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Thursday, September 27, 2007

Catholic League Announces Miller Beer Boycott

posted by on September 27 at 10:10 AM

It’s on.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue announced a national boycott of Miller Beer on this morning’s “Fox and Friends.” …

“This all started when we learned that Miller was sponsoring an event that featured an obscene ad thrashing the Last Supper. After being pressured, Miller offered a lame statement of regret and said it was pulling its logo from the ad. Not only has it not done so—it is still posted on the website of the street fair—Miller refuses to withdraw its sponsorship…. Accordingly, Miller leaves us with no options: we are calling on more than 200 Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu organizations to join with us in a nationwide boycott of Miller beer. We feel confident that once our religious allies kick in, and once the public sees the photos of an event Miller is proudly supporting, the Milwaukee brewery will come to its senses and pull its sponsorship altogether.”

To ensure that the public sees the photos of the event, the Catholic League has thoughtfully posted dozens of pics from last year’s Folsom Street Fair on their website. Some of my favorites after the jump.

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RSS icon Comments

1

Gee, with all of the hardcore Christians out there who drink tons of beer, this will surely bother the sales of Miller's piss.

Now I know what beer I'll be buying/ordering for the next two weeks.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 10:19 AM
2

damn. those are some hot photos. i don't drink miller, because it tastes horrible, but i'll certainly go buy a 6 pack and dump it down the toilet.

Posted by konstantConsumer | September 27, 2007 10:21 AM
3

Oh it's already been buh'rot'n.

ps, you can't see it but I'm waving my finger and shifting my head from side to side.

Posted by monkey | September 27, 2007 10:22 AM
4

Mr Poe, we're talking Catholics here, not Baptists. But I'm with you - MGD here I come!

Posted by Matt from Denver | September 27, 2007 10:22 AM
5

Catholics, oh yeah. I keep forgetting there is a difference. I was raised Catholic and then my mother converted to Christianity. On a long enough scale, they're both the same, only Catholics mourn their faith and Christians are...well, retarded. I confuse the two generally because of this. Forgive me.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 10:26 AM
6

MR Poe, I read your comments as sarcasm because it seemed you were saying that Christians don't drink, but that's only a tenet of evangelism, definitely not Catholicism. Maybe I misread...

Posted by Matt from Denver | September 27, 2007 10:34 AM
7

I was trying to explain that the type of Christian and/or Catholic (corrected in #5) that would actually boycott their alcoholic beverage because of something like this doesn't seem like the kind of Christian and/or Catholic who would drink.

And if they did, I don't see them purchasing Miller. I see them purchasing Mike's Hard Lemonade or something equally pussy.

In other words, I don't think Miller has anything to worry about. At all. Boycotts are for extremists, anyway.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 10:37 AM
8

Are we SURE this so-called "Catholic League" isn't really viral a marketing front for the street fair?

Posted by mattymatt | September 27, 2007 10:38 AM
9

"I was raised Catholic and then my mother converted to Christianity."

...

What the fuck, Mr. Poe? I expect better from you.

Posted by Greg | September 27, 2007 10:40 AM
10

I am neither Catholic nor Christian. But I had to experience a good dose of the both of them. Parents raise their kids, the kids don't raise themselves. Remember?

For the record, I am a full-blown Atheist, and I hate religion in general.

Jeez, all of this attention is forcing some serious attitude out of me. Shut the fuck up, 'yall.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 10:46 AM
11

It should also be noted that Miller Lite is the Official Beer of the Dallas Cowboys. Since the Cowboys are also God's team, I wonder if this conflict will make people's heads explode (especially in Texas).

Posted by Clint | September 27, 2007 10:47 AM
12

Yeah, I guess that the members of the Catholic League such as Bill Donahue will have to get shitfaced on PBR before they go out and get busted for DUIs or go home and beat their wives and then masturbate to choirboy porno.

Posted by wile_e_quixote | September 27, 2007 10:50 AM
13

Whatever. I'm just kind of happy that Folsom has begun to outshine International Mr. Leather.

Posted by Boomer in NYC | September 27, 2007 10:50 AM
14

If you want to support the company, but not drink their piss-water, beer is a very effective slug killer. The slimy bastards will drown themselves in it.

Posted by keshmeshi | September 27, 2007 10:51 AM
15

The first picture shows a guy tied to a pole on top of a Gekkeikan barrel. I wonder if the Catholic League will be pressuring Gekkeikan to pull its advertising? Oh, wait, they're a heathen company anyway.

