February 15th, 2012
Yeah, I know. I’m sure the script calls for mud and not “santurum” getting spattered around. But surely someone in the campaign had the scatalogical reference in mind when they made this commercial. After all, they’ve spent their fair share of time complaining about Santorum’s “Google problem.” So please don’t tell me they had no idea anyone would think of it and laugh — and not necessarily at Santorum’s expense — after seeing this commercial. Please don’t tell me that they had no idea that in one fell swoop they’ve artfully linked Dan Savage to Romney as Romney trues to blast Santorum with disgusting goo. I really want to believe that this commercial is pure genius, and not further evidence of a major contender for President of the United States being hopelessly clueless. Please let me have that at least. I would be ever so grateful.
Latest Posts
Featured Reports
In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.
When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.
In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.
On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.
Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"
At last, the truth can now be told.
Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!
And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.
Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.
Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.
Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.
The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.
Hunter
February 15th, 2012
I’m really sorry, but given Santorum’s past public utterances, I find the “genius” tag hard to accept.
It’s always possible he’s hired someone who knows what they’re doing, but not really likely, you know?
Ben In Oakland
February 15th, 2012
Why not both?
Scenario 1). Santorum’s media people knew exactly what they were doing, but Santorump didn’t have a clue.
Scenario 2). One or two people did know, but decided not to tell the rest lest they be kicked out for doing something actually pretty smart.
but no. I think dirty thoughts are so far away from their minds– at least, unpleasant dirty thoughts, not the good kind– that it just never would have occurred to any of them how it might be seen. How blind, ignorant, stupid, and sex-obsessed do you have to be before santorum appears to be anything OTHER than blind, ignorant, stupid, and sex-obsessed.
The evidence is quite strong that there are lots of these people. we read and write about them all the time.
StraightGrandmother
February 15th, 2012
The use of a gun in the political ad really shook me up. And a BIG assault gun at that. I don’t care if it was shooting mud, it is still an awfully big weapon. It’s unnerving. And Santorum is claiming the high moral ground? If I were in his shoes I never would have approved this commercial.
Petrockmi
February 15th, 2012
StraightGrandmother, please be at ease as the big assault weapon that he was holding at the 22 second mark was just a paint ball gun. They try and make them look impressive but when you have a CO2 tank and a big hopper they are easily identified.
Hyhybt
February 15th, 2012
Even if the reference is intentional, it’s still a stupid ad.
Lindoro Almaviva
February 15th, 2012
And with the overture to Carmen nonetheless. Romney as some sort of Escamillo battling Sartorum “the Bull”
MattNYC
February 16th, 2012
Holy Santorum, Batman!
I vote for clueless–he and his closest advisors.
However, the gays who did the production work for the ad firm are laughing their asses off as they down their Cosmos in Chelsea.
janet montgomery
February 16th, 2012
clueless.
however it’s a highly unattractive ad on other levels and were I he, I wouldn’t have used it.
Blake
February 16th, 2012
It’s just so… so… meta.
mikeksf
February 16th, 2012
Thanks for the reminder to Google Santorum
Timothy Kincaid
February 16th, 2012
I’m with straight grandmother on this. It may be a paintball gun, but to me, it’s a large automatic weapon which on politician is shooting at another.
I’m not anti-gun. I support the Second Amendment. But I was raised with the understanding that you DO NOT point a gun at another human. And this pushed all the wrong buttons.
That being said, it’s still a confusing ad. In a campaign you “fling mud” at an opponent, you don’t “shoot mud”. And because the mud didnt resemble mud, i was lost I couldn’t figure out at first what was supposed to be happening.
Between all of that discomfort and confusion, whatever message they were trying to send was lost. I was so annoyed and disgusted that I didn’t even care that sanatorium was dodging a frothy mix.
Kate
February 16th, 2012
I heard a story on NPR about this ad – there were speculations that the true intended audience was the media (um, like NPR!)… who are so desparate for more “fight to the finish” news stories that they would cover the “negative campaign” story aspect, and thereby give His Frothiness a free publicity boost.
I’m with MattNYC – I think someone in the production company made sure the “mud” would look like, well, santorum. And they are totally laughing their asses off…after assuring the wise souls of the Santorum campaign that this was a “surefire winner”.
Kudos, ladies and gentlemen of whatever company made this little gem. I keep hearing about all the millions/billions of dollars spent on the campaigns – it’s awesome to see that SOME of it paid off, if only for the comedy.
Leave A Comment