The Daily Hypocrite: The Pastor Lied

Texas Pastor Rick Scarborough may have some ‘splaining to do when he goes before God the next time, because I don’t think She’s fond of liars and hypocrites.

In the days before equality … the Dark Ages? … Scarborough had said that he would be willing to set himself on fire in the fight against marriage equality.

Now? Not so much.

The antigay clergyman said, just last week:

“We are not going to bow, we are not going to bend, and if necessary we will burn.”

Now, he’s walking that back:

“I made that comment to paraphrase a spiritual song, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in which the three were given a choice—to bow to the image of Nebuchadnezzar or burn in a furnace. We will burn’ means that we will accept any sanction from the government for resisting [the] Supreme Court decision. We do not support any violence or physical harm.” 

This is the same Pastor Scarborough who has also said — in a full-page newspaper ad, no less — that he had tens of thousands of followers, including future failed presidential hopefuls Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, who vowed to go to jail to defend so-called traditional marriage.

Yeah, that hasn’t happened either.

Advocate

Bitch, Please: Josh Robinson Compares Being Gay To Incest and Pedophilia

Some arguments never die … even in the wake of a Supreme court ruling that gay and lesbian Americans are a little bit … a little bit … more equal.

Last Friday, Josh Robinson, a cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings, trotted out some old arguments about same-sex marriage being just like incest and pedophilia in a Twitter meltdown week:

"Love is love? So what will we say when the 30yr old loves YOUR 10 year old. When the dad loves HIS 6 year old” It’s different?? Yea okay!”

Um, Josh? Incest has been around as long as people have been around and has never had anything to do with anyone’s orientation; it’s about power, it’s about sexual abuse. The same goes for pedophilia.

Bitch, please! Robinson then defended his stance:

“EVERYONE has a right to believe what they want to believe. You shared yours, I shared mine.”

Yes, Josh, you have as right to your opinion; you can be against same-sex marriage all you want, and, dare I say, if you don’t like same-sex marriage then don’t get same-sex married, but stay out of the fight, m’kay … cuz it’s over, and your arguments are lame and old.

So please, refrain from spewing ignorance, Josh. The Gays are no more likely to be guilty of incest or pedophilia than straight folks, straight men, Josh, like yourself who represent the greatest risk of being pedophiles if we go by the numbers, Josh. So, please, be careful where you cast that first stone.

And also, Josh, tread a history book before you speak out; read what people who were against interracial marriage said back in the day; they said if whites and blacks could marry, then why not allow people to marry animals, or children, or family members.

It’s the same old argument Josh, only now you’re using it against The Gays when once upon a time it would have been used against you, had you wanted to marry a white woman.

Were they right? No … and neither are you.

NY Daily News

Welcome To The South, Where It's Once Again Hot and Humid and 1963

There’s an old saying that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it and, in the wake of the recent church shooting down in Charleston, we are seeing a repeat of a very ugly and hateful time in our collective history.

Church burnings. Now, these aren’t new; in fact, they go as far back as the Civil War years, though the most famous case was the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama by a group of white supremacists.

The burning of Black churches is especially heinous because the churches were, and are, are targeted for their role in the Black community, as a gathering place, a safe place, a place of worship.

In the week after those nine people were murdered at Emanuel AME Church six churches, with predominately black congregations, all across the South have been burned, and three of those fires are being investigated as suspicious.

And for anyone who doesn’t think that these burnings are racially motivated, what was the big discussion after the shootings in Charleston? The Confederate flag; the removal of that flag. That flag that has for the last one-hundred-fifty years signified hate and racism in the South, and once it became clear that most Southerners want those flags removed — though not forgotten because it is a part of history — Black churches began to burn again in the South.

The first fire was June 21, when someone set bales of hay on fire outside the College Hill Seventh Day Adventist in Knoxville, Tennessee; the church sustained minor damage.

Then on June 23, God’s Power Church of Christ in Macon, Georgia caught fire, and when firefighters arrived on scene they found the front doors wired shut. That fire was ruled arson, but was not classified as a hate crime, perhaps because it was just the second such church burning.

The very next day, June 24, Charlotte, North Carolina’s Briar Creek Road Baptist Church was burned; the building sustained $250,000 worth of damage with the main building demolished by the blaze. It has also been ruled as arson.

On June 26, the Glover Grove Baptist Church in Warrenville, South Carolina burned down and there is no reason, or cause, for the blaze.

There were two other church fires — Fruitland Presbyterian in Tennessee and Greater Miracle Temple Apostolic Holiness Church in Florida — but authorities believe those fires were caused by lightning or electrical wires, though they are still investigating.