Also, we can counter the dumb boycott by picking up some Miller beer (which I will willingly drink - hey konstantConsumer, buy it and sent it to me!); however, wouldn't it be a more effective strategy to publicly announce our appreciation for the Folsom street fair and its sponsors? Dan, you've got a forum beyond Slog. You could be using it to praise Folsom, not bury the Catholic League.

Posted by Greg | September 27, 2007 10:51 AM
16

Okay I was just going to write about suffering through some MGD in the near future to support them against the nuts but then I also need to say...

Mr. Poe, Catholics are christians (unless you listen to some fundie sects that say they are a cult and not TRUE christians) Catholicism splintered creating several sects that I conveniently break down into two camps- either 'free will' christians like catholics and some other sects or 'pre-destination' christians which are what the majority of your nuttier fundies seem to be- that believe that from the moment you are conceived it is already predetermined if you are going to heaven or hell and while you have no way to know and there is nothing you can do to change your fate you must invite the lord into your heart as your personal savior and hope against all odds that you are still one of the choosen- so it makes their gamble on faith even more absurd for the atheists out here.. the gamble that I refer to is often used to try to convince atheists of their folley, if you are riding the fence between faith and reason I will bet that one of the faithful might have tried it on you- that you have no way to know for sure if there is a god or not so you need to act 'as though' just in case becasue it costs you 'nothing' but if you still deny it 'might cost you everything'(supposedly the everything being eternal life in the bossom of your invisible superfriend in heaven) this argument is such a falacy because 'believing' (or going through the motions of acting like the faithful) just in case does cost you- it costs you the respect of rational people and turns you into a fundie douche bag tool and ruins your enjoyment of this life, the only life you are garaunteed... plus if those fundies are right- if you go to heaven or not is already decided (though they don't advertise this little loop hole in their faith).

Gah- sorry for the professor moment there. in a nut shell catholics are christians, and I would think that having a dose of either ought to have given you that much understanding at least. Even if you are atheist you should have a clear understanding of the brands of nuts out there- makes it easier to disect and deconstruct them...

Posted by Nelbot | September 27, 2007 10:53 AM
17

Killing slugs with beer...haven't heard that one before. Salt is cheaper, and your foot is free. Meh.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 10:54 AM
18

All the droll comments here are fun - but - this is not just a joke.

Folsom is interesting, sorta hot, but not our finest exhibit to the mainstream.

Two, the BIGGEST gains the GLBT movement have made in recent years involve corporate America. Astonishing gains in good anti discrimination policy among the Fortune 500 - and money - as in Miller to hundreds of our events, sports, pride, film, you name it.

The religious right wing would love to back off the corporate support, scare the shit out of a few big one who are very keen to not lose 4-6 per cent of their sales.

Remember, they tried to "boycott" Disney. No good. And, I think Ford, no traction.

No way do we want this to suceed.

By the way the Miler bottled Reserve Draft is decent. Going to buy three cases today - a Miller party with friends this weekend after the AIDS walk ....

FIGHT BACK

Sergio

Posted by Sergio Arau | September 27, 2007 10:56 AM
19

@10

What I meant to say was, you talk about Catholicism and Christianity as though they completely separate things with no overlap whatsoever. Surely you aren't trying to suggest that Catholics aren't Christians?

Posted by Greg | September 27, 2007 11:00 AM
20

Hehe. "Thrashing" the last supper. hehe.
He probably meant "trashing" but was reading too many Folsome ads ...

Posted by SeattleExile | September 27, 2007 11:03 AM
21

@16

All is true.

If I'm going to go into 'saving myself and giving my life to the Lord', shouldn't I actually believe in Him first? If he knows all and is all, he would know that I'm doing it to cover my ass, not because I want Him to rule my life. Having a Christian bring up 'the gamble' would be absurd, and it would make me question their faith immediately.

I generally avoid thinking about "God" in general. I have better things to do with my time. Like chew on this pencil, drink this coffee and procrastinate my work for the day while I Slog. Word.

Ahh, life is good.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 11:03 AM
22

@16. That was interesting and all... but, I'm guessing Mr. Poe was just being casual with his language and using Christian to mean Protestant. People do it all the time.

Posted by Julie | September 27, 2007 11:04 AM
23

@19

No. They aren't. Theoretically, sure. Practices? No.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 11:05 AM
24

@18 makes a great point. Miller sponsors tons of great events. They definitely get a ton back from doing so, but that have not backed away from gay or underground events. Miller High Life IS the champagne of beers. Drink up. Go Miller. Don't back down to the fascists.

