The Daily Show takes on the failed immigration bill with its typical irreverence. John Hodgman, resident expert on the Daily Show, does another one of his hard hitting exposes on why the immigration bill failed. Hodgman tells us that the debate over immigration is a public health issue...immigrants are bring leprosy and tuberculosis to the United States. Hodgman suggests that as leprosy spreads, Americans will lose more of their fingers...eventually ending up with hoof like appendages.

So the bottom line must be that contraception and contraception products promote sex for pleasure...which makes the new Trojan Condom ad campaign off limits for Fox and CBS. The networks are apparently only willing to air condom commercials that have disease prevention as the theme, and not those with a message aimed at pregnancy prevention.

The new ad campaign is called "Evolve" and the message is to use a condom every time. The problem arises from the setting and the storyline for the campaign. The ad takes place in a bar and uses pigs to depict men looking to connect with women. Once the pig purchases a condom from a vending machine in the bathroom, it is transformed into an attractive male who draws the attention of the woman seated at the bar. You can view the ad here.

From The New York Times:

Representatives for both Fox and CBS confirmed that they had refused the ads, but declined to comment further.

In a written response to Trojan, though, Fox said that it had rejected the spot because, “Contraceptive advertising must stress health-related uses rather than the prevention of pregnancy."

In its rejection, CBS wrote, “while we understand and appreciate the humor of this creative, we do not find it appropriate for our network even with late-night-only restrictions."

“It’s so hypocritical for any network in this culture to go all puritanical on the subject of condom use when their programming is so salacious," said Mark Crispin Miller, a media critic who teaches at New York University. “I mean, let’s get real here. Fox and CBS and all of them are in the business of nonstop soft porn, but God forbid we should use a condom in the pursuit of sexual pleasure."

“With a 75 percent share of the market, we can prioritize growing the category and increasing overall condom usage," Mr. Daniels [Vice President for Marketing] said. “Right now in the U.S. only one in four sex acts involves using a condom. That’s dramatically below usage rates in other developed countries. Our goal is to dramatically increase use."

“The ‘Evolve’ ad does a nice job of being humorous, but it’s also a serious call to action," Mr. Daniels said. “The pigs are a symbol of irresponsible sexual behavior, and are juxtaposed with the condom as a responsible symbol of respect for oneself and one’s partner."

The industry typically tries to reach men, but this campaign’s ads are running in Cosmopolitan and Glamour. Trojan sees growth potential in women customers, who make only 30 percent of condom purchases.

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To say that the mentality at Fox and CBS is archaic would be a kind characterization. Its common knowledge that a large share of television advertising and programming uses sex as a draw…a fact that clearly illuminates the hypocrisy of these networks. Apparently the rationale suggests that one simply cannot focus on measures that could protect one from sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, or being forced to confront the possibility of an abortion…if they remotely suggest that people willfully engage in sex for pleasure.

The fact that 75 percent of all sexual acts performed in the United States take place without the use of a condom is beyond the realm of rationality. Anyone that believes that the extinguishing of sex for pleasure will eventually be the accepted moral directive and that abstinence will eventually transform the sexual practices of the nation and the world is living in denial. It just isn't going to happen.

A number of months back, Thought Theater posted a video clip of a safe sex advertisement that ran on French television...an ad that wouldn't have a chance of airing on U.S. television.

When confronted with irrationality, it seems that I often turn to humor. Perhaps it helps diffuse the frustration. Regardless, a little laughter never hurts. The following is my own satirical tongue-in-cheek visual of an ad campaign that would stand a good chance of airing on CBS and Fox.

Stephen Colbert takes on the nomination of James Holsinger to be the new Surgeon General in a new segment of the word titled "Pathophysiology"...a word in the title of a paper Holsinger wrote for the Methodist Church on homosexuality. In that report, Holsinger suggests that homosexuality is unnatural and leads to illness and disease.

Colbert concludes that gays should come with a warning label...something that probably makes more sense to Holsinger than any thoughtful person would care to know.

Thought Theater previously provided a tongue-in-cheek list of the top ten reasons George Bush nominated James Holsinger to be the Surgeon General...which can be found here.

Samantha Bee brings us another in depth expose...this time on whether Nascar is getting a little too gay. With Garnier Fructis sponsoring a car and offering free makeovers at the track, Samantha thinks Nascar is a little fruitier than we may have assumed.

I've always thought SNL's TV Funhouse was kind of a hit and miss segment...they're either really good or really bad...at least that's my opinion. I think the following clip is one of the good ones. Here's the set up...Oprah has all of the potential 2008 presidential candidates on her show and they are being given an opportunity to air their dirty laundry before the campaign moves into full swing. The tendency to exaggerate and the competitive nature takes over and they're quickly in the middle of what could only be characterized as a Jerry Springer episode.

The Creation Museum is back in the news, although I doubt that this is the publicity they were hoping for since their recent opening of the facility. It seems that the actor for the museum's video on Adam and Eve has done his share of frolicking in the nude...and the location wasn't called the Garden of Eden.

From The SFGate.com:

The man who plays Adam in a video aired at a Bible-based creationist museum has led a different life outside the Garden of Eden, flaunting his sexual exploits online and modeling for a clothing line that promotes free love.

After learning about his activities Thursday, the Creation Museum in Kentucky pulled the 40-second video in which he appears.

"We are currently investigating the veracity of these serious claims of his participation in projects that don't align with the biblical standards and moral code upon which the ministry was founded," Answers for Genesis spokesman Mark Looy said in a written statement.

The actor, Eric Linden, owns a graphic Web site called Bedroom Acrobat, where he has been pictured, smiling alongside a drag queen, in a T-shirt brandishing the site's sexually suggestive logo. The Web site, which has a network of members, allows users to post explicit stories and photos.

