# Letter to Congressman Mike Burgess **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 10, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697 "2009-12-10T04:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Cleveland\_Steamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Cleveland\_Steamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Cleveland_Steamer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/1 "2009-12-10T04:58:00Z")
Congressman Burgess, Your letter is fantastic, _IT IS AMAZING_. I do not have an opinion of the substance of your letter, but I _LOVE_ your typographical style. _NOTHING_ says _PROFESSIONALISM_ like writing in all _CAPS_ and _ITALICIZING_ and _UNDERLINING_ . If the words were just in caps, I might have thought you were yelling. If the words were just italicized, I might have thought they were book titles. If the words were just underlined, I might have thought you had a typewriter that did _NOT_ have italics; however, by combing _ALL THREE_, I knew that for sure that you were a prick. May I remind you that your style of prose, _IT IS BEYOND PERFECT_. _RUN_, to Longman, DON’T WALK\*, and demand to write for the fifth edition of _The Elements of Style_. With kind regards, The Cleveland Steamer \*only yelling here [http://media.washingtontimes.com/media/docs/2009/Dec/09/12-09-2009\_-\_Kevin\_Jennings\_Letter.pdf](http://media.washingtontimes.com/media/docs/2009/Dec/09/12-09-2009_-_Kevin_Jennings_Letter.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/2 "2009-12-10T05:21:57Z")
Gotta say, the OP’s username aptly describes his [posting style.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprophilia#Cleveland_steamer) ---
**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:** [December 10, 2009, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/3 "2009-12-10T07:51:09Z")
You missed that it was in bold. I’m gonna be nice here, and hope that the actual subject of the letter is either untrue, or you aren’t (dishonestly) arguing for its contents. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/4 "2009-12-10T15:39:15Z")
Is the stuff about Jennings true? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/5 "2009-12-10T16:10:42Z")
Dunno. I read the letter and the _WT_ editorial that accompanied it as an attachment, but it was very short on actual reportage. Not sure where to look up the underlying facts of the case. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/6 "2009-12-10T16:22:41Z")
This was hashed about in GD not to long ago: [Target Keven Jennings](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536076&highlight=kevin+jennings) It’s a little bittle bullshit rolled up into a big ball of “won’t someone think of the children!?!?” The short version, from what I can tell, is some time back when Jennings was a high school guidance counselor, a gay student came to him with some story about meeing an adult male (the student hadn’t had sex with the adult), and Jennings gave him a “make sure to wear a condom” speech. That and he once had something nice to say about someone (can’t remember the name) who had something nice to say about NAMBLA. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/7 "2009-12-10T16:35:05Z")
Thanks, **Jack.** ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/8 "2009-12-10T18:52:02Z")
> [@The\_Cleveland\_Steamer](#): > > Congressman Burgess, > > Your letter is fantastic, _IT IS AMAZING_. I do not have an opinion of the substance of your letter, but I _LOVE_ your typographical style. “UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this IMPORTANT information is ENCOURAGED.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/9 "2009-12-10T19:22:55Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > “UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this IMPORTANT information is ENCOURAGED.” Huhuhuh, you said “IMPORTANT”. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/10 "2009-12-10T20:19:17Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > This was hashed about in GD not to long ago: [Target Keven Jennings](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=536076&highlight=kevin+jennings) > > It’s a little bittle bullshit rolled up into a big ball of “won’t someone think of the children!?!?” > > The short version, from what I can tell, is some time back when Jennings was a high school guidance counselor, a gay student came to him with some story about meeing an adult male (the student hadn’t had sex with the adult), and Jennings gave him a “make sure to wear a condom” speech. > > That and he once had something nice to say about someone (can’t remember the name) who had something nice to say about NAMBLA. There appear to be additional allegations now, allegations not discussed in the earlier thread. Specifically, there are tapre recordings of some teen sex conference at which someone allegedly told a group of 14-year-olds how to safely fist their partners and discussed the etiquette of spitting vs. swallowing. However, there’s no allegation (so far as I’m aware) that Jennings was the one _giving_ those sessions. He is excoriated for them merely because he was the Executive Director of the parent organization that sponsored the conference. So even assuming that the tapes are accurate, we have no way of knowing if this was a too-enthusiastic seminar leader, or an officially-sanctioned part of the day’s festivities. The connection seems very much guilt-by-association: Jennings ws the executive director of the national organization, the national organization affiliated with local organizations, one such local organization put on an event, and one presenter at that event delievered questionable material to a teen audience. Therefore, Jennings delivered quesitonable material to a teen audience. The transitive property of liability. Needless to say, I don’t place any more stock in this latest revelation than I did in the earlier one. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/11 "2009-12-10T20:21:41Z")