Posted by Meinert | September 27, 2007 11:09 AM
25

If I was Miller, I'd be excited that bigots were no longer going to use my product. And don't bigots drink Coors, anyhow?

Posted by Ari Spool | September 27, 2007 11:09 AM
26

Rock on, Champagne of Beers...

Posted by rlv | September 27, 2007 11:10 AM
27

Isn't that Dan in the third pic?

Posted by Cat in Chicago | September 27, 2007 11:10 AM
28

In theory this could be a collective group of 40 denominations who never agree on anything - Evangelicals, Conservative Catholic, Conservative Jews, Mormon, Southern Baptist, those new hard core Anglicans, a very long list.

how really strange that the debate now is on who is the right church, who cares

they really do hate you all if you are Queer

Posted by adam, partner named steve | September 27, 2007 11:12 AM
29

@22

No. Protestants are Methodists are Baptists are Lutherans are Serial Killers are Christians.

I only make a separation when discussing Evangelicals or Pentecostals.

And I used to know what Adventists were, but I replaced that knowledge with thoughts of sex with Anderson Cooper.

It's all right here. Take a look.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 11:14 AM
30

for most folks, Folsom is a costume party. The pictures don't communicate that this is, for the most part, theater.

Let them think what they want, though. I don't give a rip what the fundies think of me.

@22: Exactly what I was going to say. In casual language, many Catholics (and non-Catholics alike) refer to non-Catholic Christians as "Christians". I think every one knows that Catholics ARE Christian, what with all those bloody crucifixes and all.

Posted by duncan | September 27, 2007 11:17 AM
31

Miller occasionally produces a workign class beer of moderate value, though I generally consider their stuff swill. But to show my support they will be my next working class beer purchase which should be soon, as I am out of Lone Star (but have a fridge full of Craft and Homemade beer)

Posted by Sasha | September 27, 2007 11:21 AM
32

I'm with #8. The Last Supper poster was pretty yawn-inducing but the Catholic League's advertising -er...*protest*- photo array kinda got me intrigued.

Posted by chi type | September 27, 2007 11:22 AM
33

if you ask a many a "protestant" what religion they are, they will say, "christian".

if you ask a "catholic" what religion they are, they will say, "catholic".

in this way, poe is completely correct.

Posted by infrequent | September 27, 2007 11:23 AM
34

@31- you must be from TX, unless you can get lone star in the NW? if so, please tell me where! Also, I thought we started boycotting Miller when we graduated and jobs.

Posted by mongo like slog | September 27, 2007 11:25 AM
35

@34- er...and GOT jobs.

Posted by mongo like slog | September 27, 2007 11:26 AM
36

and @16: that was a strange, long post. there are calvinist christians and armenian christians, and all those in-between. perhaps catholicism has free-will as a tenant of their belief system, but you cannot say all non-catholic christians believe in predestination.

more so, that definition of predestination is odd. you don't believe and hope you are predestined. you believe because you are predestined. it's like saying you were born that way instead of saying it's a choice.

i'm like poe, only, since i'm not as fond of anderson cooper, i still have much knowledge left in my brain of these things...

Posted by infrequent | September 27, 2007 11:27 AM
37

poe, what were you linking to? i ended up on this page:

http://stackblog.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/jesus-im-not-in-love-with-you/

which was.... interesting? someone needs to tell that guy he is supposed to be part of the bride of christ.

Posted by infrequent | September 27, 2007 11:30 AM
38

Holy shit. I didn't even look at the results. I just packaged a message in the search box.

Frrrreeeakky!!

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 11:32 AM
39

Listen. Yes, Catholics drink. Catholics aren't fucking idiots about alcohol like a lot of different Protestant groups. But they don't drink as much as fags. Given the incredibly high rate of alcoholism in our community, probably the only more important demographic in this country for Miller is 16 year olds. Coors is still trying to recover from the damage we did to them, and there were fewer of us out when we started that boycott.

Posted by Gitai | September 27, 2007 11:42 AM
40

As spokesman for a religious organization, one would expect Mr. Donohue to know that the Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu faiths either denounce or frown on the use of alcohol. While alcohol may be strectching the point when it comes to Miller beer, calling them to boycott something they don't already use sure makes it sound like a real threat to the beer company.

Posted by TMW | September 27, 2007 11:43 AM
41

Religious discussions aside, I am also going to buy a six pack. My friends LOVE shitty beer...

Posted by jb | September 27, 2007 11:47 AM
42

Mr. Poe, parroting the tired claim that Catholics aren't really Christians isn't humorous or insightful. It's stupid, and it puts you square in the same camp as all those poor, deluded evangelical Protestants you so constantly ridicule.

