Michelle Malkin » Blood-boiler: Berkeley vs. the troops

Blood-boiler: Berkeley vs. the troops

By Michelle Malkin • January 30, 2008 11:30 PM

I told you on Sunday about the city of Berkeley’s move to treat military recruitment centers like porn shops.

Reader Bob USMC e-mails that Berzerkeley advanced two other anti-troop measures last night–voting to give Code Pink special treatment and send the Marine Corps a letter saying they are “uninvited and unwelcome intruders” in the city.

This must not go unanswered:

Members of the Berkeley City Council showed their opposition to a Marine Corps recruiting office in Downtown Berkeley last night.

Council members supported the two resolutions-one supporting anti-war protests and the other criticizing military recruitment practices-citing opposition to the war in Iraq, deceptive recruitment practices and the right to protest.

“By taking a stand against recruitment we are protecting the health and safety of our youth,” said PhoeBe sorgen, a member of the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission. “I see the protest as taking a proud and courageous stand.”

Code Pink, a national anti-war grassroots organization, will be granted a parking spot for their regular Wednesday afternoon protests and will not need to apply for a sound permit for the next six months, under one resolution.

The other resolution more directly criticizes the presence of the center in Berkeley. The city manager was directed to send a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps saying they are “uninvited and unwelcome intruders” in the city.

In addition, the city attorney has been directed to investigate whether the city’s anti-discrimination laws can be enforced at the center, based on the military’s consideration of sexual orientation in hiring.

Marine recruiters did not return calls for comment yesterday.

The other initiative is forging ahead:

Local activists have proposed an initiative for the November 2008 elections that would require military recruiting centers to acquire a special use permit.

“The Marines ought to have better sense than to come here,” [Councilwoman Betty] Olds said.

Move America Forward is spreading the word:

The City of Berkeley, California has passed two resolutions attacking the United States Marine Corps, calling the Marines, “uninvited and unwelcome intruders in the city.”

The Berkeley City Council voted to condemn the Marines on Tuesday night (January 29th) as part of a campaign by anti-war activists to shut down a U.S. Marine Recruiting Center located in the city of Berkeley.

The votes by the Berkeley City Council were immediately condemned by Move America Forward (website: www.MoveAmericaForward.org), the nation’s largest grassroots pro-troop organization.

“It is disgraceful that in the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, anti-military activists would attempt to silence the same military men and women who serve this country and give their lives to protect the free speech rights of all Americans, including these ungrateful and despicable people on the Berkeley City Council,” said Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward.

The actions by the Berkeley City Council followed continuous protests by Code Pink and other anti-military organizations that vandalized and defaced the U.S. Marine Recruiting Center in September 2007.

One of the two resolutions passed by the Berkeley City Council last night granted a parking spot in front of the Marine Recruiting Center to be used by anti-military activists to harass Marine recruiters. The anti-military activists would not need to apply for a sound permit for the next six months – allowing them free reign to disrupt the day-to-day operations by the Marines.

Move America Forward organized a counter-protest in support of the Marines last October that attracted over 400 pro-troop supporters who stood in solidarity of the Marine Recruiting Center.

“We have hundreds of thousands of military men and women serving honorably overseas to protect our freedoms. Imagine how they feel when they go to turn on the news and see that they are being stabbed in the back by shameful people here at home, it’s disgraceful!” said Catherine Moy, Executive Director of Move America Forward.

Every member of the California delegation should be pressed to state where they stand on Berkeley’s troop-bashing actions–starting with Nancy Pelosi and Sens. Boxer and Feinstein.

***
Here’s the Berkeley City Council page.

***

More here.

***

Elsewhere in the Bay Area, here is the conclusion of the Transportation Department’s investigation of the incident at the Oakland Airport. Refresh your memory here. The issue for the troops and supporters who raised objections was never so much about what rules were or were not broken. It was about botched communication, mishandling of the incident and its aftermath, lack of compassion, and delayed accountability. The officials apologized. The incident is over. But as the Berkeley attacks show, anti-troop animus in the Ba Area lives on.

Posted in: Berkeley

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#232066

On January 31st, 2008 at 12:43 pm, SHoward said:

I have to rise in support of cpodug’s comments: I, too, would render help to those in the midst of disaster, no matter how little they deserve it. When duty calls, it calls.

However, the nerds in Berzerkeley do not deserve federal money, IMHO. If they do not want federal forces recruiting there, how can they deserve federal funds? Are the two un-related?

How about another idea already floated here: find out what companies are headquartered there, if any, and choose not to do business with them. Anyone just passing htrough can also choose to gas up before or after the town, as well as staying in hotels out of town.

