Meet Vernon Robinson

March 10, 2006

When creating caricatures of conservative Republican candidates, liberals often describe them as narrow-minded ideologues who pit people against each other and would, if they could, turn back the clock in the hopes of making the country more like a silly episode of Leave it to Beaver. In general, it’s rarely a fair description. In Vernon Robinson’s case, it’s eerily on point.

C&L has a video of a Robinson campaign ad that’s really worth watching. John notes that it “isn’t a joke or a parody commercial,” though it’s easy to imagine that it was created for The Daily Show or Saturday Night Live. Keep in mind, the ad was from 2004, not 2006, though Robinson is running for Congress again this year and may very well use it again.

If you can’t watch the video, here’s the script. The name of the ad, literally, is “Twilight Zone v. Leave It To Beaver.”

Announcer voice-over: If you’re a conservative Republican, watching the news these days can make you feel as though you are in “The Twilight Zone.” Americans are under attack from Islamic extremists in every corner of the world. (On screen: TV set and “The Twilight Zone” theme song; screen grab from Al-Jazeera footage of Osama bin Laden, hostage)

Announcer voice-over: Homosexuals are mocking holy matrimony, and the lesbians and feminists are attacking everything sacred. Liberal judges have completely rewritten the Constitution. You can burn the American flag and kill a million babies a year, but you can’t post the Ten Commandments or say “God” in public. Seven out of every 10 black children are born out of wedlock, and Jackson and Sharpton claim the answer is racial quotas. (On screen: photos of the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton)

Announcer voice-over: And the aliens are here, but they didn’t come in a spaceship. They came across our unguarded Mexican border by the millions. (On screen: photos of spaceships and people climbing over a wall)

Vernon Robinson: I’m Vernon Robinson. If you send me to Congress, I’ll send that (points to television set) back to the Twilight Zone. I approve of this message and of traditional American values.

At the end of the commercial, the viewer sees a scene from Leave it to Beaver, with the show’s theme song playing.

I wish I could make this stuff up.

I’m pretty sure that’s an ad recycled from his 2004 primary challenge. This guy is something else. I also like the district shopping he’s doing; check out his Wikipedia entry.

  • I wish I could make this stuff up
    CB, if you could you’d be making a lot of money as a Republican campaign consultant.

  • A black man wants to take us back to 1950? I guess he wants white southerners to vote for him. they liked jim crow.

  • This mindset is really out there folks. In one of my other roles, as a reviewer of scale models at a hobby site, I included with my review this week an historical article about the 761st Tank Battalion in World War II (for those of you not up on your military history, the all-black tankers who fought for Patton – the tank version of the Tuskeegee Airmen). In the discussion pages of the site, I was attacked by several readers for “bringing politics to the hobby” and they also questioned the historical accuracy of the article. No, I’m really not kidding, it happened in 2006 and was done by people who demoan the lack of “historical literacy” among Americans.

    I too wish I could make this stuff up.

  • Has anyone checked with Columbia Broadcasting to see if they actually allowed him to use their copyrighted material (Twilight Zone, Leave it to Beaver) in this fashion?

  • I wouldn’t be so quick to dabble in the “Twilight Zone” if I were Vernon.

    He is entering the land of wierd and unintended consequences.
    I can just hear Rod Serling setting the stage for an episode.

    “Meet Vernon Robinson, a right wing politican, who spreads fear with clips from old televison shows. But today Vernon will wake up on the other side of the t.v. screen. Now Vernon know what its really like to be afraid …….Vernon will be discovering what it’s like to live in his lies. Next stop …The Twilight Zone. “

  • My astute boyfriend pointed out that the “GOD IS A DIKE” sign is almost certainly fake, since in reality, dykes know how to spell “dyke.”

  • Wow hit all the scare tactics in one paragraph! And they use the Ten Commandments and “God” in ways to scare the base. Sweet.

    Homosexuals
    lesbians
    feminists
    Liberal judges
    burn the American flag
    kill a million babies
    Ten Commandments
    “God”
    black children
    born out of wedlock
    Jackson
    Sharpton claim
    racial quotas

  • Rest assured, my friends, that Vernon Robinson does have competition, although his antics have attracted media attention and caused Charlie Sutherland and myslef to fall by the wayside in news coverage.

    Although I do not claim to be a liberal, some in the Republican party have accused me of not being conservative enough. Maybe its my respect for the Constitution that Robinson supporters don’t like. The more fascist elements want me to promise to amend the Constitution to eliminate every little thing that offends them. (I refuse) I guess they are just to lazy to work on finding real solutions.

    What really frightens me is the fact that a Republican WILL win the 13th district race for the Congress, and it may be Robinson. Mr. Miller has screwed up enough by failing to support private property rights, the Second Amendment right to protect yourself, and voted against legislation that would stop the overweight crowd from suing McDonalds after too many super sized fries caused them to have to buy two seats on an airplane. If I can’t stop Robinson in his tracks, we are in for dark times ahead. The party will throw everything into the contest against Miller. His days are numbered. Your choice will be Hendrix or Robinson. This choice must be made now, not in November.

    Robinson’s tactics, taken straight from Adolf Hitler’s campaign manual, sets one group against another, uses empty headed ones for base support, and uses the more capable ones (with brains) who want to ride on his back to power and riches. The media likes him because he has the capability to turn the Republican party into a joke. But the joke has a possibility of becomming a horror and reality.

    In the interest of our Nation, we all need to do everything we can to expose Mr. Robinson’s “character” and see to it that he doesn’t get past this primary. All the information you need in on my web page:
    http://www.hendrixcampaign.com

    This is not only a run for office for me, it is a war in which reason, sanity, and our very freedom are at stake. I welcome any and all questions and comments.

    Be afraid. Be very afraid.
    John Ross Hendrix
    Republican
    Candidate for Congress
    13th District
    johnrhendrix@yahoo.com

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