Toilet Ad on the Hot Seat

Newsday ^ | October 22, 2003 | Bart Jones

[presidio9]

This weekend's infamous toilet seat incident provoked outrage and political cross-fire in East Hampton. Now it's turned into an issue in the race for Suffolk County executive.

Republican candidate Ed Romaine today convened a news conference to denounce the people who bolted to telephone poles a half-dozen toilet seats featuring East Hampton Town Board member Diana Dominguez Weir's Latina surname, a photograph of her and the words, "FLUSH AWAY."

Weir, a Republican of Colombian and Puerto Rican descent, says it was a race-based attack that went far beyond politics and is the latest sign of growing ethnic tensions in the Hamptons, where the Latino population is booming. Romaine called for the New York State Attorney General's office and Suffolk County and New York State human rights commissions to investigate the incident.

"This isn't negative campaigning. This is where you're attacked because of your ethnicity," Romaine said. "This is bigotry pure and simple."

Weir said the toilet seats, which were placed on telephone poles at major interections and near one school and a post office, sent a clear message. "They're trying to say flush the Hispanics away. We're garbage. We're crap," she said.

Weir accused people connected to the local Democratic party of being behind the incident, an allegation denied by David Gruber, chairman of the East Hampton Democratic Party. He called the stunt "deplorable" and says Weir is owed an apology by the community.

Weir believes the incident was racially motivated because she rarely uses her Latino surname as a public official, and that name was highlighted on the toilet seats.

[presidio9]

[pabianice]

Pretty thin skinned, if you ask me. I'm much more interested in the dynamics of the tony Liberals seething in rage about "their Hamptons" being contaminated by riff-raff.

Racism, anyone?

Reminds one strongly of how Cronkite, Kennedy, and the rest of the most poisonous Liberals are howling at the prospect of a wind farm being built off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, where they might have to look at it when they are at sea in their huge yachts. Wind farms are for us peasants, of course, not them.

[Damocles]

I swear to God the word racist is going to end up as laughable as communist was in the 60's.

Grow a spine people, it's not all about your race...

sheesh...

[per loin]

It's about time someone showed a little creativity in political ads.

[new cruelty]

Weir believes the incident was racially motivated because she rarely uses her Latino surname as a public official, and that name was highlighted on the toilet seats.

Seems like a bit of a stretch she is making. She should find a way to make this toilet ad work in her favor without claiming racism.

[HenryLeeII]

She may have a point. If she were a Democrat, and Republians did this to her, you know it would be all over the evening news and the headlines. But, since it was perpetrated by Democrats, there's no story. And, why have the Dem's not done this to a white candidate before (or have they)?

[OXENinFLA]

LOL!

That little spidy is the scariest thing I've seen in awhile, I like it.

[new cruelty]

That little spidy is the scariest thing I've seen in awhile, I like it.

Yeah, it's a riot. Thanks to 4mycountry, who posted it in another thread.

[Xthe17th]

...a race-based attack
but Everyone Poops!

[presidio9]

Actually, no offense but I think it is kind of fruity.

[HamiltonJay]

HAHAHAHAHA Personally I like this! Its amusing and I don't see anything defacto "RACIST" about it..... Clever marketing.

[4mycountry]

Aw man, did you have to say my name? Now they're gonna know who did it! *hides* Thanks alot. (Just kidding! ;) )

[new cruelty]

Actually, no offense but I think it is kind of fruity.

hmph. nah. I don't see it.

actually I do, I'm just having a little fun with my pretty new signature icon.

[N. Theknow]

Seems like a bit of a stretch she is making. She should find a way to make this toilet ad work in her favor without claiming racism.

Use her name and get the best seat in the house.

[Damocles]

How is a toilet racist?

Tasteless, maybe. But what particular characteristic of her race lends itself to equating her to excrement?

None, that I know of. She needs to quit using race in her protests of a political hack job...

[new cruelty]

Aw man, did you have to say my name? Now they're gonna know who did it! *hides* Thanks alot. (Just kidding! ;) )

LOL. I always give credit were credit is due.

[E Rocc]

but Everyone Poops!

Thank you for assisting with my Christmas shopping for my niece. >:)

-Eric

[new cruelty]

Bam! That's a good one. Keep em coming.

[E Rocc]

Almost as funny as the signs posted in certain parts of Baltimore telling people that election day was Wednesday and they should have their rent/tax/parking ticket receipts ready. >:)

-Eric

[N. Theknow]

Dominguez Plumbing - A Flush Beats a Full House!