On June 20, I blogged about how All Saints Episcopal Church in Phoenix, Arizona, was thanked at the conclusion of a viral video entitled "I'm Voting Republican." The video featured actors portraying Republican voters who sounded left-wing talking points, including one portraying a minister saying that he was voting GOP because women should "never, ever, ever" be trusted with decisions over their own bodies.
After publishing my blog post, I called the church office for comment, leaving a voice mail for the church's financial administrator, who was thanked by name in the credits.
Checking my e-mail tonight I found the following e-mail reply, by the executive assistant to All Saints' rector, denying advance knowledge by church officials of the "content... or intended use" of the video:
Last week you left a message for Shelley Dudley on her voice mail in reference to the "I'm Voting Republican" video.
We have responded to all inquiries with the following statement:
"All Saints' Episcopal Church learned for the first time on June 20, 2008, of a video titled "I'm Voting Republican" that has been posted on YouTube and on other sites on the internet. All Saints' Episcopal Church is included in the credits of this video. The Rector and Vestry of All Saints' were not at any time informed of, nor did they in any manner agree to or approve of, the content of the video, its publication or intended use. All Saints' does not endorse, support or approve of the video, its message or publication."
Sincerely,
Lori Brooks
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
"All Saints' does not
June 28, 2008 - 00:04 ET by Indiana Joe"All Saints' does not endorse, support or approve of the video, its message or publication."
Well, it almost sounds like they're claiming they weren't even aware the video was being shot. Huh? If they didn't "approve" of the "publication" of the video, they were snookered, right?
Follow up: So, what is All Saints' planning to do about being used like this? Are they worried their tax-exempt status may be jeopardized by this plainly partisan political use of their facility? How do they plan to prevent something similar happening in the future?
Inquiring minds want to know.
IJ... I just read all
June 28, 2008 - 00:32 ET by bigtimerIJ...
I just read all this too, saw your comment... this inquiring mind would also like to know the answers.
My first instinct was ...huh? .... also...something doesn't seem quite right here.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
What is sad is not so much
June 28, 2008 - 00:49 ET by zfWhat is sad is not so much the video itself but how popular it is.
Someone please answer this for me: is it just me or has the internet become liberal dominated these days, not only on YouTube and video sites, but on websites and peoples comments in general?
I hope it's just me.
P.S. The problem with abortion has nothing to do with the womens body, but with the living being who lives in it after conception. I hate how lefties shift the debate that way, as if fetuses are just some appendage.
All Saints, Phoenix. Nice
June 28, 2008 - 00:49 ET by maggieqpublicAll Saints, Phoenix. Nice North Central neighborhood. John McCain’s neighborhood. The opposition research teams are moving in to Arizona.
Planting bigotry
June 28, 2008 - 00:51 ET by KC MulvilleI hope we're all prepared for the onslaught of racist and vitriolic ads that push the GOP agenda ... but are really being produced by YouTube liberals to supply false "evidence" of GOP racism. Any moron with a cell phone camera can post a reprehensible opinion and label it as Republican, and you can guarantee that the other side will use it as irrefutable proof.
To be clear, I sincerely hope that people on our side, especially any overly enthusiastic teenagers, refrain from trying to fight that fire with fire. Let those impulses go. It does more harm than good.
Exactly. Much of the
June 28, 2008 - 01:06 ET by SchnikeysExactly.
Much of the outrage directed at Republicans/conservatives, it seems, is not even sparked by GOP/conservative actions.
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"It could be the answer to our age-old, philosophical question, 'Why are we here?' PLASTIC!"
"New Kind of Politics" Update...
June 28, 2008 - 06:33 ET by motherbeltBut....but....I thought The Obama said the Republican 527's were the ones who were going to try to make people afraid?
The Democrat playbook hasn't changed in years. Before it was Republicans being against clean air and water, and wanting Grandma eating dog food.
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
Yes...
June 28, 2008 - 01:28 ET by Warner Todd HustonYes, we certainly believe them.... NOT!
What if you were just
June 28, 2008 - 01:31 ET by SchnikeysWhat if you were just randomly thanked and credited in a video you had nothing to do with, Warner?
I'd imagine your letter would sound perhaps a little more explanatory- but nonetheless, something like this.
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"It could be the answer to our age-old, philosophical question, 'Why are we here?' PLASTIC!"
If if, if
June 28, 2008 - 01:43 ET by Warner Todd HustonIf someone is daft enough to put ME in their video, they gets what they deserves!
...ROFLMAO.. Can't help
June 28, 2008 - 01:48 ET by bigtimer...ROFLMAO..
Can't help it...that was hilarious WTH.
Daft enough...I haven't heard that expression used much since my grandma left...
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Wilson
All Saints tepid reply
June 28, 2008 - 01:41 ET by Cool ArrowNot the slightest hint of outrage at having allowed the Democrats to make mockery of them.
I have to conclude All Saints Episcopal is a bastion of liberalism.
Perhaps they would also like to host the Maplethorpe Exhibit.
Guarantee you, my church would have been at first, mortified and second outraged.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
"New Kind of Politics" Update...
June 28, 2008 - 06:29 ET by motherbeltAnd when, oh when, is someone in the media going to ask The Obama if he approves of this, and is he going to make them stop?
OH, that's right...he needs to counter the fear-mongering ads of the Republicans!!
What was I thinking!
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
Mr. Shepherd:
June 29, 2008 - 15:55 ET by j. frank wilsonWouldn't the best time to ask the Church for a comment have been before you posted your blog about it?