Is the New Muppets Movie ‘Brainwashing’ Your Kids With Anti-Business Message?
- Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:18pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Actor Chris Cooper playing villain Tex Richman in the new Muppets movie.
“We’re teaching our kids class warfare!” Fox’s Eric Bolling said on Friday. “Where are we, communist China?”
What’s got him so upset? It’s the new Muppets movie, which features a villain curiously named Tex Richman.
The “Follow the Money” host skewered the new movie in a segment on Friday that seemed to be a warning to parents. The Washington Post explains:
The film features an evil oil baron named Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), who wants to raze the Muppets’ old theater to drill for the black gold. The gang reunites to host a major fundraiser to win their theater back.
Bolling saw it as an attack on the oil industry and capitalism, and invited Dan Gainor of the conservative Media Research Center to put in his two cents. Gainor made the leap that the Muppets’ efforts to save their theater was a puppet version of the Occupy movement. All it needs is a pepper-spraying cop.
Bolling’s guest, Dan Gainor, took it even further:
“This is what they’re teaching our kids. You wonder why we’ve got a bunch of Occupy Wall Street people walking all around the country: They’ve been indoctrinated, literally, for years by this kind of stuff,” Gainor said. “Whether it was ‘Captain Planet’ or Nickelodeon’s ‘Big Green Help,’ or ‘The Day After Tomorrow,’ the Al Gore-influenced movie, all of that is what they’re teaching, is that corporations are bad, the oil industry is bad, and ultimately what they’re telling kids is what they told you in the movie ‘The Matrix:’ that mankind is a virus on poor, old Mother Earth.”
So did fellow Fox host Andrea Tantaros: “It’s brainwashing in the most obvious form. I just wish liberals could just leave little kids alone!”
Gainor added: “It’s amazing how far the left will go to manipulate your kids to give the anti-corporate message. I mean this is a Muppet movie for goodness sakes. The only thing green on the screen should be Kermit.”
You can watch the segment below:
Despite Bolling and his guests’ arguments, the Post isn’t buying it:
But there’s one problem with Bolling’s rant: Environmentalism wasn’t mentioned in the movie. The Muppets save their theater because it’s a landmark and their historical home — not because they’re trying to hinder the oil industry’s progress, or save the planet.
Maybe he’d have a better case if Kermit had sung “It’s Not Easy Being Green.”
The New York Daily News brushes the critique aside:
The Muppets and their cousins “Sesame Street” have long been targets for conservatives convinced liberal writers shoehorn their politics into shows and movies targeting kids.
But is the idea really that far-fetched? Consider the news that broke in May. Then, author Ben Shapiro in his book “Primetime Propaganda” revealed that Sesame Street executives admitted to sneaking in liberal messages:
For example, Shapiro quotes Mike Dann, one of Sesame Street’s founding executives, saying it “was not made for the sophisticated or the middle class.” Using the premise, the team worked in all sorts of messages, including Grover breaking bread with a hippie and Oscar the grouch who was supposed to address “conflicts arising from racial and ethnic diversity.” Dann also admitted he used the program in the wake of 9/11 to highlight peaceful alternatives to war.
“Sesame Street tried to tackle divorce, tackled ‘peaceful conflict resolution’ in the aftermath of 9/11 and had [gay actor] Neil Patrick Harris on the show playing the subtly-named ‘fairy shoeperson’,” writes Shapiro, according to THR.
And the Muppets movie isn’t the only kids movie currently in theaters that is being accused of pushing a liberal agenda. The New York Post’s Kyle Smith recently called the movie “Happy Feet Two” a “Kiddie Karl Marx.” He explains:
“Happy Feet Two” has a broad, lefty political agenda. It briefly brings up global warming (though, tellingly, only for a minute—Hollywood’s interest in stoking global warming fears seems to have peaked, which is convenient because the public has, after some frightened moments, decisively rejected the alarmist viewpoint) in a scene in which polar bears are shown clinging to shrinking icebergs. It also makes the case, somewhat half-heartedly, for vegetarianism (the penguins see humans roasting chickens, and get spooked). This doesn’t go very far, though, because penguins aren’t vegetarians though I suppose they’re pescetarians. And I’m sure I won’t be the only viewer who thinks that two male krill in the movie (played by Brad Pitt and Matt Damon) have now joined Oscar and Felix and Bert and Ernie as pairs of unusually close confirmed bachelors.
Painting businessmen as evil isn’t anything new. And it would certainly fall in line with a liberal Hollywood message. So the question is: Is that what is going on in the new Muppets movie?
In trailers posted for the movie, that message isn’t apparent (which could even help critics who would say the trailers are sneaky in that they don’t accurately reflect the message):
Still, Richman does have a rap in the movie that does the job of pointing out that he’s a greedy villain:
Have you seen the movie? What do you think?
