Republican Nutcase Story: "Bushwhacked" by Drugstore Manager Over * Sign

[feistydem]

Today I went into my neighborhood Rite-Aid to buy some cold medicine. I hadn't planned to spend a thin dime today, but I was out of my Sudafed, I have a headcold and I had a meeting to attend.

Anyway while this college-age guy was ringing up my sale, a man holding a poster asked the clerk if he could borrow his stapler.

I noticed the poster was neatly printed with the words "The Country has been Bushwhacked again!" or something similar. The man stapled a corner when the assistant manager came running over, "Sir, you can buy the posterboard here and the pens here to make your sign, but keep it out of this store! We don't want that kind of sign in here. It isn't our opinion and we don't want anything to do with it!" she screamed at him.

(I am betting if he had a sign that read "God Bless Bush!" she would have been fine with it and it wouldn't have mattered to her that it was offensive to me.)

The poor guy looked baffled. He responded that he was leaving soon, he just needed the stapler. She just kep harrassing him to leave.

Within seconds the store manager came over and started yelling at the man to get out! He really got into the guy's face and was all puffed up like a rooster. He started yelling that this man (who'd apparently just bought the tagboard and felt pens in the store) was not welcome in the store and if he "ever sees him in there again" he'll "call the cops!"

At this point I was signing my credit card receipt in disbelief, anger mounting, heat rising up my neck.

The customer with the sign clearly had had enough abuse and started yelling back when the manager physically pushed him out of the store. By the time I got outside they were toe to toe on the sidewalk screaming at each other.

I was dressed in a suit for my meeting, so I am sure the manager thought I was 'one of him' when I left because he gave me a smug, self-assured grin as he stood there and berrated this poor guy with the anti-Bush sign.

I got into my car and started to leave when I was just overcome with anger and I swung my back bumper right up to the asshole manager so he could get a good look at my MoveOn anti-Bush and 2 Democratic candidate bumper stickers. Then I got out, marched into the store and demanded my money back. I told the same sales clerk I would NEVER shop there again because of the way they had abused that man.

Soon I was raising my voice. I was telling the 3 or 4 people standing around that Democrats weren't going to take this shit anymore. We would shop where our nickel was valued and our politics not treated like we're a bunch of traitors.

The manager scurried to the back of the store quickly.

The clerk --the same young man who originally rang me up-- said "I am so glad you came in an returned your purchase! There's such a thing as freedom of speech!"

I said "Yeah! Half of this country is furious that Bush is in the White House again and we aren't celebrating his coronation today!"

I was dressed all in black, by the way.

It was a riot.

After I left, I went looking for the guy with the sign but couldn't find him anywhere. I wanted to thank him for standing up. I wanted to tell him he gave me the guts to stand up too. I have had ENOUGH! I am not playing nice anymore.

I hope he's a DUer and is reading this, because today he made me proud to be an American for the first time in a long time.

Thank you sign man. You were awesome!

And thank you Barbara Boxer for leading the way.

[Divernan]

1. Some commplaints to RiteAid corporate headquarters

would be in order.

[Nite Owl]

2. Good for you!

You are a feisty dem and you should feel proud that you stood up for something. Thanks for doing this and feel better.

[JDPriestly]

3. We need to speak up immediately -- but quietly

and dispassionately. That is how we will turn this country around. Thank Barbara Boxer for leading the way. It is a matter of courage. I lived in Germany and Austria and have family members who survived the Holocaust. There were good Germans and Austrians during the NAZI era, but they did not develop the habit soon enough of speaking out against little wrongs. We can't let that happen here.

[SharonAnn]

4. And thank you for saying "you're mad as hell and not going to take

it anymore."

What a great thing to do! What an example!

[progressoid]

5. Outstanding!!

You have our praise and admiration!

[tx_dem41]

6. I like how you went back and told them off...

if you were sure that they would have treated a pro-Bush supporter differently (not sure how you knew that for sure though).

That said, this wasn't a "free speech" issue even though the clerk thought it was.

[feistydem]

10. It was a horrible way to treat someone no matter their politics

The manager and assistant manager could have been civil, told the guy they'd prefer he leave his sign outside since this is a place of business.

It was the comments about his political opinions not being theirs that gave them away. It was obvious that the sentiment of the sign is what set them off, not just that it was a political sign.

I do agree is is not a free speech issue on private property. It was just ugly and un-called for.

[tx_dem41]

11. Agreed on their ugliness. n/t

[For PaisAn]

12. This line indicates how

the poster can tell the manager would have treated a pro-Bush supporter differently:

"We don't want that kind of sign in here. It isn't our opinion and we don't want anything to do with it!" she screamed at him."

