Steve from 'Blue's Clues' Teaches Kids to Hate Sarah Palin

For the uninitiated, Steve was the original host of the children’s show “Blue’s Clues.” I have sat through many repeated episodes of Steve hunting down that little puppy’s paw-print clues, and Steve’s performance and interaction with the camera made most of those sittings not only tolerable, but at times quite entertaining. Unfortunately, I just discovered that during last year’s campaign, he used his incredible talents for a piece of fact-challenged propaganda targeting Sarah Palin and done in the same style he used to educate so many of America’s children about more mundane things like counting and sharing.

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Despite an alarming number of urban legends pertaining to Steve, it turns out he did NOT overdose on heroin and his arms are NOT all covered with tattoos (many thought this to be the explanation as to why he was ALWAYS seen in long-sleeves). The truth is, Steve spent a few years writing and performing alternative rock with his friend Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips. Although his music never made it really big, it did receive some pretty high praise from critics and fans.

But, clearly Steve’s great talent is working with a camera and communicating in an effective, coherent and entertaining way with children. He briefly returned to morning television with this highly entertaining video (with Drozd) about Groundhogs. I admire this video not only as a fine piece of music, but it is a wonderful way to introduce children to guitar-heavy rock music. Kids love it, parents love it, it’s a homerun.

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I guess considering what we know about the majority of television stars, rock musicians and the people associated with educational programming, it is not a real surprise (or even a disappointment) to learn that Steve leans to the left politically. What did come as an enormous disappointment was to discover that he used his incredible communicative talents to gear his political message toward children. In the video posted above, which he narrates, he joins the ranks of the disingenuous liars who are downright vicious in slamming Sarah Palin and Senator McCain. And to me, what makes it unforgiveable is that it is presented in the same spirit as his loveable character from “Blue’s Clues.”

Steve, I can enjoy your talent and watch your shows and continue to contribute to your royalty checks despite your politics which border on Palin Derangement Syndrome. But, you make it very hard for me to continue doing that knowing that you are actively trying to teach my kids more than just the colors and seasons. Leave my kids out of it.