By the way, Cooper’s performance as Richman, especially his musical number, isn’t getting the best reviews.
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Comments (175)
gmoneytx
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:04pmI saw the movie, you’re full of shiot!
Report Post »Veritas vos liberabit
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:43pmSaw the movie. It wasn’t anti business, I just thought it wasn’t very good. The music was embarrassingly horrible! I grew up watching the muppets. They just need to stop!
Report Post »Ruttdigger
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:52pmI saw the movie as well with my nephew and Brother and honestly I thought the movie had a GREAT message in that if you try you can accomplish anything. The characters have a tough thing to do and the message that not giving up and the message that it only takes a few to affect change was refreshing in today’s world. I actually left thinking that we need more movies like this.
I understand that the “villain” was an oil exec but in the story he was corrupt and taking advantage of the Muppet. I don’t think you should automatically think it was anti business as much as it was pro-getting off your lazy self indulging butt and doing something.
I believe “capitalism is boss” (thank you Mr. Wilkow) This is just a movie and one with a good message for the youth. Don’t be lazy, stand up for your beliefs, and quit letting people take advantage of you. It is about time we had a movie that had a good message out there. I would see it again and recommend to anyone that grew up with the Muppets.
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:42pmI also saw it. The anti-corporate message would be better interpreted as anti-Big Oil (specifically), but was so minor that it barely rises to the level of a minute plot point.
This movie was anti-business like The Muppets Treasure Island was anti-British navy and The Muppets Christmas Carol was anti-rich. Yes, the British navy played a part in the former and a rich guy in the latter, but that was about it.
Here’s a dumb question (that doesn‘t give anything in the movie away that’s not already out there): IMDB shows the plat as… “With the help of three fans, The Muppets must reunite to save their old theater from a greedy oil tycoon.”
Outside of the villain being an oil tycoon, who else would have the money to take over the theater? This is just the application of common sense.
Then again, I guess it could have been “With the help of three fans, The Muppets must reunite to save their old theater from being demolished by a group of unwashed, drugged up hippie squatters who have sex under tarps and rape women in tents.”
Just sayin’.
Report Post »goody2shoos
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:02pmI actually saw the WGA screening before it was released here in Manhattan and afterwards there was a Q&A with the two writers, Jason Segal and Nicholas Stoller. The moderator ask them if they were, not so much anti-business, but if they were anti-oil based upon the criticisms she read from right wing websites. Segal asked Stoller, “I don’t have a problem with oil, do you? Stoller shook his head no. Segal replied, “You put oil in you car, right?” And then they broke out in laughter. So if they’re not anti-oil, then I assume they’re not “anti-business” or anti-capitalism.
Report Post »PeachyinGA
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:23pmI saw the movie too and while I’d love to dump on Hollywood, I didn’t pick up an agenda … other than it was a weak Muppet movie produced only to refresh the next generation who they are and to set up a better movie to come (I hope).
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:28pmWe all know the facts of life but let’s be honest: a Muppets movie where the big G evil American Government refuses to give permits for the Muppets and takes their property by exploitation of eminent domain is going to send the wrong message, and it’s just not as compelling.
I love evil corporations: Avatar, Deus Ex, Blade Runner, Robocop…. Evil laugh… Evil laugh…. Evil laugh…..
Report Post »Mukichan
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:50pmI agree,, Movie was fun and Clever, The Business man is the Heavy sure but there are heavies in the world..
Report Post »jzs
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:06pmOh jeez, this is about the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard. This is on par with the Christian right saying Harry Potter glamorized witchcraft. Maybe the Lion King glorified governments where the power of government is passed from parent to child like North Korea? This is idiotic.
But, so what? This is America. If a studio sees a market based on some liberal idea and makes a movie to appeal and profit off of that market, so what? Are you guys against capitalism? What happened to the free market?
Try not to be stupid. If Hollywood makes movies that slant to the left, that’s because there is a market for it. Capitalism rules!
Report Post »RayinTX
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:55pmSaw the movie and did not get the vibe that it was anti-business. Sure the villian was big oil, but it could have been anything. The Muppets did went to TV stations to get the show on. They did not sit around and complained but relied on themselves to raise the money. They realized that they had to do a show to get the money. I can see it in other movies but I don’t see it in this one.
Report Post »wellhangingchad
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:52pmIt is funny though how in the picture above the evil guy looks like al gore. The bear looks like Obama (big ears, not the color). And the little troll thing looks like Nancy Pelosi.
