Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
The anti-gay loonies have come up with another buzzword: "jamming." The reaction to Sally Kern's rank bigotry has been dubbed "jamming", which refers to the fact that she got nearly 30,000 emails criticizing her for what she said. And this, says the Worldnutdaily, is just despicable:
In chapter one of his best-selling book "The Marketing of Evil," WND Managing Editor David Kupelian exposes the powerful marketing strategies used by the "gay rights" movement to "sell" Americans on homosexuality as a healthy alternative lifestyle. One key tactic for accomplishing this is called "jamming.""Jamming is pure intimidation," said Kupelian. "And what homosexual activists are doing right now to Sally Kern is a grotesque case of jamming. Basically, they're trying to silence her by threatening, intimidating, harassing and frightening her until she can't take any more abuse. No dialogue, no debate - just crush her. That's their game. It's despicable, and utterly un-American."
And when the American Family Association, Focus on the Family and other groups that they support run campaigns to bombard individuals, groups and companies that do things they don't like? When they run organized boycotts with prewritten emails that their followers can sign their name to and send off with a click, flooding their opponents with a torrent of emails to register their outrage?
Well due to special, lucky, magic reasons, that's not despicable and utterly anti-American. You really have to laugh when these idiots get so desperate that they're claiming that criticizing people you disagree with is part of the "radical gay agenda." 30,000 people sent her emails telling her she was wrong. Those people are right. And to pretend that criticizing her is the same as censoring her is simply idiotic. But then again, we're used to that kind of bullshit from these people, aren't we?
Comments
Well, I can see the differences and you could, too, if you weren't so blinded by your pro-homosexual bias. Sally Kern is giving people the TRUTH, so she has to use any tactics she can even if that means lying, so to criticize that is beyond the pale. The pro-homosexual-agenda people are trying to get acceptance of their lifestyle, etc., which will DAMAGE America, so it's obviously WRONG and SINFUL and any tactics they use are also WRONG and SINFUL. Come on, Ed, you should know by now that there is no morality in the tactics you use, it's your agenda that determines the morality. If your agenda is moral, then there is nothing you can do to further that agenda that is immoral.
Posted by: BC | March 21, 2008 10:16 AM
Ok, that was a funny comment. At least, I assume that comment was a joke, as no sane person could write sentence #2 without laughing :)
Posted by: Sobex | March 21, 2008 10:23 AM
I would consider it as an astute observation of the obvious (AOO) rather than a joke, myself. :)
Posted by: BC | March 21, 2008 10:29 AM
Im sorry I can't let this idiotcy stand unchallenged.
1. How is the truth furthered by lies?
2. How will acceptance of a natural variation in humanity damge America, exactly?
3. How does a natural varitation have any moral value whatsoever?
4. WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE?
Not that I expect any kind of real answer (you have none), but at least try to form some kind of rational arguement to backup these risable claims. -DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | March 21, 2008 10:34 AM
You better take those One-a-Days, DingoJack, cause it seems you're a bit irony-impaired at the moment.
Posted by: Calton Bolick | March 21, 2008 10:45 AM
Sorry but moronic gets my back up - ;) DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | March 21, 2008 10:53 AM
Ironically the first post is a perfect example of how lies can be used to reveal truth. Parody, Satire, Fiction Literature & Movies, and Devil's Advocate arguments can be powerful tools for truth while at the same being imaginary, and therefore a lie.
"Artists use lies to tell the truth; politicians use lies to cover it.
-V for Vendetta
Posted by: Abby Normal | March 21, 2008 11:03 AM
DingoJack,
I think BC is making a funny statement as to the absurdity of the claims made by the TMLC.
Posted by: pradeep | March 21, 2008 11:21 AM
Hear the one about 55 million Jews gased by the Nazis ... Hilarious,
On Saturday night an old school friend of mine lost his partner. He was kicked to death by a bunch of skinheads who thought it was hilarious to stomp a fag to death. The cops just watched. He cried all weekend.
Laugh I couldn't stop. -DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | March 21, 2008 11:44 AM
In my defense, Dingo Jack, I was really trying to distill what Ed was saying. The religious right does seem to think that if their intentions and hearts are pure, and if they are trying to disseminate the revealed TRUTH, then they can use any deceptive means. They can, as Sally Kern did, talk about nonexistent "studies" because that sounds sciency - it's not just her opinion, there are objective "studies" somewhere. Fact is, she probably couldn't cite any of these "studies" but she knows in her heart that if anyone did do a study, it would validate what she's saying. I do think they believe that because they are moral people, they are incapable of doing anything immoral. And the same with the pro-gays - they see them as immoral people, so everything the do is immoral. I'm not saying they are right, but this is how they think.
