(Amish) City councilman demands that Bush photo removed from market stand

[Tab]

LANCASTER, Pa. At least one Pennsylvania Democrat is having a hard time getting over President Bush's re-election.
A city councilman in Lancaster is demanding that photos of the president be removed from a stand in the town's farmers market. Councilman Nelson Polite says the city needs what he calls a "healing period" following the bitterly contested election.

But David Stoltzfus is refusing to remove the photos from his bakery stand, and Polite has threatened to enact a city law against political material in public places.

The town's Republican mayor says the flap is bad for tourism in the Amish country town.

But the baker is enjoying the attention, saying even some Democrats want him to keep the photos in place.
http://www.kristv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2680462

[wantedtohelp]

1. Ugh

This makes us look bad.

"has threatened to enact a city law against political material in public places."

Just what we need... banning political speech in public places. Rove probably has wet dreams about such laws.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[quaoar]

4. How is that trolling?

[Orangepeel]

5. I agree with wantedto help and I'm not trolling.

:shrug:

[genieroze]

3. Someone write to this person and tell him to knock it off.

It makes us look stoopid.

[TaleWgnDg]

23. Exactly . . . there's this *little* thing called the First Amendment . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


******************************
"I disapprove of what you say,
but I will defend to the death
your right to say it." - Voltaire


"The first amendment exists precisely
to protect the most offensive and
controversial speech from government
suppression. The best way to counter
obnoxious speech is with more speech.
Persuasion, not coercion, is the solution."
- ACLU at
http://www.aclu.org/FreeSpeech/FreeSpeechMain.cfm
******************************

[Merlin]

6. Polite is not Amish. He's a minority councilman; nice guy.

I've only met him a couple of times and don't know him well at all. But I see his point. The market stands are rented in a city-owned historic building, and the center of activity in the town on Tuesday and Saturday mornings beginning as early as 6:30 AM.

Even though it's a little over the top, it can't really hurt that he makes this demand. It reminds the people in this straight-laced, prosperous, rapidly growing, bible belt community of something important: Bush is not beloved in the eyes of all.

Last week the four guys who were arrested for stripping to swimsuits and forming an abu-graib human pyramid with headbags along the Bush parade route during the campaign brought suit against the city, at the same time the DA decided their actions did not merit prosecution. Of course it did merit their arrest and incarceration at the time when the right to demonstrate was significant and meaningful.

That's the kind of community this is.

[wantedtohelp]

7. "it can't really hurt that he makes this demand"

Good idea. Then after we pass a law banning this politcal speech delay can pass another law banning political speech contrary to them thanks to the precedent WE would set.

"It reminds the people in this straight-laced, prosperous, rapidly growing, bible belt community of something important: Bush is not beloved in the eyes of all."

And the best way to remind them of this is a general ban on political speech? Gee, I wonder who that would benefit the most.

[Merlin]

16. You don't really think his demand has a chance do you?

I'm sure he doesn't.

It's all for show. This is politics, remember.

[Just Me]

9. Fascinating info!!!

Personally, I definitely can't blame the guy!!!

I mean, geez,...it's okay for Limbaugh and Savage and Falwell and Rove and all those fat, vicious, old white guys to spread hate and division across this continent. Why shouldn't it be okay for this guy to "JUST SAY NO",...no more of this radical right-wing fascist crap?

I feel a kinship. I used to be tolerant but have become absolutely intolerant of intolerance.

[Tab]

22. Clarification

When I added the (Amish) in front of the City Councilman, I meant to highlight that it was an Amish city, I didn't mean to imply the councilman was Amish.

Probably I should have done it as City councilman (of Amish city) ....

Unfortunately there's a limit to the letter count in the subject.

I thought the Amish aspect lent an interesting twist to the whole thing

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Not only should they leave the picture up,

they should sell darts to be used on it.

[meganmonkey]

10. What a perfect compromise!

;)

[Merlot]

13. Perfect solution!

[tandot]

11. He should leave the picture up. It makes it easier for democratic shoppers

to avoid his bakery.

I wouldn't buy shit from that guy. I'd rather know which businesses support Bush. This way, I wont buy anything from ignorant idiots who support that fascist ...and maybe even tell them to their face why they wont get my money...

[JerseygirlCT]

12. Aw, someone just tell me he isn't the guy selling the really good

salt sticks... toward the back of the market? Love those things!

[Erika]

14. I agree.

I've had no problem in no longer doing business with Republican firms and letting them know why.

I buy from Costco and am purchasing my new computer from Apple.

Bush has hurt our earnings, our kids, and our national unity beyone belief.

I buy democratic only. We can have a voice if we choose to use it. The Green co-ops are also good for shopping.

[Erika]

15. I agree.

I've had no problem in no longer doing business with Republican firms and letting them know why.

I buy from Costco and am purchasing my new computer from Apple.

Bush has hurt our earnings, our kids, and our national unity beyone belief.

I buy democratic only. We can have a voice if we choose to use it. The Green co-ops are also good for shopping.

[Arianrhod]

17. I agree.

I want these guys out in the open, where I can see them.

[JI7]

18. agree, put the picture up so i know not to buy from them

[sleepyhead]

20. Yup, absolutely tell them to their faces

I have done that several times. It usually leaves them gaping dully at me, but at least I have spoken my mind. I am never rude about it (most of the time one is not speaking to the business owner but to an employee - but hopefully the owner will hear about it). I did that many times during the whole "Freedom Fries" escapade, even to the point of walking out of restaurants after sitting down and being handed the menu. I do appreciate knowing where NOT to spend my money.

[peacebird]

19. Amish man has * posted? Amish are NONVIOLENT?!? wtf?

[llmart]

21. I made a mental note.....

of any places in my area where they had Bush/Cheney signs in front of their establishment. I will never cross their threshold with my money again. I wonder if they're even smart enough to understand that? I was almost ready to buy some flooring from one place I pass every day until I saw the Bush/Cheney sign. Never went in and I bought it elsewhere.

[VegasWolf]

24. I can see it in a way, I puke every time I see chimpanzees picture. n/t