Posted by Greg | September 27, 2007 11:50 AM
43

Kickin' it old skool wit Miller!

Posted by gay elitist | September 27, 2007 11:57 AM
44

Their practices are entirely different, Greg. I've already made the claim that they are the same on a long enough scale. To say they're 'the same' as an absolute would not only kill punch lines, it would probably force me to be serious about a whole 'notha shitload of topics that I do not wish to discuss.

I'd rather talk about steaming dogshit on a frosty lawn in mid-December.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 27, 2007 11:59 AM
45

@40. That is awesome. I hadn't even thought about the fact that he wants Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims to boycot a type of alcohol. Hilarious. What a moron.

Posted by Julie | September 27, 2007 12:01 PM
46

I can take some Miller Beer and soak that Dixie Chicks CD I had to buy in it. Sheesh.

Posted by bill | September 27, 2007 12:11 PM
47

Have you tried Miller Chill? It's pretty good! I love the artificial lime and salt taste.

Posted by spencer | September 27, 2007 12:11 PM
48

Hawt pics! Love the giant ice penis. Makes me wish I could go. Thanks for the photos, Catholic League!

Posted by SDA in SEA | September 27, 2007 12:13 PM
49

Normally, I’d say we should boycott Miller because it’s a crappy beer. But now I think I might have to order a couple MGD’s at the bar after work tonight.

Posted by CM | September 27, 2007 12:34 PM
50

@31
"Working class beer"? WTF? Is the Slog only for the white-collar multi-degreed high-earning superclass or something?

Posted by piet | September 27, 2007 12:45 PM
51

Miller was bought out by South African Brewing (SAB) a few years back (2002, I think).

...just thought I'd throw that in. Not sure why, other than that I just felt like sharing.... guess they Xtians will have to boycott them too.

Posted by duncan | September 27, 2007 12:52 PM
52

@33

This is so odd and funny. In my country, we tend to use so much "catholic" for "christian" and "christian" for "catholic" that we sometimes forget there are other christian religions... of course in my country (France) catholiscism is the main religion. Though I think most of the population is in fact atheist.

By the way, I've never heard about catholic organizations calling for a boycott against gay events, everybody would laugh at them ! The last time there were news about homosexuality and religion was when Rome disliked the fact that one of our bishops gave an interview to "Têtu", a gay magazine. It was years ago...

Posted by sylviane | September 27, 2007 1:24 PM
53

"we are calling on more than 200 Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu organizations to join with us in a nationwide boycott of Miller beer."

Why do Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu organizations care about The Last Supper?

Posted by Ryan | September 27, 2007 1:44 PM
54

Now, in a way, I guess I can understand why they get all squeemish about the BDSM stuff. I don't really like looking at people with meat hooks in their back either, but why are they SO into the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence? I assume its the hole Catholic-mockery thing, but wow, they're really into those pictures of the Sisters. I guess queeny, white-faced, faux-nun, philanthropists are the real enemy here.

Ugh! Bigots and hate mongers, always trying to ruin my lunch hour!

Posted by Justin | September 27, 2007 2:04 PM
55

@3 / Monkey

"YOU, BETTER, BA-RANG IT"

"OH, IT'S ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT-IHN"

(Not Another Teen Movie reference...this clip [youtube] is hilarious i.m.o.)

Posted by Lake | September 27, 2007 2:17 PM
56

@36: Arminian, not Armenian.

Posted by Chris | September 27, 2007 2:51 PM
57

#53

what they have in common is hating queers - and don't like blanphemy - better glue than drinking beer

start over in your suppositions

Posted by earle lee bogart | September 27, 2007 2:54 PM
58

This Donohue guy is an idiot from way back. I'm pretty sure he's the same genius who called for the boycott of THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST (which might have had problems, but irreverence wasn't one of them, unless you count Harvey Keitel's Brooklyn Judas.) Never mind whether Catholics are Christians, most Catholics wish this character would go get born again in some other religion.

Hopefully his ignorance will embarrass him once and for all. Good grief! There's nothing sacred about DaVinci's "Last Supper"! Is this moron's faith in God predicated on the belief in a divine seating chart?

Posted by MrEasy | September 27, 2007 3:43 PM
59

#53, thank you for mentioning this,

Can't believe that the Catholic League is "Calling on," other religions when they generally damn them all to hell...Contemptible in that they assume other religions would affiliate themselves with the likes of them.

sigh...