> [@The\_Cleveland\_Steamer](#): > > Congressman Burgess, > > Your letter is fantastic, _IT IS AMAZING_. I do not have an opinion of the substance of your letter, but I _LOVE_ your typographical style. _NOTHING_ says _PROFESSIONALISM_ like writing in all _CAPS_ and _ITALICIZING_ and _UNDERLINING_ . Maybe he secretly holds a desire to have his arms amputated and replaced with DORRANCE #5X STAINLESS STEEL HOOKS. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/12 "2009-12-10T21:00:20Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > However, there’s no allegation (so far as I’m aware) that Jennings was the one _giving_ those sessions. He is excoriated for them merely because he was the Executive Director of the parent organization that sponsored the conference. So even assuming that the tapes are accurate, we have no way of knowing if this was a too-enthusiastic seminar leader, or an officially-sanctioned part of the day’s festivities. [Here’s](http://www.personproject.org/Alerts/States/Massachusetts/controversy.html) an article on the (now ten year old) controversy. Jennings not only didn’t give the seminar, the actual seminar wasn’t even given by his group. GLSEN sponsored the workshop, but they had several DOEd employees actually run it. So yea, he’s linked by several degrees of separation to an overly explicit sex-ed class that happened a decade ago, in other words, he’s pretty much a child-rapist. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/13 "2009-12-10T21:04:44Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > [Here’s](http://www.personproject.org/Alerts/States/Massachusetts/controversy.html) an article on the (now ten year old) controversy. > … So yea, he’s linked by several degrees of separation to an overly explicit sex-ed class that happened a decade ago, in other words, he’s pretty much a child-rapist. From your cite: > [@Jennings](#): > > ‘‘From what I’ve heard, I have concerns as well,’’ said executive director Kevin Jennings. ‘‘GLSEN believes that children do have a right to accurate, safer sex education, but this needs to be delivered in an age appropriate and sensitive manner.’’ This is obviously the type of thing that some gay sex sicko would say. Won’t someone think of the gay children? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/14 "2009-12-10T21:07:04Z")
> [@](#): > > This letter is about a grown man. Kevin Jennings, teaching school children as young as 14 years-of-age, that it is okay for them to have sex with grown adults. This post is about a congressman. Michael Burgess, needing an editor on-his-staff, because this is written by an illiterate. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/15 "2009-12-10T21:26:42Z")
You guys would freak to see political fund raising letters. No paragraph longer than one sentence. Lots of italics. Lots of bold. Usually Courier font. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/16 "2009-12-10T21:49:03Z")
Here’s a little more information. Please consider the source when you see how sensationally it is being reported ([Fistgate](http://biggovernment.com/2009/12/10/fistgate-v-youth-fisting-instructor-claims-kevin-jennings-knew-about-class-content-in-advance/):rolleyes:). However it sure makes for interesting reading. Check some of the other articles in this “scandal” and you’ll see that he is either Chester the Molester or else has been associating with some people with questionable thought processes. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/17 "2009-12-10T21:51:37Z")
“Palling around with pederasts?” :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [December 10, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/18 "2009-12-10T21:51:39Z")
He works in Washington, doesn’t he? He probably hasn’t seen anyone with normal processes in years. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/19 "2009-12-10T22:42:31Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > “Palling around with pederasts?” :rolleyes: Coming next year to ABC, right after “Dancing with the Stars”! Starring Gary Glitter, Roman Polanski, [Jeffery Jones](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000470/bio) and Cardinal Bernard Law! ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697/20 "2009-12-11T03:45:14Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > “UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this IMPORTANT information is ENCOURAGED.” Ffffff.f… DAMN YOU TO ARCHIMEDES PLUTONIUM for making me remember THAT berk. UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this IMPORTANT Information is ENCOURAGED, ESPECIALLY to COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARDS. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-congressman-mike-burgess/520697.md?page=2)