Testerman's Genteel "Requests"

A potential new candidate is testing the waters for a run against Senator Jeanne Shaheen next year. Karen Testerman, the founder of Cornerstone Policy Research -  a purveyor of far right fringe Christian values, once quoted as saying teenagers shouldn't be allowed to hold hands because it "leads to other things," is testing the waters for a Senate race. 

She announced today that if she got 5000 "requests" she would run for Senate. Naturally I stopped by her website to request that she run, since a debate with her in it would be the best thing since the invention of fleece socks. 

I found out that "request" doesn't mean what I thought it did. I thought request meant asking for something. And in this case it does. It means she's asking for 5000 DONATIONS. One can't merely sign up in support of her candidacy and say, "Go Karen!" One must first cough up some cash. 

Apparently just coming out and saying, "If I get 5000 donations, I'l run for office" was just a little too crass for Mrs. Testerman. Couching it as a "request" is so much more genteel. 

More Prattefalls

Ah Cornerstone - how the family values have changed. Only a few years ago, founder Karen Testerman expounded on how holding hands should be discouraged because it "leads to other things."

I wonder what she makes of Miss Pratte's television viewing:

Where is Mr. Right? #Bachelorette #whydoiwatchthisshow
— Ashley Pratte (@AshPratte) July 16, 2013

This is a show where a woman is shown dating and kissing numerous men on television, in an attempt to meet a husband. This season began with one woman and 25 guys.  Every week at least one of the potential suitors is eliminated. When the show reaches the final episodes she shares a night alone in a "fantasy suite" with each one of the final three, before choosing the one she will pretend she's going to marry. 

According to one former contestant, there's a lot more than hand holding going on behind closed doors. This year, word is that  Desiree will be taking the bachelors for a test drive.

From the Cornerstone website:

Relationships are wonderful gifts given to us by God. As we read in the Bible, the most-intimate relationship is marriage between a husband and a wife.

Apparently the most intimate relationship can also be given to us by a television reality show! 

Let me be clear - I'm no prude. I don't care what any of these people do, or who they do it with. (It is silly that they pretend they're going to get married.) I don't care that Ashley watches this tripe (as mockworthy as it is). The trouble with wagging a prissy moral finger and presenting yourself as possessing superior values is that you're setting yourself up for a fall. 

Like having some jerk on the internet point out that you (of the allegedly superior moral values) are cooing on Twitter while watching a show about a woman who is paid to be on a reality show, and who is having sex with some of the contestants. Isn't there a word for that? Anyone? Karen Testerman?