Citing their Terms of Service, YouTube yanked GOP presidential candidate’s Fred Karger’s “Sexy Frisbee” California campaign video after it was flagged by YouTube viewers. The video is now on Vimeo.

Karger, who is openly gay, made a lighthearted California-themed campaign ad which featured cute guys and gals frolicking on the beach in “Fred Who” tee-shirts. At the end, two men kiss. And the problem is?

Actually the problem seems to be with YouTube and its users: Karger’s minute-long video does not violate any law, is not sexually explicit, and the  beach goers wear more clothes than Victoria’s Secret models. I looked over YouTube’s community guidelines and nowhere does it say that showing two people kissing is a violation of community guidelines–were it, a lot of music and wedding videos wouldn’t be put up!

Karger’s ad had over 15,000 views in two days before it was pulled the evening of April 24, and a 30-second version will begin airing this Thursday, April 26, in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties.

Before it was removed by YouTube, Karger’s video was featured in numerous LGBT blogs and news reports, including one on Fox’s Sacramento channel 40 Tuesday, no doubt bringing out the h8rs who once again got sandy-pantied at the idea of   Teh Gays, especially because the description and video stated that Karger is Republican, openly gay, pro-choice and

supports gay marriage.

Why YouTube caved to the  flagging is beyond me, as they claim that flagging doesn’t cause an automatic take-down, and that each case is reviewed, 24 hours a day. And nothing in the video or the description is a violation of of their stated community guidelines.

Karger responded with a statement:

I was completely shocked tonight to find out that YouTube had taken down our new California commercial from its web site having deemed it “inappropriate.”…

What is “inappropriate” about our 65 second commercial?  It was shot at Venice Beach, in Southern California with a dozen men and women having fun at the beach. It ended with friends Andrew and Michael (a couple who have been together 7 years) exchanging a quick kiss. Is that kiss what YouTube considers inappropriate?  There are gay kisses on television every day and certainly lots on YouTube and other popular video sharing web sites.

Today we will be taking the following steps to get our commercial back up on YouTube:

  • We will launch an online petition to gather support for to get “Sexy Frisbee” back up on YouTube.
  • We will be writing to Google Co-founders (YouTube is owned by Google) Larry Page and Sergey Brin and ask them for an explanation and full investigation as to why YouTube decided to censor my free speech as a candidate for President of the United States.
  • I will be trying to meet with Google’s lead lobbyist in Sacramento, Jonathan Ross with K P Public Affairs . I will be in Sacramento on Wednesday to kick off my California campaign at a 2:00 pm Press Conference (on South steps of the State Capitol Building).