# Ashton & Demi "I Pledge" video--Creepy **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 4, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820 "2009-09-04T03:09:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/81 "2009-09-04T19:21:03Z")
Aside from some of the “servant” stuff, this should really be invisible. What makes it intolerable for me is the heavy-handedness of it. The messages don’t fit with the execution.With the tone of it you’d expect the participants to be noble prize winners saying things like: “I’m going to cure aids.” “I vow to find a way to provide clean drinking water for every person in Africa.” “I pledge to make what we now consider alternate energy the norm.” Etcetera. But Ashton Kutcher and a bunch of other insulated spoiled idiots? Not flipping the finger? Talking to my neighbor. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/82 "2009-09-04T19:21:04Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > I disagree. If government came to help me out, I should run for my life. Just make sure you don’t run on any roads. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/83 "2009-09-04T19:27:27Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > That they are all promising to do things that don’t really cost them anything. Not flipping any one the bird - gosh, how revolutionary. > > But if they really want to help the Most Blessed, Most Holy Obama, they can volunteer to do something that shows some real commitment. > > Unless it is all a bunch of blather, and they will immediately hire tax lawyers to try to find ways not to pay their fair share of taxes that y’all are always talking about. > > Regards, > Shodan Do you think that tax lawyers and accountants exist so people can break the law and not pay their full share of taxes? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/84 "2009-09-04T19:28:28Z")
I thought of this thread today, as I went out and bought a compact fluorescent bulb to replace a burned-out incadescent one – at the office, not at my home. Just contributing to the Cause. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/85 "2009-09-04T19:40:53Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Unless it is all a bunch of blather, and they will immediately hire tax lawyers to try to find ways not to pay their fair share of taxes that y’all are always talking about. I b elieve in progressive taxation, but i have no problems with tax lawyers, nor with the concept of legal tax minimization. I think that Congress should close many of the tax loopholes and deductions currently available to wealthy individuals and to corporations, but as long as those loopholes and deductions exist i don’t blame anyone for taking legal advantage of them. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/86 "2009-09-04T20:52:05Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > “no experience”? **Shodan** , would you mind terribly not lying about Obama? Oh, you would? Never mind, then. > [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#): > > And, predictably, let the Obama worshiping begin. > [@begbert2](#): > > Failing to tell insulting lies = worship. > [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#): > > No, getting your panties all bunched up at the slightest, er… slight = worship. [This is what you sound like](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc). Really. Ergo, objecting very, very mildly to slanderous lies = getting your panties all bunched up at the slightest, er… slight = worship. I guess it makes sense if you think that lies are good things. Which I guess would make sense if your entire political belief system was utterly dependent upon them… ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_Stream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Carol\_Stream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_Stream)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/87 "2009-09-05T02:41:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > But I don’t see any particular problem apart from that. They like the President, they think he’s on the right track, and they’re sharing that view. What’s the problem? I don’t recall, over the previous eight years, anyone pledging to be a servant of George W. Bush. Many served in his Administration, but even then, it was often described as “serving the country”. Not “I pledge to be a servant of W”. Plus, Ashton and Demi ARE creepy, just on general principles. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/88 "2009-09-05T03:33:14Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > Plus, Ashton and Demi ARE creepy, just on general principles. 😃 Finally, something we can all agree on. I fucking hate Ashton Kutcher. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/89 "2009-09-05T03:59:19Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > I don’t recall, over the previous eight years, anyone pledging to be a servant of George W. Bush. Many served in his Administration, but even then, it was often described as “serving the country”. Not “I pledge to be a servant of W”. Idiots like you just spent 8 years kissing his ass. No pledge necessary, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/90 "2009-09-05T07:40:04Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > 'And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you. Just think…a _Democrat_ said this! I never realized what selfish, greedy, uncaring bastards Democrats were in those days! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/91 "2009-09-05T14:17:00Z")
You are very, very close now,\*\* SA\*\*, that is _almost_ perfect nonsense. Soon, soon, you will reach your goal… ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/92 "2009-09-05T14:34:27Z")
What fucking planet are they on. ‘If that’s the answer’, etc, etc. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/93 "2009-09-05T14:53:31Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > I don’t recall, over the previous eight years, anyone pledging to be a servant of George W. Bush. Many served in his Administration, but even then, it was often described as “serving the country”. Not “I pledge to be a servant of W”. > … There was that scene in [Jesus Camp](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_camp) where they prayed to a cardboard cutout of Bush. I agree, this is weird though. It is certainly not helpful to the administration. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/94 "2009-09-05T15:02:51Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > I don’t recall, over the previous eight years, anyone pledging to be a servant of George W. Bush. Many served in his Administration, but even then, it was often described as “serving the country”. Not “I pledge to be a servant of W”. Once again, you just aren’t paying attention. This was linked to in the first couple posts of the thread: [http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/003656.php](http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/003656.php) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/95 "2009-09-05T15:47:50Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The point remains, they pledge to do little stuff, and you think they ought to volunteer to pay more in taxes. This is as stupid a point as Michael Moore telling people that if they support the war in Iraq, then they are morally obliged to serve in the military. Wait a minute, Michael Moore’s point, although stupid, is at least on the same topic. > > Do you get pissed off at Boy Scouts for helping li’l old ladies cross the street, instead of finding a job so they can be more productive members of society? How dare they not think about the terrible position our country is in! These people have more money than Rand Rover ever claimed to have. And \*\*Shodan \*\*wants them to contribute monetarily to the government. And people are telling him he’s wrong. Am I in bizarro world? (or am I mixing up posters again?) As for the OP:, I do think you have to be listening for something wrong to hear what you heard. But that part at the end did seem a bit creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/96 "2009-09-05T15:50:50Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > These people have more money than Rand Rover ever claimed to have. And \*\*Shodan \*\*wants them to contribute monetarily to the government. And people are telling him he’s wrong. Am I in bizarro world? (or am I mixing up posters again?) Lemme explain another way. If I start an RO thread about someone who deliberately runs over puppies, is it invalid because I simply don’t care about genital mutilation in africa or nuclear disarmament? No, it’s just not what I’m posting about right now. From that pledge we have no idea what their tax policy is, or is not. Unless I missed something. So the pledge shouldn’t inform us either way about it, and not all their waking moments are going to be about tax policy! ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/97 "2009-09-05T16:01:33Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > These people have more money than Rand Rover ever claimed to have. And \*\*Shodan \*\*wants them to contribute monetarily to the government. And people are telling him he’s wrong. Am I in bizarro world? (or am I mixing up posters again?) One or two people, even billionaires, aren’t going to make much of a dent in the federal debt by contributing 90% of their money. It has to be a social effort. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/98 "2009-09-05T18:07:58Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#): > > And, predictably, let the Obama worshiping begin. If such a tepid statement qualifies as worhsip, even atheists are devout. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/99 "2009-09-05T18:26:25Z")
Oh, Blessed Obama, cast not the infidel, **Jimmy Joe** , unto the bitter mercy of United Health, that they turn on him, and rend him asunder! Search your infinite mercy and find forgiveness, because he knows not what he does. Or much of anything, apparently… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820/100 "2009-09-05T18:38:55Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You are very, very close now,\*\* SA\*\*, that is _almost_ perfect nonsense. Soon, soon, you will reach your goal… I still recognize individual letters. Two more fingers, barkeep. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ashton-demi-i-pledge-video-creepy/508820.md?page=6)