DeMint camp wants local TV stations to stop airing discrimination ad

Supporters of U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint have contacted Charleston area television stations urging them to pull the plug on an ad featuring a comment DeMint made about homosexuals teaching in public schools, according to the group that produced the ad.

The local stations have continued to air the 30-second piece, said Warren Redman-Gress, director of the Charleston-based Alliance for Full Acceptance.

“We are really thankful the TV stations see the value in what we’re doing, and, in that first salvo, have stood by us,” he said.

The ad begins with a hypothetical question: “What if you saw this headline? ‘Senator Jim DeMint: Jews Should Not Teach Public School,’” and then swaps the word “Gay” for “Jews” in the headline.

DeMint supporters argued the ad falsely portrays DeMint as anti Semitic.

The ad refers to a controversial 2004 remark that DeMint made about a state GOP platform item saying gays should not teach in public schools. Asked about that platform during a televised debate, DeMint said, “I don’t think they should,” adding that government should not endorse particular behaviors. “We need the folks that are teaching in schools to represent our values.”

Redman-Gress said the DeMint ad was one of three commercials that began airing on June 18 to raise public awareness of how discriminatory attitudes toward the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community are more accepted than toward other minority groups.

The $30,000 campaign is set to end later this month, but Redman-Gress said the alliance is trying to raise more money to air the ads in other cities and again here later this fall.

Read more in tomorrow’s editions of The Post and Courier.