February 14, 2001

1:24 PM

Spineless Pinkos!- The VA Pledge of Allegiance bill (discussed at MeFi two weeks ago here) is withdrawn, after one last old-school McCarthyesque comment by its sponsor.
posted by kevincmurphy (17 comments total)

That's just tacky. I am patriotic and have pride for my country (though not always the leadership) but I shouldn't have to recite the Pledge of Allegiance because it's the law.
posted by bkdelong at 1:27 PM on February 14, 2001

Oops, sorry. I inadvertently reposted the original article URL when I meant to repost the original comment thread, which is here.
posted by kevincmurphy at 1:27 PM on February 14, 2001

Whoa... I read the blurb and thought "What's VA Linux doing with a Pledge of Allegiance? That's kinda weird..."
posted by whatnotever at 1:49 PM on February 14, 2001

It's weird that the state senator that is pushing that through hails from Fairfax co. One of the more liberal areas of Virginia, and the former home of certain large orange superheros. Also Ebola was invented there. That'll show the pinkos.
posted by captaincursor at 2:24 PM on February 14, 2001

Heh... I didn't know anyone used the term "pinkos" anymore, especially with reference to "libertarians and liberals". Hell, by this standard, Ayn Rand would be downright communist, because you know all good capitalists are Christians, right?
posted by dagnyscott at 2:43 PM on February 14, 2001

Uh ... large orange superheroes?
posted by dhartung at 3:17 PM on February 14, 2001

No, no, large orange superheroes.

Dagny, I think he meant "libertarian" in terms of the phrase "civil libertarian," not referring to supporters of the Libertarian Party.
posted by snarkout at 3:27 PM on February 14, 2001

If someone calls you a "spineless pinko," you must be doing something right.
posted by kindall at 5:21 PM on February 14, 2001

As a resident of Fairfax county, VA, I can say that there are a lot of intelligent, well-educated people living here. That someone like Warren E. Barry could be elected to the state senate just goes to show that you can be educated and intelligent and still be a complete jackass. You college kids out there be forwarned.
posted by Loudmax at 10:18 PM on February 14, 2001

"Spineless Pinkos?", over here we still have people who use the word "Jive"
posted by fullerine at 2:18 AM on February 15, 2001

Dagny, I think he meant "libertarian" in terms of the phrase "civil libertarian," not referring to supporters of the Libertarian Party.

It didn't make any sense to me. The fact remains that they were accusing people who are against a forced pledge of allegiance, which contains a reference to God, of being communists, so the assertion is not Christian = commie.

It's impossible to figure out what anyone means in politics any more. Which is probably the point. I mean, the libertarian party is what used to be called liberal, and still is in Europe. And... blah.
posted by dagnyscott at 5:48 AM on February 15, 2001

fullerine, i only like to use the term 'jive' if quickly followed by 'turkey'

in regards to them 'pinkos', i can only imagine senator barry went home that night and complained that "he would have gotten away with it, too, if not for them damn kids!"
posted by bliss322 at 6:16 AM on February 15, 2001

this guy is on a roll. check out this article on salon. look at the 5th paragraph for his comments.

i don't know, i think before he starts saying things like "pinko" anymore, he should probably look up the communist view of state loyalty.
posted by bliss322 at 8:20 AM on February 15, 2001

Are you wearing your flag pin today, citizen?
posted by dhartung at 2:20 PM on February 15, 2001

bliss...it's "If if weren't for those meddling kids!"
posted by jpoulos at 6:25 PM on February 15, 2001

Geez, when did Virginia turn out to be as wacky a state as Louisiana or Utah? When I was at UVA (briefly), I don't remember it being quite so full of dumbass right wing crackpots. Two words appropriate for lawmakers wanting to force citizens to pledge allegiance: Seig Heil.
posted by Mr. skullhead at 7:15 PM on February 15, 2001

jpoulous. whew. thanks for the correction.
posted by bliss322 at 7:47 AM on February 16, 2001