Utah state Sen. Linda Paulson (R) has become an international rap sensation. The GOP politician’s new campaign ad, however, isn’t shattering sales records; it’s being widely mocked.
How awful is it? The U.K.’s Daily Telegraph even paused coverage of the Queen’s then-impending funeral to give viewers some mirth during the solemn proceedings.
The anti-LGBTQ Republican’s attempt to reach out to the state’s geriatric religious right rap community stayed on brand throughout her minute-long performance. Complete with a dismal dance routine, the ad contained lyrical genius like rhyming “pro-police” with “free speech.”
“My name is Linda Paulson – Republican and awesome!” she spits out as she opens. “Love God, and family, and the Constitution.”
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But it doesn’t take long for Paulson to veer into anti-LGBTQ dog whistles, touting that she’s “pro-religious freedom” and bemoaning the lack of “morality” from the current crop of politicians. Paulson is a sitting state senator running for re-election.
“I support traditional family as the fundamental unit of society,” she raps, “but in schools they’re pushing for new beliefs.”
Not content with knocking queer parents and same-sex marriage, Paulson also took a swing at transgender women and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“Just to clarify this,” she awkwardly tries to rap while a photo of Jackson appears on screen, “since some can’t define this. As a female adult, I know what a woman is.”
Republican senators repeatedly tried to trip up the judge during her confirmation hearings over the subject of transgender rights. Jackson refused to give a definition, saying she isn’t a “biologist.” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) led the charge, but asked to define it herself, she refused to answer three times.
“This has to be an outtake from Park & Rec,” one person tweeted in response.
“I was a lifelong Dem until I saw this video,” another sent.
“If I had a time machine, I’d show this to the founders,” another user quipped.
If I had a time machine I would show this to the founding fathers
— Dr. Götterdämmerung Kyle, PhD (@SwissChard86) September 18, 2022
I was a lifelong Dem until I saw this video.
pic.twitter.com/wyqEKKx1q6— Jon (@landbutcher) September 17, 2022
This has to be an outtake from Parks & Rec. https://t.co/tDUtaMcgl7
— keith kloor (@keithkloor) September 18, 2022
The grandchildren don't talk to her since she became who she is.
— Jason S. (@jasonswritings) September 18, 2022
Are you new to Twitter? A cat playing in front of la TV screen gets lots of views and actually may be more worth watch g than this embarrassing effort
— stephen mills (@jogginsboy) September 19, 2022
Same energy as this
Is no one bold enough to
tell them the truth
about these?Would Richard Simmons agree to do an intervention? https://t.co/17Q0wxBSqt
— oeuf 👋🏻O (@mairE_keyL) September 18, 2022