We have come so far in this country — just last week gay and lesbian Americans gained a huge foothold in being equal in this country — and yet we have also taken a huge step back with these church burnings and the pro-Confederate flag rallies, as under-attended as they may be.

There is one way, and, for me, one way only to fight racism in this country: knock it off. Stop it when you hear it. When someone makes an idiotic joke, remind them that a lunatic in Charleston might have also laughed at the joke before he killed nine people; when people say ‘they’ or ‘them,’ or even worse, ‘those people,’ remind them that we are all Americans and we don’t have the time or the need or the desire, to take a step back.

The best way to stop racism, and stop church burnings, and hopefully, stop lunatics with guns, is to say something, with your voice, your actions and your vote.

Say something. Do something.

Washington Post

Photo credit: Todd BennettAugusta Chronicle via WaPo

Bitch Please: Donald [t]Rump Explains His Opposition To Same-Sex Marriage And It's So Presidential

In the wake of last Friday’s Supreme Court ruling that gay and lesbian Americans have the right to marry because, well, land of the free, home of the brave, and equality, all of the Presidential candidates have been discussing the issue.

Of course, the Democrats are pleased as punch with the ruling while some in the GOP were not; Mike Huckabee has said he will call on the wrath of God, or something, and Ted Cruz stomped his feet. But, it’s Donald [t]Rump who gave the most WTF answer, I think.

In an interview with CNN, host Jake Tapper asked the several-times-bankrupt, both morally and financially, presidential candidate how his three … three …  marriages were morally justified if he believed only in so-called “traditional marriage” values.

Trump wavered a bit and said that while his views are “evolving” — Look! He’s trying to 'Obama' the conversation — his campaign position is that only “traditional marriage” between “a man and a woman” should be legal.

So, Tapper wanted to know how that’s possible since [t]Rump has  had three “one-man-one-woman” marriages himself:

“What do you say to a lesbian who’s married or a gay man who’s married who says, ‘Donald Trump, what’s traditional about being married three times?'”

"Well, they have a very good point, but I’ve been a very hardworking person …”

And we’ll stop because what the f**k does that mean? Traditional marriage is only for hardworking people and The Gays are not hardworking? But let’s allow [t]Rump to continue …

“And actually, I have a great marriage, I have a great wife now. My [first] two wives were very good.”

“But what do you say to a lesbian or a gay man?”

“I really don’t say anything. I’m just, Jake, I’m for traditional marriage.”

And, there you have it. The reason Donald [t]Rump is not for same-sex marriage is … because.

That’s so presidential.

RawStory

Can I Get An Amen: Roselyn Sanchez and Cristián De La Fuente To Thing 45: "We quit!"

So, when announcing his run to be president, _____ had a full racist rant about Mexicans coming to, ahem “our” country, and how they were all thieves and rapists and drug dealers, though “some of them” were good.

Yeah, that’s so presidential. Anyway, on the heels of those remarks, Univision, the biggest Spanish-language broadcaster in the United States, has canceled its telecast of the Miss USA pageant because of _____’s part-ownership in the organization.

_____ then fired back, in another display of pettiness, childishness, and bad toupee management, when he said that no Univision employees would be welcome at any of his hotels. Yeah, he’s that spoiled little brat.

Now, though, he’s gotten another smack, this time from Puerto Rican singer-actress Roselyn Sanchez and Chilean actor Cristián de la Fuente who had been scheduled to co-host the Spanish simulcast of the pageant, but have now opted out.

Roselyn Sanchez, star of Lifetime’s Devious Maids, posted a statement on Facebook explain her decision:

"As a Latina, proud of my roots, culture and all that we have contributed to this nation, I decided to cancel my participation as co-host the Miss USA pageant [and] not tolerate the so disrespectful and hurtful words out of the mouth of Mr. Trump.

It seems incredible that in his speech to announce his candidacy, he has had that lapse of intelligence and decency. Mexicans, like all Latinos, contribute positively to this great nation. We are the force that keeps the country afloat. 

I was very excited and proud to have been invited to participate in Miss USA, but as a Latina, that is now inconceivable. Although I am not Mexican, I am Puerto Rican and a proud Latina, and his comments were an insult to our culture. I won't sponsor anything produced by Donald Trump."

Cristián de la Fuente, also appearing on Devious Maids, also used social media to explain his decision for pulling out of the pageant:

"It is unacceptable to launch a presidential candidacy created on a rhetoric of hatred and discrimination in calling Mexicans drug dealers and rapists. It is a shame that such an important institution as Miss USA is in the hands of a clown."

