Official Criticizes a PBS Cartoon (PBS creates cartoon with lesbian characters for children)

NY Times ^ | 1/25/05 | AP Wire

[Cableguy]

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings denounced PBS on Tuesday for spending public money on a cartoon with lesbian characters, saying many parents would not want children exposed to such lifestyles.

The episode of "Postcards From Buster," which has not yet run, shows the title character, a bunny named Buster, on a trip to Vermont, a state that recognizes same-sex civil unions. The episode features two lesbian couples, although the focus is on farm life and maple sugaring.

A PBS spokesman said late Tuesday that the nonprofit organization had decided not to distribute the episode, "Sugartime!," to its 349 stations but that the Education Department's objections were not a factor in that decision.

[JennysCool]

Um, er, "Sugartime"?

Sheesh.

[Jeff Chandler]

Could have been worse. Could have been set in Hershey, PA.

[DaveTesla]

Ping

[Paleo Conservative]

It would depend on which route they use to get there.

[DaveTesla]

Ping

[Thinkin' Gal]

a bunny named Buster

Score one for the pic's URL, too.

[DaveTesla]

Education secretary decries PBS cartoon's lesbian content


Education secretary blasts PBS for cartoon with gay characters

[pillbox_girl]

Hmmm. I'm almost curious. I wonder if the episode had the sort of lesbians one sees in homosexual propaganda? Or the sort of lesbians seen in pornography? One wonders with a title like "Sugartime".

It would be amusing to see it if it had hairy legged, army boot wearing, fat, tatooed, ugly, and therefore man hating lesbians. You know. The sort of lesbians you actually see in real life.

Even so, and regardless of which breed of lesbian, it's nothing I'd want the kids to see.

[investigateworld]

LOL!!

[DoughtyOne]

Why are our tax dollars still paying for some of this crud?

You'd think a Republican House, Senate and President could address this issue.

It may not be number one on the agenda, but couldn't it have been the last agenda item in the first term? Heh heh heh...

[DaveTesla]

Buster Blog Sugartime! Hinesburg, Vermont

While there, we visited Emma, David, and James, who
live with their two moms, Karen and Gillian. Karen and
my mom used to work at the same newspaper together.

[Cableguy]

Fuller AP Article:

WASHINGTON -- The nation's new education secretary denounced PBS yesterday for spending public money on a cartoon with lesbian characters, saying many parents would not want their children exposed to such lifestyles.

The not-yet-aired episode of "Postcards From Buster" shows the title character, an animated bunny, on a trip to Vermont -- a state known for recognizing same-sex civil unions. The episode features two lesbian couples, although the focus is on farm life and maple sugaring.

A PBS spokesman said late yesterday that the nonprofit network has decided not to distribute the episode, called "Sugartime!," to its 349 stations. She said the Education Department's objections were not a factor in that decision.

"Ultimately, our decision was based on the fact that we recognize this is a sensitive issue, and we wanted to make sure that parents had an opportunity to introduce this subject to their children in their own time," said Lea Sloan, vice president of media relations at PBS.

However, the Boston public television station that produces the show, WGBH, does plan to make the "Sugartime!" episode available to other stations. WGBH also plans to air the episode on March 23, Sloan said.

PBS gets money for the "Postcards from Buster" series through the federal Ready-to-Learn program, one aimed at helping young children learn through television.

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said the "Sugartime!" episode does not fulfill the intent Congress had in mind. By law, she said, any funded shows must give top attention to "research-based educational objectives, content, and materials."

"Many parents would not want their young children exposed to the lifestyles portrayed in the episode," Spellings wrote in a letter sent yesterday to Pat Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of PBS.

"Congress' and the Department's purpose in funding this programming certainly was not to introduce this kind of subject matter to children, particularly through the powerful and intimate medium of television."

Spellings has made her criticism of the publicly funded program's depiction of the gay lifestyle one of her first acts as secretary. She began Monday, replacing Rod Paige.

Spellings issued three requests to PBS:

That her department's seal or any statement linking the department to the show be removed.

That PBS notify its member stations of the nature of the show so they could review it before airing it.

A refund "in the interest of avoiding embroiling the Ready-to-Learn program in a controversy that will only hurt" it.

The department has awarded nearly $100 million to PBS through the program over the past five years in a contract that expires in September, said department spokesman Susan Aspey.

The show about Buster also gets funding from other sources.

[vivabushchick]

THink maybe "Sugartime" is being held back for a special PBS membership drive?

[no_mm]

A PBS spokesman said late Tuesday that the nonprofit organization had decided not to distribute the episode, "Sugartime!," to its 349 stations but that the Education Department's objections were not a factor in that decision.

---

So exactly WHAT was the factor(s) that affected their decision to not show this LESBIAN CARTOON aimed at CHILDREN?

PBS must have come to the realization that after their unsuccessful all-out November liberal media blitz and all out anti-GW campaign (along with their fund-raising telethons) with every PBS talking head that didn't score too well with voters.

They are skating on thin ice now. I say SHOW THE LESBIAN CARTOON..and lets all LAUGH when they KISS THEIR PUBLIC FUNDING GOOD-FRICKING-BYE.....

[DBeers]

A PBS spokesman said late Tuesday that the nonprofit organization had decided not to distribute the episode, "Sugartime!," to its 349 stations but that the Education Department's objections were not a factor in that decision.

-yeah righto -was that a genuine spokesman or a lying spokesperson? PBS' government funding should have some 'strings' attached to children's programming...

