Thursday, August 9, 2007 | Reason : Wingnut News | print version

Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

by Tobin Maker, Resident Pastor, Baptists for Brownback 2008

Reposted from:
http://baptistsforbrown2008.wordpress.com/2007/08/03/scarlet-letter-campaign-update-a-victory/

My friends, just 48 hours after I first suggested atheists and their products be clearly identified by a scarlet letter "A", we have our first victory!

Pharyngula is a blog run by a science professor named P.Z Myers. Not only does Mr Myers believe in the fantasy of evilution, but every year he milks thousands and thousands of dollars out of the education system to indoctrinate children into his hateful cult. Like most liberal educators at America's secular colleges, Myers lives a life of luxury at taxpayers' expense—taking long vacations with his trophy wife, driving expensive foreign cars, dressing his children in exclusive fashions—all the while promoting his vengeful and deceitful ideology.

We at Baptists For Brownback, eager to test the "A" for atheism approach for the first time, were looking for a suitable target, and what better target than Pharyngula? As one of the most popular anti-Christian hate sites on the Internet, many innocent victims accidentally stumble upon it every day, and are exposed to the rubbish published there. In my capacity as a pastor and youth counselor, I have had to repeatedly deal with the spiritual fallout from such shameful episodes.

Hopefully, tragic mishaps like that will soon be history. After two days of intensive lobbying by Mrs. T.D. Gaines-Crockett, Lynelle Bryant and myself, the "Science Blogs" community, which hosts Pharyngula, has agreed to place a scarlet "A" on the left-hand sidebar of the blog. From today, any Christian who inadvertently comes across this filth page will immediately know it is not a suitable place in which to dwell.

This is only a small, initial step, but it is a significant one. We have seen what righteous anger and forceful advocacy can achieve, and are working to insure that soon, very soon, every Christian will know their enemies by the badge they wear. Praise!

Yours in Christ,

Tobin Maker, Resident Pastor, Baptists for Brownback 2008

Add to del.icio.us Posted: Thursday, August 9, 2007 | Permalink

Comments 1 - 50 of 76 |

Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers

1. Comment #62266 by Crazymalc on August 9, 2007 at 6:59 am

Wow. This guys raises some great points. I never knew eviloution was evil. No more rational thought for me. I'm joining the crusade against evilution.

Other Comments by Crazymalc

2. Comment #62267 by Greybishop on August 9, 2007 at 7:08 am

I was going to call "Poe's Law" on this, but then I followed the link to the website. After a nice long hot shower to scrub the idiocy off, I came back to post.

I'm Canadian, and had no idea who Brownback was or that he was running for president. I assume he's one of the three clods that admitted he denies evolution at the debates?

I didn't dive deeply enough into the intellectual sewage to figure out if the website is actually run by Brownback or just endorsing him, since I could only take a few paragraphs of "Satanism and atheism are the same thing" before the bile in my throat reached toxic levels. If anyone out there has the stomach to sift throught the site for that info, I would be interested in knowing.

Other Comments by Greybishop

3. Comment #62268 by Dr Benway on August 9, 2007 at 7:12 am

Hilarious. Who are the evil geniuses behind this site? It has a Betty Bowers feel.

As a Pro-Life, Pro-Family, Pro-America, Christian-Republican, Sam Brownback would never kill a cat and neither should you.

Vote for Sam Brownback in 2008 and again in 2012 to protect America and our cats from Atheists!

Other Comments by Dr Benway

4. Comment #62269 by Xopher on August 9, 2007 at 7:12 am

This article HAS to be satire. Right? ...Please?

Other Comments by Xopher

5. Comment #62270 by Russell Blackford on August 9, 2007 at 7:18 am

ROFL. (This is a joke, in case it's not obvious to infrequent visitors.)

Other Comments by Russell Blackford

6. Comment #62271 by sane1 on August 9, 2007 at 7:22 am

why do you think it is a joke? It looks perfectly real to me on first glance, and i have no trouble believing it could be real. Am i too gullible? Do I need to look more closely? Have I been fooled by appearances?