Posted by: BC | March 21, 2008 11:47 AM
Comment #1 defends the "a mean to an end" point of view, also called "no omelette without breaking eggs". If carried to its logical end, as Mr BC (10,000 ?) seems to do ("If your agenda is moral, then there is nothing you can do to further that agenda that is immoral"), then murder is ok. Terrorism is ok. 9/11 was ok, because American imperialism actually exists and causes harm. Isn't that despicable ?
Posted by: Christophe Thill | March 21, 2008 11:58 AM
Sorry.. I didn't mean to bring you humour down, it's just the injustice of it haunts me. I didn't really know him that well but.. he was only 38 years old. Too young to die.. and like that. Sorry to bring you all down -DJ
Posted by: DiongoJack | March 21, 2008 12:04 PM
Sorry to hear that DJ.
Posted by: Abby Normal | March 21, 2008 12:21 PM
I love how WorldNutDaily's "articles" can't resist posting a story without simultaneously pimping a commercial for the five-hundredth time.
"This report is outrageous! Want to learn more about it? Buy this book over at our online store with a 10% discount for preferred customers! God bless America!"
Posted by: CHV | March 21, 2008 12:39 PM
Looks like "jamming" needs a place right next to "literature bluffing" in the Bullshitter's Dictionary.
And what kind of wimp can't handle a full in box? Just change e-mail addresses. What, she's a government official and can't do that? Then I guess she'd better keep her ignorant trap shut then shouldn't she?
Posted by: Science Avenger | March 21, 2008 1:03 PM
DJ, that is an absolutely horrible thing. But it actually illustrates how frighteningly real BC's satire is. I'm sure that that attitude was firmly entrenched in the minds of those skinheads and police as this brutal, inhuman act was being carried out - that it was OK because they were moral people and their victim was not.
Posted by: Alison | March 21, 2008 1:12 PM
Posted by: Taz | March 21, 2008 2:09 PM
Let's not let the ugliness of Sally Kern's bigotry blind us to the overall idiocy of her remarks:
"Studies show, no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted for more than, you know, a few decades. . .
I honestly think it's the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam. . ."
No matter how you feel about gays, these remarks are incredibly stupid.
Posted by: Taz | March 21, 2008 2:19 PM
In some fairness to Kern & Co., it should be noted that, as a state legislator, she's probably used to having the attention of a relatively narrow state, if not just local, audience, and basing her career on the expectation of very limited voter attention to state-lege matters. A lot of nonsensical crap goes on in state leges under this same divide-and-maintain cover. In her world, this sudden national attention is probably tantamount to a Chinese or extraterrestrial invasion of her hometown, complete with carpet-bombing -- she and her hick chums are simply not prepared for it, have no plans for it, and may not even have any previous experience of it that they can use as a guide or referent. Hence the term "jamming:" a flood of solid noise they simply aren't equipped to filter or make sense of.
Okay, I just used up my ration of "fairness" for the week. SALLY KERN IS A BIGOTED COW!
Posted by: Raging Bee | March 21, 2008 3:23 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvFxG3rZQ2E
Posted by: Taz | March 21, 2008 3:34 PM
Oy DJ, breaks my heart. But then it breaks me out of my little world for a bit, which is good because I get too complacent I think. My lifetime in the closet was good for one thing and one thing only: no gang of thugs walking by me on the street would think I'm gay. But when you're in a situation where people are going to know you're gay, like in a gay bar, I can't rely on that, and the thought freaks me the fuck out.
And on that note, one of the plaintiffs in the recent Washington DC gun-rights case is a man who was confronted by a gang taunting him with "faggot" and death threats, and he and his friend ran. When he realized he was being chased, he pulled out a gun and they backed off, and he was able to get away. Luckily he was living in San Jose and not DC at the time, or he would have been breaking the law (though honestly I'm not sure he wasn't, the story didn't say whether he had a concealed weapon permit, but at least there's no complete ban of firearms in Cali). I'm all for some regulation of guns, or even a lot of regulation if it's within reason, but shit, self defense is a real motivator to stick closer to the NRA, when I used to be a typical liberal gun-hater. Even if I didn't know that the gangbangers are going to have guns themselves, a 20 on 1 fight really isn't gonna turn out well unless that one has a gun at least as a deterrent, and this story and yours obviously says that people who think this way are not needlessly paranoid. Chance favors the prepared mind, better to be prepared for it than not. Luckily this is all theory for now, but your loss is a reminder of just how close it is to reality.
And as for Kern, the PR for these people just keeps getting better and better. Not only are we now a danger to her life, but we actually have an insidious web strategy too, when I thought we were just writing e-mails voicing our objections, stupid me. Can't take criticism? Don't say stupid shit.
