Posted on 07/18/2004 5:44:52 PM PDT by kristinn
Honor Roll for the Slim-Fast Lovefest: TaxRelief, Huber, two of their young tax deductions, Exit148, staytrue, Doctor Raoul, spaceman spiff, L-Von_Mises, Trueblackman, a local lurker, tgslTakoma and kristinn.
The D.C. Chapter of Free Republic held a demonstration outside the Kerry-Edwards campaign headquarters in Washington, D.C. yesterday to thank Slim-Fast for canning Whoopi Goldberg as their spokesman and to call on the Kerry-Edwards campaign to release the videotape of the Radio City Music Hall fundraiser that cost Whoopi her job.
We began on time for once, at 1 p.m., because we received several calls from the media about this demonstration--namely CNN, NBC and Fox.
We set up a large cooler across from the entrance to the building where the Kerry campaign has its offices. Inside the cooler were dozens of chilled cans of Slim-Fast. Several six-packs were stacked in front of the cooler. A large sign was taped to the open lid of the cooler that said, "FREE SLIM-FAST except for Kerry-Edwards workers."
Next to the cooler was a case of Slim-Fast set on end with a poster of the Whoopi Goldberg "I'm a Big Loser" ad attached to it.
We had an array of signs that we held and propped up along the sidewalk. We also had a giant flip-flop, courtesy of Doctor Raoul, that we displayed.
CNN, Fox and one unknown news outlet had their camera crews there waiting for us to get started. They each took plenty of time filming the demonstration from all kinds of angles.
Workers from the Kerry campaign gathered outside the building at a distance and watched with dismay at the media's interest. One young woman was on her cell phone apparently relaying to a higher-up the situation there.
As the cameras were rolling, passersby stopped to accept the offer of free Slim-Fast and to talk with us about Whoopi and the Kerry fundraiser. Most of them were familiar with what had happened and agreed with Slim-Fast's decision to sever their ties with Whoopi.
We had a wide assortment of Slim-Fast shake flavors: Banana, Strawberries and Creme, Cappucino, Creamy Milk Chocolate and French Vanilla (for any Kerry supporters who surrendered to us). The banana and strawberry flavors were the most requested.
CNN was the only outlet that had a reporter assigned to cover us. She was a cynical old bird whose name I instantly forgot, but whose dyspepsia at having to cover a conservative protest I'll always remember.
The reporter conducted a brief interview with me on camera. Things were fine until she asked me how many people we had there. I told her, "A dozen, maybe more." She replied, "I don't think so. We'll count 'em."
After she had put me in my place, she did an interview with the Kerry campaign worker who had been on her cell phone earlier. We couldn't hear how that interview went because the reporter had taken her down the block to conduct the interview away from us.
Afterward, tgslTakoma overheard the reporter disparage us to her cameraman, "What did I tell you, as soon as we stop filming, they break it down."
This was thirty minutes into our scheduled two-hour freep. TgslTakoma informed the reporter that we had a permit for a demonstration from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. and that we would be there until 3 p.m. The reporter glared back at her.
TgslTakoma then told the reporter, "I'm not going to hold my breath waiting to see the this show up on CNN anytime soon."
The reporter replied, "What do you mean by that?"
TgslTakoma answered, "CNN will only report on what fits their leftist view of the world."
The reporter defensively replied, "We cover conservatives."
TgslTakoma laughed at that comement and said again, "I'm not gonna hold my breath. We'll see if this report shows up on the news tonight."
That ended the conversation, and shortly thereafter the CNN crew left.
The Fox cameraman stuck around for a while longer, filming us as we did various chants calling for the release of the Whoopigate tape.
The building security officer was, for the most part, much less of a bother this time around than at our 'bake sale' protest there two months ago. The only time he got testy was when tgslTakoma inadvertently stepped onto the part of the sidewalk that was building property when she was taking photographs.
Pedestrian traffic was sparse yesterday as the location is a business area. However, we still managed to give away more than thirty cans of Slim-Fast. Some were given to the "homeless" guys who crossed the street from McPherson Square park to see what we were doing. We all engaged in discussions about the presidential election with anyone who wanted to do so.
The "homeless" guys from the park enjoyed the political discussions they had with us. Even though we disagreed, we did so civilly and we all shared in the Slim-Fast love fest.
The reaction from the public was pretty evenly split. Only a few people got nasty with us.
The Kerry workers were mostly subdued in their reaction to our presence. One exception was the woman who had been interviewed by CNN. As she returned from a break, after the cameras had left, she called out to us in response to Huber's offer of free Slim-Fast to others walking by, "You guys look like you could use it."
Some of us responded, telling her how mean and insensitive her comment was.
A few minutes later, she came back out and walked over to us. She offered her apologies, saying, "You guys were right. It was mean of me. I shouldn't have said it." Huber accepted her apology and she went back inside.
We started making offers to Kerry workers as they entered and left the building. We told them that we'd give them all the Slim-Fast we had if they would bring us the fundraiser tape that was locked in Mary Beth Cahill's safe. They laughed, but no one took us up on the offer. (We tried, Mr. Mehlman - do we still get our check? ;-)
Some of the chants we did in hopes of reaching their offices somewhere on the upper floors were:
A Monty Python-esque, "Bring out your tape, bring out your tape!"
"Free the hate tape!"
"Whoopigate, hide the tape, let her take the blame!"
"Heart and soul of hate, caught on tape!"
We ended the demonstration at 3 p.m. and went off to our old favorite after-freep restaurant, Luigi's.
More photo links:
The youngest tax deduction says, "Make Whoopi PG (at lower right in photo)
Staytrue's excellent sign, "Kerry is Clueless"
Whoopi's now canned Slim-Fast ad, edited (with 'Kerry-Fonda 2004' and 'Bozos for Kerry' buttons on her shirt).
