The West Wing was always a great show, but this scene in particular is tops. It completely dismantles the religious right's argument against homosexuality and their defense of discrimination because of it.
While addressing supporters, the fictional President Bartlet notices a popular conservative talk show host in the room and interrupts his speech to take her bigotry head on. The moment was an absolutely perfect takedown of bigotry based on biblical beliefs.
JACOBS: I don’t say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President. The Bible does.
BARTLET: Yes it does. Leviticus!
JACOBS: 18:22.
BARTLET: Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I had you here. I wanted to sell my youngest daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She’s a Georgetown Sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be?
(Bartlet only waits a second for a response, then plunges on.)
BARTLET: While thinking about that, can I ask another? My chief of staff, Leo McGary, insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? Or is it okay to call the police?
(Bartlet barely pauses to take a breath.)
BARTLET: Here’s one that’s really important, because we’ve got a lot of sports fans in this town. Touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you?that excerpt from the show priceless it should be made into a poster and circulated as much as the rhetoric of intolerance AKA bigotry. these people who usurp the Bible and adapt it's intent to coincide with their message of hate don't seem to realize that can be a multi lane street,
with many who can manipulate others by inferring a interpretation that supports hate and discrimination, meanwhile Jesus is teaching love they neighbor and judge not lest ye be judged. cherry picking the word is denying all those you omit making you a half cocked half baked religious fanatic focused only on what your agenda can be made to sound Biblically correct.
wonder what they would do if they ever gave a thought to Jesus never taught the thoughts that race through their heads dripping with vitriolic intolerance for the other children of God. you don't get to wrap yourself in religion and disrespect the tenets of those wrappings.
