Strangest. Spokesman. Choice. Ever.

YouTube Comment Reconstruction #5

Headline Of The Day

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SOUTH AFRICA: "Fake" Sign Language Interpreter At Mandela Memorial

Deaf people around the world took to social media yesterday to declare that the sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela's memorial was speaking gibberish. Many wondered if the man was using a sign language unique to South Africa, but that was not the case.

Paul Breckell, chief executive of the U.K.-based charity Action on Hearing Loss, said: "We are shocked by the quality of sign language interpretation at Nelson Mandela’s memorial -- if it could be called interpretation at all." He added that "the limited number of signs, the amount of repetition, lack of facial expressions and huge gaps in translation meant that deaf or hard of hearing people across the world were completely excluded from one of the biggest events in recent history." Among the first to express their dissatisfaction was Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen, the first deaf woman to be elected to the South African parliament, who tweeted that the signing was "rubbish," adding: "He cannot sign. Please get him off."

And the YouTube parodies have already arrived.

Obama Snaps Selfie At Mandela Funeral

At today's funeral for Nelson Mandela, President Obama posed for a selfie with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt. This landed the president on the mocking Tumblr, Selfies At Funerals, and has spawned the usual ridicule across Teabagistan.

President Obama Alludes To LGBT Rights During Speech At Mandela's Funeral

The funeral is continuing at this writing, see the live video below this post. The Washington Post published the president's remarks, which included a reference to LGBT rights.

It is a question I ask myself - as a man and as a President. We know that like South Africa, the United States had to overcome centuries of racial subjugation. As was true here, it took the sacrifice of countless people - known and unknown - to see the dawn of a new day. Michelle and I are the beneficiaries of that struggle. But in America and South Africa, and countries around the globe, we cannot allow our progress to cloud the fact that our work is not done. The struggles that follow the victory of formal equality and universal franchise may not be as filled with drama and moral clarity as those that came before, but they are no less important. For around the world today, we still see children suffering from hunger, and disease; run-down schools, and few prospects for the future. Around the world today, men and women are still imprisoned for their political beliefs; and are still persecuted for what they look like, or how they worship, or who they love.

LIVE VIDEO: Nelson Mandela's Funeral

Westboro: We'll Picket Mandela Funeral

Yeah, let's see if THIS actually happens.

Empire State Building Honors Mandela

The Empire State Building was lit in the colors of South Africa's flag in honor of Nelson Mandela and the Tea Things are very upset about this.

WND Polls Readers On Nelson Mandela

Top response: "He was a violent communist revolutionary who never should have been released from prison." (Tipped by JMG reader Jake)

Cruz Praises Mandela, Teabaggers Pounce

"Nelson Mandela will live in history as an inspiration for defenders of liberty around the globe. He stood firm for decades on the principle that until all South Africans enjoyed equal liberties he would not leave prison himself, declaring in his autobiography, 'Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the chains on all of my people were the chains on me.' Because of his epic fight against injustice, an entire nation is now free. We mourn his loss and offer our condolences to his family and the people of South Africa." - Sen. Ted Cruz, in a Facebook message that is being savaged by many of his followers.

O'Reilly: Mandela Was A Communist

RELATED: Perhaps unsurprisingly, Nelson Mandela's death yesterday was actually celebrated by the commenters on right wing sites such as Free Republic and Breitbart.

Next Week's New Yorker

The image is by Kadir Nelson.

LGBT Groups React To Mandela's Death

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

Nelson Mandela was an inspiration to the millions of people who yearn for freedom across the world. With great personal sacrifice, he fought Apartheid and state-sanctioned racism. His principled approach, his willingness to reach out to former enemies, led to the introduction of multi-party democracy and real change in South Africa. Indeed, South Africa's post-apartheid constitution was the first in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. His legacy is hope; hope that people can achieve peace and freedom in a world with more than its fair share of conflict.

Human Rights Campaign

Nelson Mandela tore down oppression, united a rainbow nation, and always walked arm-in-arm with his LGBT brothers and sisters—and with all people—toward freedom. Though every man, woman and child who seeks justice around the world mourns this loss, his vision of an equal future lives on undimmed. Mandela, who was South Africa’s first post-Apartheid president, was an outspoken advocate for LGBT equality. He appointed an openly-gay judge to South Africa's High Court of Appeal and during his presidency, South Africa became the first nation in the world to constitutionally prohibit sexual orientation-based discrimination. Mandela will be remembered for his social justice activism and commitment to equality for all people.

Lambda Legal

Lambda Legal joins others around the world in mourning the loss of Nelson Mandela, one of the 20th century's giants in the struggle for justice and human dignity. Every one of us who continues the fight for equality and civil rights in our own communities labors in the shadows of this man who withstood imprisonment as a consequence of his courageous leadership and grew only stronger, more resolute and more dignified. As South Africa's first elected black president, he led the people of his country toward reconciliation and forgiveness. Under his leadership, the new constitution of South Africa included explicit prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation - a degree of legal protection that LGBT people still do not have in the United States.

All Out

We are deeply saddened to hear about Nelson Mandela’s passing. Yet, we are hopeful his legacy of tolerance and mutual respect will live on for generations," Andre Banks, Executive Director and Co-Founder of All Out said. “As All Out continues to work with partners throughout Africa to free those who are oppressed and imprisoned for who they are and who they love, we will be inspired by Nelson Mandela’s story and words.”

Nelson Mandela Dead At Age 95

TRAILER: Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom