Tony Perkins On Smithsonian Flap

"The Battle of the Smithsonian is more than a Ben Stiller movie--it's reality for conservatives on Capitol Hill, who are disgusted by the latest exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. Just across the street from FRC headquarters, a month-old display called "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture" is causing quite an uproar for a series of images that range from homo-erotica to religious blaspheme. The exhibit is so graphic that curators posted a "mature themes" warning on the doors outside.

"One video on a constant loop showed Jesus lying on a crucifix, covered in ants. Or it used to. Thanks to incoming House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), that clip was discontinued. Yesterday, Smithsonian officials scraped the video stream when Rep. Boehner said the Gallery should be correct the mistake or face big budget cuts. "American families have a right to expect better from recipients of taxpayer-funds..." But they couldn't expect better from this new leadership. Our hats go off to Congressmen Boehner and Eric Cantor (R-Va.) for taking a principled stand on the city's "art." House Republicans may not be in power until January, but they are already empowering America 's families." - Hate group head Tony Perkins, warning that the GOP has only just begun to clamp down on freedom of expression.