Ben Stein Evolves Into Michael Moore Of Christian Right: Lands Creationist Museum Invite

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Ben Stein has been an actor, professor, presidential speech writer, comedian and newspaper columnist. Now he's stepping into a new role: America's preeminent anti-evolutionist by appearing as onscreen host of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. The movie -- out this weekend -- contends scientists who question the theory of evolution run into bias and career roadblocks. Already, the buzz has brought Stein an invitation to appear at Answers in Genesis, the creationist museum in suburban Cincinnati that contends the world is no more than 5,000 years old. The museum takes the Bible literally and has been drawing crowds of true believers.

Ken Ham, the founder of Answers in Genesis, says Stein will be on a road tour promoting the movie. He's already asked Stein to drop in and check out the exhibits of dinosaurs living side-by-side with humans:

"I don't know where the Expelled tour intends to stop along their route, but I'd like to offer an open invitation right here to Mr. Stein and those traveling on the bus. Stop by as our guests for a few hours and tour the Creation Museum. In addtion to giving them an education unlike any other, just think how much publicity for both the film and Aig Creation museum that could elicit!"

In this YouTUBE clip for the film, Stein says he's investigating and speaking out against discrimination aimed at those educators who support intelligent design. The bit seems to intended to portray Stein as an alternative universe version of Michael Moore. Perhaps it's an intelligently designed effort to capture some of Moore's schtick for the other end of the political/relgious spectrum.

So far, no word if the creationist center is on Stein's itinerary. The producers have been catching some flak over allegations that they deceived some scientists to appear in the film. Ham says "based on pre-release materials we've seen, the public education establishment will not be happy with Stein or the documentary."

Photo: Courtesy Wikipedia

OH-05: NRCC Attacks Weirauch As Ally of Kucinich And Michael Moore

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The National Republican Congressional Committee rips OH-05 Democratic candidate Robin Weirauch as an extreme liberal who "supports taxpayer-funded, government-run healthcare for illegal immigrants." The proof offered is a May 2006 press release issued by the theater and stage employees union, IATSE.

According to the NRCC -- the fundraising and electioneering arm of House Republicans -- Weirauch endorsed H.R. 676 in 2006 while the measure was pending in a previous Congress. The bill did not go anywhere and died in the GOP controlled House under former Speaker Dennis Hastert. Cleveland Democrat Dennis Kucinich and Toledo's Marcy Kaptur were cosponsors. The bill was a proposal to guarantee health care coverage to every America. Another version of the bill has been introduced this year and it has been endorsed Michael Moore, the movie director, author and political activist. The GOP says it is evidence that Weirauch holds "far-left positions."

Coming To Ohio: Ann Coulter Booked At Xavier University

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Xavier newswire says the shoot-from-the-lip conservative columnist with Kalashnikovs where others have tonsils is due on the Jesuit school's Cincinnati campus in early September. Ann Coulter is being brought in by the college Republican chapter, and the booking has been portrayed as quite controversial. No kidding.

Andrew Chestnut, who sits on the student-run newswire's editorial board, is not enthusiastic about Coulter's coming, nor does he think much of her ability to engage in intellectual debate.

"For those of you who don't know, Coulter is like the Michael Moore of the other side. Every stance she takes on an issue is pro-Republican and anti-Democrat, without exception. You would think this would destroy her credibility -- knowing in advance what side she will take on an issue sort of removes the element of logic from the equation -- but then again, you would also think that no one would buy supermarket tabloids. And yet they're still there."

Coulter, of course, called Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards a "faggot" earlier this year, then tried to claim she was only joking and that the word is not an anti-gay slur. Many people recoiled, some including Republicans who saw Coulter's Kalishnikovs as firing wanton shots that damaged their conservative philosophy and cause. Final note: Xavier hosted Michael Moore in 2003.

Ohio Blogger Who Loves Michael Moore: Wants CNN's Larry King Murdered

CINCINNTI (TDB) -- An Ohio blog appears to be advocating the murder of CNN talk show host Larry King because the cable news network is having a dust up with filmmaker/activist Michael Moore over the accuracy of Moore's move, Sicko. The blog may have opened the door to a legal question: Is it a crime in Ohio to post threatening statements on the Internet?

Four years ago, lawmakers took steps to include threats transmitted over the Internet in the criminal code.

Moore's movie depicts the flaws in the American health care system. Critics contend the picture presented in Sicko is unjust -- and so the debate rages. However, the blog took things to a detestable level but putting a target on King's head under a headline saying he must die. Ironic defense of Michael Moore, who made the movie Bowling for Columbine to state his disgust of easily accessible guns and gun violence.

Perhaps the Larry King Must Die blog post was a joke, a very sick joke, a joke that abused the First Amendment right of free speech. Calling for a person's execution over a purely political dispute -- over a movie review -- smacks of Fatwa. Advocating the death of people who transgress personal or cultural standards is the stuff of Dark Age Inquisitors, Nazis and skinheads, the Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah. It does not belong in the Ohiosphere.

That said, the death threat against Larry King quite possibly could be seen as a criminal act. Ohio has a statute, 2903.211, that criminalizes menacing by stalking. It says that no person should cause another to believe they will be subject to physical harm or mental distress. The law makes it clear that threats posted on the Internet can be prosecuted.

"No person, though the use of any electronic method of remotely transferring information, including but not limited to. any computer network, computer program, or computer system, shall post a message with purpose to urge or incite another to commit a violation of . . .this section.

"Whoever violates this section is guilty of menacing by stalking."

Up until now, most cases have grown out of domestic disputes. However, there have been suggestions it could be invoked to prosecute people who harass celebrities and political figures. Larry King's reaction to the blog post is unknown. He couldn't be reached for comment.

For the record, in addition to the headline with the target on King's head, the blogger wrote:

"As many of you know I'm moving to NYC this month, and I'll tell you I'm scared...if I run into Larry King in a dark alley I fear I will pummel him until his heart stops beating. He's so busy loving himself and his 50 years of intriguing interviews, that he seems completely oblivious to what's happening on his show. The man should really be put to sleep."

National Green Party to Michael Moore: Dems Won't Nominate Kucinich

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The national Green Party says the Democrats and Republicans are "awash" in corporate cash and aren't seriously interested in enacting health care reform. "There are some exceptions among Dems, like Reps. John Conyers (Mich.) and Dennis Kucinich (Oh.), but Rep. Conyers single-payer bill has as little chance of passage as Rep. Kucinich has of getting nominated."

The Green Party sent an open letter to film-maker/activist Michael Moore that congratulates Moore on the successful opening of "Sicko," his latest movie and smack down of America's health care industry. It urged Moore to back Green candidates for Congress, state and local offices:

"Here's the problem: we're not going to get a national plan as long as the political landscape remains limited to two parties addicted to corporate contributions. Republican and Democratic politicians alike refuse to consider any plan that doesn't leave private HMOs and insurance corporations in charge."

The Green's accused the Dems of abandoning President Harry Truman's dream of national health coverage. "Once upon a time, the Democratic Party supported national health coverage and even endorsed in in the Democratic national platform in 1948. But they deleted it from the platform in the 1990s to make room for President Clinton's 'managed care' phony reform scheme, which would have enlarged the power of major insurance firms."

The Greens added that Al Gore has "seen the light" and now supports national health coverage.

Apparently, they have not sent Gore a letter yet urging him to run on the Green Party slate. And he probably wouldn't be interested, because Ralph Nader, the Green party candidate in 2000, cost Gore votes that year. And if Gore had won the White House . . .