Posted on 07/14/2003 4:11:06 PM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - Bastille Day, the day marking French independence, was also the day for opponents of the Bush administration to praise the French for their opposition to the war in Iraq.
Internet activists from Democrats.com actually began their celebration Sunday, a day early, by conducting events in three cities to applaud the French resistance to U.S. foreign policy.
All attendees received "Re-Defeat Bush" buttons, bumper stickers and lawn signs, a reference to the 2000 presidential election in which George W. Bush lost the popular vote to Democrat Al Gore but won the presidency by capturing the Electoral College majority.
"The Left is starting to get the hang of the Internet finally," said Kristinn Taylor, co-leader of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the conservative online discussion forum, Free Republic. "Everyone's talking about (2004 Democratic presidential candidate, Vermont Gov. Howard) Dean's supporters using MeetUp.com to organize, which is resourceful."
In Washington, participants gathered Sunday at Lavandou, a French restaurant, to discuss political action and the upcoming 2004 presidential election. Similar gatherings were held in Knoxville, Tenn., at the Chef Bistro, and in California's Nappa Valley at Bistro Jeanty.
"From the decisive role the French played in America's liberation from Great Britain through the Statue of Liberty - perhaps the greatest gift one country has ever given another - to the present day, the French are America's most enduring ally," David Lytel, Democrats.com co-founder said in a release.
"The French stood up to the Bush administration's attempt to offer false evidence to the United Nations in making its case for war and have suffered a vicious Republican-style smear campaign in the international news media since then."
Lytel added: "We honor their courage and their deep commitment to Republican ideals."
However, Taylor was quick to point out that even President Bush downplays the effect the dispute over the Iraq war has had on the U.S./France relationship.
"It's a clever way to attack the president," Taylor conceded, adding that he does not see such events as generating much interest. "They're trying to replicate what Freep started doing in the online movement."
According to its website, Democrats.com is the "largest independent community of Democrats." Founded in 1999, Democrats.com is a private company that publishes commercially sponsored e-mail newsletters for Democrats but is not connected with the Democratic Party or the Democratic National Committee.
It also provides Internet mobilization campaigns and websites for organizations like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the National Organization for Women, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Sens. John Edwards (D-N.C.), Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) and Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell.
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Ummmm. The author might want to consider FREEDOM as the greatest gift one country has given to another. We did it twice for the French, and all we got was a lousy statue.
/john
You're thinking of the Marquis de Lafayette, who served admirably in the Revolutionary War. Jean Lafitte was indeed a pirate, and no relation.
Lafitte helped us defeat the British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1814.
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