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Bill Clinton Talking Action Figure
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Posted on 07/06/2004 11:57:17 AM PDT by rhema
G.I. Joe didn't start a war. In fact, he hardly caused a peep.
Most of the 16,191 fans who showed up at the Metrodome on Monday seemed to favor the Twins' G.I. Joe action figure giveaway before a game against the Kansas City Royals, and the fictional battlefield commander "Duke" was met with little resistance from those who thought the promotion promoted war.
"A few people rejected them," said Shelby Rhodes, who was part of a volunteer group from St. Paul Central High School handing out some of the action figures that were distributed to the first 5,000 children age 14 or younger as the Twins honored local military personnel.
Asked the manner in which those fans declined the freebie, Rhodes said: "Respectful." Security guards working at gates said they did not notice any resistance.
The Twins last week came under fire when some anti-war groups criticized the baseball club's promotion as glorifying war, particularly at a time when the nation is engaged in military resistance in Iraq. Those voices that were heard loudly in the media in the days leading up to what the Twins called "Armed Services Appreciation Day" were silent in and around the Metrodome.
"Much ado about nothing," said Twins spokesman Brad Ruiter, adding that executives from the organization walked around the Dome before the game and did not notice any resistance toward the promotion. "Ever since this became an issue last week, we received thousands of e-mails. It was a ratio of about 125-to-1 in support of what we were doing."
Ruiter said that there was "never any thought of canceling the promotion." He added that after hearing the criticism, the Twins decided they would offer fans who declined to accept the G.I. Joe action figure a pack of Twins baseball cards.
Joe Repya Jr., a retired Army lieutenant colonel who lives in Eagan, heard about the resistance on Sunday, and the Vietnam and Desert Storm veteran organized a group of about 20 people to support the Twins. His group stood at the intersection of Fifth and Chicago, holding up signs that showed their support for troops and for the Twins' decision to distribute G.I. Joe action figures.
"We Support Our G.I. Joes and Janes!" one sign read. "Thank you Twins," another sign said.
Several people honked their car horns to show their support for the group. Others cheered as they walked toward the Dome gates. The only sign of resistance came from a middle-aged man donning a Dennis Kucinich cap. "Bring our troops home now!" he shouted to them as he crossed Fifth Avenue.
A young girl walking behind the man looked back at the supporters and twirled her hand next to her ear, as if to gesture that the man was cuckoo.
"Anger," Repya said.
That was hardly the reaction inside the Dome gates. Moms, dads and children alike were excited about receiving the action figure, which is about 4 inches tall. "Look at this!" one boy said to his brother. "We got one!"
Shakopee resident Joe Smith, an Army reservist who served in Afghanistan for six months last year, and his family purchased tickets months ago when they heard about the promotion. He said the criticism of the promotion was unwarranted.
"You know, it's a toy," said Smith, whose four children each received the action figure. "You give little kids a fork or a spoon — especially boys — and they turn it into a gun. (His children) are excited about it."
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Bill Clinton Talking Action Figure
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Ha! A woman after me own heart! *LOL*
A few weeks ago I told him how much I admired his Margaret Thatcher and he told me he admired bill clinton. Can't imagine we'll be having too many conversations! Yuck.
LOL!I like that response. I would have said something like, "Oh...so that means YOU don't have a gun?" while making some kind of wacko I'm going to tell the world face.
Joe Repya was on the 10pm news last night. (I paraphrase) these leftwing weenies don't have the nerve to come out here and challange us.
Todays ray of hope!
Did you inform her that a lot of her *neighbors* carry guns too?
I make it a POINT to never divulge whether we have firearms or not.
One of the best parts of the convention was that I saw a young man I have seen only at conventions since he was 12 years old. He is now 19, and a Lance Corporal in the US Marine Corps. Last year was the first show he has missed - he was sent to Haiti fresh out of training. He just got back a week ago, and he very much wanted to come to the show. I only know the young man slightly, and I was proud of him in his dress blues; you can just imagine how his DAD felt standing there with him!
Same here, but you can still have fun watching her reaction when you remind her that here in the US, almost half of all private households have guns -- then let her get into a tizzy wondering which ones.
When did they shrink Joe? The one I had as a kid was a heck of a lot bigger than that.
giggle
What *better* time to glorify the military?
Morons.
ROFL!! Awww, man, classic!
You should have seen that tizzy when she remarked tht the policeman had a gun!!! LOL.......sheesh........the Brits are so wimpy...but then I knew that when I saw the mass hysteria when Diana died.
If you want to give them a case of lockjaw, the next time they make some stupid unamerican remark, simply respond with "Well the difference is that we're American *citizens* and and you're simply British *subjects*."
...just be prepared for them to go nonlinear on you...
The news reports had a male spokesman objector to war toys.
To describe him as effete or flaming would be too polite.
Waaaaaay to in touch with his feminine side. (definitly part of the feminizing america into weakness crowd)
Very wise, the new PC soccer mom public service anouncement is to ask before letting your children play at a neighbors house.
It is nobody's business but yours.
That is a brilliant retort.......we are citizens, YOU are subjects. Thanks!
yeah - I don't remember who I stole that one from...:-)
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