Wait! We can use this to our advantage!
Seattle, Washington
Posted on 12/13/2004 8:13:20 AM PST by Capagrl
Market Madness
A city councilman in Lancaster County, Pa., wants a local merchant to remove a photo of George W. Bush from a stall in a local market because the image is offensive to local Democrats, reports the Lancaster New Era.
David Stoltzfus has had the president’s image hanging in his Central Market baked-goods stand for a couple years now. He says it is there to honor the office of president.
But City Councilman Nelson Polite wants the picture down. He says political paraphernalia has no business on public property. Besides, says the Democrat: "Bush didn’t win here [in Lancaster City]. It is like rubbing salt on a wound."
Because Stoltzfus has so far refused to take down the image, Polite says he will ask the city council to change the law so that all political items would be banned in public places.
Do you think (a) there are enough members of the city council who support him that this law would have a snowball's chance in hell to pass or (b) any court would uphold a law like this as consistent with the First Amendment?
The only mainstream limitations on the first amendment are time/place/manner restrictions on expressing points of view. I really don't think that any judge would consider taping a picture of the sitting President on a wall or a window in a store is an unreasonable time, place or manner to express a belief.
Since this story is 10 days old I wonder what is the current situation. Has Mr. Polite responded to his critics?
It may be out in public, but it is private property!!!!
Most of the far left qualify as Socialists, what this guy wants is pure Communism, the total control over what we see in public.
Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?
Democrats are so hyper-sensitive.
These jerks prove every day that they only believe in freedom for themselves. Opposing views need not apply. It seems to me I remember a time way back when, when we were taught that if you said certain things in communist countries you could be arrested. We have been slipping into this for a while now and no one seems to notice. I read a book by David Horowitz, who grew up in a communist home, and he said that the communists changed their names to progressives in this country in order to be more acceptable to the American public. Where have we heard this word lately?
Or, no more in-your-face same sex parades.
On second thought, its too ridiculous, even if I could get my pet peeves suppressed. And, then there's the fact that only the noisy PC demand and get special treatment; the more normal among us are too busy minding our own business, so we become the constantly "demanded upon."
You know, the merchant could have these pictures for sale. There's no law against advertising these pictures for purposes of selling them for say, $100 each. That would really blow the councilman's mind.
Repeating what needs to be our battle cry.
What would happen if the guy had a picture of Kerry or Edwards in his store?
Wait! We can use this to our advantage!
Seattle, Washington
But City Councilman Nelson Polite wants the picture down. He says political paraphernalia has no business on public property. Besides, says the Democrat: "Bush didn’t win here [in Lancaster City]. It is like rubbing salt on a wound."
But now if Kerry had won . . . .
I say Mr. Polite needs to change his last name to something more inline with his arrogance and intolerance.
Maybe "Mr. Impolite"?
Since when do the naysayers own all public property?
Actually, that's precisely where the First Amendment comes into play. Nobody holds protest marches in a pear orchard. To paraphrase Willie Sutton, people historically have liked to express their beliefs in a public forum because that's where the people are.
This guy is wrong in so wrong fundamentally that I hope he pursues this. It can only have a major positive effect on Republican efforts in Lancaster, and for advocates of free speech everywhere.
</sarc>
This has been posted earlier, but a repost won't hurt.
The mayor thinks this is screwy also. Dunno about the other councilmen.
Why not drop them a line about your disgust? If enough people yell, maybe they'll take this guy to the woodshed for some "counseling" as well as Civics 101. Might shut him up for a while.
No use emailing Polite - he's turned off his email.
Charlie Smithgall
mayor@cityoflancasterpa.com
President, Dr. Stephen G. Diamantoni
Doctoni@aol.com
Ms. Julianne Dickson
Juliedickson@earthlink.net
Mr. John Graupera
John.Graupera@verizon.net
Mr. Luis Mendoza
Luis_amendoza@yahoo.com
Mr. Harry S. Stoltzfus
harrystoltz@yahoo.com
"Polite says he will ask the city council to change the law so that all political items would be banned in public places."
Does this mean that when he runs for City Council again he won't be able to post any signs?????
Huh. Now that you mention it, there is an uncanny resemblance!
Too funny!
Well, to begin with, a different group would be offended. But if conservatives are offended thats OK.
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