Bigot of the Week
Oh what bounty! Sadly, there were many choices yet again this week. We won’t pick on the Romney / Ryan ticket for their serial lies, hypocrisy, racism, classism, bigotry, and oppression since everyone else has been kind enough to do that for us. Instead, the BWA goes to (brace yourselves) yet another Catholic Archbishop. John J. Myers, Archbishop of the Diocese of Newark, decided to wade into election season and instruct his flock (enjoying that tax exempt status, Archbishop).
Archbishop Myers released a “sweeping pastoral statement” this week. Feeling that many Catholics were “at odds with church teaching” he decided to apply his privilege and abuse his power. “No one has said things clearly to them for years,” he said. Well he took care of that. When looking at candidates, he said that true Catholics should examine the full spectrum of each candidate, including how they stand on abortion and a “proper backing of marriage.” He clarified why opposition to marriage equality is valid by using this old false equivalency:
Even those who propose radically altering the definition of marriage would not advocate allowing two brothers or sisters or an uncle and his nephew to marry.
Not content to spew his misogyny and homophobia, he went on to take an extremist position even for the Catholic church, saying that people who disagree with his guidance or who might vote for candidates who take different stands should “refrain from receiving Holy Communion.” That’s right, folks, vote my way or no eternal salvation for you! How very christian (in my best Church Lady (Dana Carvey) voice).
Dishonorable mention this week goes to Sen. Scott Brown (R – Mass. of Bigotry); he only came in second because of his previous win last July. Infamous for pretending to be a moderate Republican while marching in lockstep with the worst of their obstructionist behavior, the Senator managed to become even more odious this week. As part of a series of attacks on his opponent, the wonderful Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Brown has latched on to her Native American heritage. Defying the truth and common decency, he has accused her of trying to “cash in” on that heritage, something she has demonstrably not done.
As a result of these attacks, his campaign staff got a bit out of hand at a rally, shouting down Warren supporters with war whoops and tomahawk chops. The Senator (after a delay of days) finally said that this behavior wasn’t very nice, although the whole thing was Warren’s fault for not being white enough. Anyone wondering where they got the idea, however, should look to Sen. Brown’s words during the recent debate.
Professor Warren claimed that she was a Native American, a person of color, and as you can see, she’s not.
REALLY? What should a Native American look like, Senator? Just to round out his GOP credentials, when he was interviewed about his comments, plainly recorded and available for public consumption, he said, “I never made that suggestion at all.” It looks like he’s hoping for a place in a Romney Administration…
Yes, Bishop Myers, you’re so right that Jesus never really said anything about helping the poor and the sick; his message was really all about the gays and unborn babies.
And the Scott Brown thing has been so atrocious I’m not sure what to say, except that I love Warren’s new ad: “Scott Brown can keep attacking my family. I’m going to keep fighting for yours.”
Meyers really is a disgusting PIG and proves that Churches do not merit tax exempt status when they instruct people how to vote.
The racism coming from Brown is absolutely loathsome!
I have taught Native American students who were blue-eyed blonds, too.
Ruthann, I hope these racist comments sink Brown!
Somewhere there was a blurb that the current chief of one Native American nation is only 1/32 native tribe blood. Can anyone fill in with more details? ….and 1/32 is what Ms. Warren is claiming.
In all fairness to the Archbishop, people who advocate freedom, equality, and choice probably should avoid communion. After all, rational people tend to want to avoid ritual cannibalism. Say what you will about abortion and marriage equality, I think we can all agree it’s bad to get together once a week to chant in a dead language and eat a guy.
As far as Scott Brown: I’m Algonquin, Mexican and a various smattering of european ethnicities. When I was a kid, I looked much more like my “browner” ancestors, but as I age I tend to more resemble the paler ones. I guess for Scott Brown that means my ethnic makeup is also changing as I age, just because I look different. Huh. My geneticist friend will be interested to hear about this new development in his field. Scott Brown is a douche. Here’s to Elizabeth Warren!
Will,
Thank you for adding some levity to this conversation. In my bitter rage against both Brown and the Archbishop (in his fabulous frock), I am always grateful for your comments that help me laugh!
I can assure you, my levity is rife with the same rage you feel. These idiots disgust me. My response to them is to mock and deride them, denigrate and humiliate and demonstrate that their most sacred beliefs are nothing more than a ridiculous fairy tale, and they, by extension, are just as worthy of ridicule and scorn. Not to mention they are no more useful than the filth they spout.
A big secular Amen to that Will!
And they deserve nothing more than our mocking laughter
Our mocking laughter as well as our VOTE to get them out of office, or preclude them from taking office.
Do the people that say these outrageous comments and make these preposterous remarks not realize that what they have said lives eternally. Today’s technology allows this to happen, yet they continue to deny having ever said anything derogatory. I could list the people that have done this but, to make it easier on anyone reading this, I will simply say….almost anyone on the extreme right.
Tom,
I never claimed this current crop of GOP fools was a bright group, as evidenced by Brown et al.
You know, my mostly Catholic family has been very quiet throughout all this.
Christine, I’m sorry to hear that, but not surprised.
I don’t ask my catholic friends about these incidents. I know exactly what they will say. It will not make me feel better.
Are there that many Catholics that just refuse to think?
I simply do not know.
Sadly, I do not know either.