Meanwhile, NBC, set to broadcast next month, distanced themselves from _____’s racism, saying that his opinions do not represent those of NBC.

Here’s the queer deal: if you watch beauty pageants, maybe skip this one, huh? Why line the pockets of a racist presidential candidate? Send a message to _____ that he does not represent America or Americans and that we are tired of his divisive brand of rhetoric.

Look … just don’t watch. It’s that simple.

Christian Today

Roselyn Sanchez
Cristián de la Fuente

For About An Hour Bree Newsome Relieved South Carolina Of That Flag

It was bound to happen … last week, at the state capitol in Columbia, South Carolina, Bree Newsome defied the state laws that … for now … protect the Confederate flag and climbed the flag pole at the state house  to remove the Confederate flag.

When Bree was about halfway up the poll, State Capitol Police arrived on the scene and ordered her down; she refused, and continued climbing until she reached the top and took the flag down. Then, with the aid of a helper — James Tyson Black — she was lowered to the ground and arrested.

And, I say, "Good." 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad she did it; I’m all for non-violent civil disobedience, but Bree Newsome and James Black did break the law of the state and so they had to be arrested. And that’s what I told people on Facebook who railed against the idea, even when asked if they would be all right with someone scaling the state capitol dome and placing a Confederate flag up there — where one used to fly from 1962 to 2000. 

When people said that was different, I explained it wasn’t; it was taking your own action and ignoring law. And, sadly for them, someone said, "Rosa Parks broke the law and wasn’t arrested."

When I finished laughing, I replied, “Get a history book.”

For her part Bree Newsome said:

"We removed the flag today because we can't wait any longer. We can’t continue like this another day. It's time for a new chapter where we are sincere about dismantling white supremacy and building toward true racial justice and equality.”

I applaud her act, though I understand why she was arrested. And I love that, for at least about an hour, the state capitol building of South Carolina was Confederate flag free. It gave all of us a chance to feel that sense of accomplishment, if only for a moment.

The flag was raised again, though, just in time for a statehouse rally for those who seek to keep the flag right where it is; that rally numbered in the tens of people … 

That was quite a bit different than the number of people who showed up demanding that the flag be removed ...

... so I think Bree Newsome will get her wish, and I’ll get mine, and one day, in the not too distant future, the South Carolina General Assembly will vote to take down that flag. 

PS: Bree Newsome has been released from jail, though both she and James Tyson were charged with "defacing monuments on state capitol grounds" and could face up to 3 years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. 

You can sign a ColorOfChange.org petition to drop the charges against Bree HERE. 

Michael Moore has offered to pay any legal fees resulting from this incident. 

NCRM

photos via ABC 7 New York 

The Funny Papers

Darrin Bell Cartoons
Editorial and Political Cartoons

It's Snarkurday!

So last week it was confirmed that Charlize Theron and Sean Penn were no more, though it appears to have been over for a couple of months now because, ALLEGEDLY, Penn was “overly critical” of Theron — perhaps because she has a much more in-demand career — and that she was just plain over him.

So she simply stopped taking his calls. No text; no email … nothing.  And this kind of breakup apparently has its own name … go figure … and it’s called “ghosting.” But, whatever it’s called, it’s quite clear that Theron ended it and Sean is still getting a “Mailbox Full” message.

Well, look who is making news because, well, they haven’t been making news lately … not since her break-up with that Terminator boy.

Miley Cyrus — who revealed recently that she came out as bisexual to her family at 14 — is dating a woman, Victoria Secret model, Stella Maxwell because, well, publicity. Yawn.

Well well well … since she’s off probation, and doesn’t have a job, what is Lindsay Lohan to do? Give an interview with Hello! Magazine and say this:

“I can definitely see myself settling in London permanently.”

And when asked if she would apply for British citizenship, she replied:

“If you’ll have me, I will.”

Okay UK, she’s your problem now. Don’t even think about having her deported!

Tiger Woods got flayed. Not played … flayed … as in Bobby Flay!

Y’all probably know by now that Tiger — who just ended his relationship with Lindsey Vonn — choked big time during the first round of the US Open when he lost control of his club and sent it sailing through the air, right? Well, perhaps it was because a plane flew over with that same banner that flew over Bobby Flay’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony trailing a banner that read “Cheater.”

Ben Affleck better be careful … just sayin’.

Charlie Sheen is back in the news … yay!

He recently celebrated Father’s Day by calling Dennis Richards, the second of his three ex-wives — from whom he’s been divorced for ten years — a “despicable charlatan” and a “sack of landfill rash” during a hate-filled … and illiterate … Twitter rant so you know it’s the real Charlie:.

