Oh Rick Perry. The 2012 republican presidential hopeful, who recently released the most offensive and anti-gay-rights of political ads, “Strong,” in a last-ditch effort to court Iowa citizens, has been heckled by said Iowa citizens during his appearance in Ames, Iowa. Things shouted include “Why do you hate gay people so much?” (yeah, Rick Perry, why?) “Why can’t gays compete in the military?” and “Go back to Texas!”. In response, Perry didn’t take any questions, promptly left the coffee house he was speaking at through the back door (insert innuendo at will) and disappeared in a magical black car.
Perry and Iowa pretty much have an urgent, unrequited, one-sided love at this point. Perry loves Iowa, and he desperately wants Iowa to love him back. In fact, he’s outdone himself courting Iowa in the weeks before the state’s caucuses — the National Journal has reported that Perry’s campaign has spent over half a million dollars (out of a total $1.2 million bought in advertising and airtime) on Iowa advertisements.
Why all of this fuss over Iowa? The state is particularly important because it holds the first electoral event that happens in the route to becoming a presidential candidate. (It’s also the site of the Ames Straw Poll.) The outcome in Iowa is usually a good indicator of who will be successful (and who won’t) — hence Perry’s mad scramble for votes, which likely gave crazy-alien birth to the ill-advised “Strong” video. But, as it turns out, this last-ditch effort may be what’s keeping Perry’s love for Iowa voters still chastely unrequited.
My question is, what was he expecting? First off, he decides to release a desperate and offensive campaign ad in a last-string effort to garner support from Iowa’s conservative Christians. After this crazy talk has been plastered all over his campaign — no openly gay people in the military anymore, check; Obama’s support of gay rights is bad, check — he arrives in Iowa and selectively picks and chooses whether to discuss or answer questions about a lot of these hot-topic issues he’s been suavely mongering to the public in his signature Wish-I-Knew-How-to-Quit-You Brokeback Mountain jacket.
This looks familiar, doesn't it? via thenewcivilrightsmovement.com
What is it about conservative political figures being particularly outspoken about topics like gay rights in scripted, official situations, but not knowing how to respond to real inquiries from real people in others? Like Mitt Romney not knowing how to respond to a gay veteran when the veteran asks Romney how he feels about gay marriage? Or Michelle Bachmann icily staring at the lesbian parents of a child who’s told her there’s nothing wrong with his moms?
On the brighter side, many have responded to Perry’s now-viral “Strong” ad, with a great deal of parody videos, everything from BadLipReading.com’s interpretation of Perry’s ad (“Man, he’d scalp a sentimental cripple! What a douche,”) to Funny Or Die’s parody “Weak” (“Did you know [gays] can [even] serve coffee in Starbucks?”) and Stephen Colbert’s consideration of Rick Perry’s ad, which comes complete with two sexy Santa-men making out under the mistletoe. Watch and marvel at the ridiculous amount of Brokeback Mountain-esque jackets in existence.
Bad Lip-Reading: Rick Perry’s “Strong”
Funny or Die’s “Weak”
[yframe url=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLQrMqog8Fk&feature=player_embedded’]
Stephen Colbert Being Stephen Colbert All Over Rick Perry’s “Strong”
things like his “strong” ad just really make me wonder how insulated these candidates are to the rest of the world. i mean, i understand that this appeals to a strong christian conservative base, but he doesn’t need to go THAT far out on a limb to win them over — like what are his campaign strategists thinking?
Iowa to Rick Perry: “Just go away already, you’re making us look like a bunch of jerks!”
I’m ashamed to be from Texas right about now. (head hangs low)
Don’t let Rick Perry make you feel ashamed. Houston’s out lesbian mayor, Dallas’s huge Pride parades, and Austin’s queer-friendly culture are more than enough reason to have queer pride in our state. HE should be ashamed for not living up to the high standards of our state motto: “friendship”.
Maybe this will make you feel better. As a former resident of “New Orleans”, I feel your pain.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/388897_2486530275602_1023009731_32204999_164333186_n.jpg
LOWER THE MISTLETOE!!
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BWAHAHAHAHA bad lip reading = SO GOOD. That job is my back up plan, for sure.
Oh Rick Perry…you should have listened to your strategists.
Rick Perry is finished. Every GOP candidate that has come to the fore has had a spotlight turned on them and has promptly melted from sight. Newt is next and I can’t wait to see him go up in flames
They’re kind of like moths in a way, because they seem to be the ones seeking out that spotlight in the first place. Moths are never prepared for the lights either.
“And I pooed in space”-**SO PROUD**
good. i’m glad he was publicly rebuked for his facile homophobia. he thought it was a good campaign strategy and it blew up in his face. why is it that when conservatives have no other leg to stand on, they fall back on bigotry?
People in his campaign actually tried to convince him not to run the ad. Ironically, Perry was one of the Texan politicians to criticize the proposed ban on gay foster parents in Texas. Which since he hates gays so much just doesn’t make sense? I think he’s mostly being a sleazy politician trying to win votes through hate mongering.
Someday hatred won’t be a way to win votes. Someday.
It is written; so therefore it shall be? We are the chosen people — such a wicked fantasy. To see the religious lunatics manipulate government and our lives is shameful.