File This Under "What The Fuck???"

Dr. James C. Dobson asked guests at black-tie dinner on Tuesday night, "Does anybody here know SpongeBob?" After everyone in the room nodded their head, whether they knew of the cartoon guy or not, Dr. Dobson went into a tirade against the sponge.

Dr. Dobson said, SpongeBob's creators had enlisted him in a "pro-homosexual video," in which he appeared alongside Big Bird, Barney and Jimmy Neutron, and many other fictional characters. The makers of the video, he said, planned to mail it to thousands of elementary schools to promote a "tolerance pledge" that includes tolerance for differences of "sexual identity."

The pledge, borrowed from the Southern Poverty Law Center, is not mentioned on the video and is available only on the group's Web site.

Hmmm. is Mr. Dobson smoking something wacky?

The video has appeared on television networks, and nothing in it or its accompanying materials refers to sexual identity.

I think Mr. Dobson hasn't been on television in a few weeks, and needed some new gimmick to get himself some press for his hate mongering.

On Wednesday, Paul Batura, assistant to Mr. Dobson at Focus on the Family, said the group stood by its accusation.

"We see the video as an insidious means by which the organization is manipulating and potentially brainwashing kids," he said. "It is a classic bait and switch."

Oy vey.