“Denise Richards is a shake down piece of s–t doosh phace & worst mom alive!”

“[A] despicable charlatan who sux ISIs ass!!!!

 “[S]ee u in court you evil terrorist sack of landfill rash. this gangster Sheenius will be Winning! Duh!!”

Richards responded with her own tweet:

“Happy Dad’s Day! @charliesheen have a great trip in Mexico! Kids were disappointed u weren’t here for it-Hey we’ll celebrate when u r back!”

Looks more like Denise is winning.

This is the most highlarious thing EVER!!!!

Out there in Oakland California, on June 30, for a mere $40, you, too, can attend a lecture on the objectification of women given by a woman who made her name flat on her back, heels to Jesus, in a sex tape.

That’s right, y’all, Kim Kardastrophe is speaking at the Paramount Theatre about her “new book Selfish, the Kardashian/Jenner clan, the business of millennial culture, the objectification of women in media, and more.”

Seriously? And it’s being called … wait for it, because it sounds like there will be strippers … “Kim Kardashian West Live!”  I’d go, but first, before I plunk down forty bucks, I’d ask Kim Kardastrophe to spell “objectification.”

So, Amber Heard, that sexually fluid wannabe who recently hitched her wagon to Johnny Depp’s falling star, has a few choice words for the Australian officials who demanded Depp take his illegally-smuggled-into-the-country dogs out of Oz or else. She says the politics wanted their fifteen minutes of fame:

“I have a feeling we’re going to avoid the land Down Under from now on, just as much as we can, thanks to certain politicians there. I don’t know, I guess everyone tries to go for their 15 minutes, including some government officials.”

Or … maybe those politicos believe the law applies to everyone who visits their country, even a spoiled has been and his hanger-on.

Well, it looks like Diddy is one of those parents; the ones who rail at their son’s football coaches and, well, attack them with a kettlebell.

Only the son involved inst some ten-year-old and this wasn’t some Pop Warner football league. The son is Justin Combs, who is twenty-one and the coach is the coach of the UCLA football team and Diddy wasn’t happy that the coach berated his son for missing practice and not giving it his all so he attacked the man.

Lovely parenting Diddy. And now he’s been arrested, posted bail, and is facing felony assault charges, though I see a healthy donation to UCLA in their future and I also see charges dropped.

Money talks louder than a physical assault.

Conrad Hilton just can’t stay out of trouble these days.

In May, he reportedly turned himself into authorities in connection with a high-speed car chase resulting in wrecking his BMW last August. He was charged with felony reckless evading a police officer and was released on $100,000 bail.

Then this past Monday Conrad was arrested again for violating a restraining order protecting his ex-girlfriend, Hunter Solomon, after authorities found Conrad inside Solomon’s home.

And if this story needed to be any slimier, Hunter Salomon is the daughter of Rick Salomon, the guy who co-starred in Conrad’s sister, Paris Hilton’s sex tape.

Yes, he was schtupping the daughter of the man who schtupped his sister on film.

I need a Silkwood scrubdown.

And we’ll end with a celebrity who actually does something nice for someone other than themselves.

Chris Pratt, who visited children’s hospitals around the country last year in his Guardians of the Galaxy costume that he stole just for those occasions, is at it again.

He recently stopped in at Our Lady of Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and reenacted some of his Jurassic World scenes with, and for, the kids.

Chris Pratt really seems to be one of the good guys. 

That Sound You Hear Is GOP Heads Exploding

Well, it didn’t take long for the GOP Clown Car to come full stop, and to let all the loons out to run in circles and cry that the sky is falling after hearing about the Supreme Court ruling that marriage equality is the law of the land.

And so, make no mistake, each of the these Clowns will now begin running on the platform of turning back the law on same-sex marriage, and they will pander to every rightwingnut and Teabagger and religious zealot out  there and if, if, any one of them happens to get elected President in 2016, you can bet your ass that mere moments after taking the oath of office, as the leader of a country where more than 60% of the people think same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, that GOP President will suddenly stop taking about a repeal and sit in the Oval Office focusing on something shiny.

Still, it was fun to see what they had to say …

Mike Huckabee:

The Supreme Court has spoken with a very divided voice on something only the Supreme Being can do – redefine marriage. I will not acquiesce to an imperial court any more than our Founders acquiesced to an imperial British monarch. We must resist and reject judicial tyranny, not retreat.

...

