:: The Rational Radical Blog ::

Friday, January 28, 2005

Cartoon Character... or Political Animal?

To the Editor:

Your editorial about SpongeBob SquarePants ("Nautical Nonsense," Jan. 22) missed the point about the condemnation of this cartoon character by Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family. Similar challenges to fictitious characters have played a key role in the political strategy of conservative Republicans for years.

Dr. Dobson and other cultural conservatives exploit such dubious threats as SpongeBob SquarePants to illustrate their allegations of a liberal elite's assault on religion, family and children.

Moreover, they seize on the ridiculing of their critiques - like your editorial - to justify their crusades for "traditional" values.

These well-planned campaigns are designed to lead voters to overlook conservative policies and their own economic self-interest and vote for those who position themselves as defenders of cultural normalcy. After all, why should politicians address falling wages, prolonged unemployment, crashing pensions, evaporating unemployment insurance and outsourced jobs when you can get millions of voters to go for the cultural head fake and take out their anger on cartoon characters?

John A. Lawrence

Washington, Jan. 24, 2005

The writer is Democratic staff director, House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

"Cultural head fake" is a great phrase.

Jack Clark 9:59 PM [+]   
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