New Children's book: Why Mommy is a Democrat

[HamdenRice]

Joe Cannon of Cannonfire blog alerts us that someone has written a response to the meanspirited, paranoia inducing repug children's book:

http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/

And... Remember our discussion of the fear-mongering Republican kids' book Help! There are Liberals Under My Bed!? Looks like the Dems have an answer: Why Mommy is a Democrat. No paranoia; just niceness

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Here is a sample page:





On the one hand, I think it's cute. On the other hand, it really does present the progressive movement's goal as literally the "nanny state" or at least "mommy state." I'm not sure how I come out on this one.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. It's good... we do need protection from corporate & moneyed interests

who would:

sell unsafe products
cut public school funding
pollute
rig elections
etc....

Nothing bad or "mommy-ish" about it!

[ThatsMyBarack]

2. Here's another:

Take extended vacations!

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Hey, I appreciate the answer to the stupid "Help, there are liberals under

the bed" book.

[MADem]

5. I think someone ought to do a snarky version of this for the GOP

It's a photoshop opportunity of the highest magnitude! And the sappier the illustrations, the better!

"Mommy wants to make sure that you have ALL the toys!"

"Mommy wants to make sure none of those 'ethnic' types live in YOUR neighborhood!"

"Mommy likes to drive around town in her Hummer, crushing the bicycles of the poor Democrats under her big, shiny wheels! Wheeeeee!"

[atommom]

8. I'd buy THAT book in a heartbeat!

:rofl:

[MADem]

13. Now, we need to pursuade some of our talented photoshoppers to

get busy!! I really wish I had a talent for that kind of stuff--it brings me enormous joy when I see a real good one!

[blm]

4. I loathe the whole dumbing down of this country and its debates.

The American public is told they want leaders who think in simplest terms and crude dialogue, and that they dislike anyone who uses language civilly in the pursuit of a stronger nation based in enlightened governance.

[HamdenRice]

7. To be fair ...

both authors really do intend for these to be children's books. So this does not necessarily represent dumbing down of the political debate for adults.

[blm]

11. heheh...no...that's what the American news media is for.

;)

[atommom]

6. I'm glad to see that someone is writing books for kids that

promote liberalism. The Repubs have been at this for some time already. (I thought of writing a rebuttal book called Help, There are Conservatives Under My Bed!, but I decided that would be far too scary for children.)

[HamdenRice]

9. What's the deal with the homeless guy in every pic?

I know he represents the less fortunate, but maybe he shouldn't be in every frame?

[MADem]

12. Ya know, I did not notice him the first time I looked, but he looks a bit

furtive and creepy to me, frankly!!!

I don't know if this book works for me--I have no one in the family who is at that early reading stage right now, fortunately...but I don't know if I like that guy skulking about on every page!!!!

[Neecy]

26. hmmmmm

Notice how the elephant is about the trample the homeless man in the second scene? True enough scenario, I suppose.

This book looks amusing to give to an adult as a joke, I'm not sure it's something I'd want to give to a child. It's sort of like the creepy brainwashing the Republicans do.

[HamdenRice]

28. Subliminal or on purpose: Elephant = callous, bloated republicans? nt

[MADem]

30. I don't go for brainwashing either...far better to lead by example

If you need to give a kid a book to tell them what Mommy and Daddy THINK or FEEL, then Mommy and Daddy probably need to spend more time interacting with their kid(s).

About the only time I could see the justification for dragging the kid from childhood pursuits into partisan politics via that sort of book is if the family lived in a shithead GOP neighborhood, with shithead GOP neighbors and schools, and shithead GOP little children making fun of the kid all the time.

But the elephant is a not-so-'subliminable' point, and I admit, I didn't note the significance of that bit, either, until you pointed it out!!

Jeez, I guess I really have put off getting the new glasses for far too long!

[MADem]

10. Totally off topic, but I HAVE to know!!!

Is that a real dog with enormous eyes, lounging on a bed with a TV guide featuring William Conrad as CANNON on the cover???

[HamdenRice]

14. That was Petite Pierre, my dog when I was a kid ...

As I mentioned in a recent thread, I recently found a treasure trove of negatives I took as a teenager and bought a scanner and started digitizing them.

This was my dog when I was a kid. He was a toy poodle, whose official name was Petite Pierre, but whom we called Pup Pup. He was a sweet little guy. One funny thing about him was that you could do silly things with him and he would just pose. So my sister and I did this and he acted like he was watching TV and reading TV guide, and I took the picture.

My mother was the book lady at the local elementary school, and she put an 8x10 print of this in her office. When kids came by, she told them that she had a dog that liked to read, and the poor little suckers believed it.

I'm trying to put it in my sig line, but for now include it from time to time.

PS -- I didn't even get the coincidence of citing the blogger Joe Cannon, and that Pup Pup's edition of TV guide has Cannon (show from the 70s) on the cover!

<edited>

[MADem]

15. Well, hey, the pooch was checking out TV GUIDE!!!

Perhaps he wanted to be sure he had the right time and channel for the Monkees, Partridge Family or Brady Bunch! I could see the kids buying that--the younger set never did take to CANNON as much, though!

Great photo, and a cute little dog!

[FreedomAngel82]

24. Oh how cute!

That is so cute!!!!

[npincus]

16. Both Right and Left simplistic propaganda-for-kids is silly

My opinion. Group 'X' is bad and Group 'Y' is good... just fill in the 'X' and 'Y' values yourself. I really don't like it. There's a lot of grey in between the black and white. I wouldn't teach my daughter to knee-jerk trust any individual from Group 'x' or 'Y'.

I will teach my daughter myself age-appropriate concepts about politics as she develops (she's only 3 now). She'll know why I am a Democrat.

[MADem]

18. Yeah, but it works great as adult satire!!!

I really do like my idea of a smartass GOP version:

"Daddy wants to make sure that not too many people go to college, so there will be enough room for you to go when you graduate from prep school with a C minus average! And uneducated people work for less money, so daddy can have more money to buy you wonderful toys!!"

"Mommy wants you to study hard in Spanish class, so that when you grow up, you can talk to the maid, the cook and the gardener, too!"

"Mommy and Daddy take you to Sunday school every week so that you can learn who the bad people are, and how Jesus will punish them!"

[npincus]

19. yeah, I agree with that point

as long as bookstores put 'em in the Political Humor section, and not next to "Elmo Likes Spinach"!

[HamdenRice]

29. This is such a great idea, I really want someone with photoshop

to do this!

[FreedomAngel82]

25. Aw she's so cute

[npincus]

27. thank you!

[DistressedAmerican]

17. Those Are Some Dan Cute Squirrels!

Sure beats, "Mommy, There's A Liberal Under My Bead"!

[zbdent]

20. One think left unstated about the "mommy" concept

you don't get between a mother and her young - and threaten her young . . .

[Yollam]

21. Not to mention the gaping disparity...

...between what most grassroots dems believe in, and the center-right warmongering policies that are supported by the political leadership.

There was a time when I could have proudly called myself a democrat, but not right now. I call myself a liberal or a leftist, or maybe even a progressive (though that always sounded a bit namby-pamby to me).

[Cha]

22. The elephant is

a nice touch.

Education and safety are extremely important..I would add.."Mommy says I should always tell the truth so I don't grow up to be a republican ala curious george bush".

[FreedomAngel82]

23. I posted this yesterday and thought it was very cute

I saw the ad at dembloggers.com and had to share it with everyone. Isn't it so cute?