Ohmystinkinheck

Just so you know, this isn’t a political blog and you likely won’t see any a bunch of political posts on here…especially this election when I’m none too thrilled with my choices.

First, there’s Obama, who looks to be a pretty nice guy and has a great smile to boot. I don’t want to vote for him though - we don’t mesh politically.

Take a deep breath and digest what I just said. I can “like” someone’s personality and think they are quite possibly a fun/great/interesting person without wanting to vote for them.

That’s called maturity.

It is the same reason I didn’t vote for one of my close friends for president of the Student Council in high school; she wouldn’t have been good for the job. I stand behind a few beliefs and mine and his don’t gel.

Before you raid my upside down tomato plants of their future crop to toss my way, know that I’m not particularly happy with the alternative either. I remember saying something to the effect of, “Are you kidding? McCain? HE is who I have to choose from? Blech.” Yes, I realize I’m quite eloquent with my poli-talk.

I guess I’m still mourning the loss of Huckabee.

AT ANY RATE, I’ve got to point out that one of the things I HATE about politics is the mudslinging. Mudslinging is underhanded, vindictive, and in my opinion, ignorant. BUT nothing is more ignorant than ignorance itself, which is all I see when reading this button.

I first saw this ridiculously idiotic button over at Kirtsy with the lead-in, “I hate that this is associated with Texas.” I commented there, but reading deeper, I got a bit hot beneath the collar - which is saying a lot because I’m wearing a strapless sundress right now.

I am not here in support of Barack Obama or McCain at this moment - please understand that. What I would like to express is directed at writers. Whether you write for a major newspaper or a pee-diddly blog like mine, you have a responsibility to use your brain; no really, it’s true.

At the Texas GOP convention this button was sold in a booth hosted by Republicanmarket. The message was racist and severe and absolutely inappropriate. There were inappropriate buttons for McCain as well, but nothing compared to the ugliness behind this one. The Dallas News blogged it - and if you do a bit of a Google search you’ll turn up more references to it than you’ll ever care to read (and I just had to go and add to that, right?).

Still, what irks me about it entirely is that Republicans AS A WHOLE, specifically Texas Republicans, are getting nailed with the thought behind the button.

I’m sorry - can someone say group STEREOTYPING?

Setting that topic aside for a moment. Let’s say a retailer came and sold a bunch of shirts at our local Fair on the Square. Within the booth ONE of the shirts has “Bunnies are finger food.” printed on it. There is a mass uproar as the “Bunny Lovers of America” non-profit organization points their fingers at our town and say, “HUNTSVILLE, TX hates bunnies! Down with Huntsville. All Huntsvillians are wretched bunny haters.” “Don’t stop in Huntsville - they hate all pets, but especially bunnies…”

Seems ridiculous doesn’t it?
OF COURSE IT DOES.
It is a gross over generalization.

JUST BECAUSE a button is sold by some guy at a booth at a GOP Convention in TEXAS does NOT mean that all Republicans, most specifically all Texan Republicans, support it. That is called extrapolation. And yet, that is what is going on. Silly stuff.

You simply cannot do that.
I am a Conservative.
I live in Texas.
I’m NOT voting for Obama.
I HATE THAT BUTTON.

I wouldn’t wear it - it lacks any kind of respect, it isn’t funny, it isn’t peaceful, it isn’t productive, and it smacks of racism.

But *ding*ding*ding* here’s an alert for you, NOT ALL REPUBLICANS would think it is funny. In fact, what do you bet that some Republicans IN the state of Texas are actually gonna VOTE for Obama.

The whole thing is ignorant reporting.
Sensationalism.
Hype.

Before you go posting ignorant posts like Texas Republicans let their racist flag fly free with convention pin, use your brain for 5 seconds. JUST FIVE SECONDS might set you on the right track. And if it doesn’t, then you really are no better than the person who made the pin in the first place, just slinging your mud from the other side.

Now, we know that the initial event received a lot of attention. Do you think the follow-up will?

Vendor apologies for buttons; he sold four.

The man sold four of these buttons. And as one commentor at Kirtsy said, that’s “5 too many” The seller, an Orlando, Fla (not Texas) resident says, “Why would I go out there and purposely put a button out there that’s going to offend people? We’re in this for business.”

Right and mudslinging racism will sell to SOMEONE, and SOMEWHERE because there are pigs all over the nation.

He did it to make a buck.
The writers and bloggers spreading the story with their own twist are doing it to serve their own purposes.

Besides, the truth is entirely too bland.

One man designed a pin, toeing the line, hoping to make a profit - it blew up in his face.
End of story.

32 Responses to “A stupid button elicits ignorant responses.”

1. TheAngelForever

   My hubby was telling me about this button when he arrived home from work. I only knew it was at a GOP event. I 100% agree with you that this is a disgusting button made by an extremely racist person who unfortunately knew it would sell. Do I point fingers at all Republicans - no. Am I curious to see how the GOP responds to this controversy - yes!

2. bethany actually

   People of all stripes–conservative, liberal, white, black, bunny-lovers, bunny-haters—are often idiots. End of story.

3. Mrs. Wilson

   Isn’t the White House called that because IT (NOT the LEADER) is white? Idiots.

   I still have no idea about American politics, but great post none the less!

4. ehme

   *clap clap clap* Heather for Prez!

5. Kristine

   GREAT post!!

6. Barchbo

   For the second time today, “Ditto!” Thanks for being so articulate and passionate! Mature, rational dialogue is good for ALL of us!

7. rachel

   That button turns my stomach. Horrible. Great post.

8. clistyB

   I am sure someone will find a way to blame George Bush for this.