Other Comments by sane1

7. Comment #62272 by Cerberus on August 9, 2007 at 7:22 am

I think you're right GreyBishop, Brownback doesn't believe in evolution, along with Tancredo and Huckabee.

I've looked at the site, and I honestly don't know if it's suppose to be satire or not. That's a problem with many right-wing christians,it's hard to tell when they're serious or not.

Other Comments by Cerberus

8. Comment #62273 by elfinabout on August 9, 2007 at 7:22 am

I'm afraid to report that the site in question is not a parody.

I have, however, been having a little fun with the particularly insane Mrs. T D Gaines-Crockett. She's very entertaining.

Here's her very own prayer to say before visiting any rational websites: http://baptistsforbrown2008.wordpress.com/sow/

I... just... *pop*

Other Comments by elfinabout

9. Comment #62274 by Greybishop on August 9, 2007 at 7:24 am

Russell Blackford -
I followed the link, assuming it was satire and looking for more. I started by going to the home page, which was flagged with something like "Teaching your children that atheism and Satanism are the same thing" and then I read about 3 dozen of the comments below the article in question.

Despite the fact that I found most of it absolutely hilarious, it does appear to be real.

Other Comments by Greybishop

10. Comment #62276 by steve99 on August 9, 2007 at 7:25 am

As one of the most popular anti-Christian hate sites on the Internet

Typical of the religious; PZ does his best to condemn them all, and they they think he is only picking on *their* religion!

Other Comments by steve99

11. Comment #62280 by sane1 on August 9, 2007 at 7:27 am

go participate in the comments at that site! Hilarious!

Other Comments by sane1

12. Comment #62281 by sane1 on August 9, 2007 at 7:29 am

Russell Blackford: Do you need to reconsider your statement above? Much of the stuff on that site is farcical, but is it a farce???

Other Comments by sane1

13. Comment #62283 by Guy on August 9, 2007 at 7:33 am

It is satire folks.

Go to the site and read the article about athiests skinning cats.

Other Comments by Guy

14. Comment #62284 by Dr Benway on August 9, 2007 at 7:36 am

Totally Poe's law here. LOL.

You believers will warm the hearts of the satirists.

Other Comments by Dr Benway

15. Comment #62285 by Greybishop on August 9, 2007 at 7:38 am

Guy -
I read that. I also read the really disturbing "U.S.E" page, which basically says "Don't cry 'rape', cry 'U.S.E.'" which is the acronym for "Unplanned Sexual Event". Now, I really, really, really would like to believe that it's satire, but then I clicked on the gift store and found the t-shirts. A picture of a stork carrying a baby with the caption "I was USED, but now I'm blessed". If this is a satire site, it's the most elaborate I've ever seen.

Other Comments by Greybishop

16. Comment #62286 by _J_ on August 9, 2007 at 7:38 am

I was all ready to spit flames. Then I decided, following Russell Blackford, that the site is too mad to be serious. Then I thought twice, following sane1 and others.

Then I googled Tobin Maker and found this page:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/a-righteous-e-mail-battle/

…which contains the following comment, in an email from Martin Gillespie, Mr. Brownback's national political director:

"On a further note, the website that Mr. Saltsman refers to–Baptists for Brownback–is a spoof site with no ties to the Brownback campaign. We are sorry that this obvious parody was lost on Mr. Saltsman."

But then, check the comments:

45. Although we at "Baptists For Brownback" are in no way officially affiliated with Senator Brownback or his campaign, we continue to support him 100%, and are dismayed that anyone would suggest we aren't sincere in our faith in him.

Tobin Maker,
Resident Pastor, Baptists for Brownback http://baptistsforbrown2008.wordpress.com/
— Posted by Tobin Maker

…and then:

46. I would like to add an Amen to what Pastor Tobin Maker has said. We are completely dedicated to seeing Senator Sam Brownback elected in 2008 and again in 2012. Sam Brownback is the single candidate running who has then high moral standards and dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ that this country needs.
What this entire episode has taught me is that the MSM today has no regard for reporting the news, they are simply out to make a quick buck and be darned those who get hurt in the process. Not once was anyone from my ministry contacted regarding the allegations against us.
When I founded Baptist For Brownback 2008 it was soley to show that one does not have to be a Catholic to support Sam Brownback and to spread the love of God. It is the Liberal Media and the RINOs in this world that has tried to take something beautiful and make it into something ugly. Well, Jesus always wins.

