| I originally proposed
the theory over two years that the animated television show 'South Park'
showed definite signs of a conservative political bent on the part of
its creators. Much doubt was expressed given the foul mouthed language
used on the show and its attacks on some groups on the right like gun
owners and religious conservatives. But if you're willing to look past
the superficial bawdiness and rebellion of the show I think you'll
find it probably has a more subtle conservative/libertarian message than
almost any other entertainment based program on the air today. A few
months ago Andrew Sullivan mentioned the same thing on his web site.
Here are a few concrete examples that I have come across in which the
show features a tilt to the Right:
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| Episode 505 Terrance and Phillip Behind
the Blow Original air date 7/18/01 |
| Plot
The boys promise to get Terrance and Phillip to appear in South Park for Earth Day 2001 in order to attend a Terrance and Phillip concert in Denver so they won't have to help their classmates prepare for the "Earth Day Brainwashing Festival" as it is called.
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| Why It Leans Right
The Earth Day organizers are portrayed as fanatical anti-Republican zealots who threaten and hypnotize people to follow their wacky environmental beliefs.
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| Quotable
From environmental activists: "Global warming is going to kill us all. The Republicans are responsible." "Nothing is more important than the environment boys. Not even your lives." "It's true. Republicans are ruining the earth." From Stan: "It's no use. Environmental activists don't use logic or reason."
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| Episode 218 Gnomes
Original air date 12/16/98
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| Plot
Harbucks Coffee (a corporate conglomerate) wants to buy out the local coffee shop in South Park but the owner refuses to sell. Harbucks then sets up a shop in town to compete with the local man. So he helps the boys prepare a report for school on the evils of corporate takeovers. The boys report causes the town to consider a proposition (Prop 10) to ban Harbucks from opening their store. The underpants gnomes (don't ask) teach the boys the truth about corporations and they speak to the town before the vote on Prop 10 and convince the townspeople that economic competition is what America is all about.
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| Why It Leans Right
The creators are taking a not such subtle shot at the Left's on going assault on Starbucks and all other corporate chains that supposedly ruin local businesses.
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| Quotable
The wife on the local coffee shop owner defending her practice of giving her young son coffee: "Oh he has ADHD. That's why he is so nervous." A protestor outside of Harbucks: "How many Native Americans did you slaughter to make that coffee?" Harbucks manager to local coffee shop owner: "Your coffee tastes like three day old moldy diarrhea." From the boys second report: "Without big corporations we wouldn't have cars, computers, or any of the other things that make life great." "Harbucks started as a small company but because they made great coffee they grew and grew until they got to where they are now."
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