Everyone knows the Internet was created for two reasons: Lolcats and to allow free expression of everything else. Yet if elected, Rick Santorum promises something very un-American: To ban pornography on the Internet. That sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey–forget about it. (And teh kittehs may be next).

In a statement on his website, Santorum, whose name has become synonymous with a specific neologism meaning a frothy mix of certain fluids, spews forth:

Current federal “obscenity” laws prohibit distribution of hardcore (obscene) pornography on the Internet, on cable/satellite TV, on hotel/motel TV, in retail shops and through the mail or by common carrier. Rick Santorum believes that federal obscenity laws should be vigorously enforced. “If elected President, I will appoint an Attorney General who will do so.”

The Obama Administration has turned a blind eye to those who wish to preserve our culture from the scourge of pornography and has refused to enforce obscenity laws. While the Obama Department of Justice seems to favor pornographers over children and families, that will change under a Santorum Administration.

But what is obscene? That depends on prevailing community standards, which can translate to six squeaky wheels protesting in front of the Hustler store, while a lot of people stay home watching streaming triple-X raunchfests or reading Anaïs Nin. Or Aleister Crowley. Rick Santorum’s concept of obscene probably varies widely from mine. Or yours. Or the guy next door’s.

Dr. Omar Minwalla Clinical Director of The Institute for Sexual Health, based in Beverly Hills, CA pointed out in an interview with me that there is a large uptick in straight-identified men (admitting to) watching pornography featuring transgender people. Many couples, married or not, watch pornography together. Fifty Shades of Grey, a “romance” novel featuring heavy BDMS (bondage/dominance/sado-masochism) is best seller among women, especially it seems, married moms; the highly sexed novel is credited as putting the spice back into relationships. And this graph shows that traditionally Republican, conservative states have the highest Google searches for both “God” and “free gay porn.”

Filtering the Internet for obscenity is a slippery slope, and an election strategy that could backfire. Such a plan would cost taxpayers money and cause more government interference in our lives, while doing nothing to lower taxes, create jobs, strengthen the border, or end our dependency on foreign oil – all of which are huge Republican issues. While some people may outwardly support Santorum, when it comes to what they do at home and in the voting booth, both equally very private matters, personal issues could translate to a loss for the sexual-censorship-obsessed Santorum.

In an interesting side note, Dr. Minwalla adds that many of the clients he sees for sexuality concerns are often Republican, religious conservatives who are sexually acting out with not only pornography, but multiple affairs, prostitution, strip clubs, massage parlors, and with employees. Says Dr. Minwalla:

Often, in order to compensate for the shame they may feel about their secret and shame-based sexual behaviors, many such men will present as fighters for morality, or join organizations that fight pornography as a way to compensate for their shame and the discomfort about their own sexuality,as a way of soothing it and making themselves feel better.

Now Rick Santorum wants to create an even bigger, illegal shame pool for people to swim in using standards of obscenity based on the views of a group of people who think having Ellen DeGeneres–a talented, successful, married woman who gives to charity and is concerned about social and economic issues–as a spokesperson for a major department store is reprehensible:

I proudly support the efforts of the War on Illegal Pornography Coalition that has tirelessly fought to get federal obscenity laws enforced. That coalition is composed of 120 national, state, and local groups, including Morality in Media, Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, American Family Association, Cornerstone Family Council of New Hampshire, Pennsylvania Family Institute, Concerned Women for America, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and a host of other groups. Together we will prevail.

Can you imagine the meetings these groups must have, huddled around the flickering screens of their computers, sharing files of fap-fodder, groaning in ecstasy disgust at the filthy perversions of their fellow Americans…

Oh and Senator Santorum, Ben Franklin participated in orgies. Plus our Founding Fathers appeared to like porn, the profits of which help found the American Revolution. So fap to that, Frothyman.

 

Nutbag-Christian logic states that when a natural disaster occurs, it’s cuz God is all mad and stuff at those people. Therefore, God must be pretty hot under the collar at Rick Perry and his constituents. Prayer at Easter didn’t work, Jesuspaloozah didn’t work, and the fires have gotten worse.

The only explanation is that God is gay. Gay, but not happy. At least with Perry.

His constituents may not be happy either, because now Gov Perry is saying “FEMA.” And gol durn it, that’s just un-American!

I do hope the wildfires are quickly controlled, because even though the folks of Texas voted for Perry, they shouldn’t have to suffer. Anymore than the people of Haiti, or North Carolina.