A Vote Sam Brownback in 2008 is like a Vote for Jesus!

Mrs. T.D. Gaines-Crockett
Republican, Christian, Baptist
Founder, Baptists For Brownback 2008
http://baptistsforbrown2008.wordpress.com/
— Posted by Mrs. T.D. Gaines-Crockett

Is it true? Is it false? I'd guess satire, but either way, the appropriate response is to laugh your arse off.

Other Comments by _J_

17. Comment #62287 by epeeist on August 9, 2007 at 7:41 am

I wonder if Pastor Maker is related to my friend B. Red Maker?

Other Comments by epeeist

18. Comment #62288 by Dr Benway on August 9, 2007 at 7:43 am

Google "Landover Baptist" or "Betty Bowers" for more of the same sort of parody.

Other Comments by Dr Benway

19. Comment #62289 by _J_ on August 9, 2007 at 7:43 am

epeeist,

Possibly. But I think it's a cunning pseudonym so that no one will suspect this is the work of one Pastor Farian.

Other Comments by _J_

20. Comment #62291 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 7:46 am

Come on guys, get a grip! Doesn't this give the game away!

"Hopefully, tragic mishaps like that will soon be history. After two days of intensive lobbying by Mrs. T.D. Gaines-Crockett, Lynelle Bryant and myself, the "Science Blogs" community, which hosts Pharyngula, has agreed to place a scarlet "A" on the left-hand sidebar of the blog."

Yeah, right!

Other Comments by Yorker

21. Comment #62292 by DC_Runner on August 9, 2007 at 7:46 am

Thanks _J_ for your research. This is very good satire indeed. I have to admit that I was fooled until I read the skinning cats story.

These people are so funny and so often over-the-top, it's hard to difficult to discern when the satire starts.

Other Comments by DC_Runner

22. Comment #62293 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 7:52 am

I'm cracking up due to a vision of PZ pleading tearfully with the Science Blogs police:

"Oh no, please, please don't FORCE me to put this big 'A' on MY blog, what will I do? I don't know how to EDIT, will you WRITE for me in future?"

Ho,ho ho and a bottle of rum...

Other Comments by Yorker

23. Comment #62294 by Klaatu barada nikto on August 9, 2007 at 7:54 am

How about going to the Brownback campaign site on the contact page and letting him know what you think? http://www.brownback.com/s/Contact/tabid/108/Default.aspx I already sent my email.

Other Comments by Klaatu barada nikto

24. Comment #62295 by Canuck#1 on August 9, 2007 at 7:54 am

This has to be satire....and I know where it was plagerized from....THE WIZARD OF OZ.....Brownbeck is behind the curtain and citizens of Oz receive his messages and pass them on to the rest of us...I will be president...all atheists will wear a letter A....camps will be set up for any who oppose this law....I just hope it is a fantasy....it really is LA LA land.

Other Comments by Canuck#1

25. Comment #62297 by elfinabout on August 9, 2007 at 7:59 am

Okay, I stand corrected - I've just read the atheist-skinning-cats childrens story.

Nobody - nobody, is that insane. Parody at it's committed best.

Other Comments by elfinabout

26. Comment #62298 by Greybishop on August 9, 2007 at 8:00 am

I really, really, really hope that all those calling "Poe's Law" on this are right and that it IS satire. Reading through the bilge in the comments section, even if it is, it's attracting a lot of comments from believers who don't think it's a gag.

Either way, I need another shower.

Other Comments by Greybishop

27. Comment #62299 by drcowboybc on August 9, 2007 at 8:00 am

For me, it was the misspelling of evolution. Just too good to be real.