Report Post »stogieguy7
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 9:17amIf you think that, perhaps you weren’t paying attention. We took our daughter to see the movie and, while it was entertaining, there was a subtle undertone of animosity toward certain “conservative” stereotypes. The evil “oil baron” who will happily destroy this wonderful thing to make more money (also evil). And then they name him “Tex Richman”. Tex Rich-man? So, a slap against the rich and against Texas (a place Hollywood hates with a passion)?
How could you possibly see the movie and be unable to note some of these little subtleties?
Report Post »BlackAce41
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 10:29amPeople need to stop Freaking out and go after OWS and Obama Cronyism. Stop attacking the Muppet’s okay it is a movie the moppets are no running to rule the world…
Report Post »GeorgieBaby
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:07amI agree. I saw the movie, liked it, and think this line of thinking also a heap of garbage.
Report Post »getalong
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:18amSlackjaw,
I respect your opinion, but when it comes to the story of the rich man who went to Jesus and asked what more he could do to get to Heaven, you leave out a very important notation in that story. It says that Jesus had love in his eyes for the man. Jesus wasn’t telling the man to go give everything to poor people, he was trying to tell the man that giving to others has nothing to do with going to Heaven. Faith alone save us. The man was already giving and helping poor people. Jesus loved to challenge man’s weaknesses. Jesus knew what was in the heart of this man because he knew the exact character defects in all of us. Read the story of the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda. Yes, Jesus healed the man, but it is important to note what he meant when he said to the man “Do you really want to be healed”. Once again, Jesus is challenging. Why in heck after 38 years did this man NOT find someone to help him to the pool? Why did Jesus require the man to go immediately and pay what is owed for his healing according to tradition – he also told the man to carry his own mat.
Report Post »slackjaw79
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:02pmHow about the anti-business message from Jesus Christ? It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven? Is that brainwashing? Do Republicans still acknowledge that verse in the Bible? Do Republicans still read the Bible?
qpwillie
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:10pmYou forgot to read the next two verses which clearifies the statement.
Mark 10:
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Carter John
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:36pmEye of a needle is the name of a door in the walls around a city, like a postern gate. For a camel to get through it would have to be unloaded then sort of crawl through. Symbolizing humility and a willing to leave behind possessions. Not your literal way of reading it, by the way the sheep that was lost was also a parable not a case of animal cruelty.
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:38pm“Eye of the needle” referred to the door next to the gate on a city entrance. It is the most misread quote around as it is lost in translation. The door was big enough for a man to get through, but it would be quite a task to get a camel through one.
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:38pmThere are plenty of poor businessmen and oil men, trust me. So why accuse them as a group of being anti-christs? Wouldn’t that be bigoted?
Jesus didn’t say it was impossible – the message is simply that it is difficult. The second-richest man in the world, a businessman, is giving away substantially all of his money? Does that make him godly? Not hardly – he is a professed atheist.
Oftentimes, the message is more complicated than we first perceive. Better go re-read the good book a few dozen more times and reconsider your position.
Report Post »Secessionista
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:43pmYo, slackjaw, Jesus was a fisher of men. It was a business built almost entirely as a Ponzi scheme, given the “go ye thereforth and multiply” command. Think of it as Mary Kay for souls.
He suggested rich people to give up their riches, but he also commanded the crippled to walk, and the blind to see. He was all about breaking paradigms.
Report Post »RejectFalseIcons
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:44pmOr is that a line in a book shaped by 2000 years of getting rich off of superstition and mysticism?
Don’t get me wrong. Some parts of the bible are great and awesome. But it‘s clear there’s a few things in there that were said by man, not God. That’s the problem with Dogma & Mysticism.
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:46pmHe was also about helping people one-on-one, not giving your money to the government to set up social programs. Taxes do nothing for the soul. Helping someone off the ground and feeding them does.
Report Post »slackjaw79
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:46pmSo, a rich man would have to become a Christian in order to be saved? Great. Christ taught and worked to care for the poor. If we had more rich people willing to care for the poor, then I think our country would be on a better track. At least the poor wouldn’t feel so beat down. And that’s a great story about the eye of the needle. But, where did you get that from? I’m pretty sure somebody just made that up. The eye of a needle means the same thing today as it did back then.
Report Post »getalong
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:53pmSlackJaw79
Report Post »Did you know that Jesus often dined and drank with rich people, as well as fed poor people? Another way to look at your quote from Jesus is that Jesus loved rich people as much as poor people. Why? Because Jesus was all about each man celebrating and using their God-given abilities of thinking, speaking and loving. And in many cases using these abilities help people to become successful and rich. And maybe he understood, as he understood all characteristics of man’s nature perfectly, that wealth can cause greed and isolation, and that with wealth comes great responsibility. He knew the ultimate responsibility is left to each man and is not dictated (or forced) by another – ie, taking money from rich people and giving it to people who did nothing to earn it. That is just empty charity. Jesus calls for restorative charity to others. God wants us to, when we give, to give completely. To be invested, caring, personal, and inspiring to another human being. To help “lift up” dignity in other. No one can give someone a sense of accomplishment. That comes from within them. Jesus said there will always be the poor, and I think he was saying that on both the rich side and the poor side there will always be people who choose evil , who remain poor in spirit. They continue to make the same errors in their lives, and continue to have the same consequences. Consequences always start with a choice someone makes.
