Posted on 08/26/2010 9:58:31 AM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
Liberty collided with free speech on Shoreline Drive in Mound when a group criticizing President's Obama's health care law caused a stir on the city's main street.
Between the main post office and the town's veterans' memorial, a group set up an anti-Obama protest on Wednesday afternoon. Their booth displayed "Impeach Obama" signs and a poster that drew both cheers and disgust.
"I am all for impeaching Obama," said Mary Rassatt of Mound. "Thumbs up, you are getting thumbs up from people driving by."
But a poster of the president is shown with an Adolf Hitler-styled mustache. Their literature calls it a symbol of Obama's health care plan.
"That is what Hitler and Obama have in common, they believe in killing what they call the end of life years," said a woman sitting at the booth who refused to be identified.
When further questioned by WCCO-TV, the couple working the booth then called the police and became combative, yelling obscenities at the camera.
"You are full of lies and treason. You are the reason we are at war, you are the reason we are bankrupt and the reason Obama is president," the unidentified woman shouted.
Julie Barrack of Minnetrista says she is appalled by the poster comparing Obama to Hitler, saying, "Aren't we supposed to have respect? What is this country coming to? We are on a public sidewalk, and this is what we do to our president?"
But Mound's city manager, along with Mound police, told WCCO-TV that the couple had the constitutional right to set up on the sidewalk as long as they didn't block traffic, pedestrians, or have more than 15 people, which would require a public gathering permit.
Nick Johnson, a college student from Mound, stopped by the booth to disagree.
"I am growing up in Bush's America, and I saw stuff like that all the time for Bush, I didn't like it then and don't like it now," said Johnson. "That's ridiculous. Obama hasn't killed one person, Hitler has killed millions."
Rick Lenkki of Mound, was passing by and refused to accept the literature.
"I don't care for Obama either, but the Nazi symbolism is overblown, too far," said Rick Lenkki.
Barry Petit, a former Wayzata mayor, watched the commotion on a break from his bike ride. He believes America has reached a boiling point during tough times, and what's ailing many people these days is anger.
"It's a real manifestation of anger, and everyone has got of list of reason that gets them upset," said Petit. "These guys may be extreme, but for everyone driving by, it may not be Obama, but it's something else."
The group claims to be associated with the Larouche political action committee. Lyndon Larouche, a political activist who ran for president several times, is now leading an "Impeach Obama" campaign.
“Aren’t we supposed to have respect? What is this country coming to? We are on a public sidewalk, and this is what we do to our president?”
Where was she for the last ten years?
Comparing a president to Hitler? This is unprecedented! /s
good thing nobody drew Mohammed or there’d REALLLY be trouble.
How many people did Hitler personally kill? He was a corporal in WW1 and was doing his duty. I don’t think there is any evidence that Adolf Hitler ever pulled a trigger after leaving the army.
After all he's not like that smirking chimp busHitler"
There, fixed it.
Hitler killed people before he assumed the Chancellorship. He killed people before day zero and continued from beyond the grave. He didn’t beginning killing in earnest until 1939, admittedly, but he had lots of time to warm up.
I wonder how many of the “the first amendment trumps your right to be outraged at bad taste” crowd supporting the 9/11 Victory Mosque will be quick to flip to the other side of the argument when Obama is being insulted rather than just the whole nation?
Poor young Mr. Johnson...doesn't he realized that the little tin god's deaths are in the future??? Hopefully not - but distinctly possible - Mr. Johnson's parents may be two of the millions of victims.
Doesn't poor Mr. Johnson realized that in 1934, the millions Hitler would kill were but in the "planning" stage??
Certainly the little tin god in the "white house" has progressed further than did Hitler!!
And as to "growing up in Mr. Bush' America...doesn't poor Mr. Johnson realized that the dems have been in power since 2006????
Alas....probably not.
Poor Mr. Johnson.
No need to wonder. Just look at how they are reacting to that Florida church's planned Burn a Koran Day on September 11.
That’ll be all over the 6 oclock news all over the country.
Larouche ran many times as a Democrat and was a big John Kerry supporter, he hated George Bush. Some of his supporters have been elected as Democrats.
Probably not worth mentioning, though.
Obamao is a far worse enemy of the USA than Hitler ever was. Hitler didn’t hate us like Obamao and his followers do, and Hitler never achieved Obamao’s strategic advantage.
You are, of course, correct. But AH’s pre-1939 killings were at about the same volume and publicity level as Mr. & Mrs. Bill Ayers and all the other people who promoted ObaMao. IOW, they were swept under the rug and hardly anybody cared or even knew about them.
C’mon guys, Hitler was a decorated war veteran, a competent executive, loved dogs, and had a hot looking wife. Hitler actually wrote his own book. Mr. Skittles is in no way near Hitler’s achievements.
Between WCCO and the newspaper “Star Tribune” (better known as the “Newsletter of the DFL”), it's not surprising we have so many stupid voters in this state.
Great reporting there. It took until the very last sentence to explain that these people are Larouchies.
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