Posted by: paul | March 21, 2008 5:37 PM
Wait, did I jump on the condolences bandwagon too soon? Was this just a general example of the hatred she inspires? I'm a little confused. Sorry, don't mean to sound like a callous asshole if it's real. Your quote about the cops left me a little befuzzled if this really happened recently.
Posted by: paul | March 21, 2008 5:46 PM
Everybody sing:
Ooh, yeah! all right!
Were jammin:
I wanna jam it wid you.
Were jammin, jammin,
And I hope you like jammin, too.
Aint no rules, aint no vow, we can do it anyhow:
Ini will see you through,
cos everyday we pay the price with a little sacrifice,
Jammin till the jam is through.
Were jammin -
To think that jammin was a thing of the past;
Were jammin,
And I hope this jam is gonna last.
We're jammin'
We're jammin'
and I hope you like jammin' too...
(Etc...)
Posted by: Tyler | March 21, 2008 6:43 PM
Sorry folks- I know what came before that was a rather serious discussion, and I don't want to prevent it from continuing. But I could not resist quoting Bob Marley at Sally Kern AND the WND's expense. When I get pissed, I use comedy.
What happened to your friend, DJ, warrants an investigation- I hope those "policemen" (using the term loosely) are brought before a judge.
Posted by: Tyler | March 21, 2008 6:59 PM
Tyler - did you check out the link I posted?
Posted by: Taz | March 21, 2008 7:19 PM
This is the same as the rightwing's longheld reaction to boycotts (I've seen it for 20 plus years). Boycotts conducted by them are good, boycotts by people they don't like are bad, and anti-free market.
Posted by: QrazyQat | March 21, 2008 7:26 PM
I bet her idea of a society "embracing homosexuality" is when the state can't put gay men in jail anymore for the way they have intercourse. I would like a reporter to ask her what she means by those words.
Posted by: daniel rotter | March 21, 2008 7:48 PM
So homophobia is like mom and apple pie? I'd say rooting out bigotry and hatred is more "American" than Sally Kern's hate speech. In the America I want to inhabit, anyway. To the 30,000- (full disclosure, I am a member)- Good Work. Let the Haters know we're watching, and we don't like what we see/hear.
Posted by: Shagata Ganai | March 22, 2008 12:17 AM
So homophobia is like mom and apple pie? I'd say rooting out bigotry and hatred is more "American" than Sally Kern's hate speech. In the America I want to inhabit, anyway. To the 30,000- (full disclosure, I am a member)- Good Work. Let the Haters know we're watching, and we don't like what we see/hear.
Posted by: Shagata Ganai | March 22, 2008 12:17 AM
Sorry again. The emotion just overcame me. Apologies for bringing it down. I didn't expect it to hit me so hard, but when it comes so close to home, it changes everything.
Thanks for your kind remarks. Yes the Police Integerity Commision is (apperently) looking into it I will keep you posted as info comes to me. -DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | March 22, 2008 10:04 AM
What's funny is how clueless these people are about the lingo. Culture jamming, which I'm guessing is where they got the term, is something pranksters and anarchists do to subvert advertising messages. These people really do not understand irony at all. Which makes them even more ironic.
Posted by: Todd | March 22, 2008 12:25 PM
Hey DJ, we've still got a long road ahead of us haven't we, and those numbnutts are not helping. Bloody love thy neighbour, turn the other cheek hypocrites.
I can't believe (since it seems that hypocrite is a christian's middlename these days) that there are no examples of them doing the same thing. The only thing that comes to mind was their less than impressive blanking of Ford cars. However that was kind of the opposite to this.
Posted by: Richard Eis | March 23, 2008 3:40 PM
If her allegations about death threats and threats of violence are true, and I expect there might be or the police wouldn't be involved, then I am ashamed that people I have supported and considered myself one of, are behaving so badly.
I in no way support Sally Kern's remarks or views about homosexuals (or any other gender/orientation of person), or anything else that I could detect in what she's said, but neither can I support death threats and intimidation through threats of violence.
Excusing them distracts people from the real issues of safety, security, freedom and equality for GLBT folks and makes the escalation of violence more likely.
Posted by: Becky | March 24, 2008 6:36 PM
JD,
As family that story scares the crap outta me -- sorry for your friend's loss.
Todd,
I immediately also thought about culture jamming anarchists! I think they are rather like older people trying to use "hip" terms and failing miserably...ironic yes.
Becky,
I didn't see where anyone said anything about Kerns receiving death threats and threats of violence. However, I did not follow the link -- so were those details in the longer article?
Posted by: Kelly | March 28, 2008 4:01 PM