On Poisoning Nancy Pelosi and Comparing Liberals to Nazis

categories: Gay Boycotts, LGBT Rights and Business, LGBT Rights and Politics, Religion and LGBT Rights, Republican Party and LGBT Rights

Published August 06, 2009 @ 07:48PM PT

Wow, just when you think the state of the right-wing couldn't get any worse. First we had Laurie Higgins with the Illinois Family Institute openly compare LGBT people to nazis, and urging her Christian followers to stand up to the threat of homosexuality as if it were on par with the threat of nazism. Her group, incidentially, will be holding an annual conference with special guest Mike Huckabee, who apparently is all too willing to endorse this kind of rhetoric.

Then we had Rush Limbaugh doing what Limbaugh does best: using his platform as lead spokesperson for the Republican Party to call Democrats names. But this time it was in the form of manipulating Obama's logo, turning it into a swastika and accusing Obama of promoting a type of health care system that would be popular with the brutal Nazi regime.

Tasteless. Disgusting. Vile. Pretty much everything we've expected from Rush Limbaugh and the GOP.

But the latest ridiculous exploit from the right might just take the cake. And it comes in the form of Fox News's Glenn Beck, who in a not-so-funny sketch on his show joked about poisoning Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

No really. A mainstream commentator on Fox News just joked about killing the Speaker of the House. And yet again, the radical right wing in this country reaches a new low.

What does it say about the straits of a political party when some of their most active members are comparing LGBT people to Nazis, twisting the Obama logo and converting it into a Swastika, and threatening to poison the Speaker of the House? To this blogger, it says that the right-wing in this country have become so devoid of ideas, they can only resort to these kinds of tactics in order to get attention.

Thankfully, at least in the case of Glenn Beck, some advertisers are starting to pay attention. Already Proctor & Gamble, Lawyers.com, and Progressive Insurance have vowed to stop advertising on his program, a clear sign that Beck's hateful comments aren't playing well with everyone. And here at change.org, we've been encouraging the Crowne Plaza hotel in Chicago to avoid hosting a Fall conference from the Illinois Family Institute, at least until they're lead spokespeople stop comparing LGBT people to nazis.

Republicans deserve better than this. And while it's clear that these right-wing pundits won't stop their rather twisted words, it's great to see advertisers waking up. Companies should seriously think twice about spending their marketing budgets on a program whose host threatens to poison the Speaker of the House. Just like hotels should think twice about hosting conferences from organizations that rank LGBT people on par with nazis, who perpetrated the murder of more than six million people.

Share this Post

Comments (8)

I agree the Republicans deserve better than this... Once upon a time republican politicians and people used to stand up for human rights and the citizens of the united states. They would stretch their necks out even to minorities they felt "morally" obliged to hate with severe vehemency an try to learn to tolerate them and in time accept them. Now it seems like the republicans have been taken over by the 700 club not to mention evangelical pentecostals. Its no longer about what the constitution dictates but rather what the bible, or what lobbyist dictate.

Dont get me wrong I cant stand the democratic politicians either. They cater and bullshit to anyone just to get a vote. Obama is a wonderful example of empty promises and back burning ideas, while still contemplating if LGBT are religiously worthy of even second class status in this country. All this while our families suffer immensely under DOMA and DADT.

However when I see people stand up for the rights of others, those that have the most influence, the most knowledge, logic, reason, and power, are not democrats, they are not republicans, they are libertarians. So Although I agree we need more Megan McCains' for the republicans, speakers like Rush and Glenn are doing a fine job at making the intellectual side of the republican party cross over to us libertarians. Keep up the great work guys soon we can look back and wonder if the true nature of republicans is to show that intelligence isn't needed to be a politician. Oh an of course you can be president and not be able to spell the word president, or even properly say "nuclear"

Posted by Chris Marshall on 08/06/2009 @ 10:27PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Chris
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
"Already Proctor and Gamble, Lawyers.com, and Progressive Insurance have vowed to stop advertising on his program, a clear sign that Beck's hateful comments aren't playing well with everyone."

Really? Just on HIS program? They and ALL adverstisers should be pulling their advertising from ALL Fox Noise programming.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 08/06/2009 @ 11:32PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Dave
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
My original post should have read "and we expect anything less of Fox Noise, because??????????????"

Posted by Dave Hershey on 08/07/2009 @ 01:58AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Dave
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Why should anybody be surprised about Glen Beck? Maybe he's back on the sauce! That would explain why Fox would be the network dumb enough to hire him after he was fired by CNN!

Posted by gilbert barrett on 08/07/2009 @ 01:11PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by gilbert
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I condemn Rush Limbaugh, Laurie Higgins, and Glenn Beck for being very intolerant. Although Glenn Beck was joking, saying live that killing Nancy Pelosi would be acceptable is a serious offense. With the intolerant FOX News Channel spreading nonsense when it comes to LGBT rights, it's good that some companies are pulling their advertisements from Glenn Beck's show. Rush Limbaugh just keeps spewing intolerance and what he says about LGBT rights and othe topics is nonsense.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 08/07/2009 @ 02:40PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Edwin
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
It's frightening when people are on t.v. talking about killing politicians, abortion doctors, or anyone they don't agree with. I mean, I am actually scared and saddened by this idea that it is acceptable to go on t.v. and say these things!

Posted by Lisa Smolen on 08/08/2009 @ 06:53AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
forgot to add one more thing:

and yet, peace love & understanding is RADICAL?

Posted by Lisa Smolen on 08/08/2009 @ 06:53AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Lisa
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
truthfully the democratics party leaders and the republican party leaders are one in the same, they are both controlled by the same idiots who tells them what to say or tell the american people in order to brainwashed them.

I remember when American people stand by their Constitution and the Bill Of Rights and did not allowed some goverment leader to tell them different, but now we have democratic leaders tell their supporters that people who supports the Consitution and the Bill of rights that these people are nazis or terrorists ....

Then again many of the people in USA who are born here didnt take the Oath to protect the Constitution and The Bill of Rights, so how can we blame them , if they do not understand there are people who does support it and live by it and refuse to allow a bunch of leaders who broke this oath in order to control the american people.

I took this oath when I became an american citizen I will never break my oath as long as I shall live.

The oath of Alligiance is what ever newly law biding green card holders takes in order to be an American citizens of the USA.

The president and many goverment and military has to take the same oath as well. But we see everyday some of the republican and democratics leaders are breaking it everyday and the supporters just look the other way.

Presidental Oath of Office

Each president recites the following oath, in accordance with Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Military

The Oath of Enlistment (for enlistees):

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

The Oath of Office (for officers):

"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance tot he same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God."

The Oath of Allegiance to be Naturalization of American citizens.

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Now since I have shown, what certain people who has to take this Oath... This Oath is to protect the Consitution and the Bill of Rights.. Its not to protect no president or other countries president.

Peace Lara

Posted by Lara Nunes on 08/30/2009 @ 12:30AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Lara
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.