Posted by Luke | September 27, 2007 4:15 PM
60

oops run-on pronoun,

*"with the likes of Catholic League"

Posted by Luke | September 27, 2007 4:18 PM
61

Even Catholics can't stand Donahue, or the Catholic League.

Gay, kink friendly, Catholic and proud of all three!

Posted by Wes | September 27, 2007 5:17 PM
62

This is excellent news and will make the Catholics look like idiots. Toxic Christianity breeds BDSM like rats breed fleas - so the Folsom poster is perfect.

In other news, the Navy will spend as much as $600,000 to modify a 40-year-old barracks complex in San Diego that resembles a swastika from the air.

As I Jew I am offended if anything even looks accidentially like a swastika and I feel the American government should fork over $600,000 to buy shrubs to plant around army barracks so no Jew has to view an accidental swastika.

If Catholics are offended by an image in a poster that's just stupid. But when I am offended by a google earth image of a San Diego government building that forms a shape I don't like, I am glad the Anti-Defamation league defends my rights.

Judaism is a religion of justice and truth, all Catholics are just idiots. Jews can and should be offended by images, Catholics should not.

Posted by Issur | September 27, 2007 5:36 PM
63

Wow, Issur's not even really trying to be convincing anymore.

Posted by chi type | September 27, 2007 5:47 PM
64

As an mlb fan, I couldn't even name any of the Catholic League teams. Are they single A, double A, or what?

Posted by clandestine m's fan | September 27, 2007 5:56 PM
65

Issur @ 62? Put a sock in it already. The swastika (which, in the Sanskrit means "to be good") is an ancient symbol which was purloined by Hitler's thugs and used for nefarious purposes. Check your history.

And now, for more loving from the Catholics:
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/nuns.excommunicated.ap/index.html

Posted by OddlyEnough | September 27, 2007 5:58 PM
66

The swastika is one of the symbols forbidden by the Anti-Defamation league because it is an offensive shape to all Jewish people. That's why the U.S. government must spend a half million dollars to alter this shape.

If the Catholics want to waste their money protesting a poster let' em!

Posted by Issur | September 27, 2007 6:57 PM
67

thats it, i'm switching to miller lite from bud light this p.m. asap.....

Posted by whilde | September 27, 2007 7:55 PM
68

Catholics without beer? HA! The Knights of Columbus will go extinct.

And since Donahue's group has about thirty members, 20 of which are over 80, and the other ten in recovery, I doubt the good folks at Miller have much to worry about.

Posted by catalina vel-DuRay | September 27, 2007 9:10 PM
69

43 pictures must be a record for hot gay/bdsm/fetish pictures on the Catholic League web site. Sort of a mixed message, isn't it? Don't support this sin-sponsoring company, which sponsors sin! Like this! And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And this. And look at this!

Idiots.

Posted by hmm | September 27, 2007 10:37 PM
70
Posted by Jan Grave | September 27, 2007 10:52 PM
71

issur yr nuts. stop giving us jews a bad name.

Posted by Philly | September 28, 2007 6:48 AM
72

> Remember, they tried to "boycott" Disney. No good. And, I think Ford, no traction.

Oh really? When did Ford's sales start doing well? WalMart reversed it's decision to stay neutral instead of contributing thousands of dollars to a homosexual rights group... how did that happen?

> Having a Christian bring up 'the gamble' would be absurd, and it would make me question their faith immediately.

If I flip a coin, I have a 50% chance of it landing on either side. When I die, I have a 50% chance that there is or isn't something after death. That's not a Christian view, that's basic statistics.

> I hadn't even thought about the fact that he wants Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims to boycot a type of alcohol. Hilarious. What a moron.

Perhaps none of these religions support the lifestyle that the "Folsom Street Fair" promotes? In which case, it's a good idea to call these groups together for a common cause.

Posted by Milwaukee | September 28, 2007 7:02 PM
73

Hypocrisy .... it just keeps popping up, scandal after scandal, homophobic lawmaker after anti-gay preacher after gay marriage attacker after hooker-loving "family values" adulterer, Bob Allen to Ted Haggard to Jim West to Glenn Murphy Jr. to David "Diaperman" Vitter, so many examples of a militant loudmouthed Christian Republican suddenly caught with his pants down around his boyfriend's ankles that, after so many headlines, the notion that these cases might be rare or exceptional simply vanishes and you are left only with the undeniable fact that, oh my God, the American right is simply teeming with so much murky, pressure-cooked homoeroticism it might as well be a Young Republicans kegger at Mark Foley's pink Miami Beach condo.

Posted by Greg | September 30, 2007 6:48 PM

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