I have family in Tennessee. Tennessee is home to lots that is good about America: barbecue, blues, jazz, Elvis, the St. Jude Memorial Research Center/Children’s Hospital, not to mention some gorgeous scenery and important history. But gods have mercy on us, they are crazy there. And it is just getting worse.

The State Senate passed a bill which banned the word “gay” in schools. HB600–a bill which prohibits local municipalities and counties, including local school districts, from enacting local laws or school policies that protect LGBT against discrimination–has passed. There’s another bill pending,  pointed out by Blue Texan, which says

that teachers must be helped “to find effective ways to present the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies.” It also says that teachers may not be prohibited from “helping students understand, analyze, critique and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught.”

Controversies, like how The World As We Know It was formed when the Holy Unicorn pooped glitter? Or the debate about which came first Chicken Who Laid The Egg That Became The World, or The Egg Whence Hatched Chicken?

Intelligent design, creationism or Holy Unicorn poop, hopefully students won’t experience the effects of evolution firsthand via nuclear mutations, since their state (the only one that permits the commercial burning of nuclear waste) has accepted the “offer” of 1,000 tons of radioactive leftovers from Germany, after the Czech Republic passed on the nifty glow-in-the-dark goo, according to the ironically named Donald Safer, chairman of the Tennessee Environmental Council. Yes, they burn nuclear waste in Tennessee.

Uh, Tennessee has tornadoes. And floods. And prevailing winds.  Hot damn, welcome to hell.

Jacksonville, Florida has a candy-phobic, demon busting candidate for city council who is thankful for slavery. And thinks despite the Holocaust, Jews own everything. Oh and she’s a Democrat. WTF? (Her past as a crack addict and prostitute isn’t that big a deal, IMO. People change. But her hatred for the LGBT community is vomitous)  Is Kimberly Daniels’ candidacy some weird plan by insane fundamentalists to take over by creating one party? Like I say,

The way to change the NRA is to join the NRA

but this is going a bit far!

Where is the Democratic party in Florida and what are they doing about Kimberly Daniels, this crazy, bigoted, homophobic, demon-spotting minster with her own radio show who is in a run-off against Republican David Taylor slated for May 17? How did she get this far?  And I wonder if under this sort of logic I could end up on the Republican ticket someplace?

Bruce Wilson at Talk2Action.org–who helped bring Sarah Palin’s crazed version of Christianity to light–gives us these quotes from Daniels:

I thank God for slavery. Mmm. I thank God for the crack house. If it wasn’t for the crack house, come on somebody, God wouldn’t a never been able to use me how he can use me know. And if it wasn’t for slavery I might be somewhere in Africa worshiping a tree! [...]

You can talk about the Holocaust, but the Jews own everything.

.

Along with asking God to

bind the ministry of psychics, the teaching of black liberation theology, and every New Age and secular humanist doctrine away from the White House…

Daniels prays for Obama that God the prayers of her faithful will

break every soul tie and vow that has been established between him and Harvard, secret societies and the illuminati…

and

expose the work of every witch, sorcerer, spiritualist or person from the dark side operating through his cabinet members or through anyone else closely associated with him

Daniels want to remind us of the dangers of Halloween candy and the holiday itself:

most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference…
The danger of Halloween is not in the scary things we see but in the secret, wicked, cruel activities that go on behind the scenes. These activities include:

* Sex with demons
* Orgies between animals and humans
* Animal and human sacrifices
* Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood
* Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies
* Revel nights
* Conjuring of demons and casting of spells
* Release of “time-released” curses against the innocent and the ignorant.”

Seriously. Who let this nutbag into the party? Also she has a radio show preaching this sort of whackery, so does that kind of get in the way of Equal Time?

Thank Gods–yes, Kimberly Daniels, I am calling on my GODS, multiple, plural, old and ancient, and on Jesus, too, while I’m at it since theologically, oh why bother with theology with you Kimberley because you are incapable of the critical thinking required for theology–Thank GODS, the reasonable realistic Christian ministers from People For the American Way’s African American Ministers in Action (AAMIA) issued a statement:

At African American Ministers in Action, our hope is that Americans will always have the opportunity to elect public officials who stand for respect and liberty, fairness and equality, and treat all people with the dignity that they deserve. We are disheartened by the advancement of a candidate who has instead chosen to be a voice of fear and intolerance. The people of Jacksonville deserve better.

Yes they do. The people of America deserve better. And certainly the Democratic Party deserves better.

[HT: Truth Wins Out]