Conservative Takeover Of ‘Dancing With The Stars’

[pamela]

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/09/06/delay-dancing

Tom DeLay’s New Cause: Conservative Takeover Of ‘Dancing With The Stars’

When Tom DeLay announced his resignation from Congress in June 2006, he said he wanted to “pursue new opportunities to engage in the important cultural and political battles of our day from an arena outside of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

This morning, DeLay officially took up the important cultural/political battle of ABC’s reality show “Dancing with the Stars.” DeLay sent a mass e-mail to his supporters urging them to “help a good friend of mine, country music singer and GOP supporter Sara Evans,” who will be competing in this season’s show. From the letter (full text HERE):

Sara Evans has been a strong supporter of the Republican Party and represents good American values in the media. From singing at the 2004 Republican Convention to appearing with candidates in the last several election cycles, we have always been able to count on Sara for her support of the things we all believe in. … One of her opponents on the show is ultra liberal talk show host Jerry Springer. We need to send a message to Hollywood and the media that smut has no place on television by supporting good people like Sara Evans.

Evans also sang at the 2004 Presidential Dinner, where Bush said, “I love the voice of Sara Evans.” She appears on a conservative website as “Babe of the Week” in a picture of her with Bush.

********

I've been hesitant to post this because it is, after all, Reality TV and is therefore pretty insignificant in the scheme of things. But, on the other hand, I hate to see DeLay and the neocons win at anything, and sadly, they are winning this. Sara Evans has repeatedly received the lowest votes of the judges but has escaped elimination due to her fan base. DeLay sends out an email each week reminding people to vote for her. She's terrible but that has never stopped a neocon from supporting anyone.

So, if you want to fight DeLay, and also put Evans out of her misery, go to https://register.go.com/abc/primetime/dancing/register and vote for everyone but Evans. Or, if you're feeling really motivated call one or all of these numbers.

Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska 1-800-868-3401

Monique Coleman & Louis van Amstel 1-800-868-3404

Emmitt Smith & Cheryl Burke 1-800-868-3405

Willa Ford & Maksim Chmerkovskiy 1-800-868-3406

Mario Lopez & Karina Smirnoff 1-800-868-3407

Jerry Springer & Kym Johnson 1-800-868-3411

If you only want to make one or two calls, Monique and Jerry could probably use the most help. I know it seems silly but believe me, all across America right now, neocons are dialing their stupid little fingers off voting for Sara simply because Tom DeLay has told them to. And if that doesn't convince you, here's a picture of Sara with Bush. Ick.

[Kahuna]

1. Poor Sarah. The host actually asked her tonight how she managed

to avoid EVER being in the bottom two (in spite of her low scores). :eyes: She was horrid last week and not much better this week. BTW, Jerry was great. He's a natural dancer. Has great rhythm and flair. So, vote for Jerry, but also spread the votes out to the others. You can also vote on line at abc.com.

[pamela]

5. I almost felt sorry for her last week...

she was so bad and the judges really tore her apart. However, when she pulled out the God and Country cards tonight I figured "fuck her". She knows she's only staying in the competition because of the mass neocon support and she's playing to that. Typical Republican.:puke:

[hlthe2b]

10. Ahh, so nice to be able to say nice things about Jerry Springer...

He was terrific! A tremendous entertainer and what a sport. I have great admiration for him doing this--even though I've been less than complimentary on his radio gig (he bends over backwards far too much for his Freeper callers--arrgh).

Jerry's a good guy and I hope he gets to stay a while... Very entertaining for such a truly non-dancer. Gives all of us hope, really! Kudos, Jerry! We're proud of you.

[Hepburn]

16. Jerry Springer got my vote!

The guy is great ~~ smart, liberal, well-educated and what a dancer! And...in my age group. Sigh.....if he ever wants a new partner, I will immediately volunteer! I got through grad school dancing and I sure would dust off those dance shoes to do a few steps with Jerry!

:hi:

[wholetruth00]

44. Once again it's not about true talent (qualifictions). It's all about

politics and power. That is precisely why we have Bush sittiing in the WH right now and America less respected and less safe than ever before. The very party that scorns "affirmative action" continues to use their power for preferential treatment of the underserving. Now they are invading entertainment.

[ewoden]

2. Nero Fiddled, GOPers dance.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. I have to recommend. This is one of those little benchmark moments.

A few littles add up to a LOT when one talks benchmarks. Thanks for a great OP! :-) MKJ

[pamela]

6. Thank you!

I've started to post this the past several weeks but I was too embarrassed. You're right, though, sometimes it's the little things and they DO add up.

