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Toilet Ad on the Hot Seat
Newsday ^
| October 22, 2003
| Bart Jones
Posted on 10/22/2003 11:31:39 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 2003election; brownshirts; dirtypolitics; dirtytricks; doublestandard; election2003; mediabias; racistrats; racists; rats; rattricks; smearcampaign
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To: HenryLeeII
We all know only Republicans can be racist!
21
posted on
10/22/2003 12:27:37 PM PDT
by
bk1000
(one of these days I simply MUST come up with a decent tag line.)
To: new cruelty
were = where
To: presidio9
Sounds like her critics are flinging more than just mud.
23
posted on
10/22/2003 12:31:17 PM PDT
by
weegee
To: E Rocc
Dang! They didn't have books like that when I was a kid. We really missed out on some good stuff.
Has your niece managed to slip you an earwax-flavored jellybean yet?
24
posted on
10/22/2003 12:32:46 PM PDT
by
Allegra
(There is no tagline within 100 miles of here! -Baghdad Bob)
To: Damocles
I'm not arguing whether the act itself was really racist or not, but we all know that if a Hispanic Democrat were treated in that way, then it would be a major story in the mainstream press. However, since it was done to a Republican then that's okay, since we all know that only Democrat minorities are really minorities, and therein lies the racism. Minorities are not allowed to think for themselves or stray too far from the political plantation.
To: new cruelty
LOL: That spiderman dance thing still cracks me up.
26
posted on
10/22/2003 12:34:37 PM PDT
by
hattend
To: Allegra
Has your niece managed to slip you an earwax-flavored jellybean yet?
I think her dad ate them all. >:)
-Eric
27
posted on
10/22/2003 12:36:28 PM PDT
by
E Rocc
(Collectivism is to freedom as raw sewage is to fresh water.)
To: per loin
"
It's about time someone showed a little creativity in political ads."
I'm with you!
Thought it should get an A for originality ....... or would that be an 0?
Whatever. Well done.
28
posted on
10/22/2003 12:41:15 PM PDT
by
G.Mason
(Lessons of life need not be fatal)
To: bk1000
And only Democrats want to help minorities.
29
posted on
10/22/2003 12:42:24 PM PDT
by
jcb8199
To: presidio9
It's a good likeness.
To: G.Mason
This wasn't political advertising. It was vandalism/dumping. These toilet seats were bolted to telephone poles (a public utility).
How about spray painting political protests on city hall saying "fumigate the rats"? < /sarcasm >
31
posted on
10/22/2003 12:49:10 PM PDT
by
weegee
To: weegee
"
This wasn't political advertising. It was vandalism/dumping. These toilet seats were bolted to telephone poles (a public utility).
How about spray painting political protests on city hall saying "fumigate the rats"? < /sarcasm >"
Yes, you're right. Musn't hurt the telephone poles. Maybe hot glue?
"fumigate the rats" has a nice ring to it. I guess it would be okay, just use finger paint. LOL
32
posted on
10/22/2003 12:54:17 PM PDT
by
G.Mason
(Lessons of life need not be fatal)
To: HenryLeeII
Gotcha...OK.
33
posted on
10/22/2003 12:55:47 PM PDT
by
Damocles
(sword of...)
To: Damocles
I should have been more precise up front...sorry
To: new cruelty
That spiderman gif is kewl. I also admire your profile page, especially the John Adams quote.
Thanks for the smile today.
strict
To: StrictTime
You are welcome. I am glad to help bring a smile to someone.
To: presidio9
Speaking of toilets, did you see the commercial with the gross thing that shoots water?
To: weegee
Well what was I supposed to do with all those old seats? The Dump won't take them anymore!
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