Posted on 09/07/2004 9:16:49 AM PDT by GSWarrior
Conservatives say they face hostility for Republican beliefs
Fireman John Darminin has charged into burning buildings, but said his hottest assignment was serving in union leadership as a Republican. The Redwood City resident and former director of the San Francisco Firefighters Union Local 798 said the union ordered him to remove a Bush/Cheney bumper sticker from his car in 2000 and to take down his Web site that was critical of liberal San Francisco politicians.
And those were just some of the many attacks on his conservative political beliefs that have left him bitter.
"I thought I was back in the Soviet Union," Darminin said.
The Bay Area prides itself on its openness and acceptance, but many local Republicans said they have been met with intense hostility for their political beliefs. They said they've endured everything from rude remarks to threats and physical violence.
Some said the McCarthy-era paranoia about Communists aptly describes how they often feel.
"There's a lot of teachers out there that are closet Republicans because they are so afraid if they say anything in their workplace, they will be retaliated against," said Karen King, the chair of the County's Republican Party. "That's the ugliness that I would like to get rid of. At the end of the day, I'd like to think the opposition believes in free speech as well."
Jennifer Kerns, a spokeswoman for Republican Assembly candidate Steve Poizner's campaign, said trying to register voters as Republicans in San Mateo County can be a depressing -- or even dangerous -- activity.
"One person had hot coffee thrown on him. Others have had registration forms torn up or kicked off tables. They've also been called racial slurs," Kerns said of voter-registration workers.
Harold Hoogasian, a Republican who owns a chain of flower stores in San Francisco, recalled the chilly reception he got when he ran for the city's Board of Supervisors in the early '90s. The office is non-partisan.
He said he appeared before San Francisco's Democratic Central Committee to try to get their endorsement, but he was interrupted midway through his presentation by a committee member.
"Mr. Hoogasian, are you a Republican?" he remembers being asked. When Hoogasian answered yes, the committee member replied: "We don't need to hear any more from you."
Hoogasian believes the negative atmosphere toward Republicans in San Francisco and San Mateo counties has caused many voters, who would identify themselves as conservatives, to register as independents. In San Mateo County, 20 percent of voters are so registered.
Darminin believes Republicans would face more abuse if they were more vocal about their politics.
"There would be a lot more incidents if the Republicans wore their party on their sleeve," Darminin said. "But once we leave that volunteer environment of the Republican headquarters, you don't want to talk about being Republican."
Note to self: HTML doesn't work in headline panel.
It can be lonely just being right, ask Galileo.
They champion freedom of speech...unless they disapprove of what YOU are saying...They champion diversity ..unless your "diversity" is Republican.
There should be a homeless man at the gate collecting admission.
I have to admit...I am afraid to display a Bush sticker on our car. I am SURE our car would be vandalized because we use our garage for our home-based business and our car gets parked in the driveway.
I think there are many "stealth Republicans" in our neck of the woods. They display it is subtle ways.....a "we support our troops" or an American flag sticker on their car window.
It's tough being a Bush supporter here. It IS a lonely life.
I wouldn't even BEGIN to discuss our politics with our next door neighbors. They are a couple with a three year old daughter(being raised with no boundries or discipline..a.k.a. BRAT). They are unmarried and probably won't get married and they BOTH have, and wear, "IMPEACH BUSH" socks. It's hopeless.
:^l
I think this kind of discrimination is more common than people think. Although I live in Colorado, Republicans in my workplace are routinely derided (government job). Since I'm a registered Libertarian, the liberal types shy away from confronting me on my conservative positions but they'll attack the Republicans.
I'd like to put up a Bush yard sign but I don't want my house egged! (My neighbors are all conservative but not everyone walking down the street will be.)
The tolerant party tolerates anyone...anyone who agrees with them, that is.
I love Colorado. I grew up in the Grand Junction area. I would venture that the area is still Conservative Territory, but I could be wrong.
Like so many other things, this would be an issue getting major coverage if such bigotry were reversed.
I know...
And I am here to certify that life is VERY DIFFERENT, MUCH FAIRER, MUCH FREER ELSEWHERE IN THE NATION. CA Dems run the state by MOB and "BAMN" rules. The pressures and stresses this puts on ordinary citizens who are not lib-dems, is.. phenomenal.
Or as I describe it to my new fellow citizens: In CA, anything that isn't legislated, banned, or under study -- doesn't exist.
I tell people real-time stories of North CA happenings, and the citizens here have a hard time comprehending it -- what passes for reality in CA. I do not exaggerate the stories -- no need to -- facts alone are horrifying and shocking.
Democrats IN CALIFORNIA: break laws. They turn over laws VOTED INTO THE CA CONSTITUTION, VOTED IN MAJORITY by Californians. How else can one explain the CA Dem politicos and Educrats WORKING AGAINST MAJORITY APPROVED AND PASSED INTO LAW, PROP 209. How does one explain how One D-Judge Phaelzer overturning Prop 187 (immigration reform). HOW DOES ONE EXPLAIN HOW PROP 22 (MARRIAGE: MAN/WOMAN) MAJORITY APPROVED BY CA VOTERS GETS OVERTURNED, IGNORED, BYPASSED BY SF POLITICOS WITH THEIR BUDDIES IN SACRAMENTO, STATE CAPITOL?
And for the biggie... In this new location, I'd heard that the ed standards were low. Imagine my surprise to learn that GENUINE EDUCATION WAS BEING TAUGHT IN MY NEW STATE. And these fellow new citizens think their standards are low? They have a hard time even countenancing my CA "education" stories -- of what goes down in the classroom -- it certainly isn't education. I wish I could really provide a glimpse to my old fellow CA conserv citizens -- the true measure of what they are enduring. It's sooo different "on the other side".
Know what you mean. My wife and I were in Sausalito this weekend (the belly of the beast) and there were people trying to get people to register to vote, saying things like "Register to vote if you don't want four more years of Bush".
Sometimes it's just not worth arguing with skulls full of mush, especially when there's gray hair on top of said skull.
Classic tagline material.
bump
They showed you their socks?
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