Over the years, the priorities of the religious right have shifted, which makes sense. The culture and political landscape have changed considerably since the Moral Majority first started influencing politics, so it stands to reason the movement's wish-list would adapt to evolving circumstances.

But some of the golden oldies still matter to this crowd. Michael Schwartz, a long-time right-wing activist who's served as Sen. Tom Coburn's (R-Okla.) chief of staff since 2005, spoke at a breakout session at the Values Voter Summit on Saturday, and attacked pornography.

"Pornography is a blight," Schwartz told an audience in a crowded room of the Omni Shoreham hotel. "It is a disaster. It is one of those silent diseases in our society that we haven't been able to overcome very well. Now, I may be getting politically incorrect here. And it's been a few years, but not that many, since I was closely associated with pre-adolescent boys, boys around 10 years of age. But it is my observation that boys of that age have less tolerance for homosexuality than just about any other class of people. They speak badly about homosexuality. And that's because they don't want to be that way. They don't want to fall into it."

Schwartz told the crowd about Jim Johnson, a friend of his who turned an old hotel into a hospice for gay men dying of AIDS. "One of the things he said to me," said Schwartz, "that I think is an astonishingly insightful remark… he said 'All pornography is homosexual pornography, because all pornography turns your sexual drive inwards."

There were murmurs and gasps from the crowd. "Now, think about that," said Schwartz. "And if you tell an 11-year-old boy about that, do you think he's going to want to get a copy of Playboy? I'm pretty sure he'll lose interest. That's the last thing he wants! You know, that's a good comment, it's a good point, and it's a good thing to teach young people."

Um, yeah. Tell young boys that looking at pictures of naked women might make them gay. That's a great strategy.

If you're not familiar with Michael Schwartz's work, he's quite a character. In 2005, he spoke at a right-wing theocratic conference and rejected the idea that the Supreme Court can deem unconstitutional laws passed by Congress. In other words, he's against judicial review -- a concept decided over two centuries ago in Marbury v. Madison.

Article found here

I dont kow what Mr Schwartz is talking about. But I do know kids are very influencial and teens and young adults nowadays 'experiment'. It isnt a big leap to believe that porn gives people ideas and normalizes things in their mind the more they see it.

I could see that working in the favor of people who want to abolish porno. "Porn makes you gay!"

But I watch porn for bewbs!

i love my porn!if they take it away from me ill **** cut them!

While I think that there are some who have addictions to porn and may have problems in their life from it..I'm quite certain "turning gay" isn't one of those issues.

Oh, my, the whole world is going to become gay. Have everybody watch some porn and it will happen.

and they who condemn porn like that probably have a secret stash of gay porn!

I'm gay and I agree with you. Porn in a child's life is not a good thing. Personally I don't care for porn, but I won't be telling people it makes them gay. Though I have to say at 10 and 11, any mention of it would have grossed me out, straight or gay. But I also agree that kids are sexual far younger these days. This man isn't trying to help anyone, he is simply trying to further the agenda of the Christian Right, at the expense of the gay community. I have to wonder if it would bother his conscience knowing he just added a few more generations of bigots who will share his intense irrational paranoia and ignorance.. I bet not one person in that crowd stood up to him.

This is tooo funny!

Back when I was a kid, we didn't have access to porn. I used to have to wait until mom and dad were gone and then I would have to sneak the Sears catalog into the bathroom and turn to the lingerie section to.....well....

Nowadays, it is so much easier. All I have to do is go on the internet and log onto Sears.com !

I think this guy is having his own internal struggles.

I'll have to remember that one. lmao

I would wager those that have the most problem with it are in their own closets. Not a good place to be.

That's just insane to say porn will turn someone gay. What an arse. But I can say from personal experience that is can destroy a marriage. Nothing worse than going to meet your husband only to find he's gawking at a full pic of a naked woman. That day, also, was my birthday. Disgraceful!

finally someone figured it out

What a bunch of crock! while youngsters and children are quite impressionable, doubt a still picture, a video or a movie will determine the viewers sexuality.

sometimes the best thing to do is laugh at these suggestions

pedalac - while that may suck, was that the reason for the marriage breaking up?

If watching porno made people gay...than I would be gay 100 times over already

Well I think it was a truly stupid thing to tell an audience of adults, who might be thinking the same thing.

''What's this a$$ talking about? if that were the case my husband would be gay..'' You'd think that people would pick up on the absurdity. Unfortunately many of these values voters will think it's a good idea ...

Images are VERY impressionable on children in all areas where they have yet to figure themselves out. Why do corporations spend so much money on commercials if images dont impact peoples decisions and choices?

It makes me wonder how these people get lifted up beyond the normal "values voters". Were they this crazy before they were put in a high position?

They are focusing on the adults with the sexual subliminal messages (jmo) not the children. (adults buy the crap, children just want the crap)

I played baseball during my childhood years, loved it, am I a baseball player now, no...

Sexuality is not programmed, it's not instilled, it's not chosen, it just is.