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An obscure Missouri state senator, previously known for trying to take away prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs from the disabled, kicked up a bit of a fuss last week by suggesting legislation that would prevent cable TV companies in his state from airing Brokeback Mountain.
Chuck Purgason is an Ozarks-born farmer who runs a cow/calf operation near Caulfield, Mo. Many movies that came before Brokeback escaped the his eagle eye. But this time, it's personal:
“I feel cowboys across the nation have been put into a bit of a poor light,” Purgason said.
Purgason later withdrew the amendment, saying he was only joking. Sort of. “I do think they have been put in a bad light,” he said.
Purgason has a long career in both houses of the Missouri legislature, but the achievement he is most proud of was getting a free bowl of soup with that haircut.
If you'd care to offer other things Mr. Purgason might care to legislate, you can email him at chuck.purgason@senate.mo.gov, or call his office at 573-751-1882. Or offer them here in the comments section. [Thanks, Celeste!]
My e-mail to Chuck:
I'm glad you withdrew your legislation that would have prohibited cable companies from showing the gay cowboy movie. Now what you need to do is introduce a bill that would make it illegal to appear in public with a bad haircut, a goofy jacket and a string tie. Because when it comes to making cowboys look bad, Mr. Purgason, I am afraid you win the Grand Prize of the rodeo.
On second thought, maybe not. Every rodeo has a clown, right?
Posted by: Willysnout | March 13, 2006 at 08:53 PM
Jeebus. He probably thought Brokeback Mountain was a hidden camera expose of his chunky-monkey sex life.
Posted by: Craig Ranapia | March 14, 2006 at 02:55 PM