He also sells clothing for SFX International, whose initials appear on clothing to spell "SEX" from afar. It promotes "free love,""pleasure" and "thrillz."

"For the Creation Museum, I did what I did as an actor. It doesn't necessarily mean I believe in evolution or a believe in creation," Linden said. "I'm hired to get a point across. On the flip side, if I was hired to play a murderer, that doesn't mean I'd go out and kill somebody. It's make-believe."

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I think Mr. Linden was a good choice for the museum's video on Adam and Eve...after all he was an actor playing a character in a fictitious depiction on the origin of man. Sounds like a match made in heaven.

When I read about this latest brouhaha, I remembered an editorial cartoon sent to me by a friend. I've included it below. Since we're focused on the story of Adam and Eve, we might as well get an alternate take on the fable...this one conforms to the beliefs one might have found in Afghanistan during the Taliban's heyday.

H/T to Shakesville

I've not yet commented on the Paris Hilton situation...but in light of her early release from jail...and her now being brought back to court to face the judge that sentenced her to jail...followed by her being sent back to jail...I felt it warranted a few words and a little tongue-in-cheek humor.

First, the serious part. In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech tragedy, I wrote about what I call our "Chain Letter Society"...the notion that we have become obsessed with the pursuit of fame, being number one, and winning at all costs. I've suggested that parents...in their wish to see their children succeed...may actually be handicapping the ability of a child to grow up and function as an adult in the real world.

Paris Hilton and other young role models demonstrate the concerns I've voiced. The mindset becomes such that they believe they are, in fact, entitled and beyond reproach. They have lived a life in which their parents have programmed them to believe they are destined for greatness and that desire is all that is required to attain the notoriety which they have been promised.

Unfortunately, when many of these young people are forced to encounter the world as it is...rather than as it has been described...they fail miserably. The expectations they bring to adulthood are virtually delusional...and they are not prepared to encounter life's travails. Worse yet, they believe that life will accommodate them in the same way they have been accommodated by their parents. This often leads them to disregard society's rules...assuming they apply to others but not to them.

The problem we face as more of these children enter the real world is that they are not only unprepared to be contributing citizens, they are unwilling to accept the consequences of their actions. What we can or will do to address this burgeoning problem remains to be seen. I can't say that I'm optimistic about the outcome.

Now the silly stuff. As I thought about the Paris Hilton fiasco, the Biblical Beatitudes came to mind...so I decided to offer my own satirical version which I'm calling, "The Big-Attitudes".

Jon Stewart brings us all that's relevant with regard to the latest GOP presidential candidate debate. Stewart finds a few gems and deciphers the essence of the GOP message for viewers...with the wit and sarcasm that has become routine fare for The Daily Show. I especially enjoyed when Stewart gives Mitt Romney a vocabulary lesson on the use of the term "non sequitur".

Scooter Libby was sentenced to thirty months in prison for his conviction on lying to FBI agents and the Grand Jury in relation to the investigation into the leaking of the name of CIA operative, Valerie Plame.

In last evenings GOP debate, each of the candidates were asked about the prospect that they would pardon Libby. My impression is that the Republican Party views the Libby conviction as the equivalent of Bill Clinton's impeachment for perjury...which leads many to conclude that the thirty month sentence is harsh and unwarranted.

While one could argue against that assertion, the thing that struck me in the answers given last night was the degree to which a number of the candidates minimized the criminal actions behind the situation. Here’s the rub I have with the apparent sympathy for Libby...this is the same party that wants to wear its moral superiority on its sleeve...the same party that sees no need for hate crimes legislation...the same party that is comfortable with the discharge of high value translators from the military because they are gay...the same party that thinks twelve million hard working illegal immigrants ought to be denied a path to citizenship...the same party that opposed the removal of sodomy laws which made it a crime to engage in consensual homosexual sex...the same party that wants to make the burning of a flag a crime...the same party that would send an exemplary mother to jail if she had an abortion following an accidental late in life pregnancy...the same party that pushed for larger FCC penalties because they were in an uproar when Janet Jackson's breast made an appearance on television during the Super Bowl...the same party that ran the White House when Americans sat in front of their televisions following Katrina and watched in horror as people were left to suffer as a result of government incompetence.

Where were these men when cases like that of 17 year old honor student Genarlow Wilson made headlines? Wilson is serving a ten year sentence in Georgia for having had consensual oral sex with a 15 year old girl. He wouldn't have been sent to prison if he had had sexual intercourse...that falls under a "Romeo & Juliet law in Georgia...however oral sex between underage teens constituted "aggravated child molestation and carried a mandatory sentence".

An example of the shameful inconsistency might be helpful. When Terry Schiavo's husband sought to carry out the wishes of his wife and allow her to die, not only did these lock step zombie politicians rally to prevent her passage, they enacted legislation to prevent her death and the president flew back from Texas just to sign the bill...despite pages and pages of evidence that Mrs. Schiavo was in a permanent vegetative state. That wasn't all...many GOP politicians attacked Michael Schiavo...portraying him as some type of monster husband intent on ridding himself of his wife...by men that trade in old wives as if they were used cars.

I could go on but I think you get the picture. As I watched these politicians wax on about poor Scooter, I couldn't help but see why the GOP has been stereotyped as the good old boys club for white men who live in virtual isolation and routinely demonstrate abject disregard for all things unfamiliar. The minute one of their own is assailed and brought to justice, they become spokespeople for the elimination of injustice. Unfortunately, that leaves out Mexicans, gays, African Americans, poor people, uninsured people, women (unless they're the age of their daughters, have big breasts, and prone to kowtowing to old men with cash and clout), the evil entertainment industry (unless you would make a good governor or president), and all others outside the purview and the playground of these pampered and pompous prevaricators.