As for the university there: many fine universities exist that would be better suited to send your little future leader of industry. It may be a fine school, but if it means supporting this non-sense, there are other places to get an education.
#232088

On January 31st, 2008 at 1:08 pm, terrig said:

Agree that if some natural disaster or terrorist attack happens in Oakland, Berkd, or SF let them fend for themselves. No military help for them and that includes the CA National Guard.
When my husband returned last year in Feb. (he was on a transition team and there were 44 of them) they were told to change out of their uniforms prior to landing at SFO for their 6 hour layover as the Col was fearful of how the kooks out there would act. So, they did and changed again before landing in Honolulu.
I really do despise these idiots and hope one day they wake up and smell the coffee. Doubt they will but like those fools in VT, where there’s life there’s hope.
#232095

On January 31st, 2008 at 1:13 pm, J S Ragman said:

AJ and cpodug

I agree with you that wishing a natural disaster on the entire Bay area would be unjust. And expecting the military to withhold relief actions simply wouldn’t happen because of our long history of performing heroic service to an ungrateful populace.

But since I am feeling particularly mean-spirited today, how about releasing and re-arming the Gitmo detainees and dropping them off at the next Berkeley City Council meeting? Wouldn’t that be a more specific and targeted response?
#232103

On January 31st, 2008 at 1:16 pm, Sanddog said:

Personally, I think we need about ten thousand people in uniform to take to the streets of Berkeley every weekend for about a month. That would be far more offensive to them than a bunch of porn stars getting in on in their parks.
#232124

On January 31st, 2008 at 1:34 pm, ammo john said:

Absolutely disgusting. I’m glad I was never stationed in that state.
#232151

On January 31st, 2008 at 1:49 pm, BKennedy said:

#57:

Michelle,

I shutter when I read post by you and others here lumping the Bay Area with the vocal minority.

When the vocal minority has enough power to elect several members to the city council, it’s time to stop pretending.

Sodom and Gomorra (SF and Beserkeely) could be wiped off the face of the earth tomorrow, and no patriotic American would care, save for the immense tax dollars the surviving hippies would try to siphon off us in their continued indignance.
#232159

On January 31st, 2008 at 1:54 pm, Fasternu 426 said:

Cut off federal funding of any kind to municipalities like this! Choke off every single penny! Screw them!

I don’t question their patriotism. They have none!

No one ever called on a hippie for anything, except for maybe scoring a sack of weed…..
#232238

On January 31st, 2008 at 3:07 pm, jw said:

In 2005 the governator said,”Our bases are also an important part of our diverse economy responsible for 238,000 jobs and $40 billion in economic activity.” What is the military presence in CA worth now?
#232281

On January 31st, 2008 at 4:03 pm, rightisright said:

Why doesn’t Schwarzenegger and Feds put the brakes to any services or monies that this metropolis is scheduled to recieve? Remind them that they are still beholden to principles & propositions that are greater than their narcisstic selves.

Yeah, i thought the libs were all for the greater good.
#232384

On January 31st, 2008 at 5:48 pm, Defector01 said:

for your discussion and displeasure
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102×3164089

Question that which they do not have
#232390

On January 31st, 2008 at 5:59 pm, Jerry said:

May Justice be swift and sure! My 87 year old grandfather who fought with Patton in WW2 Germany wants to kick there butts! I am thinking he is right!
#232394

On January 31st, 2008 at 6:04 pm, TexasPride said:

The contact info for Council”person” (we need to be PC, right?) Betty Olds who said, “The Marines ought to have better sense than to come here,”

Phone: (510) 981-7160
Email: olds@ci.berkeley.ca.us
#232425

On January 31st, 2008 at 6:50 pm, Barry F. said:

Perhaps the Democrat party should change their logo from a mule to an ostrich.

Or a weasel, a chicken, etc.
#232431

On January 31st, 2008 at 7:00 pm, Jimmie said:

I have been to Berkeley..I don’t think you could find but a 1 or 2 people who could last a week in the Marines anyway?….I mean you have to give up drugs and sort of work out… no?
#232699

On January 31st, 2008 at 11:29 pm, magicky said:

Huh, supersean, flame wars aren’t my usual mode of communication, so my comment here, to you, will be my last on this.

The use of hyperbole (hy·per·bo·le /haɪˈpɜrbəli/ –noun Rhetoric.
1.obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2.an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”) is meant to show that an asinine statement, which strains the boundaries of credulity, is worthy of just such a reply.

Thank you for your input…
#233282

On February 1st, 2008 at 2:57 pm, Thunder_Run said:

Berkeley -v- USMC — Just a reminder: The people who want to remove the Recruiters from Berkeley are the same people who brought you this little gem.