Other Comments by drcowboybc

28. Comment #62300 by Tyler Durden on August 9, 2007 at 8:01 am

Baptists for Brownback 2008 is pure satire and parody. It uses the same format as the offical "Brownback For President" blog: http://www.brownbacker.com/

Also, I was reading about PZ's campaign on this site end of July, a few days later (Aug 2nd) up pops Pasta Maker with his "Make Atheists wear letter A" campaign. Coincidence? I think not :)

Although the site is satire and parody, some of the comments are scary - very, very, scary.

Other Comments by Tyler Durden

29. Comment #62301 by Greybishop on August 9, 2007 at 8:04 am

Elfinabout -

You have seen the "Bible camp" video right? The one with the large insane lady screaming that Harry Potter would be put to death if he existed...

Never say "nobody is that insane". It's like a tv character saying "What could go wrong?" ;o)

Other Comments by Greybishop

30. Comment #62304 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 8:09 am

Now that I've stopped laughing I'm slightly surprised that nobody read the article. It seemed like the "AutoAntiReligite" trigger was pressed by the first few paragraphs in a few people here.

Other Comments by Yorker

31. Comment #62305 by USA_Limey on August 9, 2007 at 8:11 am

Man, I am one cynical sarcastic Brit because I knew this was parody after the second paragraph.

I can't explain why, I just "felt it"

:-)

Other Comments by USA_Limey

32. Comment #62306 by Cato on August 9, 2007 at 8:21 am

I had a feeling it was a parody too, but I've been wrong before. Every day of Catholic school provoked a "they're joking" reaction, but I was wrong. Seriously.

Elfinabout, you live in a shell.

Even the cat story didn't fully convince me on its own. Afterward, I knew it was a joke when I read this:

They may have stolen the letter "A" from God, but we say let them have it. We here at Baptists For Brownback 2008 have Copyrighted© the remaining 25 letters exclusively for our Christian use. Praise the Lord!

A real whacko would want all 26 letters.

Hey, do you think this could be from The Yes Men?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yes_Men

Other Comments by Cato

33. Comment #62307 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 8:23 am

32. Comment #62305 by USA_Limey

You know, I'm loath to say it but there's something vaguely pornographic about your avatar ny fellow ex-pat!

Other Comments by Yorker

34. Comment #62309 by sane1 on August 9, 2007 at 8:33 am

USA Limey - "you just felt it?!"

Please do not use that argument ever ever ever again!

Other Comments by sane1

35. Comment #62314 by monoape on August 9, 2007 at 8:41 am

Yeah, it's a (rather good IMO) parody. Unlike Mrs Bowers or Landist Baptist Church, this one has fooled quite a few people.

For evidence of the parody start reading at http://baptistsforbrown2008.wordpress.com/2007/08/08/time-for-a-celebration/#comment-7164 (my handiwork) and read the following response from "Mrs. T.D. Gaines-Crockett" (one of the custodians). QED.

Other Comments by monoape

36. Comment #62315 by Yorker on August 9, 2007 at 8:43 am

4. Comment #62268 by Dr Benway

"Hilarious. Who are the evil geniuses behind this site? It has a Betty Bowers feel."

Chris Harper is the guy behind Landover Baptist, Betty Bowers, Pastor Deacon Fred etc. Maybe it's him again.

Come to think of it, time for my annual pilgrimage to Landover, see if there's anything new on "them thar evul homersexurals"! Should be required visiting for new religi-bashers. :)

Other Comments by Yorker

37. Comment #62316 by the_assayer on August 9, 2007 at 8:43 am

I'm not able to open the "curriculum for baptist schools" article becasue of a 404# error. Is anyone else facing this problem?

Other Comments by the_assayer

38. Comment #62317 by USA_Limey on August 9, 2007 at 8:47 am

Comment by Yorker:

Oh dear... it's meant to be the eye of mordor from the The Lord of the Rings movies.

Have you done the Rorschach test recently?

:-P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorschach_inkblot_test

Sane1:

Lol, that's exactly the response I was fishing for! I consider myself duly slapped.

Other Comments by USA_Limey

39. Comment #62319 by elfinabout on August 9, 2007 at 9:01 am

Greybishop:

Yes, I have. I felt like laughing and crying simultaneously...