The Supreme Court can no more repeal the laws of nature and nature’s God on marriage than it can the laws of gravity. Under our Constitution, the court cannot write a law, even though some cowardly politicians will wave the white flag and accept it without realizing that they are failing their sworn duty to reject abuses from the court. If accepted by Congress and this President, this decision will be a serious blow to religious liberty, which is the heart of the First Amendment.

Yup, Mike, since you believe only God can make this decision, why don’t you as k God to run for President and you sit this one out, because the last thing we need in the White House is some crackpot who wants to make his decisions based on a centuries old history book.

Jeb Bush:

Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage.  I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision.  I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments.  In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side.  It is now crucial that as a country we protect religious freedom and the right of conscience and also not discriminate.

Remember, when Jeb says “my faith,” he means “My base of loons.”

Ben Carson:

“While I strongly disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision, their ruling is now the law of the land.

I call on Congress to make sure deeply held religious views are respected and protected.  The government must never force Christians to violate their religious beliefs.

I support same sex civil unions but to me, and millions like me, marriage is a religious service not a government form.”

Check your laws, Ben, because no one, no one, in this country is legally married until the government says so, m’kay?

Carly Fiorina:

The Court ruled today that all Americans should receive equal benefits and rights from the government under the law. I have always supported this view. However, this decision was also about the definition of marriage itself. I do not agree that the Court can or should redefine marriage. I believe that responsibility should have remained with states and voters where this conversation has continued in churches, town halls and living rooms around the country.

Oh, honey, sit down. I mean, haven’t you got people to fire and companies to destroy?

Lindsey Graham:

I am a proud defender of traditional marriage and believe the people of each state should have the right to determine their marriage laws. However, the Supreme Court has ruled that state bans on gay marriage are unconstitutional, and I will respect the Court’s decision.

Way to try and play both sides, Miss Lindsey.

She was last seen clutching her pearls and buying up copies of Bride magazine, you know, just in case.

Bobby Jindal:

The Supreme Court decision today conveniently and not surprisingly follows public opinion polls, and tramples on states’ rights that were once protected by the 10th Amendment of the Constitution.  Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that.

This decision will pave the way for an all out assault against the religious freedom rights of Christians who disagree with this decision. This ruling must not be used as pretext by Washington to erode our right to religious liberty.

The government should not force those who have sincerely held religious beliefs about marriage to participate in these ceremonies. That would be a clear violation of America’s long held commitment to religious liberty as protected in the First Amendment.

I will never stop fighting for religious liberty and I hope our leaders in D.C. join me.

Wait, so the Supreme Court followed public opinion, or, as I like to call it, The Will of the People? Isn’t that how it should work, Jindal, and not having the court follow religious wacknut philosophy, which is rally just bigotry and intolerance?

And, for the record, God does not govern this country.

Rick Perry:

I am disappointed the Supreme Court today chose to change the centuries old definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. I’m a firm believer in traditional marriage, and I also believe the 10th Amendment leaves it to each state to decide this issue. I fundamentally disagree with the court rewriting the law and assaulting the 10th Amendment. Our founding fathers did not intend for the judicial branch to legislate from the bench, and as president, I would appoint strict Constitutional conservatives who will apply the law as written.

Miss Ricky is planning on sharing those Bride magazines with Miss Lindsey.

Marco Rubio:

While I disagree with this decision, we live in a republic and must abide by the law. …I firmly believe the question of same sex marriage is a question of the definition of an institution, not the dignity of a human being. Every American has the right to pursue happiness as they see fit. Not every American has to agree on every issue, but all of us do have to share our country. A large number of Americans will continue to believe in traditional marriage, and a large number of Americans will be pleased with the Court’s decision today. In the years ahead, it is my hope that each side will respect the dignity of the other.

Nicely put, Marco, but you’re still too much of a Rightwingnut to ever be president. Plus, there’s that whole lying thing you got goin’ on.

Rick Santorum:

As President, I will be committed to using the bully pulpit of the White House to lead a national discussion on the importance to our economy and our culture of mothers and fathers entering into healthy marriages so that every child is given their birthright- to be raised by their mother and father in a stable, loving home. I will stand for the preservation of religious liberty and conscience, to believe what you are called to believe free from persecution. And I will ensure that the people will have a voice in decisions that impact the rock upon which our civilization is built.

Huh? What? Did he buy a copy of Mama Grizzly Bore’s™ Word Salad Cookbook?

There you have it, wingnuts have spoken, and they will stomp and head snap and spit fire and clutch pearls, but, in the end, there will be nothing they can do about this.

It’s over. Sit down.

PS As of post time, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul had not been heard from, which is kinda nice, really.

Towleroad