NOT BASHFUL:

GOP ad for Simon critical of gays: Spanish-language spot put on Chico-area radio (Carla Marinucci, Mark Martin, October 31, 2002, San Francisco Chronicle)

Republican Bill Simon found himself in the middle of another gay rights controversy Wednesday after he refused to condemn a GOP-funded, pro- Simon radio ad that claims Democrats are "teaching our children . . . homosexual practice is OK."

The 30-second Spanish-language radio ad, paid for by the Republican Party of Glenn County, features the dinnertime conversation of a couple identified as Panchito and Lupita. Over a plate of enchiladas, the couple discuss a laundry list of problems with Democratic Party.

"I am scared that Democrats are supporting abortion . . . and they are teaching our children in the schools that homosexual practice is OK," says the male voice, "instead of using those hours to teach them to read and write."

This is not, of course, gay-bashing. For one thing, unlike MT, HI, and SC, it is not meant to play in to a whispering campaign about the sexual orientation of the opposing candidate by using derogatory language and images. More importantly, it addresses a legitimate political issue, how and whether children should be taught about homosexuality in our public schools. Note in particular that the headline is completely misleading. The ad in question does not criticize gays at all. In fact, one need not oppose gays or gay rights in order to think that having the teachers' union instructing our children in morality is a wretched idea.
Posted by Orrin Judd at November 1, 2002 8:48 AM