The Minnesota Religious Right Continues to Lie to Raise Money for Their Political Activity

Cross-posted from MN Political Roundtable

This is not the first time that I have caught the Minnesota Family Council using false stories that pandered to right wing paranoia with factually badly wrong information, to raise money.  They are fraudulent, by failing to fact check their material, and by continuing to so consistently use false materials to raise money.

The radical right is notoriously fact-averse, and engages in outright lying, deception and misrepresentation.

That is sadly true of the Minnesota religious right political activist group, The Minnesota Family Council as well.

On February 7th, that group sent out a mass-mailing that is clearly designed to create the misconception that patriotism, and especially the first Amendment, is under grievous attack from our public school system. The reality could not be further from the truth, but the error persists unaddressed and uncorrected in the right wing media and blogosphere bubble, and it persists in the attempts to use that propagandist fear-mongering to raise money for their cause. (When you have to lie, you're losing.)

Here is the claim from the email, and the link to the original false story at - no surprise - Fox News, complete with the usual obligatory deceptive image of a large American flag to make an emotional rather than rational appeal. taking a swipe at inclusion and multi-culturalism along the way:

It's Not "P.C." to Honor America??
"Students and parents at a Colorado high school are outraged after administrators turned down their request for a spirit week day honoring America because it might offend non-Americans.

'They said they didn't want to offend anyone from other countries or immigrants,' a 16-year-old member of the student council told me. 'They just really did not want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.'"

To the young patriots at Fort Collins High School, I offer these words: America, America, God shed His grace on Thee. Don't let your teachers tell you otherwise. --Todd Starnes, Fox News & Commentary

Of course, as is usually the case with these hysterical stories of conservative victimization, it's not true. In fact, it is not even remotely as represented by Fox News and the Minnesota Family Council's little fund-raising fear-mongering hate-promoting email.

From CBSlocal:
Poudre School District Releases Statement On ‘Merica Day’ Controversy
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4)- The Poudre School District has released a statement regarding “Spread the Love Week” dress-up days which at one time included a day called “Merica Monday.”

This is the statement they released: As Poudre School District, FCHS Student Council students and FCHS administration have continued discussions regarding the Spread the Love Week dress-up days, additional clarifying information has emerged.

Based on these conversations, we now understand that miscommunication and misunderstandings clouded the situation.

Originally, FCHS Student Council proposed Merica Monday (based on alliteration) as a dress up day to show pride in our country. Administration discussed concerns about the negative connotations of the term Merica with regard to being inclusive to the entire student body. At that time, Student Council presented alternatives including America Monday, My Country Monday and Patriotic Day. At that time, FCHS administration agreed to My Country Monday, but later reversed the decision. Amidst media and community attention, FCHS Administration and PSD released a statement earlier this week focused only on the negative connotations of the terminology surrounding Merica Monday and announcing Monday would be America Day. This offended members of the FCHS Student Council who had previously suggested this alternative. As a means of resolving the situation, both sides discussed the issue at length on Thursday. Everyone agreed that both sides had the best of intentions but missed opportunities and miscommunication caused the situation to escalate. Additionally, everyone agreed that all parties involved are proud of their country and this situation is not an indication that anyone involved is unpatriotic.

Student Council and administrators are committed to working as a team for the benefit of all FCHS students.

Spread the Love week is about unity and raising funds for the FCHS charity of choice, Respite Care Inc. It is about taking the time to see the good in our community. Dress-up days serve as a way to express our pride in the school and each other. They also serve as a means to get the student body excited to give to those who are less fortunate. Next week, it is important to remember that we are here to support each other and make our school, our town and our world a better place. We are Fort Collins High School and we are here to Spread the Love.

We encourage the Fort Collins High School and Poudre School District community to join us in Spreading the Love and donating to Respite Care Inc.