Posted on 09/18/2002 10:20:31 PM PDT by Angelwood
This evening the DC Chapter held a protest on the corner of Whitehaven Street and Massachusetts Avenue. The esteemed Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was hosting a fundraiser for Julie Thomas, a democratic candidate for a House seat in Iowa (and perhaps collecting a few political favors for future use).
We were delighted to welcome TheBatLady and TheBatLady'sHusband (from the Heart of Texas Chapter in Austin, Texas) as honorary members of the DC Chapter. Other members of the Chapter in attendance were: Jimmy Valentine's brother, BufordP, sauropod, kristinn, GunsareOK, Trueblackman, Gore_ War_ Vet, leadpenny, tgslTakoma, Exit148 and Angelwood.
Gore_ War_ Vet, TheBatLady and TheBatLady'sHusband were on the scene when Angelwood and tgslTakoma arrived just before 5:30 p.m. After introductions and greetings, it was time to break out the signs and get organized. TgslTakoma has become the signmaker extraordinaire. She always has plenty of signs and supplies to share.
As other FReepers arrived, we were visited by the Secret Service. They asked, "Who's the leader, here?" When Angelwood stepped up; they began to ask the usual questions and check out the permit paperwork. The officer was talking on the phone to headquarters, but was interrupted when there was a problem on the street. Traffic was stopped, but one driver of an expensive black car didn't want to wait to turn on Hillary's street. The officer went into the street to discuss the matter with the driver and to clear up the traffic jam. Then he came back and finished his report.
We brought a couple of chairs which worked well at propping up some of the signs. The CORRUPT DEMOCRATS TURN HERE sign was affixed to a cart positioned on the corner. TheBatLady'sHusband had a U.S. flag and a Don't Tread on Me flag which were put in the cart behind the Corrupt Democrats sign.
By this time we had received a very loud expletive and accompanying hand signal. We laughed and said thank you. Then we started getting some honks and thumbs up signals as well as hearty laughter and smiles. The atmosphere was definitely more friendly tonight since the honking horns and thumbs ups greatly outnumbered the single digit salutes, expletives and suggestions to "get a life."
Miss Congeniality (otherwise known as Her Heinous) showed up with tiara, fishnet stockings and cape. She took up a position on the sidewalk near a sign advertising MADAME HILLARY'S HOUSE OF ILL REPUTE and stopped traffic (well, traffic probably stopped because of the redlight but...it could happen!).
Hillary's companion on the campaign trail made a surprise visit. Yes, the Devil, old Satan himself, paid us a visit and stood tall with a sign letting everyone know that Julie Thomas was selling her soul to Hillary. It was too bad that Hillary missed the Devil because she came home late.
When TheBatLady'sHusband went across the street to take some group pictures, he was startled. A woman in a car stopped at the light jumped out of the passenger side and stood next to him to snap some pictures, too!
As the cars slowed in front of us, we could see people reading as many signs as possible. One older fellow broke out in guffaws as he digested one message after another. It was a good thing his wife was driving.
Hillary's entourage passed us by quietly. Her vehicle was outfitted with smoked out windows so we could not see her...but it was still light out and she could definitely see all of us and our signs. Our only regret is that the Devil and Her Heinous had already departed (due to the discomfort of the costumes) and Hillary missed them.
TheBatLady and tgslTakoma had gone on a mission to check out the end of Whitehaven Street. They were told that they could stand on the opposite side of the street and that's where they were when Hillary arrived at her party.
As Hillary got out of the vehicle, she was shadowed and protected by one of her party who blocked the view of tgslTakoma's camera across the street. The camera was in position to get a picture of Hillary as she entered the front door. Alas, Hillary learned from Bill that it's best to go in the back door when avoiding FReepers.
Back on the street corner, we encountered a couple who stopped for the redlight and wanted to ask questions about who we were and why we were there. The woman was very outspoken about how she felt about Hillary and Bill living in the neighborhood and about Al Gore trying to steal the election. When we identified ourselves as FReepers, she knew about us. They live close to the Vice President's (Cheney's) House and told us they took part in the protests during the 2000 Election. It was fun to exchange stories with them. We gave them DC Chapter pens and buttons to remember us by and asked them to check out Free Republic.
As the protest was winding down, a woman identifying herself as a New England Republican who worked for the federal government for thirty years stopped in front of BufordP. She wagged her finger in his face and proceeded to rebuke him for the message on the sign he was holding. She said the message was sexist and insulting to all women. The sign in question said, "Madame Hillary's House of Ill Repute (formerly of 1600 Penn. Avenue)."
She really zeroed in on BufordP, telling him he should be ashamed of himself, he was a misogynist, etc. Exit148 and tgslTakoma came to his defense and kristinn asked her if she was a New England Republican like Jim Jeffords.
The harangue lasted about thirty minutes, after which time she made her way back up the hill. No one asked whether she was a guest at the fundraiser.
A New York Post photographer who wasn't able to get into Hillary's fundraiser walked down the hill and stopped to take a number of photos of the protesters and their signs. He just happened to arrive in time to snap a photo of the woman wagging her finger at BufordP. Only time will tell if any of his pictures are published. Anyway, it was a great way to end a fun-filled freep.
Great job as usual. I always read the reports from the DC Chapter, even if I don't always post a comment.
You guys ROCK!!! (plus you have fun doing it).
It should be a law.
Exit148 and The Bat Lady Agree, Something Smells on Whitehaven Street
I just finished uploading the photos...
Askel, I hope you are up this way sometime soon. You would have had a blast tonight engaging in a discussion with the woman who attacked poor li'l BufordP. She was a piece of work, she was; said all of us ladies there were greatly misinformed and that was why we allowed such sexist junk to be displayed by the bunch of misogynist men we were with. She wasn't too happy when we burst into uproarious (is that even a word?) laughter at some of her pronouncements.
I have to say... the woman really had that finger-wagging down; almost as good as her hero, Bill Clinton, when he told us all that he did not have sexual relations with that woman. LOL!!
She even went so far as to take exit148 to task, for allowing herself to be taken advantage of by the group. Exit's eyes twinkled as she responded to the woman. I'll let Exit148 tell the rest of that.
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