After milking transphobia – and bananas – for all its worth, Charles McCall is taking a more traditional and less fruity approach to fearmongering.
Inspired by the Derplahoman reaction to the proposed Broken Arrow mosque, McCall launched an ad that portrays him as the best conservative choice for Islamophobic voters.
Really? He's name-dropping Sharia Law. I know everyone – especially Pizza Hut – thinks nostalgia is all the rage right now, but didn't Oklahoma voters address this non-existent threat to our society in 2010, only to have it overturned for being unconstitutional? Couldn't he have just stuck with demonizing the homeless, welfare recipients, or immigrants. At the very least, include another fruit metaphor:
"Giving this apple asylum won't make it an orange!"
Although McCall talks a tough Islamophobia game, he's not the only gubernatorial candidate to pander to the Islamophobic crowd. They all do it to a degree.
For example, Gentner Drummond filed an investigation into the aforementioned mosque and has used the threat of Sharia Law – and Catholicism – as the main reason why we need a strong wall between church and state:
"Today, we're discussing funding Catholicism; tomorrow we may be forced to fund radical Muslim teachings like Sharia law," Drummond has said.
To clarify – Drummond accidentally stumbled into the correct position on church-state separation, but only because he's afraid of Muslims? That's like being anti-drunk driving solely because you're scared of your ex showing up at your house!
As we mentioned in the past, Chip Keating is also busy touring his Islamophobic credentials, primarily by portraying McCall as a big softy hypocrite when it comes to treating people of other religions with respect, dignity and equality.
I know I'm not trying to court wacko conservative voters here, but I actually kind of find it refreshing to know that McCall let CAIR lobby his caucus. Like, isn't it a good thing that he hears from people with opposing views? Why exactly should he discriminate against them because they worship another religion? Is that unAmerican? 2008 Obama Voter here and I'll take my answer off the air!
Anyway, I guess we'll continue to monitor our politicians' various fears and phobias and provide updates as they roll them out in TV commercials for the world to see.
Until then…
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
