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You are here: Home / Be A Masshole!

Be A Masshole!

by Tom Levenson|  November 3, 20184:21 pm| 57 Comments

This post is in: Bring on the Brawndo!, Peak Wingnut Was a Lie!

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This is without doubt my favorite ad of the cycle.

Backstory:  In 2016, Massachusetts approved a law that adds gender identity to the list of reasons people can’t be discriminated against in public spaces.

This year, bigots opponents managed to place a question on the ballot that would repeal the law. Somewhat confusingly, the question is worded so that it takes a “yes” vote to retain the law — a quirk of drafting (perhaps deliberate) that casts some doubt on the polling that shows a two to one edge here opposed to discriminating against trans people.  I’m cautiously optimistic that we’re all good, but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the following is a perfect little slice of campaign art:

Open thread, y’all.

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Previous Post: « Happy Wedding Day, Annie
Next Post: Another Great Woman…Another Great Vet Campaign Ad »

Reader Interactions

57Comments

  1. 1.

    Chetan Murthy

    November 3, 2018 at 4:29 pm

    Some (topical) nice time from 2000: https://www.si.com/vault/2000/05/08/279821/the-biggest-play-of-his-life

    “I was so anxious,” remembers middle linebacker Corey Johnson, a senior at
    Masconomet High in Topsfield, Mass., “I thought I was going to vomit.” … He tried not to let his voice quake. “I’m coming out as an openly gay student here.”
    […]
    And you know what happened? They laughed! But that’s not the best
    part. The best part is what happened next. Nothing.

    Corey’s teammates had no problem with his sexual orientation. His
    coach had no problem with it. His mom and dad and his sister had
    no problem with it. His teachers, his counselor–nobody–had a
    problem with it.

  2. 2.

    Tom Levenson

    November 3, 2018 at 4:37 pm

    @Chetan Murthy: I remember that. Great story.

  3. 3.

    Eljai

    November 3, 2018 at 4:37 pm

    Oh my goodness, that ad made me laugh out loud and get a little teary-eyed at the same time!

  4. 4.

    Jerzy Russian

    November 3, 2018 at 4:40 pm

    Christ, what a Masshole!

  5. 5.

    JPL

    November 3, 2018 at 4:41 pm

    Tom. I saw the ad earlier on boston.com and you are correct that it’s excellent.

    M.J. Hegar running for congress has a pretty good ad… She could qualify as a masshole.

    https://www.trendsmap.com/twitter/tweet/1058710498231885824

  6. 6.

    Ken Kohl

    November 3, 2018 at 4:45 pm

    Open thread?

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/magazine/FBI-charlottesville-white-nationalism-far-right.html

    I call bullshit. Law enforcement was part of it

  7. 7.

    JPL

    November 3, 2018 at 4:46 pm

    @Ken Kohl: For those of us who don’t want to click to the nytimes, what’s the article about?

  8. 8.

    dmsilev

    November 3, 2018 at 4:49 pm

    @JPL: Law enforcement systematically ignoring the rise of “white nationalism” hate groups over the last couple of decades. As Ken points out, “ignoring” is being quite kind; in many cases, law enforcement is part of the problem.

  9. 9.

    Geeno

    November 3, 2018 at 4:51 pm

    Listening to this and feeling a steadiness, a sense of calm.

  10. 10.

    oatler.

    November 3, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    Great ad! It would have been nice to have John Ratzenberger in his Cliff the mailman outfit but you know about John…

  11. 11.

    SFAW

    November 3, 2018 at 4:55 pm

    I saw that at on TV last night, just before Jeopardy.

    No, not really, but I wish I had.

    But he’s right about the Ahs. I once heard someone call to her sister, attempting to say “Donna, come here!” But it came out “Donner, come heah!”

  12. 12.

    Tom Levenson

    November 3, 2018 at 5:03 pm

    @SFAW: JFK: “We must prosecute the situation in Cuber with vigah.”

  13. 13.

    Geeno

    November 3, 2018 at 5:04 pm

    Lol – this dude could be one of my cousins, but sadly, some of my cousins have been replaced by podrepublicans, it’s frightening.