[marmar]

4. What's next, offers of sex junkets to the Marianas to get votes for Evans?

Who let Delay out of his moat?

[Lisa0825]

7. Sorry... gotta vote for Emmitt....

he's just too adorable... and he's a dem too...

http://www.newsmeat.com/sports_political_donations/Emmitt_Smith.php

edited to add: I am NO Cowboys fan! He just won me over... like a teddy bear come to life, as the judge said early in the season :loveya: and he was SMOKIN' in the Tango!

[pamela]

8. Don't be sorry...

I voted for Emmitt, too. Actually, I spread my online votes out between all of them, EXCEPT SARA, and then called in for Emmitt, Monique and Jerry. Emmitt's my favorite.

[immoderate]

9. Emmitt's a Dem?

I always hate the Cowboys, but there are certain Cowboys that I like in spite of that. I'm glad to hear that; I always like Emmitt.

--IMM

[Lisa0825]

13. I used to live in Dallas...

But I grew up a Redskin fan, due to family loyalty (I was born in MD while dad worked in DC). The only Cowboys I ever liked were Emmitt, Aikman, and Moose. The rest were morans.

I'll never forget when chief moran Jerry Jones hired Switzer... who best to lead a team of thugs than one experienced in such things?

[immoderate]

21. You might be too young but...

Don Meredith was one of the coolest guys to ever pick up a football. I'm a Giant fan by birth.:hi:

--IMM

[Lisa0825]

22. I was too young to watch him play, but...

I certainly know who he is, the class act. I can't hold being a Cowboy against him, since he was a Cowboy before the state prison became training camp! :evilgrin:

[immoderate]

33. If you get a chance read "North Dallas Forty" by Peter Gent.

Gent was a Cowboy WR. The characters in the book are supposedly modeled on players from the Meredith era. Meredith was great fun to watch on the field. Like you say, a class act.

--IMM

[never_get_over_it]

29. Have bad news for you

Emmitt said he HATED the Redskins last week...I took notice because I lived in the DC area for years and was a Redskin fan and HATED the Cowboys....

[Lisa0825]

41. That's OK. I live in Texas, so I am used to that!lol

I'm just sayin' that that was where my dislike for the Cowboys originated... it only got stronger when the team turned out to be mostly a bunch of criminals.

[wryter2000]

45. I love Emmitt

I called in for him. I'll go to the website and vote, too.

I had no idea that lame idiot was being kept afloat by the repugs. Next time, I'll vote numerous times for everyone but her.

[B Calm]

55. Emmitt is one hell of a good dancer!

[LostInAnomie]

11. I about voted for her the night her cans about bounced out of her dress.

I couldn't make myself do it though.

[pamela]

19. Lol.

That was probably intentional. She knows her base...Praise Jesus and flash your boobs.

[KingFlorez]

12. She should have been off last week

She was awful. Once again the neocons prove no matter how horrible someone is, they still support them.

[bear425]

14. That is really pathetic that this is what Tom Delay has

to do now to make him feel useful.

I voted online 7 times for Jerry. He's not the best dancer, but he certainly is way better than SE. I'm sure neither will make it to the end, but I'd love to see Jerry stay longer than her.

edit: speeling ;)

[President Jesus]

15. Sara Evans' list of campaign contributions

She puts them all under her married name, Shelske.

Here's her report: http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Sara_Evans.php

[pamela]

18. Hmmm, this is interesting.

I noticed from your link that most of her donations went to CRAIG PAC. Check out CRAIG PAC's link. http://www.craigpac.com/bio.shtml

[Justice]

17. She was on Hannity last night hawking her dancing and

complaining about the judges being unfair to her.


I was flipping channels, saw her and had to stop and watch...

[noamnety]

20. Why does the GOP have a "Babe of the Week" site?!!

Is that formally part of their family values now - to objectify women?

[JI7]

23. it might not be a bad thing if she won even though she wasn't so great

something like this might get people to see Republicans are the type to reward people for failures.

[Irreverend IX]

24. It might be for the better that she remains on.

I haven't seen the show or anything, but if she keeps on dancing badly and spouting her "god and country" crap and it's obvious that the judges are keeping her on because of outside pressure, the average viewer will probably become annoyed with her and the net support for conservatism will drop. If she makes some really stupid/bigoted statements, it'll be gravy.