Yes, good point. Never underestimate the insanity of those intellectually crippled by religion, I guess... :o/

Cato: I beg your pardon?

Other Comments by elfinabout

40. Comment #62322 by CaptainShiny on August 9, 2007 at 9:23 am

"Like most liberal educators..."
My number one pet peeve is when they assume that not being religious makes you a liberal.

Other Comments by CaptainShiny

41. Comment #62323 by Clappers on August 9, 2007 at 9:25 am

"Sam Brownback is the inspiration for this grassroots campaign called, "Cry USE not RAPE". We have concluded that the acronym U.S.E. (Unplanned Sexual Event), when used regularly to replace the word "rape", will remove the stigma associated with this sometimes unpleasant situation."

The above is from the website, and I can't believe that they believe that it's the stigma rather than the assault that's the problem. Also do you think that "sometimes unpleasant situation" slightly underplays the effect (that was english irony)

Any Americans out there, please tell me that he is not going to get voted for

Other Comments by Clappers

42. Comment #62326 by konquererz on August 9, 2007 at 9:51 am

Ha Ha, what a great site. I'm pretty sure its parody, because if its not, then its really disturbing!

Other Comments by konquererz

43. Comment #62329 by Phaderus on August 9, 2007 at 9:53 am

Clappers,

Having grown up in Brownback's state of Kansas, I can say that, although he will not be elected, he will receive far more votes that he should. He is and has been a state senator for several terms which shows a significant support base there.

Other Comments by Phaderus

44. Comment #62341 by moai on August 9, 2007 at 10:35 am

It's too easy to satirize sites like those, as the real ones aren't much different.

Still slays me, though.

It's nice to know that the OUT Campaign is becoming known outsie of our little sphere.

Other Comments by moai

45. Comment #62345 by jaytee_555 on August 9, 2007 at 10:44 am

When a parody or a satire of something is indistinguishable from the genuine article (as appears to be the case here) it is really quite funny. Except that it REALLY isn't funny

Other Comments by jaytee_555

46. Comment #62357 by devolve on August 9, 2007 at 11:37 am

If you've ever read a Jack Chick pamphlet (http://chick.com), visited http://christiangallery.com , heard of the Phelps family (http://godhatesfags.com), or seen almost any American televangelist in action (Jack Van Impe for example, who claims in utter seriousness that UFO sightings represent demonic activity), or read the Rapture Ready forum (http://www.rr-bb.com/), it's very easy to understand why "Baptists for Brownback" doesn't immediately register as satire to a lot of people. I'm still not entirely convinced, and that's a sad statement.

Other Comments by devolve

47. Comment #62359 by MAS2007 on August 9, 2007 at 11:54 am

9. Comment #62273 by elfinabout on August 9, 2007 at 7:22 am
I'm afraid to report that the site in question is not a parody.

I have, however, been having a little fun with the particularly insane Mrs. T D Gaines-Crockett. She's very entertaining.

Here's her very own prayer to say before visiting any rational websites: http://baptistsforbrown2008.wordpress.com/sow/

I... just... *pop*

Only things missing are the special jacket (ties in back ), padded room, antidelusion meds, and burly orderly.

Other Comments by MAS2007

48. Comment #62367 by coretemprising on August 9, 2007 at 12:24 pm

Like some others, I'm a little surprised some are still wondering.
I think what gives it away immediately is "The Great I AM says VOTE for SAM." Yeah, right? And that slightly dopey looking Jesus?
LOL!
And did anybody visit the "member" sites?
Hilarious!

Other Comments by coretemprising

49. Comment #62372 by Haymoon on August 9, 2007 at 12:32 pm

Those who take this seriously are in need of a wake up call. I really expect more from a bunch of rationalists. I mean, can Mrs. T.D. Gaines Crockett be a real person ? See here

http://www.blogger.com/profile/00309618238408990487

Other Comments by Haymoon

50. Comment #62378 by rydrum2112 on August 9, 2007 at 1:45 pm

Isn't the group forcing the blog site to put the A in the corner, eerily similiar to a gold star the Nazi's made a certain group wear?

Other Comments by rydrum2112