Otherwise the manager would have just said "we don't want ANYONE making ANY kind of sign in our store."

[tx_dem41]

18. I agree that your interpretation is possibly correct...

honestly, when I first read it, I interpreted as the manager saying, "as a business we have NO opinion, so your opinion is NOT ours".

That said, the man was treated rudely.

[For PaisAn]

21. Yes, he was treated rudely

and I'm glad the author of this thread returned their purchase.

Anyone who supports Bush is complicit in murder. I'm not buying the ignorance excuse anymore.

Buy blue, buy local small business. As Michael Berg said at the protest today, we have to start making proactive decisions on where we spend our money. We need to support or oppose policies with our wallets. My family just switched to Progressive Auto Insurance, Peter Lewis is a huge contributer to Democrats and democratic organizations. I won't watch anything that has repugnant actors in it and am only buying blue. We may not be able to stop them yet but we certainly don't have to support them.

[Bake]

7. What took you so long?

It's hard to say what any single individual would do/would have done in a similar situation, but what took you so long?

Why not speak up when the manager was berating the guy? And not even complete the transaction?

Regardless, hurrah for you. You did good. Easy for me to second-guess, I suppose.

Bake

[feistydem]

13. I agree. I wish I said something sooner.

I have a fairly high-profile job that puts me in a position where I have to try to be A-political in public.

It was when I got into my car that I just was so ticked off that I decided it didn't matter.

[PassingFair]

14. You did good, feisty!

Sometimes you gotta build up a proper head of steam before you blow!
Keep fighting the good fight.
You will ALWAYS inspire someone else to be their honest best.

[demwing]

28. It's socialization

It drummed into us to get along, seek the middle, don't rock the boat, don't make waves, if you can't say something nice-don't say anything at all,It's better to remain quiet and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt, blabydy blahbiddy blaaah.

Even those people classified as "Type A" find it hard to overcome this social meme.

"Good job!" to the OP for overcomming your better judgement, and doing what you were taught was wrong in order to accomplish what you knew was right!

[feistydem]

30. I'm definitely Type-A. My role in the community was my concern and

delayed my reaction. If I had a different job I feel pretty sure I would have jumped in right away. Funny thing is, my job also would have probably embarrased the manager if I'd told him who I am.

I run a high-profile, national non-profit in a small town that is very important to my community.

I love my job, but sometimes it is tough to walk the fence on politics because I have to work with everybody --even those I don't really respect.

[GRLMGC]

8. God, Rite Aid sucks

I've always hated it. I understand that in this case it was the management but now I like Rite Aid even less.

[Wapsie B]

9. You need to report that manager to corporate hq.

We need more people speaking up. And to hell with doing it quietly.
In-your-face is the only thing some of these people understand.

[alittlelark]

15. That story made my day!

Thank You!!!! Great job!

[yardwork]

16. I just burst into tears! Thank you for doing that!

When I read that the young man who rang you up agreed with you, I started crying right here at my keyboard.

Half the country does NOT agree with the monsters and we must speak up!

Thank you!

[feistydem]

19. If I'd had a suitable job opening I would have offered it to him today

He was great, though. Too bad he has to work for such a couple of boneheads.

[yardwork]

22. Maybe this will give him a lift and he'll go out and find a better job

We have no idea what impact our words and actions have on others as we go through life. Your words and actions today will have an amazing ripple affect on many people - for the good.

[EC]

17. Good for you

Now it will be easier to do it quietly...It takes one good blast...I've done it myself and now I find a simple comment usually works wonders...I've been surprised many times, especially by young people commenting to me, when I have stood my ground...

[cry baby]

20. OMG, I am tearing up - I know you feel great about standing up

to the neo-con bullies! Congratulations to you!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :toast: :bounce: :bounce:

Edited to say that I hope you start to feel better and that you are my favorite Feisty Democrat.

[feistydem]

23. Thanks. Stuffy head. Clear mind.

I went without the headcold medicine today and opted for a hot, spicy chai instead. That will cure almost anything!

I have mixed feelings. I am glad I spoke up but sad at the state of our country. I'm a pretty easy-going person, so if I start yelling I have to be really pissed.

[Catherine Vincent]

24. Bless you! Way to go!

[Zhade]

25. WORD, my friend.

NT!

[blondeatlast]

26. Rite Aid is now owned by CVS; HUGE RW financial backers. nt

[mhr]

27. Kudos Feisty Dem!

eom

[GreenPartyVoter]

29. Wow! Good for you! *hugs*

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