11 Responses to Keith Olbermann on Carrie Prejean’s Semi-Nude Photo and Joe the Plumber’s ‘Queer’ Comment

1. 

   Voy Reply

   May 6, 2009 at 12:50 pm

   I was extremely disappointed with Miss California’s answer at the pageant. I was more disappointed with Perez Hilton’s vitriolic response to her answer.

   I was angry when Miss California joined NOM to speak out against homosexuality (probably in a stubborn attempt to defend her pageant answer). I was pissed when NOM used the pageant, and Perez Hilton’s response as an attack on the gay community.

   In retaliation, gay supporters would do anything to discredit her, and NOM. Thus, the pictures emerged to try and make her look like a religious hypocrite.

   In Britain, they have a high degree of freedom of speech. One of their only restrictions is that a person cannot speak out and try to spread discrimination against people protected under British law. We do not have that restriction in the US, therefore, discrimination can be spread. Miss California’s naive and ignorant responses in this saga most definitely fits into the category of discrimination. The problem is that she is in the spotlight and can be thought of as a role model with a stronger influence than a regular person. In that, her discrimination is dangerous as it is far reaching.

   If she were to have said she didn’t believe in interracial marriage, or that she were anti-Semitic, more people would be speaking out against her. No, she said she was anti-gay, and for some reason, people think that’s more acceptable.

   While I believe that most gays dislike what Miss California is doing, I’m sure they’d agree that this whole mini-battle in the war of gay equality has been an ugly one.

   As for good ol’ Joe, I doubt anything will come of his answer beyond making people fun of his confused bigotry. He doesn’t really have any influence, he was discredited because he’s not really a plumber, and he’s not in a position to represent anyone. In my opinion, he’s just a blind GOP dumbass. =D
2. 

   dr. bob Reply

   May 6, 2009 at 8:00 am

   I’m a hetero, and been married 3 times. Marriage Sucks, it sucks and it sucks. Let the Homo’s marry so that they can be as miserable as the rest of us!

   Oberman is a bafoon.
3. 

   Sei Reply

   May 6, 2009 at 7:45 am

   Deb,

   We have gone after President Obama for his statements on same-sex marriage. In fact, if Ms Prejean had just left it all on pagent night, this wouldn’t be happening. She chose to perpetuate this. She chose to become the spokesperson for her brand of morality, and now she is paying the price for that.
4. 

   Deb Reply

   May 6, 2009 at 7:35 am

   Why are these groups, the media & rags attacking Obama?

   He holds the same view point?

   She does support the beliefs of her state… ie. Prop 8 so she did not voice a contradictory statement in supporting California.

   What happened to tolerance? I thought Gay rights was searching for tolerance? Is it only available for those who do not speak out against Gay Marriage? Is is only tolerance for them?
5. 

   Sei Reply

   May 6, 2009 at 7:08 am

   Tom,

   No. No one has violated Ms Prejean’s First Amendment rights on either the grounds of Religion or Speech. Ridiculed her for being two-faced, yes. Ridiculed her for giving a horribly rambling, incoherent statement. But, no one has stopped her from believing what she wants to believe and no one has told her she cannot worship where she wants.
6. 

   Sam the Faggot Reply

   May 6, 2009 at 6:28 am

   The thing that really struck me about both “Joe the Plumber” and Cassie’s comments is the sheer ignorance of both. Not even ignorance in terms of bigotry – ignorance in terms of basic facts. Wurzelbacher seems unaware that the term “queer” started out as a derogatory slur (and still is outside of radical and/or academic circles). He even specifically said it WASN’T a slur. Cassie, in her original controversial statement, went on and on about how great it is that you can choose between same-sex and “opposite marriage,” but nonetheless it’s not something she feels is right. What I’ve never seen anyone point out to her is that in most states, you CAN’T make that choice. That’s what the debate is ABOUT: whether or not the option should be made available. And she basically said, “It’s great that people can choose! That’s why NO ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE.” Not even to mention the fact that you can’t choose to be gay or straight in the first place, so no one would be in a position to make that choice (unless they’re bisexual and happen, at the moment, to be torn between two different suitors, one male, one female, but anyway), but that’s almost beside the point.

   It seems like these basic gaps in knowledge should disturb more people than they do. I mean, clearly, these are people who have no idea what’s going on. They are making blatantly offensive statements, but it comes from a place of ignorance. We should be trying to educate them. I think Cassie, especially, if someone pointed out that all gay marriage laws do is allow gay people to marry if they so choose, she’d be on our side. An astonishing, frightening number of people out there seem to think that legalizing gay marriage means forcing everyone – gay or straight – to marry someone of the same sex.

   By the way, speaking as a Sam, I wish people would stop pointing out Joe the Plumber’s real name. It casts shame on proud Sams everywhere. Let him be Joe if he wants to be Joe. Hey, we could even send him a copy of the book “Totally Joe!”
7. 

   Tom Reply

   May 6, 2009 at 6:27 am

   In regard to Carrie Prejean and the Miss America Franchise, I think it is interesting that no one discusses the first amendment as it pertains to freedom of religion.

   Many jews, christians and Muslims do not believe in same sex marriage and they have a right to express their beliefs without punishment.

   The question that I raise is as follows: Has the Miss America franchise infringed on Carrie Prejean’s first amendment rights?

   I believe Trump sees this and he is worried that he has infringed on Miss California’s first amendment rights. This is probably why Trump has defending Miss California’s answer. This recent discovery about Miss California about her Victoria Secret photos could have originated by Trump in his effort to disqualify Miss California so that he is not sued for infringing on Miss California’s first amendment rights. Trump stands to lose his advertisers if Miss California is not disqualified and I think he sees this.
8. 

   Sei Reply

   May 6, 2009 at 5:52 am

   Neo Mat,

   This is called hypocracy. She labels herself a Christian who supports Christian values. The points which were made in this clip are entirely valid to this discussion. Prejean chose to do this, and in choosing to do this, she has left herself open to this.

   Oh, and don’t give me this ‘where have all the values gone’ crap. I recommend reading The Alienist by Caleb Carr. Or, heck, try reading some of the newspapers from a century ago. This idea of a moral, honest, uncorrupt America is a figment of people’s imagination. In fact, today is a heck of a lot nicer, cleaner, and uncorrupt compared to what this country was like in 1890, or even 1920.

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11. 

    neo mat Reply

    May 6, 2009 at 3:11 am

    Ms California aired her honest opinion and hell broke loose. those who opposed her ideas are determined to destroy her. They have to look for loopholes to make her look bad to silence her. I get the idea that people have become so immoral , they cannot stand the truth and are determined to destroy all that adhere to what is right. What has become of America? It seems like your values are gone and nobody is standing up to say what is right or if someone else does, it looks like he\she has to sacrifice his/her very life in doing so? It is so appalling.