[no_mm]

hahaha

"sugartime"...

...indeed ;)

[DBeers]

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings appears to be an ally of us bigoted heterosexuals -I wonder what her take on the NEA is?

[Squantos]

Must be sweeps week at PBS and they got confused !

[no_mm]

..speaking as a bigotted ego-centric and self-centered heterosexual over the hill white male working stiff..I say, LET PBS SHOW THEIR DAM LESBIAN CARTOON, because its for the CHILDREN afterall...and I'm a S E N S I T I VE guy :D

[no_mm]

HAHA..you said a mouthfull my friend...

[DBeers]

WGBH, the Boston public television station appears infested with the same homosexual activist scourge infesting Massachusetts...

The ZOOM show they produce has always bugged me for some unknown reason... zoom a zooma zoom...

[beaversmom]

I was watching the first episode of "Who Gets the Dog" on Animal Planet the other night. Three "families" were competing for the cute little Hugs. One couple was soon to be married, one couple was married and had a little girl, and one couple--well these two ladies were called "roommates". I told my mom at the beginning--"the lesbos will be awarded the dog." Well guess who got the dog. My mom was amazed at my psycic abilities. At least it wasn't, "Who gets the Kid?" Fox will probably be running that program next season.

[no_mm]

..so WGBH carries the LESBIAN message and some San Francisco PBS staff carries the other type..?

..figures.

[DaveTesla]

Ahh. The lesson Plan:
(You cant have a gay cartoon without a school lesson plan)

(From PBSKIDS.ORG)

PDF: Lesson Plans 33 & 34 (113K) Sugartime! (Hinesburg, Vermont) Spring in rural Vermont means mud, maple syrup, and bonfires.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
At Grandpa’s Sugar Bush by Margaret Carney;

The Family Book by Todd Parr

Product Description:

There are so many different types of families, and THE FAMILY BOOK celebrates them all in a funny, silly, and reassuring way. Parr includes adopted families, step-families, one-parent families, and families with two parents of the same sex, as well as the traditional nuclear family. His quirky humor and bright, childlike illustrations will make children feel good about their families. Parents and teachers can use this book to encourage children to talk about their families and the different kinds of families that exist.

[raccoonradio]

>>Vermont, a state that recognizes same-sex civil unions. The episode features two lesbian couples, Ironically enough, the group of gay Republicans in Mass. is called the LOG CABIN Club (syrup connection!) :)

[beaversmom]

should be: amazed at my psychic abilities. She wouldn't be amazed at my typing or spelling abilities tonight.

[DaveTesla]

Ahh. The lesson Plan:
(You cant have a gay cartoon without a school lesson plan)

(From PBSKIDS.ORG)

PDF: Lesson Plans 33 & 34 (113K) Sugartime! (Hinesburg, Vermont) Spring in rural Vermont means mud, maple syrup, and bonfires.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
At Grandpa’s Sugar Bush by Margaret Carney;

The Family Book by Todd Parr

Product Description:

There are so many different types of families, and THE FAMILY BOOK celebrates them all in a funny, silly, and reassuring way. Parr includes adopted families, step-families, one-parent families, and families with two parents of the same sex, as well as the traditional nuclear family. His quirky humor and bright, childlike illustrations will make children feel good about their families. Parents and teachers can use this book to encourage children to talk about their families and the different kinds of families that exist.

[DaveTesla]

WGBH's award-winning educational outreach department has
produced a teacher's "Guide For English Language
Learners," with a lesson plan to complement each episode
of Postcards from Buster.
Google The Family Book + Gay

[DaveTesla]

Is it just me or are our schools and children under a full-scale attack
from the brainwashing pro-homosexual leftists?

[DBeers]

Daddy & Papa:

DADDY & PAPA, Johnny Symons' multiple award-winning PBS documentary about gay fathers,
has been nominated for Outstanding Documentary at the 15th Annual Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)

Daddy & Papa get married!!!!!

[DBeers]

LOL -see #31

[DaveTesla]

Your tax dollars at work.
The sodomizing of America's youth.


Leave our children alone.

[pillbox_girl]

There are so many different types of families, and THE FAMILY BOOK celebrates them all in a funny, silly, and reassuring way. Parr includes adopted families, step-families, one-parent families, and families with two parents of the same sex, as well as the traditional nuclear family.

Liberal NewSpeak in action. They make so many definitions of the word family', that 'family' soon has no definition.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

Homosexual Agenda Ping.

More queer cartoons, this time with queer cartoon characters.

If you want on/off the ping list see my profile page.

[fatima]

"A refund "in the interest of avoiding embroiling the Ready-to-Learn program in a controversy that will only hurt" it". Now.

[odoso]

Why not force all public schools to sponsor field trips to Adult Bookstores???

Enough of the Evil!!!

[petitfour]

Sugartime in Hinesland, indeed!

[EdReform]

BTTT

Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1)

What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda

Myth and Reality about Homosexuality--Sexual Orientation Section, Guide to Family Issues"

[EdReform]

Ping

[Lijahsbubbe]

Good pic. LOL.

Don't tell me this 'Buster' is the same Buster from the cartoon 'Arthur'. What a drag. I love Arthur cartoons.

I noticed that Buster has his own show now, and he interacts with the 'real' world. I watched a show where Buster learned about the Muslim culture and was disappointed at how PC it was.

[RightWingAtheist]

ROFLMFAO!