NHwinter
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:09pmSlackjaw – It sounds like Jesus was very pro business in the Parable of the Talents. The man who didn’t do anything with his talents while the owner was gone was let go. The other two men who made a profit were rewarded. I love how people twist the Bible to suit their agenda. Just like the good Samaritan. He didn’t run to the town to find a government worker to take care of the man who had been robbed and beaten. He helped the man himself and paid for his care at the Inn. To me it seems like God is telling us to work and to help others. Not to have government force us to do either.
Report Post »pollyanna
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:25pm2 Thessalonians 3: 8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nothing; but worked with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample to you to follow us. 10: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, THAT IF ANY WOULD NOT WORK, NEITHER SHOULD HE EAT . 11: For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
Report Post »nueces
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:49pm“The eye of the needle” was a colloquial term for a small zig zag opening in the city wall without a gate that would allow the passage of just one person at a time. It is not referring to a sewing needle. Fact.
Report Post »slackjaw79
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:49pmInteresting interpretation. But I don‘t think you’re right. Jesus was talking about actual poor people. It’s amazing how much you people twist the basic Christian message that we need to take care of each other. That’s really what the gospel is all about, taking care of the least among us. I really don’t think that Jesus was OK with rich people. When the rich man asked how do I get to heaven, Jesus told him to give EVERYTHING he owned to the poor. I recognize that the first people you should be taking care of is your family, but then you have a responsibility to care for the poor. Not just poor christians, who have never made a mistake in life, but all poor people. The gov’t can and should be involved in caring for the poor because not everyone needs to be a christian to deserve help.
Report Post »dudeman4
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:01pmHe didn’t say it was impossible. Just that it was hard.
Report Post »firecracker2
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:02pmI think you missed the point. The reason it is harder for a rich man to get to Heaven is because many rich people trust in their riches rather than God. It in no way means that rich people can’t get to Heaven and yes, Republicans still do read the Bible.
Report Post »JohnGalt
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:09pmWow slackjaw79, hate to say it but you got pawned by these guys.
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:21pmThe “eye of the needle” comment has to be taken in the context intended. First go here and learn what the eye of the needle is. http://hethathasanear.com/images/eye_needle.jpg It‘s a narrow point of access that forces the person wanting to enter thru it TO BE ON THEIR KNEE’S! Hence Jesus completing the saying with, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
The idea is that generally rich people become haughty in their own hype, prideful, and more or less insolent. To enter Heaven the rich man must humble himself by getting on his knee’s and giving proper praise and acting appropriate with his money. Such as paying an honest days “agreed” upon wages, for an honest days agreed up work.
If God was against gain or profits, He wouldn’t be asking for a tithe of what people made, and hoping that the rich man will honor heave, praise, and peace offerings besides to care for the needy.
Job was a wealthy man who was tried in the fire of having everything taken. His faithful resulted in 10 times more wealth than he began with.
Report Post »WalkSoft
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:39pm28 if you don’t have a job or something someone wants that you can market, you will meet god 1st!
Report Post »YoungConservativesRule
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:08pmAccording to Slacky here all rich people are evil.
Report Post »RIGEL_ORION
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:18pmNo, the eye of a needle does not mean the same thing. Like a lot of metaphors, something is lost in the translation between languages and over time. Kick the bucket – translate that into Chinese and imagine it being read by someone several millenia removed. Then have some Jacka$% claim that its meaning is verbatim to try and prove an argument he’s already lost.
Why do you suppose Jesus would ask a rich man to give up his possessions to enter the kingdom of heaven? A fool would think it was about the money. No, it was actually a test. If you want to come to my kingdom, prove your worth. Give away that which you hold most dear…. Isaac, sacrifice your son, etc. Perhaps he would ask you to give up the covetousness and ‘life’s not fair because of (fill-in blank)‘ cross you’ve fallen in love with because it can justify every failure.
Report Post »RIGEL_ORION
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:32pmAnother point of order Slackjaw,
If there was any redeeming quality or benefit from being forced to ‘help’ fellow man, God has the means to make forced compliance in every second of our lives a reality.
