Buzzfeed Writer Kate Aurthur, Chip & Jo Gaines, and Meanness - The American Spectator | USA News and Politics
Buzzfeed Writer Kate Aurthur, Chip & Jo Gaines, and Meanness
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A little thought experiment.

What is worse? Someone trying to get people fired from the most awesome job they’ve ever had, that they’re doing great at, that is not only making their life better personally but is also greatly benefiting their community because said someone hates these people, OR is it worse calling the person trying to fire innocent people a bad name ?

Buzzfeed writer Kate Aurthur wrote a hit piece [I refuse to give them more traffic, feel free to Google it] on Chip and Joanna Gaines — the funny, real, and decent couple behind the smash HGTV hit Fixer Upper — suggesting that because they had not overtly stated their opinion on gay marriage, they must be bigoted homophobes because they go to a church where the Christian pastor believes that homosexuality is a sin. Ms. Aurthur didn’t get a comment from the Gaines. She didn’t get a comment from HGTV. She didn’t get a comment from the pastor.

The purpose of the piece was multifold:

  1. It signals to the rest of the leftist world that Kate Aurthur thinks the right thoughts and, therefore, is a Good Person Who Cares for Gay People.
  2. It signals to the rest of the media that it’s open season on the Gaines, and it’s time to bring them down.
  3. It signals to HGTV viewers who enjoy Fixer Upper that they’re bigoted and associated with bigotry, if they enjoy the show, and, therefore, Good People should avoid the show.

Make no mistake. The purpose of her piece was to ruin the Gaines’ ability to make a living. Certainly Aurthur would like them off the TV and no longer be a representation of wholesome family fun.  Here’s the paragraph that’s the “scoop.”

They are also, as they detail in The Magnolia Story, devout Christians — Joanna has spoken of and written about her conversations with God. (God told her both to close her store to spend time with her children, and then to reopen it a few years later.) Their church, Antioch Community Church, is a nondenominational, evangelical, mission-based megachurch. And their pastor, Jimmy Seibert, who described the Gaineses as “dear friends” in a recent video, takes a hard line against same-sex marriage and promotes converting LGBT people into being straight.  [emphasis added]

That’s it. A Christian pastor — and you, dear reader, might want to sit for this, because this is terribly shocking — believes the Bible’s words regarding homosexuality — like the Catholic Church and every other Bible-based church.

Following up, Ms. Aurthur doubles down about the piece — no doubt cheered on by her empty-headed editor, Ben Smith.

Angry Gaines-family defenders, or just defenders of free-thought and speech, lashed out at Aurthur. Some people used impolite epithets. Most just called her on her b.s. and made her uncomfortable. Gay people chided her anti-Christian bigotry. Decent people asked her when her exposé of Keith Ellison’s imam was going to print. (Hint: Not any time soon.)

So, what is worse? A person who uses a few rude names or the behavior of a vindictive bigot who seeks to destroy a beloved and rising-star couple for believing differently than her?

Kate Aurthur is pretty sure the name-caller is worse. Kate Aurthur believes she is the victim here.

At risk of saying it for the umpteenth time, but this is why Trump won. Social justice warriors masquerading as journalists who use their righteous perch to ruin family businesses threaten everyone. People rightly conclude that their business could be next. They already know that having an open discussion can result in screeching name-calling. This McCarthyism from the left has radicalized people who usually wouldn’t pay attention.

Nowhere is safe. Not Chick-fil-A, not Target bathrooms, not college campuses, not a place of business. An American must not only think the right things but proclaim those right things so everyone can be sure that the person is also a Good Person and worthy to associate with or even watch on TV.

An American can’t even watch a stupid home and garden show or watch sports without being assaulted by some do-gooder harassing him.

ESPN is going down the drain. The NFL has lost significant viewership. Missouri State is begging young people to come back to their “safe space.” Still, media companies refuse to adopt even a modicum of tolerance and open-mindedness. Brutish in their tactics and malicious in their intent, after nastily smearing decent people going about their business, they claim the mantle of the aggrieved because someone wrote them something mean on the internet in response to their immoral and un-American behavior.

Yes. Un-American. Americans can think what they want (even wrong thoughts!), associate with whom they like, worship where they want (or not), and basically live with the expectation that if they stay within the law, they’ll be left alone. That assumption is false in Obama’s America.

These last eight years have given license to aggressive thought police. It’s not enough to tolerate; one must approve. It’s not enough to approve; one must cheer. It’s not enough to cheer; one must evangelize. Otherwise, the thought police will hunt the offender down and string them up in print or online. If the person in question ends up with a destroyed business — oh well.

There you have it. Moral authority to destroy. Sound familiar?

Kate Aurthur attempted to ruin a decent couple and still feels justified. She is wrong. She and others who believe like her might consider giving tolerance a try. After all, they use it with guys like Keith Ellison. Perhaps they could spare some charity for a popular Christian couple.

Melissa Mackenzie
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Melissa Mackenzie is Publisher of The American Spectator. Melissa commentates for the BBC and has appeared on Fox. Her work has been featured at The Guardian, PJ Media, and was a front page contributor to RedState. Melissa commutes from Houston, Texas to Alexandria, VA. She lives in Houston with her two sons, one daughter, and two diva rescue cats. You can follow Ms. Mackenzie on Twitter: @MelissaTweets.
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