| At the New York State United Teachers conference in April, I had the opportunity to hear Kevin Jennings speak. Jennings is now the safe schools chief in the Obama administration and was at the NYSUT convention to talk about how LGBT issues in schools. He gave an outstanding presentation entitled, "Education for All: Addressing Issues of Sexual Orientation and Sexual Identity in our Schools." In his presentation, his message was clear: If LGBT students receive support during their academic career, then they will be successful. He tied success directly to the support they receive in school because if they don't receive that support, it will be very hard for them.
Much like Van Jones, Jennings has been a target of right-wingers like Glenn Beck, Fox News and the Washington Times because he is a "czar" in the Obama administration AND because, they falsely claimed, Jennings covered up statutory rape. When that was proven to be false, they moved on to the next line of attack: That at a Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN convention in 2000, one of the topics was "fisting." Of course, this is a false claim. (The truth is that this wasn't a topic, but was featured in a question and answer exchange during a panel that Jennings had nothing to do with.)
If you want the truth on those stories, go to Media Matters.
So what Buffalo Pundit reported to us yesterday will surely get your blood boiling. Tom Bauerle, a right-wing host on WBEN 930 AM in Buffalo, used that "fisting" line of attack against Jennings while also making the comparison between Jennings and a 100 year old pedophile who is set to be released from prison and will be living in Buffalo. Bauerle, according to Buffalo Pundit, said that the pedophile had the qualifications for an appointment with the Obama administration and then started talking about Jennings.
Coincidence? Definitely not.
Blatantly dishonest, false and wrong? Absolutely.
Courtesy of Buffalo Pundit, here is a clip from Bauerle's show.
I put together a transcript of the clip below if you don't want to waste time listening. Bauerle starts off by talking about the pedophile and that leads into his ranting about Jennings.
BAUERLE: Authorities, psychologists they say he is likely to molest again. He is likely to hurt other children. And you know what? If we don't have the ability as a society to put somebody like this behind bars forever, something is seriously rotten in the state of Denmark. If we are willing to put our children at risk at the hands of this man, then something needs to change. Something needs to get a lot better. Because this man should never be on the streets. This man, and I use the word loosely, should have been executed and removed a long time ago legally, of course, after due process.
BAUERLE: But at the same time as this article is in the Buffalo News and some of the other news stations, you do realize that your president - and I say your president because Erie County voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama - your president, he has a friend - Kevin Jennings - who is a pervert. He is a pervert because he thinks it's okay to teach children about hardcore sexual activity. He has asked children the question spit or... he thinks that's okay. His organization has had workshops for children in the sexual practice known, believe me I kind of blush saying this on the radio, a sexual practice known as fisting. I don't even want to talk about what it is. Children!
BAUERLE: So we have this picture in the paper of this local pedophile. Let's say he's molested a few children over the years. Yet, we have a guy President Obama has appointed to be the so-called safe schools czar who openly advocates what this guy did. What is wrong with this picture folks?
BAUERLE: By the way, I have put a link up on WBEN.com to today's editorial in the Washington Times and without re-reading the entire editorial, I think the disclaimer at the beginning pretty much says it all. The Washington Times actually put a warning on its editorial. This editorial includes discussion of topics that are sexually graphic. Under usual circumstances, we would never entertain these subjects or the rancid language involved. In this case, however, a very unusual exception must be made because the issues are central to the background of a senior presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Education who is in a position to influence how and what are children are taught in our nation's schools. Thus far, out of fear for squeamishness there has been a public hesitancy to examine closely the beliefs of this individual because many are afraid to even touch the risky content. Our scruples, writes the Washington Times in today's editorial, cannot be used against us when traditional moral precepts need to be defended simply the deep level of depravity involved in this subject cannot be portrayed without providing a couple of examples to illustrate the inappropriate content.
BAUERLE: You've got the president's safe schools czar who is a pedophile by proxy and he supports teaching young children about acts that if I describe them in great detail on the radio I would be fired, fined or both.
Bauerle isn't the only radio host to join the Jennings is a pervert smear campaign. But the Washington Times editorial he cites has already been broken down by Media Matters. What the Washington Times and other right-wingers fail to mention is that Jennings criticized the content of the panel that day (which again, did not feature Jennings) and that the individuals who did run that particular panel were fired or resigned as a result of their conduct. Articles about the controversy show Jennings as "surprised and troubled" by the line of discussion in the panel and said GLSEN would have clearer standards going forward.
Bauerle is just another lazy right-wing radio host who would rather run his mouth than tell the truth. His hatred for Obama is blinding him. And his Glenn Beck wannabe act has long been worn out.
Bauerle needs to apologize to his listeners for the lazy and false content. He also should apologize to Jennings for pushing the same lies that are easily debunked and for not giving Jennings the recognition he deserves since Jennings DID stand up and say that this was inappropriate and believed that it wasn't a suitable conversation to have.
Bauerle was right: Talking about this just might get him fined or fired. If he keeps lying, that just might happen. |