Yet, that’s not the case. Perhaps its because the entire point of this exercise in free will is the spiritual growth involved in making those actions yourself. It’s about YOU choosing to help your fellow man. Robbing your neighbor to pay for a social program isn’t getting HIM or YOU any closer to heaven.
Once you codify and try to force compliance, you twist what was good into evil. But then again, evil often disguises itself as good
Report Post »TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:46pmOk Slackjaw, lets give you the sake of argument.
Let us say, for the sake of discussion that Jesus didn’t like the rich, blanket statement.
Let us say that Jesus COMMANDED that all those attaining wealth give it ALL away.
When you forcibly take from them to give to the “poor” you aren’t following Jesus.
In fact, you are in clear violation of “thou shalt not steal” ….the bible doesn’t say thou shalt not steal unless you think this wealthy guy just has too damn much, and is greedy and needs to share.
If someone wants to hoard all their wealth, that is the business of said person, and not you. YOU DON’T GET TO DECIDE. You attempting to force that decision on another is you thinking that since said person has too much stuff or money, you should be able to take it from them. But since that is wrong, you use gov’t to make it legal, then create “programs” to not only alleviate your guilt of envy and thievery, but also manage to make you feel good about yourself.
What did “the rich” or the nonexistent 1% steal from you?
HONEST DISCUSSION. We must save our republic, and trashing one group of people just because they are in great financial shape isn’t going to do it.
Report Post »TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:55pmOne other thing, and this to all of you.
Consider that a majority of the wealthy during that time frame were probably of a noble dynasty in a caste system. So there was very little chance at people not being born into wealth attaining it on their own merit due to the gov’t actively preventing it from happening.
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:20pm@ nueces
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:49pm
“The eye of the needle” was a colloquial term for a small zig zag opening in the city wall without a gate that would allow the passage of just one person at a time. It is not referring to a sewing needle. Fact.
Report Post »————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Yep. Just called up a Hebrew friend in Israel. The gate is known as the JAFFA Gate. Jesus certainly knew it was commonly known as the eye of the needle and why it became known as such. When the main gates of the City were closed, merchants would have to pass their camels thru the eye of the needle. The only way was by stripping the merchandise (wealth) the camel carried on the outside, forcing the camel to kneel to pass thru, and each item the camel carried passed in for accountability to the tax collector on the other side of the gate. The merchant would also have to kneel to pass thru because the gate at its highest point was 4 ft.
denise brooks
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:36pmwhat Jesus was referring to was the importance that some people give money. many have misquoted the Bible when it states that “money is the root of all evil.“ it is actually ”the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.” obviously, if money itself was evil, then none of us should possess it! and nowhere in the Bible does He condemn business. anything can be handled wrongly. there are good and bad corporations. that doesn‘t mean there shouldn’t be any.
Report Post »starkwood
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 10:49amRight On! QPWILLIE – Don’t you just love it when people twist or take things out of context from the Bible to make it say what they think it should say? The guy has no clue what the Bible says. The only time he probably opens it is when he is searching for something to throw at conservatives when he runs out of facts for ammunition!
Report Post »getalong
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:26amSlackjaw,
Report Post »When Jesus told the rich man to go give everything to the poor – he already knew that the man would never do that. Why? Because the man was most-likely supporting a family, and people who lived in his community. He enjoyed being responsible and giving. Why would he take away his ability to express his generousity and leave his family destitute by giving everything away. Jesus knew that man was smarter than that.
4xeverything
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:01pmHomeschool people, homeschool!!! I won‘t deprive my kids the fun of watching a kids’ movie, and the nice thing is, that when they have questions about things they see in movies (big questions and little questions) I know who they are going to come to for the answers.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:21pmThat is of course based on the assumption you have all the right answers and are the only source of truth they should look to. Sounds a tad arrogant.
Report Post »Starkadder
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:34pmIs that the only verse you read?
Report Post »That wasn’t an anti buisiness message, that was about worshipping money.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?”
Luke 9:25
“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
John 6:27
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Luke 16:13
The bitter tone of your post suggests that perhaps this is the one you should contemplate.
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Luke 6:37
LeadNotFollow
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:41pm4X, I agree; HOME SCHOOL.
Report Post »TelepromoterNChief
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:01pmRon Paul likes homeskoolled children.
Report Post »So young and vulnerable from real world survival skills.
4xeverything
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:18pm@jrook
No one has all the right answers.
@teleprompter
Report Post »Between Boy scouts and Girl Scouts, basketball, cheerleading, baseball, swimteam, soccer, homeschool Co-Op, and going to historical sites, museums, plays, concerts, to the zoo, the plant conservatory, traffic court, factories, and many other locations for school, I’d say “vunerable from real world survival skills” is the last thing I would call my children.
cc
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:04pm@jrook
that old lie about home school kids being shortchanged is such a joke!
