until much later in life. That IS who he was. He should 1) never have boasted about Christian faith and 2) just admitted it as a stupid college prank. But he didn't. He has tried to convert this into a challenge to his own holiness. Brazen hypocrisy.
What do my religious beliefs have to do with this? (Although there is plenty of Christian BS, like Biblical instructions how to treat your slaves and 12th century banning of priest marriages.) If I were a Muslim would it matter? Agnostic? My point is Rand Paul crowed about his Christianity to GET VOTES, so attacks on that issue are fair game.
Clinton was impeached for infidelity and lying about it, not for womenmongering. (BTW, in the meantime, he was so busy defending that impeachment and the tale of the dog accusations against Republicans, that the Bin Ladin pursuit was curtailed.)
Tron| 10.21.10 @ 5:29PM
Well spoken, Wallace.
JeffW| 10.21.10 @ 4:38PM
Wallace,
Yes he may have made fun of christians but you failed to address how come Democrats get a pass for youthful indiscrections (Obama admitted smoking pot and Clinton gave a BS excuse about not inhaling) but Republicans do not. Is it possible he has changed? I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Did he handle it badly, probably but a poor defense does not change the offense, now does it? And your religous beliefs were brought into it by your bringing up Christian BS. That is the same logic you used with Rand Paul. Frankly I do not care what his our your religion is as that is not what I vote on.
Really, Bin Laden was successful because Clinton was defending himself from the evil Republicans? Your not serious? Forget the fact that you try to make it the Republicans fault that Clinton not only dishonered his office but lied under oath but to blame the attack on them is pretty twisted logic. Especially seeing how Clinton gutted and tied the hands of our intelligence services. Your logic amazes me. Look at your post. You are not offended that the people you make accusations of had low morales but only that they claimed high ones and did the same things. Why are you not disgusted by the actions of the Dems and low morales as well? I find any of them betraying their status and office pathetic and wrong. But I guess your party loyalty is greater than mine.
Nunya| 10.21.10 @ 5:47PM
Jeff, also keep in mind that Bin Ladin was offered up to Clinton 4 times by the Sudan, and Slick Willie refused to act. See this link:
http://www.infowars.com/saved pages/Prior_Knowledge/Clinton_let_bin_laden.htm
C. Wendt| 10.22.10 @ 4:26AM
Wallace, Rand Paul has been a member of his local Presbyterian Church since 1993, shortly after he moved to Bowling Green. Your claim that he "always was" an "Ayn Rand atheist" "until he decided to run for Senate" is thus spurious, unless you want to argue he really decided to run for Senate around 17 years in advance.
There is no record anywhere to the effect that Rand Paul ever espoused atheism; you are only taking a stab in the dark on the basis of his sympathies for Ayn Rand and reported collegiate irreverence. There are countless Ayn Rand readers- among them, by all accounts, Rand's father, Ron Paul- who like her political philosophy, but do not agree with her views on religion. Surely, if you have studied philosophy to any substantial extent, you must realize that true intellectual doubles are extremely rare, and that people with reasonably independent minds are liable to hold some meaningful disagreement even with those whose work they find most influential.
best snow shovels | 10.24.10 @ 11:07AM
John William or Jack Conway does have liberal views on some issues such as reproductive rights and health-care reform, his outlook is conservative or moderate on others, including the death penalty and gay marriage.
George F| 10.25.10 @ 9:54AM
The new 'smell' won't work with me because I've spent many hours watching their actions on C-SPAN over the last five years and know they're a corrupt bunch of rats who I now know don't have the best interests of this country at heart.
Can't believe the boldness of their lies and their dirty dealings with legislation. Shudder.
I'll never vote for another Democrat again!
The problem is I don't like Republicans either.
Nice HDTV | 12.8.10 @ 9:27PM
this is a serious disscusion I'v never know much more about corrupt in this ,because its don't sure why and how they do that , I will read all of comment before for take my head get more liberal .