"I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery..."

[WilliamPitt]

(On October 18, 2000, NBC aired an episode of the Emmy winning television show The West Wing in which the character President Josiah Bartlet, played beyond description by Martin Sheen, absolutely skewers a character, named "Dr. Jenna Jacobs," who bears striking similarities to our very own, dear, Laura Schlessinger, in a dialogue very similar in theme to the "Dear Dr. Laura" letter which was wending its way about the net not that many months ago.)

"I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21 : 7. She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My chief of staff, Leo McGarry, insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35 : 2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important because we've got a lot of sports fans in this town. Touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11 : 7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side-by-side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you? One last thing, while you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-Ass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits."

Video of this scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWqgD7lGneU

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UMjWkXJ43h0/SFpcmkMMxpI/AAAAAAAAAEM/1UR3q25Ldfs/s320/jed+bartlet.jpg

[ejpoeta]

1. gee, sounds pretty ridiculous like that doesn't it. but what is it that makes some think

that they can pick and choose what they follow from a book they claim to be god's word?? very interesting.

[MADem]

2. The scriptwriter swiped that from a popular email making the rounds back in the nineties.

There have been several variations of it down the years, each one bringing its own amusement. Here is one:

http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/DrLaura.htm

[Scout]

3. just one of many sterling bits by President Bartlet n/t

[Vickers]

4. I love bringing up Leviticus to my wacky fundy relatives.

"Wait...has any woman while on her period ever sat in this particular chair?"

:P

[BlooInBloo]

5. (shrug) Everybody knows that facts and religion don't mix.

[One_Life_To_Give]

6. Apparently $350,000 to your first question

So I have heard the price for a US Girl sold into the Sex trade/slavery is $350,000.

[wolfgangmo]

9. What?

Do you have some links? That figure doesn't make any sense. Unless you are talking about the profit rather than the cost.

[One_Life_To_Give]

10. Link

Newell said that her captor told her she had been sold on the Internet for $300,000 to a man in Texas. Fortunately, she was rescued before delivery could be made.

//www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27098993/

[azureblue]

7. WWJD?

When the religious nuts bring up this "the Bible says that gays are bad" stuff, I simply ask, "well, what did Jesus say about this? You get what you are using for support of your hate from the Old Testament, and you pick and choose what verses to profess. What did your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, tell you to do about gays? Nothing. Nothing at all. Remember what He did say- "this you do to the least of these, you do unto Me?" In fact, Christ said more about divorce, then about gays. so why do you call yourself a Christian, yet refuse the teachings of Christ?"

[xxqqqzme]

8. I remember that episode (it is included

in the re-run schedule). I remember applauding the writing.

I grew up in the full embrace of the Episcopal church. As a consequence, I know very little about the bible. Social change through Jesus' teachings was the emphasis during my Sunday school and confirmation classes. I have owned a few Book of Common Prayer books but never a bible. I am always amazed that people can quote chapter & verseb form the bible.

[guitar man]

11. "How much for the women?"

Jake: How much for the little girl? How much for the women?
Father: What?
Jake: Your women. I want to buy your women. The little girl, your daughters... sell them to me. Sell me your children.



:rofl:

[Cleita]

12. That was a great monologue. He put the Laura Schlessinger character in

her place leaving her speechless. Did you see the crab or spider pin on her lapel? It was like the wardrobe department was having fun with her character.

[sarcasmo]

13. "Am I morally obligated to kill him myself", funny stuff.