NYT: Palin Singled Out Gay-Themed Book in Censorship Inquiry
With regard to Sarah Palin and book banning, there's been a lot of discussion about whether or not particular books were singled out for censorship by the then mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.
In a searing front-page story in yesterday's New York Times, the paper reveals, among other things, that Palin wanted a children's book that teaches kids about homosexuality off the shelves, but would not read its contents:
"The new mayor also tended carefully to her evangelical base. She appointed a pastor to the town planning board. And she began to eye the library. For years, social conservatives had pressed the library director to remove books they considered immoral. 'People would bring books back censored,' recalled former Mayor John Stein, Ms. Palin’s predecessor. 'Pages would get marked up or torn out.' Witnesses and contemporary news accounts say Ms. Palin asked the librarian about removing books from the shelves. The McCain-Palin presidential campaign says Ms. Palin never advocated censorship. But in 1995, Ms. Palin, then a city councilwoman, told colleagues that she had noticed the book 'Daddy’s Roommate' on the shelves and that it did not belong there, according to Ms. Chase and Mr. Stein. Ms. Chase read the book, which helps children understand homosexuality, and said it was inoffensive; she suggested that Ms. Palin read it. 'Sarah said she didn’t need to read that stuff,' Ms. Chase said. 'It was disturbing that someone would be willing to remove a book from the library and she didn’t even read it...I’m still proud of Sarah,' she added, 'but she scares the bejeebers out of me.'"
The book's gay author, Michael Willhoite, had some words for Palin after he heard the news: "I rather suspected one of my books might be the one she targeted. I can tell you right now, Ms. Palin is a very good mother and everything. But she is my mortal enemy. She is one of the enemies of the First Amendment and I can hardly [organize] my thoughts here, I am so offended by this. I don't think Ms. Palin will care for me, but that is fine. I don't really care for her, not at all. I think John McCain made a disastrous choice. Unfortunately she seems to be doing well in the polls but I would think the honeymoon period will be ending soon."
A recent ABC investigation revealed that Palin had an interest in banning books and fired a librarian after the librarian told her that the library's policies were based on national standards.
In 1993, Entertainment Weekly reviewed Daddy's Roommate: "By any measure, these books are competent and humane — they can comfort a worried youngster or help any child understand that not all families in today's world are built the same way. At the same time, they neither aim for nor achieve the transporting power of fiction to change a child's inner life. No child is going to love them with a passion. So no adult need approach them with fear and loathing."
Once Elected, Palin Hired Friends and Lashed Foes [nyt]
Posted Sep. 15,2008 at 7:39 AM EST by Andy Towle in Books, Education, Gay Parents, News, Sarah Palin | Permalink
While it is wrong of Palin and her fellow conservatives to ban books that are clearly not explicit, I suggest that gay/bi men take a look at how liberals censor the male-male interaction. You see it in many liberal media organizations: male-male kissing is avoided, male-male hand-holding is a no-no, male-male hugging is only acceptable if it's between two platonic friends. I could go on and on. Yet, if it's "two hot chicks", the liberal media jumps over itself in an attempt to glorify it or play it up. What more evidence do you need of the hypocrisy and double standards of liberals? Liberals censor gay/bi men almost as much as conservatives do.
Don't fall for the notion that liberals are open-minded. They aren't. Liberals want to impose on society an order which is based on porn. Just as in most porn movies containing both genders, they want to make bisexuality socially acceptable for women but not for men. It's the bisexual double standard, a double standard which affects gay men - and not just bisexual men - because it subjugates the male-male erotic interaction.
Conservatives like Palin might censor at the level of literature. But it is liberals who are censoring us at the level of society. Take heed.
Posted by: jason | Sep 15, 2008 8:08:11 AM
Could that book cover be any more stereotypical?
Posted by: Sasha | Sep 15, 2008 8:32:35 AM
Actually, yes, I suppose, it could. I mean one of them could be wearing a feather boa.
Posted by: Sasha | Sep 15, 2008 8:34:44 AM
Go suck Karl Rove's cock "Jason."
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Sep 15, 2008 8:39:37 AM
Jason, you're blaming homophobia on the liberals?
Wow... not much air on your planet, is there?
Posted by: Rad | Sep 15, 2008 9:04:27 AM
Wow Jason. That's some pretty skilled double-talk.
Hey - did anyone see the CNN live report from Lehman Brothers this morning with the two guys pretending to make out behind the reporter? I thought it was fantastic!
:)
Posted by: michael in michigan | Sep 15, 2008 9:12:30 AM
SALON also has a great article that touches on this issue.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/15/
bess/index.html
The book in question in the salon article is "Pastor I Am Gay"
Salon talks to the author of said book, Baptist minister Howard Bess whose church is near Palin's and they had many run ins.