  14. 14.

    Geeno

    November 3, 2018 at 5:06 pm

    @Tom Levenson: We choose to do these things, not because they aahh easy, but because they aahh haahhd

  15. 15.

    FlyingToaster

    November 3, 2018 at 5:07 pm

    At their webside (massholesnotassholes.org) the best badge reads:

    I don’t care what toilet you use, just wash your fucking hands, kid!

  16. 16.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    November 3, 2018 at 5:07 pm

    OT but the coolest thing just happened. Light Up Lancaster is this weekend. A celebration where all the Christmas lights are turned on in the city and there are all sorts of other events. The Castle is illuminated, there are all sorts of light shows in the Storey’s gardens and other such things. (It also coincides with November 5 which is on Monday) The finale of sorts is a fireworks show over the Castle tonight. Last year DH and I went and viewed it in person but today the weather was awful. The remnants of Hurricane Oscar came through which meant it was cold, windy and rainy so we decided to give it a miss. However, the really neat part about living in a house about four blocks from the Castle and close to the river means you get to watch it in real time from your bedroom. As soon as the fireworks started I went upstairs to the bedroom and watched the Castle display (perfect view) and then almost immediately afterwards was (I think) the River display (to the right of the bedroom). I have never seen the like. Two professional firework displays back to back watched from the warm, wind free, cold free, safety of my bedroom window. I am so lucky!

  17. 17.

    FlyingToaster

    November 3, 2018 at 5:08 pm

    @FlyingToaster: Website, dammit. FYWP, let me edit my typos already.

  18. 18.

    Yutsano

    November 3, 2018 at 5:12 pm

    @dmsilev: The chief of police for Charlottesville stepped down and was replaced by an African-American woman. Long arc of justice occasionally gets boosts.

  19. 19.

    debit

    November 3, 2018 at 5:12 pm

    @FlyingToaster: See, I can edit just fine. I just can’t get the site to remember who I am.

    ETA: see!? I just edited for a missing word!

  20. 20.

    FlyingToaster

    November 3, 2018 at 5:20 pm

    @debit: It doesn’t remember me. It doesn’t let me edit. Clearly, balloon-juice.com has developed a severe animosity to my input.

    (Though, honestly, it’s not just B-J; I have legacy admin access to a wp site where this is the ongoing fucking complaint/bug report. Everytime a security hole gets plugged or a ‘sploit gets blocked, something we need just fucking breaks.)

  21. 21.

    Matt McIrvin

    November 3, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    Wasn’t the wording on 3 a legal requirement? I think there’s a standard for what “yes” and “no” have to mean on this type of question.

  22. 22.

    Tom Levenson

    November 3, 2018 at 5:32 pm

    @Matt McIrvin: Could be. My reach exceeds my grasp.

  23. 23.

    Shana

    November 3, 2018 at 5:37 pm

    @Ken Kohl: My daughter, who was in Charlottesville as a legal observer, agrees with you.

  24. 24.

    NotMax

    November 3, 2018 at 5:40 pm

    What, no accompanying artwork?

  25. 25.

    Tom Levenson

    November 3, 2018 at 5:41 pm

    @NotMax: Nice.

  26. 26.

    Shana

    November 3, 2018 at 5:41 pm

    @FlyingToaster: I kind of like the one that says “If we can call a grown man “kid”, we’re clearly fine with gender fluidity.”

  27. 27.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    November 3, 2018 at 5:54 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt: Pics or it didn’t(or doesn’t) happen.

  28. 28.

    ThresherK

    November 3, 2018 at 5:55 pm

    I’m sending this to all my MA friends.

  29. 29.

    Yutsano

    November 3, 2018 at 5:59 pm

    @ThresherK: Just did the same on Twitter.

  30. 30.

    Yutsano

    November 3, 2018 at 6:07 pm

    @Yutsano: It got a reaction if the link decides to work.

  31. 31.

    MomSense

    November 3, 2018 at 6:25 pm

    This is one of the greatest ads ever.

