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Eric Boehlert

Eric Boehlert

Posted: December 3, 2010 09:25 AM

All I want to know is what took Brent Bozell so long?

Sure, the right-wing warrior sounded the alarm about a gay-themed art exhibit at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. And yes, Bozell, with the help of top House Republican leaders, Fox News and the rest of the GOP Noise Machine, was able to get one piece of the exhibit pulled; a four-minute video that featured, for symbolic reasons, 11 seconds worth of footage showing ants crawling across a crucifix.

But c'mon, that crucial Smithsonian concession came on December 2, days after rabble rousers at the Media Research Center started airing concerns about the suddenly objectionable, privately funded exhibit, "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture."

When did "Hide/Seek" and its more than 100 piece of art actually open to the public? October 30. That's right, the gallery was able to showcase the exhibit unfettered for nearly an entire month. (Doesn't anyone at the MRC read the Washington Post?)

How come Bozell didn't protect unsuspecting art patrons from traveling to a gallery that was hosting an mature-themed exhibit about gay artists and stop them from being exposed to....gay art? (And "displays of Male genitals"!) If Bozell and teammates at Fox News are truly going to defend traditional values and protect us from "blasphemous" art, they can't sit on their hands for nearly 30 days while these types of crimes against the taxpayers play out in broad daylight. Nay, while they're flaunted in broad daylight.

Bozell is calling for Congressional hearings to find out who okayed "Hide/Seek" and who led the "direct assault on Christianity." (Heads must roll!) But I think that misses the real stumble here, which is why I'm calling for Congressional hearings to find out why Bozell and his arts patrol team missed the Smithsonian blockbuster for nearly an entire month.

Because honestly, if Bozell and his buddies aren't going to be vigilant about this kind of "hate speech," who is? Did you know that on November 21, the Smithsonian sponsored Family and Friends Day? Who knows how many innocent friends and family were subjected to objectionable art while Bozell's team was asleep at the cultural war switch?

And during the Christmas season!!

The the entire column at Media Matters.

 
 
 

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This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
06:17 PM on 12/06/2010
Tempest in a teapot.

Still, I'd like to see the Muhammed comics in a Smithsonian exibit--just for fun...
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NoSandwiches
11:40 AM on 12/05/2010
Rather than take offense at the imagery of ants crawling along a crucifix, Christians should reflect on why someone would feel that imagery reflected their feelings.
mataylor16
You all want it one way. But, its the other way. -
01:48 PM on 12/06/2010
Or who is symbolized by the ants
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Eileenla
Author, "Sacred Economics"
02:26 AM on 12/05/2010
Who are we if we don't have enemies against whom we must defend ourselves? When we perceive ourselves as constant victims, the entire world begins to look like our persecutor. The irony, of course, is that those who perceive themselves as the "victims" are in fact overwhelmingly white, privileged males living in one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations on Earth. Get over yourselves already, and pay attention to what it means to be a REAL victim. Hint: look to those you're constantly accusing for some insight...
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offred
A biocitizen is 3/5 of a corporate citizen
06:13 PM on 12/04/2010
Bozell presumptuously thinks he can define art for 300 million Americans.

The ants move across the body of Christ on the crucifix. Catholics and some Christians symbolically eat the body of Christ. How can we say the first isn't an act of worship by some of Christ's smallest creatures.
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offred
A biocitizen is 3/5 of a corporate citizen
06:09 PM on 12/04/2010
Note to Bozell:

God created ants, who play an important part in the global food chain. You could consider the ants' movement across the crucifix a representation of God's relationship tothe least of his creatures, and the ants' movement their tribute to the God who gave them life and instinct and community.

Why does Bozell hate God's creatures????
10:41 AM on 12/04/2010
Ok just 2 things.1st art much like beauty is n the eye of the beholder.2nd dont want 2 see it dont go.Now was that so hard 2 understand?
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NoSandwiches
11:46 AM on 12/05/2010
a bit difficult, yeah. Maybe take the time to type words instead of numbers when you aren't actually referring to a number. Also use punctuation.

Art isn't just a visual medium. It should provoe thought, and conversation...so this certainly was an effective exhibit.
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booker52
avid reader
08:54 AM on 12/04/2010
As I understand it this was funded privately and not with tax payers dollars. Fox as usual doesn't state that fact, but carry's on as if we should all be offended.
06:46 PM on 12/03/2010
They waited to use it as an intro for their annual, bogus "War on Christmas" I lost the pool, they usually start up the nonsense right after turkey day.
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mediamarv
1-2-3 Is this thing working?
06:13 PM on 12/03/2010
Brent puts the Bozo in Bozell, don't he?? :^{ )
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Jdaddy1951
03:51 PM on 12/03/2010
People who protest stuff like this are un-American. They don't believe in First Amendment protections of Freedom of Speech. They only believe in Freedom of Speech for their own wretched selves.
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Ioan Lightoller
Proud Married Gay Pagan Man
04:20 PM on 12/03/2010
Oh, don't you know...the First Amendment is only for them goawd-fearin' Christians [/sarcasm].
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Jdaddy1951
09:38 PM on 12/03/2010
I know, I know. And THEY think they are the only ones who get to define what Christians are.
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BlueBulletBill
Conservitarian
09:01 PM on 12/03/2010
The right to protest is a first amendment right. Mr. Pot, let me introduce you to someone...
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Jdaddy1951
09:40 PM on 12/03/2010
Yes, it's a first amendment right. Thank you for stating an obvious point.
11:20 AM on 12/03/2010
So conservatives have to mount a 24-hour watch of public institutions to see that money is not misused? So because this blasphemy went on for 30 days that somehow denotes approval.

What if Mr. Boehlert, who wouldn't have the guts to give Mohammed this treatment, found out someone was embezzling from Media Matter for a year. Should that embezzlement not be stopped because he had his homosexual friends were "asleep at the switch."

This is a direct assault on the Christian faith and Mr. Boehlert knows it. That is why, indeed, he approves of it. Why doesn't he just admit that and skip the bilgewater.

Typical codswallop from the left-wing hate machine.
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M Jeffrey
12:39 PM on 12/04/2010
I find that are these so called Christians like Bozell and you would not know Christ if he walked up to you on the street. You so called remind me of the verse they praise me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.
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jobrien1950
fired up
04:59 PM on 12/04/2010
Conversely, christ would not recognize "christians" either.
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Brian Gilmer
Respect the bunny.
05:51 PM on 12/04/2010
I think that the Christian faith can withstand 11 seconds of video at an obscure Smithsonian gallery. I fail to see the "direct assault" of 11 seconds of ants crawling on a crucifix.