Republicans and porn
The meaning of a study on obscene material use across red and blue states
You've probably seen the headlines by now, said James Taranto in The Wall Street Journal. A publication called New Scientist reported on a study finding that pornography sells well in both red and blue states. But the liberal media twisted the fuzzy findings to claim that conservatives are the nation's biggest porn consumers. The disparaging stereotype—that repressed conservatives are hypocrites about sex—makes a spicier story than the truth.
So let's look at what the Harvard study really found, said David Pescovitz in Boing Boing. Eight of the top 10 states—in terms of paid online pornography consumption—voted for Republican John McCain in the presidential election. And the largest consumer was famously straight-laced Utah. You have to admit, the correlations are "interesting."
To say the least, said Laura Harrison McBride in Examiner.com. Republicans rail against drinking and gambling and other vices that happen out in the open, as if they "want to take us back to the Puritan age." But porn is consumed behind closed doors, "where no one can see," so it provides the perfect way for hypocrites to get their jollies.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Exploring Georgia's southern highlands
The Week Recommends Visit Javakheti, Georgia's 'lake district', and meet the last-remaining 'spirit wrestlers' in the region
-
Delivery drivers face continuing heat danger with Trump's OSHA pick
The Explainer David Keeling is the former head of UPS and also worked at Amazon
-
Is that the buzzing sound of climate change worsening sleep apnea?
Under the radar Catching diseases, not those ever-essential Zzs
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?