  32. 32.

    joel hanes

    November 3, 2018 at 6:28 pm

    @Tom Levenson:

    vigah

    “The rubbah schwan is … _mine_.”

    Those were more innocent days.

  33. 33.

    hitchhiker

    November 3, 2018 at 6:33 pm

    FYI

    My very strange sister decided to vote for the first time. She’s 59. How do I know this? Not because she admitted it was the first time. I know it because she texted me last night to ask how come a candidate two districts away from hers wasn’t on her ballot … she assumed that because she’d seen ads for this candidate, she’d be given a chance to vote for her. So her next thought was that she was supposed to get another ballot where she could vote for her. We’re both in WA, where ballots are mailed to every registered voter a few weeks before election day. That’s why she has time to sort out her voting, and her utter ignorance about how it all works is how I know this is the first time she didn’t toss the thing in the trash.

    My sister is a professional person with a very responsible job in the healthcare world. She owns a home and drives a car. She has a degree.

    I want to think there are lots and lots of women out there like her right now … disgusted by the spectacle of Trump, eager to stick it to him in any small way they can, even if it takes — gasp! — filling out a ballot. I want to think all of them are asking their smartass politically savvy siblings how to do it. I want to think they’re going to be the reason certain polls are under-rating the candidates I favor.

    We’ll see.

  34. 34.

    J R in WV

    November 3, 2018 at 6:37 pm

    Great piece of theater… guy shifts from asshole to Masshole slowly about 40 seconds in. Great production!

  35. 35.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    November 3, 2018 at 6:39 pm

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: TBH I was enjoying the moment and left my camera downstairs. Sorry.

  36. 36.

    Jager

    November 3, 2018 at 6:39 pm

    When I typed the Massholes website in my search bar, I dropped one s, I got the worst collection of porn sites…

  37. 37.

    Tom Levenson

    November 3, 2018 at 6:45 pm

    @Jager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jta56wBl7SM

  38. 38.

    raven

    November 3, 2018 at 6:48 pm

    Back to back SEC East Champs! Go Dawgs!

  39. 39.

    WaterGirl

    November 3, 2018 at 6:51 pm

    @joel hanes: On the album we had, it was “rubber duck” not swan. I loved that album.

  40. 40.

    dm

    November 3, 2018 at 6:59 pm

    Open thread, so I’m bumping a comment from the probably-dead Steve King thread:

    If you zoom into Northwest Iowa in yesterday’s XKCD you’ll find an Easter egg appropriate to the Steve King thread (California and Virginia voters get Easter eggs, too).

    https://xkcd.com/2067/

    Probably you have to look at it with a real computer, and be patient, it takes a while to load.

    The roll over text (the instructions for editing the map) is good, too

  41. 41.

    ascap_scab

    November 3, 2018 at 7:01 pm

    Ida-holes

    14 Middleton, Idaho teachers on paid leave after dressing as MAGA Border Wall / Mexicans for Halloween.

    Alternate category: I-duh-ho man.

  42. 42.

    Roger Moore

    November 3, 2018 at 7:03 pm

    @Matt McIrvin:
    I know there’s a legal requirement on that kind of thing here in California. In a referendum (i.e. a popular challenge to a law passed by the legislature) the issue is phrased as a vote to approve the law, so a “yes” keeps it and a “no” scraps it. This gives the move to scrap the law a boost, since there’s a built-in bias toward voting no. IMO, one of the mistakes made this year by the group that put our recent gas tax on the ballot was to overreach and turn the question into a constitutional amendment that also makes it harder to add to the gas tax in the future. That means that rather than the usual “yes” upholds/”no” overturns the law, it’s a “yes”, it’s yes to overturn (and make it harder to pass future taxes) and no to keep the law.

  43. 43.

    Kay

    November 3, 2018 at 7:12 pm

    Jeff Sessions needs to get a handle on this Right wing crime wave.

    The man who shot dead two women at a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday before killing himself was a far-right extremist and self-proclaimed misogynist who railed against women, black people, and immigrants in a series of online videos and songs.
    Scott Beierle, 40, was named by Tallahassee Police as the shooter who opened fire inside the Hot Yoga Tallahassee studio, killing two and injuring four other women and a man.