[Blackthorn]

25. Who watches this trash in the first place?

[never_get_over_it]

30. Actually it is not trash

I watch almost no TV as I think most of it is trash - however this is a fun show and watching the contestants improve from week to week is great - but of course if you don't like dancing you wouldn't like this but it really isn't trash....and Jerry Springer has been so good - not a great dancer - but actually much better than I expected and VERY entertaining...

[mmonk]

26. Taking the fight to a different level, are we?

[Swamp Rat]

27. Tucker!

Jazz Hands! :D

[pamela]

31. Lol. I wish Tucker had stayed on a little longer.

This was almost funnier than when Jon Stewart called him a dick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j40rEUCuA1M&mode=related&search=



***

/off topic/
What an amazing night I'm having. I hit 600 posts, made the greatest page for the first time and got my first Swamprat graphic. Yay for me!:party:

[Swamp Rat]

35. Woohoo!

:woohoo: :bounce: :party:

Here's a new one for you: :D

[AspenRose]

36. I think that's your best graphic yet, Swampy.

:thumbsup:

[pamela]

37. I love it!

Thanks Swamp Rat. I love your work.

[malaise]

42. HaHa Ha

That's great :D

[newyawker99]

50. LMAO!!

:rofl:


:thumbsup:

[ComerPerro]

28. don't watch it, don't know who she is, but I do know this

my Mother watches the show, and she fucking hates "that conservative bitch".

[stella]

39. I hated her from the beginning and I din`t even know

the bitch was a Bush lover.

[never_get_over_it]

32. OK this really SUCKS

because there are four top dance groups in my opinion followed closely by Emmitt, and then Jerry and Sarah in that order - and now because of the "fan" base one of those top four will probably go tomorrow night - just like last week when Vivica went and the week before when Harry went - both of them should have stayed longer than Sarah..

Jeeeez these freaks are ruining my country and now my TV - Have I told you tonight how much I HATE THESE PEOPLE

[bumblebee1]

34. Our overnight DJ from the local country music station

keeps putting in plugs for Sara Evans. His plugs are more along the vote for the country girl line. Personally, I'd rather see how she performs before I cast my vote. Unfortunately, I work second shift so I don't get to see "Dancing with the Stars."

[NMMNG]

38. WTF does a person's "values" or party have to do with their dancing skills

If they suck, they suck, and they need to go.

Just more Rethug vote tampering. :puke:

[Bluebear]

40. Oh, gross, she has her own website, you can host "watching parties"

:puke:

http://www.dancingwithsara.com

[tanyev]

53. Good grief, that website is appalling.

So say she shamelessly whores herself out enough to win the stupid show, then what? She can introduce herself as the 2006 Champion of Dancing With The Stars for the rest of her life? That and a 5 dollar bill will get her a small latte at Starbucks.

[terrya]

43. I voted for Mario Lopez because he's hot.

I don't watch the show, but I do know Mario Lopez. :-)

[wryter2000]

47. Oh, gawd

Mario's on my list of men I'd love to molest. Those dimples. :loveya:

[terrya]

48. Not to mention that body.

I saw the Nip/Tuck episode he guest starred on. :-)

[SpreadItAround]

46. Vote for Jerry Springer.

:hippie:

[wryter2000]

49. Welcome to DU

:hi:

If he survives this week, I'll vote for him and Emmitt and Monique, too, if she's still around. I had no idea the repugs were messing with the vote, so I was limiting myself to one.

[Dervill Crow]

51. Now it makes sense.

I wondered what the deal was when she was talking about her fans coming through for her. It didn't occur to me last night that this was just like a high school popularity contest.

Damn, damn, damn, I wish I would have voted.

I avoid reality shows and ABC, but I was flipping channels and was intrigued by the show.

Again, damn, damn, damn.

[snacker]

52. Good lord...

this is just, plain weird.

[Generator]

54. Watching ABC is evil!

Get with the plan, people. Which reminds me, another hour and a minute I am going to waste tonight getting my mind brain hoohawed by LOST.

PS Who watches dancing shows? Yeee GODS. How old are you people? :)

[LibraLiz1973]

56. 33 years old and god help me, I watch dancing shows!!

I can't help it!!


I will vote for Willa ahead of Sarah. She's an idiot

[never_get_over_it]

57. My twelve year old nephew watches DWS - lol

I know all ages of people who watch - it really is a good show and sometimes just makes you want to DANCE!!!!!! and with all the shit in this world sometimes its really nice to want to dance.

[pamela]

59. I'm 102, but I'll outlive you all 'cause...

I'm a dancer!

[pamela]

58. grrrrrr

Looks like she made it through for another week.