Posted on 07/01/2003 11:57:59 AM PDT by FourPeas
Vice president's visit brings out protesters along East Beltline Tuesday, July 01, 2003 By Joe Snapper
G.R. TOWNSHIP -- About 80 people sang, shouted, waved and threw insults at the Bush Administration on Monday outside Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in protest of a fund-raising luncheon featuring Vice President Dick Cheney. Cheney's noon date at the Grand Rapids Township gardens fetched $1,000 per plate -- a pretty hefty lunch bill, if you ask Sister Barbara Hansen. "A $1,000-a-plate dinner? When people are hungry?" Hansen, spokeswoman for Women in Black, an otherwise non-vocal, international peace movement, asked with disgust. "We stand in silence," she added as six darkly attired women kept mum along East Beltline Avenue NE just north of the Int. 96 interchange. "The black speaks." Democrats and organizations backing reform on policies from health care to foreign policy turned out to assail the policies of President George W. Bush and his vice president's grub. "It's probably hot dogs," said Dave Mossburger, 26, director of Creston Citywide Action Core, adding that he was kidding. "It's just a snide comment -- it wouldn't surprise me, though." Whatever Bush's re-election chefs are cooking up for supporters, it's working. Campaign organizers said 2004 election fund-raising could hit $170 million. Protester Gert Hobson, 40, of Grand Rapids, said that even if $1,000 showed up in her pocket, she wouldn't crash the garden party. "A single parent with $1,000?" asked Hobson, who has a 6-year-old son. "Let me see. Sure, that would be school clothes, lunches and all his field trips this year." Security was tight. Police from Kent County, Grand Rapids, the state and even Lowell pedaled mountain bikes, stood at attention or cruised slowly by in unmarked cars. Three young men in plastic George W. Bush Halloween masks playing upturned 5-gallon buckets with drum sticks provided the beat for the East Beltline Avenue NE crowd that began assembling around 10 a.m. Swaying with Hobson as they sang alternate lyrics to the protest classic, "We Shall Overcome," Elizabeth Griffin, of People United to Support Health and Hope, which favors better medical insurance for mental illness, dispensed free sun-block lotion to protesters. "The Republican administration is not adequately funding people with mental heath concerns," she said between applications. "Health care is for everyone." Kent County Democratic Chairwoman Lupe Ramos-Montigny was passing out yellow protest placards depicting a baby carriage and the words, "12 million children left behind." She bent the leftovers into a bonnet to dodge the sun's rays. "Our goal is not to raise millions of dollars. Our goal is to continue raising the bar" on education and health care. "You know that this is totally a rich people's thing," she added. "People should have a very difficult time swallowing that thousand-dollar luncheon."
The Grand Rapids Press
I'll say one thing. For the relativly small amount of democraps in Kent County, they certainly make themselves known.
I agree. You spend your money the way you want to and let everyone else do the same.
"A $1,000-a-plate dinner? When people are hungry?" Hansen, spokeswoman for Women in Black, an otherwise non-vocal, international peace movement, asked with disgust.
According to their own website, The Women in Black are supposed to protest in silence.
I would like to invite “Sister” Barbara Hansen to STFU.
"A $1,000-a-plate dinner? When people are hungry?" Hansen, spokeswoman for Women in Black, an otherwise non-vocal, international peace movement, asked with disgust.
According to their own website, The Women in Black are supposed to protest in silence.
I would like to invite “Sister” Barbara Hansen to STFU.
It was more like 35 tops when I went by.
Then why wasn't she at a homeless shelter helping to feed them?
"The Republican administration is not adequately funding people with mental heath concerns," she said between applications. "Health care is for everyone."
Maybe she should talk to the lady above. The money spent on the sunblock could have gone toward hungry people.
Kent County Democratic Chairwoman Lupe Ramos-Montigny was passing out yellow protest placards depicting a baby carriage and the words, "12 million children left behind." She bent the leftovers into a bonnet to dodge the sun's rays.
Uh huh. And where were these cries during the Clinton admin? Surely there were millions of child left behind then.
Our goal is not to raise millions of dollars. Our goal is to continue raising the bar" on education and health care.
No, your goal is to punish the successful and reward the lazy.
"You know that this is totally a rich people's thing," she added. "People should have a very difficult time swallowing that thousand-dollar luncheon."
Hell no! From what I hear, the luncheons at the Meijer Gardens are incredible. Perhaps if those in attendance took their leftovers to the lady complaining about hungry people, everyone would have been happy.
Folks, this is proof that the liberals have hardly any issues to run on in 2004. They can only run against something, and anyone with common sense can spot the desperation of a party walking the plank.
Of course, they don't realize that it is the DONORS right to do what they want with their money. Free will is something they'll never understand because they want to impose their will on others.
Gimmee! Gimmee! Gimmee! So we can burn down our city and get more money!
The left is so good at street theater. And little else.
I'm hungry right now. Maybe if I whine long enough, some Republican will buy me dinner...
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