First of all, you assume a teacher who has the easiest major in the world and learns how to sort index cards knows more than a parent??
Home school kids are so much more mature because they learn from adults and not from other snotty peers vying for popularity and control.
Arrogance, my dear, is the classroom teacher who thinks she knows more than a parent.
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:46pmJust had a couple that moved in to our area about a year and a half ago. The man like me is an Engineer, and his wife just attained her terminal Ed.D. prior to last years school period. They have opened a home schooling program in our area and already have an active student base of 70 students. Her first year they didn’t have quite that amount, but the students not only excelled, but blew away their counterparts in public, and even private education schools. It’s going to be interesting to see the gains with the larger class, but she beams about the progress when we all get together to have prayer, and Bible studies.
I just donated 500 original books from early America to them by authors like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, Noah Webster, John Smith, Thomas Harriot and others. Her husband and I have given her hundreds of books on mathematics, calculus, statistics, geometry, algebra, linear algebra, and physics. She’s taking on 2 more teachers, 1 from the University of Pittsburgh, and another from Ohio State. If I ever have kids there’s nowhere else I would allow them to be educated than in that home school environment. TRUTH, ACCURACY, AND MERIT.
Report Post »GeorgieBaby
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:15amI think you misunderstand JROOK’s comment. It actually made me laugh. I could understand his comment because I also have run into some homeshool parents have a tendency to be self-righteous and rather judgemental of society as a whole. It’s akin to a religious fanaticism. I have members of my family that homeschool that act this way and it is very polarizing and off-putting. I prefer my homeschooling friends that don’t shove their “righteousnes” in my face, but walk humbly and peaceably.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:00pmIn my opinion, the kid movie CARS 2 sure had a “go green” message. I would not be surprised if this Muppet movie had an “anti-business” message.
Report Post »Seems like most kid movies these days, have some sort of liberal agenda message. Hollywood targets the kids. They are easily manipulated and brainwashed.
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:07pmHappy Feet 2-Global Warming
Report Post »piecolorado
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:14pmCars 2 wasn’t that bad, as it turned out in the end that the “ethanol” type fuel was a scam and it was killing cars. And, the person behind the “ethanol” type fuel was the “bad guy” in the movie. So I don’t think that as a whole Cars 2 was “too green”. It wasn’t nearly as good as Cars, but I don’t think the message was too out of whack. As Glenn said today, Santa on the Rudolph movie was a much worse message for kids.
I haven’t see the muppet movie, and I probably won’t, so I can’t comment on that.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:32pmIf we were to accept the premise here than every James Bond movie and every Austin Power’s movies or for that matter almost all the big crime movies, e.g. Spiderman. Point being the villain was always a either a extremely wealthy individual or a powerful business man. Really sad to see people filter what they see and what they read through a ideological filter, thus usually missing the intended point or misinforming others as to the meaning. It is the most damaging thing about biased media, written work and blogs. I live outside of Cleveland and there is still no confusion here that it was corporate greed, indifference and influence that led to a situation where the Cuyahoga river caught fire. It wasn‘t like it snuck up on anybody and the individuals couldn’t figure out the crap they were pouring into the rivers and lake was dangerous and wrong. Unbridled capitalism is no better than any other economic system and history shows it can be far worse. Witness the 2007 investment banking behavior and failures.
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:35pmANONYMOUS T. , you’re right about Happy Feet.
Report Post »Also, I didn’t care for the movie March Of The Penguins. It was marketed as a kid movie, but it was a horrible movie for a child to watch.
dudeman4
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:04pmI saw the original Happy Feet. Don’t get me started on how utterly stupid and enviromental that was.
Also, Cars 2 didn’t make any sense at all.
Report Post »GeorgieBaby
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:17amWhy don’t you see the movie first before developing an opinion? You are making assumptions about the movie that you know nothing about.
Report Post »Misha
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:56pmI’m not sure about the movie. I have no desire to see it b/c the guy who wrote and stars in it gives me the creeps for some reason. Love him on How I Met Your Mother, but in all the interviews I’ve seen him in re: this movie, he comes across very strange and creepy to me. That said, as a kid I loved the Muppets – esp., the old men in the balcony. They always made me laugh.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:55pmMy son is 29. He was brainwashed a long time ago!
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:52pm“Tax the Rich and Feed the Poor ’til there are no Rich no more.”
Yeah, that’ll work.
I say we let them try. Should be entertaining (from a distance…)
Report Post »IdeasHaveConsequences
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:52pmAs parents we MUST teach our children how to reason. If our kids grow up having learned to think for themselves and not what the media tells them to think our country stands a chance.