Reflections in the revolving door to Kerry campaign HQ.
Huber holding "Free the hate tape" sign, and staytrue by two of his terrific signs.
Kristinn auditioning for the Slim-Fast job.
This woman told us that she knows everybody, from the president on down.
Great Job!!!!
Kudos to all of you for doing such a great job freeping the Kerry-Edwards campaign headquarters. The signs and the Slim-Fast display were fantastic.
I'm sorry that I couldn't join you yesterday. FReep On!
BTTT! Fantastic!
Nice work! I lost a few hundred calories laughing at your commentary.Thanks!
One of the earlier encounters with a young Kerry worker turned into a heated political disagreement. He approached DoctorRaoul, TaxRelief and TaxDeduction2 and jumped to the conclusion that the Freepers are all Pubbies. The following is an approximation of the dialogue...
Kerry worker "So, you're Republicans aren't you?"
"We're from Freerepublic. We..."
(Kerry worker interrupts) "But you want Bush to be President, right?"
Taxdeduction2-"We don't want Kerry. He..."
(Kerry worker interrupts) "What's wrong with Kerry? He'd be much better than Bush, who doesn't know anything and tells the American people anything he wants to."
Taxrelief- "Did you know that the Communist Party USA just endorsed Kerry last week?"
Kerry worker - "Communists?! Communists! Don't you know that the cold war ended? You people are lunatics... (turning to TaxDeduction2) "Have your parents filled you with fear? Do they tell you the world's a terrible place?"
Taxdeduction2 - "The only thing that I can think of that would be scary is Kerry as president."
Kerry worker - (turning back to Taxrelief) "The Cold War is over! Kerry is not a Communist"
Taxdeduction2-"He lies..."
Taxrelief- "He flip-flops. He's unpredictable."
(Kerry worker interrupts)"Kerry doesn't lie. Bush lies."
Taxrelief- "Really? What lies has Bush told?"
Kerry worker - "He lied about the wmd's,
Taxrelief interrupts - "That was Clinton's CIA"
Kerry worker continues "Clinton? Clinton never lied"
Taxrelief - "He did, but that's not what I said. The CIA staff, put in place by Clintoon, lied. Not President Bush."
Kerry worker goes beserk- "did you read the 911 commission report?!? (yes) "So you know that there is no link between Iraq and al Qaeda"
Huber (walking over) - "Have you read the report? If you did you would know that that was not what the report said..." When it became clear that the young Kerry worker had not actually read the report, he turned and walked off, shaking his head and joined the safety of his fellow KerryWorkers.
Taxrelief helpfully suggested that perhaps he should read something other than the Washington Post and the NY Times if he wanted to get the truth.
The Kerry worker did not acknowledge this helpful advice.
A song for your next FREEP
BIG JOHN
Every mornin' on the Hill you could see him arrive
Standing six-foot-four, weighing one-twenty-five
Kinda' scrawny at the shoulders and lacking a spine
And when he spoke at all, it was mainly to whine.
(Big John, Big John) Big Bad John.
Nobody seems to know what's in John's soul
His 'beliefs' are based on the latest poll
Though he'll say what it takes to get your votes
It's the leftist agenda that he really promotes
Big John.
Some one said he came from Boston town
Where he joined the Navy and gained renown
'Earning' three purple hearts and one bronze star
The home folks said, "This boy will go far"
(Big John, Big John) Big Bad John (Big John)
Then came a day back in '71
When he renounced all the medals that he had won
Then turned against his country and his Navy friends
And sold them out for his own selfish ends
(Big John)
He appeared before Congress and on left-wing talk shows
Giving aid and comfort to America's foes
It was clear to see whose side he was on
Some say he helped cause the fall of Saigon
Big John. (Big John, Big John) Big Bad John (Big John).
He claims to be for the working poor
Yet he owns 5 mansions from shore to shore
He never had to work a day in his life
‘Cause he learned it helps to have a wealthy wife!
Big John
Now he wants to be our next President
and Commander-in-chief of those he resents:
The American soldiers who fight and die
To give him the freedom to tell us his lies
(Big John, Big John) Big Bad John (Big John)
Thousands have sacrificed their young lives
To help ensure that our nation survives
A vote for Kerry is a slap in the face
To all the brave soldiers that he's disgraced
(Big John, Big John) Big Bad John (Big John)
For what it's worth yesterday I saw a display of garden flags in the local Wal-Mart. Most of them have flowers and cute things on them but these had a pair of flip-flops on them. Was in a hurry and didn't think much about them until later.
Mnnnnn! Will have to stop and get one tomorrow just in case Kerry comes to KC.
Where did you get those lyrics?
They came in an email from a friend. The author is unknown.
Clapping real Flip-Flops is another good protest technique.
Print out the graphic I posted and enlarge it at Kinko.
ROFL That Flip Flop is awesome! HEHEHE
If I ever get out to DC, I am going to go to a freep. I don't care if there isn't any liberals left, I want to freep something =o)
I think we should implore the DNC to have Whoopi as a primetime speaker. If they don't, it'll look as if the Dims are letting the VRWC shut down free speech.
All FReepers who have Democrat Sens and Reps should immediately email them expressing your concerns that Whoopi is not a convention speaker.
It's time your Dim reps in Congress support the First Amendment by making sure Whoopi gets to speak.
Good job, you guys! Sounds like it was a lot of fun. *We cover conservatives* LOL!
We Freep in NC, as well... (Aug 15, Wilmington) Hint, hint!
Mel Watt's and Senator Edwards' staff have heard my concerns about free speech and Whoopi. (I don't think they believed me, though!)
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