- Her trying to ban his book
- her churches trying to take over control of the hospital board and stoping all abortions there resulting in Alaska supreme court ruling that the hospital had to provide abortions
- Palin protesting at an anti-abortion raly against the supreme court ruling
- Palin's churches trying to get creationists on the school board and forcing creationism taught
- his asking her point blank did she believe in creationism though her father is a science teacher, asking her if she reallly believed dinosaurs and humans coexisted, etc (she did/does)
- His asking her about her end times belief. She said she believes she will live to see jesus return
He calls her Jerry Falwell with a pretty face.
I would call her the child of Jerry falwell and Phillis Schlafly. Our 2 worse enemies
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Sep 15, 2008 9:39:29 AM
when will we finally learn to ignore JASON and not respond. You guys only invite more of his nonsense when you do.
Posted by: Dan B | Sep 15, 2008 9:39:59 AM
Liberal media?!? Jesus Christ, IF ONLY!
Posted by: John in Manhattan | Sep 15, 2008 9:45:06 AM
I really like the librarian's response, suggesting Sarah Palin actually read the book she wants banned. Naturally, she wouldn't read it. I grew up in a small town in the deep south and often saw preachers and other church leaders try to ban books and boycott movies and TV shows based on some perception of sin. Invariably, they had not read the book or seen the movie or show and would not. How absurd.
Posted by: sam | Sep 15, 2008 9:58:26 AM
My partner and I own, "Daddy's Roommate." (We have 4 kids together.) It's the first book we read to them all together to break the ice in explaining what gay is to them. That was 10 years ago, they still remember the book.
Banning books is a tragedy.
Posted by: JayDub | Sep 15, 2008 10:29:32 AM
The NYTimes article provides a lot of insight into Palin's shrewd but reckless, vengeful character and should be required reading for anyone (listening Palin defenders here?) thinking of voting for the McCain/Palin ticket: friends appointed to positions for which they had no qualifications, firings of anyone who crossed a Palin (aka "haters), secret e-mail accounts, her husband at meetings where he didn't belong . . . Scary even before you get to the book banning and religious zealotry.
The right will be spinning the hell out of this stuff, but hopefully most people will see what's under the beehive. It ain't pretty.
Posted by: Ernie | Sep 15, 2008 11:04:40 AM
Jason,
Are your familiar with the term "nut case"? If not, you should. You may learn quite a bit about yourself.
LOL
OMG. Jason, you make me laugh. Yes, blame a conspiracy of liberals for homophobia. Yes, that's like saying sunshine causes darkness.
Gay Republicans will make any excuse to spin this and make Palin look like a victim of the mean, sexist media. Bullsh-t!
Posted by: noah | Sep 15, 2008 11:46:36 AM
Are there any potential Obama voters who have switched from Obama/Biden over to McCain because of Palin?
That doesn't make sense to me.
Posted by: JJ | Sep 15, 2008 11:56:13 AM
It is refreshing to know that the people ( the demographic ) that is projected to vote for Mc Cain/ Palin are the same people that are LOSING their homes, losing their Jobs and their sons and daughters to a pointless war.If they want this administration let them... I Say they deserve it.They deserve to PRAY for a better economy.They deserve to pray for better weather.If they really believe in what is being fed to them every election that Roe V. Wade will be over turned so be it...This Moral convenience that the Right has been feeding this people since the Reagan years is laughable, I have to say they have been patient waiting.If they think Palin is the answer let them.As long as they stay away from my state I am cool...
Posted by: Ria | Sep 15, 2008 1:35:14 PM
Im been reading alot of what jason been saying about the Bisexual double standard.
You know what, Jason, dude your right.
I've notice it way before jason ever said it here. Why are there no I kissed a guy, or a shot of love with a bisexual man.
I don't agree with the homosexual lifestyle(sorry jason) but I don't believe in cencoring gay or bi men from the public.
if two guys want to kiss, find let them,
Im not stoping them or if two guys kiss on tv, I wouldn't care, it's not that I have to watch it. And this is coming from a guy who thinks 2 girls kissing is hot( I think it's hot because it's girls, I mean 2 hot girls boxing would arouse me). I've read some comments here of people saying there no such thing as bisexual man, you know what that what the right wingers say about you gay people, that their no real gay person. I feel like Im the only ''sleazy straight guy'' who doesn't hate bi men.
Posted by: Brian | Sep 23, 2008 11:15:44 PM
liberals are hypocrites when will you guys realize it. They are just as bad as Christians. They use the Bible to condemn male homosexuality, but encourage lesbianism. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7ArM9S-Lnk&feature=channel_page[/url]
Posted by: Heterophobia | May 20, 2009 1:40:20 PM