Report Post »TCG
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:52pmThis is nuts. I’ve seen the movie 3 times already. It’s a GREAT film. And the best part is it’s the most uncynical movie Hollywood has made in years (and it makes fun of that fact that Hollywood has gone hard and cynical). It’s fun for the entire family. As for Richman, Cooper‘s rap is hysterical and the real story with his character is that he can’t laugh. He‘s physically unable to laugh and his hatred of The Muppets stems from a moment as a child when he was made fun of at a Muppet show because he was the only one who couldn’t laugh.
This is no where near the propaganda on display in “Cars 2.” That movie was the worst…
Report Post »Misha
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:59pmCars 2?? What propoganda? That was about spies and car racing…..
Happy Feet = complete global warming rant. Hated it.
Report Post »TCG
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:15pmCars 2 was all about alternative fuels (alternative fuels vs. big oil). It had a major “environmentalist” message running throughout. (http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/06/24/cars-2-revs-alternative-energy-message/). It also wasn’t very good. And yes, “Happy Feet” was the epitomy of global warming propaganda.
Report Post »GeorgieBaby
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:20amI laughed so hard when he would say, “Maniacal laugh” when he was trying to laugh. It was a very clever part of the script.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:51pmThat’s why “Green” Kermit the Frog was at the WH Christmas Tree lighting.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:50pmJust Like Big Union Bosses and Green Corporations hanging out with Obama’s wallet For Stimulus money. Kermit is a Rich Leftist sucking the Government teat for More Sesame Street Funding. A Kermit the Frog doll sells for about $30 to $50! Oscar still has to live in a garbage can!
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:37pmNOBALONEY, wasn’t Kermit sitting on Michelles shoulder? Just sayin.
Report Post »TulsaYeeHaw
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:52pmSmoking, that is hilarious.
Report Post »Leperus
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:45pmOh come on, Eric, ITS A MOVIE. Just like “Mr. Potter“ was evil in ”Its a Wonderful Life”.
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:56pmThe rich business guy trying to demolish something to build some other thing and the poor people working to save it is an age old theme in movies and storytelling and this Fox moron needs to switch to decaf.
Report Post »grudgywoof
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:42pmThis is why I go to zero movies. Happy Feat was so cute until they made it about global warming. Hollywood you stink. Not one penny of my money..
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:46pmYes .. and Cars — the first one was great the second was taken over by enviromentalists … I won’t go to any movie that is political .. unless it is stated as such. Last movie I watched .. Atlas Shrugged.
Report Post »texanpatriot
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:22pmHaven’t gone to movies in years. I will not support this cesspool and what comes out of it…
Now, how many Americans will vote with their dollars? Not many is my conclusion. Most Americans make lame excuses about how great the output is and even excuses about how they have a right to let their kids be “entertained”.
Keep it up – enjoy the bar-b-que at the edge of the volcano!
Report Post »netmail
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:47pmIn a few words, movies, television, music, video games…they ALL suck because the culture sucks. I have four grandsons from 2 to 11 and all I see/hear are liberal, socialist, gay, green and anti-capitalism messages in every stupid thing they are exposed to twenty four seven. Someone here said their “29 year old son is brainwashed”. Yep…it’s been going on for a long, long time…since the late 60′s in a big way IMO. The only mainstream talented people I see today are those managing the technology and special effects.
Report Post »GeorgieBaby
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 11:23amYeah, you just wait until they are on television before you watch them.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:39pmNot if you watch it with them (your children), and explain to them that the individual does not represent the majority in this case. Early exposure to individualist thought, as opposed to collectivist thought would give your children an upper hand against the constricted paradigm of socialism.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:39pmHaven’t seen the movie, not likely to spend the money to. Used to LOVE the Muppet show on tv, but that was when Jim Henson was still alive. No one could replace him, not even his children or his ugly wife.
Report Post »He was one of my favorite people.
RejectFalseIcons
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:55pmJim Henson wanted to change the world. He was a hippie, by all accounts. HOWEVER, he realized that the world could be changed by just getting people to laugh a little. He took a very serious, very hard period and gave people something to have in common – humor is universal. There were no political lacings in the muppet show at arguably the most politically charged times of the last century. This is what separates innovators from imitators. Henson presented the value of humor. The Henson successors are presenting a cherished brand with a typical lefty undertone. God forbid someone use a cherished brand in a way that doesn’t promote the political agenda of hollywood.
Kelsie Grammar, Robert Downie Junior and Clint Eastwood need to split off and start a production company.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:38pmThe list is so long of who I’ve boycotted in “entertainment” that I couldn‘t keep up so I’ve ceased watching most movies and television. The leftist, Hollywood, liberal crowd is so massive that there is surely one involved in just about anything you watch. I just can’t justify supporting them in any fashion and it sickens me when they propagate their slimy views into a program.
