Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyAugust 12th, 2010
As more evidence that many social conservatives have found other groups more attractive as wedge issues, Fox News’ Glenn Beck told Bill O’Reilly yesterday that same-sex marriage is not a threat to the country:
Honestly, I think we have bigger fish to fry. You can argue about abortion or gay marriage or whatever all you want. The country is burning down…I don’t think marriage, that the government actually has anything to do with…that is a religious right…I believe that Thomas Jefferson said, “If it neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket, what difference is it to me?”
But not everyone has moved on. Reps. Lamar Smith (R-TX), Steve King (R-IA), Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and John Fleming (R-LA) introduced a resolution in the House of representatives condemning Judge Vaughn Walker of failing “to conduct himself in an impartial manner before striking down California’s popularly enacted Proposition 8.”
Update: Last year, Glenn Beck had a very different view of same-sex marriage:
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Matt
August 12th, 2010
Quite a difference from Beck from last year to this. Wonder what’s really brought the change about?
Candace
August 12th, 2010
Another rat jumping off a sinking ship.
Situ Comono
August 12th, 2010
Another rat jumping off a sinking ship…as they all will once they realize how many votes they can get. There will be the day when a REPUBLICAN or TEAN will claim that they supported this all along. Mark my words.
TampaZeke
August 12th, 2010
It’s not as if Beck’s had a change of heart, or in his case, found a heart.
He’s just been paying attention to the polls and realizes that the days of scaring the masses with horror stories about the powerful and dangerous gay agenda are numbered and quickly coming to an end. He sees Mexicans and Muslims as more reliable targets now. As with every generation past, bigots have to convince the masses that the most vulnerable are powerful and dangerous (like gays, immigrants and domestic Muslims) while the powerful and dangerous are vulnerable and victimized by the powerful dangerous hated minorities.
People are discovering that gays aren’t the monsters that they’ve been told they were so it’s time to move on to another minority about whom they can stir up the same hate and fear based in ignorance and shameless political calculation.
This is why it’s important that we stand up for immigrants and Muslims EVEN if they don’t stand up en mass for, and EVEN if they stand up en mass AGAINST, us.
Ryan
August 12th, 2010
Those “bigger fish” are called Muslims and Mexicans, but rest assured it will be our turn again a few election cycles down the line, once the Republicans have regained power.
AJD
August 12th, 2010
I recall an exchange between Bill Maher and Keith Olbermann a while back in which Olbermann said something particularly insightful, that people like Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly are really more like businessmen than people who genuinely entertain the views they espouse.
I think Glenn Beck really is as crazy as he looks (he’s not well-educated, after all), but probably not nearly as bigoted in real life as he presents himself on TV.
Carmen Diaz
August 12th, 2010
“This has been an unending roller coaster ride. I really hope to never have to go through another proposition, it was too dehumanizing. the worst part was after Prop 8 passed, not knowing if the voters had voted me a divorce. I still don’t understand why people are against others rights. Its all very sick and cruel.
L. Junius Brutus
August 12th, 2010
He was pretty enlightened (on this issue), even in the second video. After all, he supports civil unions. And his only objection is based on ignorance – the idea that churches will be blah blah blah.
cd
August 12th, 2010
A lot of right wing beliefs are of this nature- where belief imitates, but is not, conviction.
The holder believes that he is against X and will posture and argue incessantly against X. X proves acceptable or fades as a public issue, and life goes on fine. That’s when this person will decide that he was not convinced of not-X and shifts his beliefs around (since his beliefs are in fact instrumental, not actual principle). It’s all about psychological comfort, not realities. It’s not just the pundits doing this; they have to do it because their following is doing it.
Liberals have long known this. Even the likes of Russell Kirk have admitted that conservatism is “an attitude”. Aka a posture.
In SSM we see it demonstrated in the faux “martyrdom” and deep cowardice of the anti side: not one of their activists is willing to put their personal wealth, career, or significant relationships on the line to win. Let alone laying down their life. They are not actually convinced of the morality of their position, even though they purport to believe it.
Jimmy Mac
August 12th, 2010
Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing!
Carmen Diaz
August 13th, 2010
Eagerly awaiting legal-nerd analysis of (1) the odds that the 9th Circuit will recognize the legal standing of the “Yes-on-8” monsters to file an appeal in this case, and (2), if they do recognize such a standing, the odds that a stay of Judge Walker’s decision will be granted.
Richard Rush
August 15th, 2010
And Peter LaBarbera is now on the case. He has scolded Beck, and promised that there is “more coming on this story…”
Wow, Peter. You know you are in dire need of professional help when Glenn Beck is not paranoid enough for you.
cowboy
August 15th, 2010
I’m surprised the Mormons didn’t revoke Mr. Beck’s Temple Recommend.
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