In Cynthia Tucker’s current column she criticizes conservatives, specifically James Dobson of Focus on the Family for condemning gay marriage but not complaining loudly enough about shows like The Bachelor or The Bachelorette.
She tries to make the case that gay marriage should be approved because James Dobson has not forcefully criticized The Bachelorette.
What she ignores is that Focus on the Family does not approve of shows like The Bachelorette. Boundless.org, a site affiliated with Focus on the Family specifically criticized Married by America – another reality show that tried to introduce couples so they would get married. While I did not find a specific reference from Focus on the Family on The Bachelorette, it wasn’t hard to figure what the view of Focus is on these types of shows.
Then she ignores the entire purpose of Focus on the Family – to preserve families. Even a cursory glance at Focus on the Family’s website leads one to believe that they support in depth preparation before entering into marriage. Even without a specific condemnation of that particular show, it seems obvious that James Dobson would not approve of making a life time vow merely for the purpose of trying to generate one night of ratings for a TV network.
Her conclusion is wrong. Conservatives are concerned about shows like The Bachelorette. They degrade marriage into a passing entertainment. It sends the message that you can change the channel when the marriage gets old.
Cynthia’s case for gay marriage is based on the fact that she doesn’t like James Dobson. In the end, that just isn’t convincing. The irony is that James Dobson would disapprove of The Bachelorette just as much as she does.