I do confess to watching the last 3 minutes of the Broncos game on television yesterday after following the score online. Go Tebow!!! :-)
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:05pmI caught that too, after the Bengals got slammed by the Stealers (mis-spelling intended). Tebow did a great job.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:42pmHave to laugh, ANON! Of all teams to mention, I am originally from the Pittsburgh area. Grew up with the Steel Curtain. The team will never recapture those glory days. But I can’t help but have a soft spot for the team. And am really glad Polamalu brings decency and maintains a great reputation.
Sorry for the Bengals loss. ; )
Report Post »NorCalBlazer
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:37pmI think in this one that Tex is just your stereotypical movie villain and I’m not too would up about it. The movie that really raised my eyebrows though is “In Time”. I bet that movie had the typical OWSer giving a standing ovation by the end. They probably believe they are fighting the same battle as Justin Timberlake was in the movie. My 13 year-old son asked to go see at and at the end I told myself I’d have to have a talk with him about the message in the movie. But before I could he turned to me and said “The guys who think they are the heroes just brought down the whole economy!” It looks like I don’t have to worry about him.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:34pmLove the Muppets (Animal and Beaker are great) but Miss Piggy is SUPER annoying. And Kermit sounds like Bill Gates. Oh wait, Bill Gates IS a Muppet….. :)
Report Post »JohnGalt
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:32pmThis is exactly what I said to my wife! It’s almost blatant demonizing of Capitalism.
Report Post »Nlitend1
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:36pmcan’t it be demonizing of greed rather than capitalism? greed is generally not good, even if you are a capitalist…even if you are an american…and especially if you are a christian.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:30pmmy kid never watched any thing on p b s and my grand kid will not, this channel is nothing more than a propaganda arm for the left, and yes we are getting more and more like china,by indoctrination of our kids,they are kids for crying out loud, let them be kids, play and run and create things, play with mud pies ,before they lose the innocents that is child hood. they will have a life time to learner the difference between a communism and freedom,and before they have to work everyday of their lives just to pay back all the money that this administration has left them with,
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:29pmI think you need to look into it a little deeper. The Progressives are in fact using the once beloved muppets to push their agenda. From the gay movement, to global warming, spreading the wealth, etc. Seriously, it has become a problem.
Report Post »dogdr
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 4:41pmI always come here when I need a laugh, and this is the BEST. This is truly a new low (or high depending on how you look at it). How paranoid are you people? It is about the little guys fighting back against the big guys. That is the theme of probably half the movies and literature written.
Report Post »They are PUPPETS, I repeat, PUPPETS. If you fear for the survival of our country because of a “message”delivered by puppets (or cartoon characters), how do you even leave the house in the morning? This whole thing is hilarious. Next step,”Is Bugs Bunny promoting pushing vegetarianism.” He only eats vegetables and he hates guns. I find him a little suspect
I suggest you all stay indoors, cancel all your magazines and papers and keep your kids away from the TV, I even heard one of the teletubbies is gay.
Nlitend1
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:44pmI for one, have always suspected bugs bunny of being a pinko commie and I have boycotted looney toons since i was a protozoa. I used to like daffy duck until I realized his lisp made him one of those gays…pushing their agenda against christ. Don’t you just love how the liberals made elmer fudd stupid and gave him a speech impediment?? They are obviously trying to indoctrinate children and destroy the second amendment.
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:26pmRon Paul reminds me of a muppet. Maybe it’s Beaker? Same mouth, I think.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:35pmMy wife and I spoke about the lack of Debate time Beaker got in the movie.
Report Post »nuttyvet
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:26pmIs the New Muppets Movie ‘Brainwashing’ Your Kids With Anti-Business Message?
Answer: No (waka waka wwaka!)
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:25pmI saw the movie Sat night with my wife and 5 & 6 year old nephews. You would have to stretch paranoia to the limit to make this a Anti-Business message. Great Movie the kids laughed, we Me-nom-en-ah’ed all the way to dinner . and then home. As an adult (Relativly) the movie had me laughing remembering my kids watching. Two thumb’s up
Report Post »Locked
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:24pmI… wait… what?
No. Good Lord, no.
This is why I go for news and stay away from talking heads. They’re full of hot air.
On a similar note, the movie was pretty good, and Chris Cooper was fantastic as usual. Well worth seeing if you watched the Muppets growing up.
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:21pmHaven’t seen it and my kids are not open to brain-washing. My wife and I raised them, not lib teachers and tree-hugging socialists.
Oscar, Grover, and Cookie are the best puppets ever, by the way.
Report Post »Roywalling
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:09pmYou’re wrong! bama is the biggest puppet next to big bird.
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