  44. 44.

    Redshift

    November 3, 2018 at 7:13 pm

    @dm: It’s a masterpiece of data presentation! But I didn’t play with it enough to find out there were Easter eggs; now I’ll have to look.

  45. 45.

    Ken

    November 3, 2018 at 7:23 pm

    @dm: If you want to save time, the explainxkcd site has all the Easter eggs.

  46. 46.

    Dan B

    November 3, 2018 at 7:34 pm

    @Eljai: Me too – laughing, smiling and tearing up. We need many doses of common decency.

  47. 47.

    Duane

    November 3, 2018 at 7:42 pm

    Should I watch that video? Really don’t need my blood pressure increased by another hater.

  48. 48.

    FlyingToaster

    November 3, 2018 at 7:56 pm

    @Duane: The video at the top will leave you cheering. Unless you hate everything Massachusetts, to which I can only say “*^#*&%Q()*^(^$*^%%)(*”.

  49. 49.

    schrodingers_cat

    November 3, 2018 at 8:13 pm

    I sometimes read the Twitter feed of a now defunct blog run by second generation South Asians, they are totally freaking out over the ending birthright citizenship bomb that T threw last week.

  50. 50.

    Redshift

    November 3, 2018 at 9:18 pm

    @dmsilev: I think I read that all of the charges against white supremacists in Charlottesville were there result of a quirk of Virginia law that allows any citizen to present evidence and swear out a warrant for someone’s arrest, not from law enforcement pursuing the cases. So yeah.

  51. 51.

    Redshift

    November 3, 2018 at 9:23 pm

    @schrodingers_cat: An Indian co-worker was pretty freaked out by it, too, wondering if her children are retroactively not going to be citizens. If course, making non-white people uncomfortable is part of the intended purpose. Asshole.

  52. 52.

    Bill Arnold

    November 3, 2018 at 9:53 pm

    @schrodingers_cat:

    I sometimes read the Twitter feed of a now defunct blog run by second generation South Asians, they are totally freaking out over the ending birthright citizenship bomb that T threw last week.

    I suspect (60%) that the way that DJ Trump sells it to himself is that he really really wants to revoke B. Obama’s citizenship and have him deported (or jailed), and Obama’s presidency annulled. It would be a stretch since Obama’s mom was an American (White, real PhD in anthropology as an older adult), but he’s working on it.
    And his advisors (I include Hannity (his phone buddy) and most of the Fox News celebs) surely tell him that his powers against dissent will be vastly increased if he can revoke (or threaten to revoke) the citizenship of dissidents at will. But really, it’s (probably) about Obama, and petty revenge.
    (I am [irritated], yes. Extremely so.)
    @Redshift:
    Not just non-white people. Plenty of birthright white citizens would be affected.

  53. 53.

    Matt McIrvin

    November 3, 2018 at 10:11 pm

    @Roger Moore: This kind of thing always reminds me of the SCTV election episode, in which there was a bottle deposit bill on the Melonville ballot but nobody could figure out whether “yes” was for or against the deposit, including the people who wrote the campaign ads.

    [menacing shot of a hoodlum wielding a broken bottle]
    “When disposable bottles are outlawed… only outlaws will have them!
    Vote no on the bottle bill. Or yes, depending on how it’s worded.”

  54. 54.

    Yutsano

    November 3, 2018 at 11:26 pm

    @dm: I think he has the geography of Washington a bit cocked up.Otherwise it’s pretty entertaining. And he’s pretty in for Carolyn Long.

  55. 55.

    wuzzat

    November 3, 2018 at 11:44 pm

    @Bill Arnold: I’ve been waiting for him to propose revoking Hawaii’s statehood for that same reason, honestly.

  56. 56.

    biff murphy

    November 4, 2018 at 6:21 am

    Thanks for the masshole ad, I sent one to my dotter and one to my son. Pissah!!!

  57. 57.

    biff murphy

    November 4, 2018 at 6:22 am

    or dottah

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