9. SparklieSunShine

   You had to bring up bunnies didn’t you?

   That button really makes me sick. I think this post is helpful though, I’m glad you wrote it.

10. MzEll

    Heather, thank you for sticking for Texas as a whole. Regardless of politics, we are not just oil and stupid and cowboy hats. I appreciate this post so much.

11. MidlifeSlices™

    It’s the way media works and their purpose is to upset or create controversy and wreak havoc because that’s what sells. I wish we could band together and stop it but there are simply too many stupid sheep in this world so it’s impossible. I think you’re preaching to the choir on this one because WE all agree with ya, but keep right on preachin and maybe someone will hear it that needs to hear it. And btw, apparently my attempt at humor with the garage sale item “reeks like old meat” and had to be tossed. Sorry. No malicious intent on my part.

12. Rocks In My Dryer

    I’m mourning Huckabee too. Still holding out hope he’ll be the veep.

13. Mr. OMSH

    I HATE haters.

    They’re so mean.

14. Angie Garza

    I agree with you. ang

15. Sara

    Amen from this liberal New Englander. This is exactly what I meant on my one previous comment about hating the Other. It only gets worse during election years. And the media really seems to start all the fires. And everybody else just falls into line without thinking at all. It’s stupid.

16. Amber (Bringing Good Home)

    I agree, completely.

    And I miss Huckabee, too. :(

17. Amber (Bringing Good Home)

    P.S. I didn’t realize you’re in Texas. Hello, fellow Texan! I just read your About page (I know, I know and I’ve been visiting for a while) and I just want to say Thanks! for all the links and info about plugins. I think I need a few of those…

18. Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy

    Good for you for sticking up for your state. That button is deplorable.

19. mary

    I second what Betsy said! Thanks for a rational, well-written post.

20. Kristin

    I didn’t think the button was funny either. Bummer the story came from TX.

21. Mandy

    Ok I have to admit I have this really bad habit of scrolling down and looking at pictures and then going to read the whole blog post. When I saw that button I was so confused! Not my Heather! My sweet Heather thinks that is funny? I continued to read and whew was I relieved. I agree with you too (of course)! As a white mom with three black kids I see ignorance way more than I would ever hope to. And that button is quite ignorant. What also is ignorant? That people that I am voting for Obama just because he is black and it would be “so good for my kids”. Huh? People kill me, I tell ya. But those Texans? I just love em! Especially this one!

22. Melissa's Cozy Teacup

    Although there isn’t enough money in the universe to get me to vote for Obama, that button is ridiculous! The person who came up with it, childish and ignorant.

23. Holley

    One day I hope that it becomes mandatory that people learn some political science. If everyone paid attention to how politics works, we would recognize that all political elections are a choice between the better of two evils. The good ones are too smart to go into politics. They understand that were they to run, the media would pick their lives apart and find that one mistake they made in college and turn it into the armegeddon of mistakes. Who wants that?

    About the button, shame on the ignorant person who thought they would make money off that venture. Because of people like him, the southerners who have fought so hard to be accepting of people “because of their character and not by their color”(Dr. MLK, Jr), have once again been relegated to the back of the rascism bus.

    Heather, I’m with you. I have too many isssue differences with Obama to vote for him in November. But I do think he is a very charasmatic candidate. And let’s all face it, the US voters certainly show a tendency to make important decisions with their heart not their head.

24. Elda

    Thank you for posting this. As an uprooted Texan living in Arizona, where McCain is SENATOR, I am deeply disturbed by this button. Thanks for standing up for us Texans - we don’t want to be associated with that button AT ALL.

25. JackieW.

    That button is lame.

    Since the unborn have no voice I’m voting for McCain. Can’t vote for anyone running in the party of death.

    Supreme Court Justices will retire & their replacements need to overturn unconstitutional Roe V Wade.

26. TheAngelForever's Hubby

    Hi,

    Thanks for linking to that followup story on the button. It looks like the Texas GOP is doing the right thing by publicly rebuking the vendor, donating his booth space fee to charity, and not inviting him to future events. (Thus sending a clear message that they don’t want that kind of campaign run.)

    As for the vendor, he only sold 4 and one of those went to a newspaper employee (who could have grabbed it for future story material).

    Hopefully, this election will have less mudslinging than past elections (though I’m not holding my breath). I’m definitely not going to choose a candidate based on skin color, gender, or even which party they belong to. Like you, I choose which candidate I’m going to vote for based on how closely their policies gel with my views.

    (For the record, Obama is closer to my views than McCain is. I would have considered voting for Ron Paul, though.)

27. Laziza

    Bunnies aren’t finger food?

28. Mrs. G.

    This smacks to me of some knucklehead who wanted to make a buck-there are always knuckleheads around who want to make a buck.

    I’m not sure why politics inspire so much craziness-I continue to believe that we are all more alike than not. You and I could not be more, hmmm, black and white in our political views but I still keep coming over here to read your stuff.

29. Mrs. Flinger

    AMEN!

30. merideth

    mourning huck, too. neither candidate represents my values/ideals perfectly, but one is closer regarding my big one.

    as for the button and reporting about it? i remember when the media (editorial opinion shows aside - they’re honest about presenting opinions and not strictly the facts) presented the news in an unbiased fashion. (or was i just more naive then?)

31. Shar

    Oh I like you. I like you a lot. My google reader recommended you and it was right.

32. Vanessa

    I haven’t been to this blog in over a week…look what I’ve been missing.

    You hit the target with this blog! Way to go!

    Although I’m not thrilled with the choices either, I, as a conservative, must vote for McCain. (I’m scared to death of the other option!)

    :)Vanessa (also in Texas)