Democrats accused of ripping Bush signs - (Family attacked)

Washington Times ^ | 9/17/04 | Robert Stacy McCain

[kattracks]

A West Virginia man said yesterday that Democrats stole his family's Bush-Cheney campaign signs at an event featuring Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards.
    "They just pounced on us," said Phil Parlock, who took his 11-year-old son, Alex, and 3-year-old daughter, Sophia, to the Democratic rally at Tri-State Airport in Huntington, W.Va.
    Sophia became briefly famous yesterday when an Associated Press photo showing her in tears after Democrats tore her sign to pieces was posted on Matt Drudge's Web site, www.drudgereport.com. "She was crying; they were pushing and shoving her," said Mr. Parlock, a Huntington real estate agent. "She was scared."
    Sophia is the youngest of 10 children in a proudly patriotic family. The oldest two Parlock children, a 22-year-old daughter and a 21-year-old son, are members of the West Virginia Army National Guard, and a third Parlock — who recently turned 18 — will be sworn into the guard tomorrow, Mr. Parlock said.
    The Parlocks went to Mr. Edwards' airport rally yesterday "to support the president," Mr. Parlock said, and brought nine Bush-Cheney signs with them.
    "We stood there quietly while Senator Edwards went through the receiving line," he said. Then, as the North Carolina Democrat prepared to leave, Mr. Parlock said, "I took out a few Bush-Cheney signs, gave one to Alex, and Sophia and I held up one jointly."
    Immediately, he said, the family was set upon by supporters of Mr. Edwards and Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry — "mostly the painters union guys" — who "started stealing my signs."

[LRS]

The Surgeon General should step in:

WARNING: ATTENDING DNC EVENTS MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH...

[dfwgator]

Here's the Dan Rather version of what happened:

"A little 3-year old girl, distraught over her father's support of the "selected not elected" President tears up her father's "Bush/Cheney" sign at a rally for Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards in West Virginia. The kind Kerry/Edwards supporters consoled the poor little girl."

[P-Marlowe]

If I were at a Bush rally and some Bush supporter ripped a Kerry sign from a 3 year old girl's hand, I'd personally beat the living crap out of him and then turn him into the police.

Not one Kerry supporter appears to be upset with the creep.

[Merdoug]

This makes me SO mad! I don't mind adults getting into it, but leave the CHILDREN out of it! That scumbag ought to have that backwards hat stuffed down his throat. I hope that little girl and his Dad get to meet Bush! Mr. President!Are you listening?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The Dem pukes show no class by their actions but by the same token, I have to question the judgement of a father who would take a 3 year old girl into a situation like that.

He looks like an intelligent guy. What did he think would be the reaction to his Bush/Cheney signs at such a gathering? Not smart. Unless...he he got exactly what he was looking for.

[12.7x99mm]

as soon as i get over this hang over Im going out and out bush sticker on my car - what did I do last night?

[Chad Fairbanks]

He wasn't going to an event - it was at the airport. I've brought my children to event many many times when they were little so they could see candidates. So what? Does that mean my children are fair game for attack?

I call bullshit on that. This is still a free country, and no one should ever have to fear being physically assaulted when participating in political events. That should NEVER be excused. EVER.

Anyone who involves their children in political happenings is doing a GOOD thing - it teaches civics, responsibility, and appreciation for the system we have.

[vollmond]

You can boggle a Kerry crowd by showing up in a Bush-Cheney t-shirt and chanting U-S-A over and over during the dead spots.

Kerry supporters -
"Do we join in? Do we boo?" And then their heads explode.

[Ptarmigan]

Did you go out drink at a bar or party? Go for it. Offend some Dems.

[rintense]

I am SO glad this took off like wildfire. And now, little Sophia will be receiving a personall note from the President, a brand new signed poster, and an autographed picture of the President and Barney.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I KNEW President Bush would do something if he found out about this. Awesome.

[HushTX]

i LOVE this image...

thanks for sharing.

[HushTX]

"I don't care what the media says or does. If something like this ever happens to me I'm going to beat the crap out of the perp and the pukes standing on each side of him."

Yeah, cuz that'll solve a lot....

Oh, wait. It will. Carry on.

Seriously though, I can't say I blame you or anyone else. There was a similar, though not quite as vile, situation in Dallas recently. A "prayer vigil" was held for the 1000th casualty in Iraq. The soldier's mother was invited. Upon her arrival, she was booed and harrassed.

If I'd been there, I'd be in jail. I wouldn't let anyone bail me out, either, because I honestly feel like I'd have done the right thing for awarding them some capital punishment of my own.

Same thing if I saw someone treat a child the way that jerk did. He wouldn't walk or talk the same ever again. Women and children are the two types of people you do NOT mess with. Period.

[Paleo Conservative]

The really disgusting thing is the reaction from the losers at DU. Those freaks can't look past politics to see what is inherently wrong with this matter.

You are giving them way too much credit to DU. They are so blinded with hate that they can't see that it is not in their political interest to condone these actions. Even the union realized these punks actions were reprehensible and apologized. I think it all goes back to child rearing practices that emphasize self-esteem rather than self-control.

[HushTX]

I think it all goes back to child rearing practices that emphasize self-esteem rather than self-control.

If children were taught self respect, this sort of thing wouldn't happen. People who respect themselves tend to respect others. People who respect themselves are less often plagued by insecurities. People who respect themselves are more inclined to behave properly. People who respect themselves act in a manner appropriate to their environment. People who respect themselves.... oh forget you, you see where I'm going with this.