Notes from the Republican Convention

September 1, 2004

 

Notes from the Republican Convention.

 

Simply watching the reports of protesters at the Republican National Convention on television does not do the story justice. On Sunday, the day before the convention began, a mass of humanity crowded into Times Square to protest the Republicans coming to town. News reports said the protesters were peaceful and courteous. Nothing could've been further from the truth. Our hotel overlooks Times Square and we were right in the middle of it all.

 

We ventured outside the cozy confines of the hotel at around 6PM to head to a welcome party of radio talk show hosts a few blocks away. As we exited the hotel, I heard a woman, who looked like she was either drunk or high, complaining in a loud voice as she walked in front of a row of police officers, about their guns. “These f***ing Republicans come to town and bring all these guns,” she whined. Like cops never had guns before the Republicans came to town.

 

We stepped out into Times Square and vile looking protesters who looked like they were allergic to soap screamed obscenities at anyone who looked like a Republican. I walked past a loud protester who held a sign that read, “F*** Bush.” As I passed him, he looked over at me and shouted, “Republicans, go home!” I responded as I passed, “You go home.” Suddenly, another protester ran from around his other side, up behind me, and began shouting obscenities. Startled, I shifted completely around to face him and he ran directly for me, butting his chest into mine, all the while screaming like a mad man. His nose was actually touching my nose and he spewed spit as his tirade continued. I reacted as anyone would in that situation. I grabbed the protester by the neck and propelled him away from me.

 

Unwittingly, I had fallen into their trap. The whole idea was to incite me. Their video cameras closed in around me as he continued his stream of verbal garbage. I tried to keep my cool and walked away from the confrontation. As we waded through the crowd, obscene signs held by obscene people shouting obscene chants were the order of the day.

 

United for Peace and Justice. That's the group that staged the protest. After I returned to my room that night, I did a little research on this organization. They boast as their member groups the Communist Party, the Socialist Party and a group called Left Turn, among other radical left-wing groups. Left Turn professes to be anti-capitalist and wants to reorganize American society. Since our great nation is built on capitalism, it's safe to say that this and other organizations affiliated with UPJ are un-American. The Nashville Peace and Justice Center is also a member group. I already documented their ties to the Communist Party last year.

 

The insidious motivations of these protesters are not being reported. Now you know. I'm not suggesting that everyone who opposes President Bush is anti-American or a communist. But my mother taught me that you're known by the company you keep. As the Kerry/Edwards ticket calls for George Bush to denounce the Swift Boat Veterans, I have yet to hear them denounce this group that carries their banners and signs.

 

If these campaigns can be defined by their surrogates, with whom will most Americans identify? They certainly have a clear choice. The so-called Republican extremists are combat veterans who offer a different perspective on John Kerry's Vietnam service. The Democrat extremists are those who want to dismantle American society. I'm confident the American people will make the right choice come November.