Michelle Malkin » Berkeley backlash building: American Legion, Sen. DeMint weigh in

Berkeley backlash building: American Legion, Sen. DeMint weigh in

By Michelle Malkin • January 31, 2008 08:55 PM

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A reminder of what Code Pinkos did to the Berkeley Marine recruitment center last fall.

The backlash against Berkeley’s anti-Marine, anti-troop measures is building. The American Legion and Sen. Jim DeMint weigh in tonight. Keep it up. Send a message to Berkeley: We’re not in the 1960s anymore.

DeMint to Berkeley: Support Our Marines or Lose Federal Funds

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) released the following statement in response to the decision by the City Council of Berkeley, California to evict the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station from the city.

“This is a slap in the face to all brave service men and women and their families. The First Amendment gives the City of Berkeley the right to be idiotic, but from now on they should do it with their own money. If the city can’t show respect for the Marines that have fought, bled and died for their freedom, Berkeley should not be receiving special taxpayer funded handouts. I am currently drafting legislation to ensure that American taxpayers aren’t forced to pay for this insult by rescinding all of the earmarks for Berkeley in the Omnibus Appropriations bill, and to transfer the funds to the Marine Corps.”

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American Legion:

“Osama bin Laden couldn’t have said it better,” American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser said of the Berkeley City Council Resolution, which tells the Marines that they are not welcome there. “Disgraceful, disloyal, ungrateful. These words are too kind in describing the actions of the public officials in Berkeley, who voted for this disgrace. Nonetheless, our Marines continue to bravely serve and in so doing, allow Americans to spout such foolishness. The American Legion not only strongly condemns this action by the City Council but also believes that a sincere apology is in order to all Marines, past and present.”

Conatser, the leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization, was referring to a measure passed by the Council 8-1 Tuesday, that tells the U.S. Marine Corps that one of its recruiting stations is “not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do as uninvited and unwelcome intruders.”

The City Council marched in complete lock-step with radical anti-war group Code Pink in attempting to drive out Marine recruiters from its San Francisco suburb. The City Council also voted 8-1 to give Code Pink a free parking space in front of a recruiting station, along with a free sound permit for protesting once a week. Marine recruiters at Berkeley have faced harassment from protestors who regularly block nearby sidewalks, generate excessive noise and disrupt business.

“I have been a recruiter in the National Guard and I know that it’s tough duty, with long hours,” Conatser said. “What these recruiters do is essential to our national security. Without recruiters we have no military. And I don’t think we can count on the flower children from Berkeley to protect this nation when it comes under attack. They have to remember that Marines are not the enemy; the terrorists are.”

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Previous:

Blood-boiler: Berkeley vs. the troops
Berkeley wants to treat military recruitment offices like porn shops
Red, white, and blue in Berkeley
Reminder: Support the troops in Berkeley
Oct 5.: Code Pink defaces Berkeley military recruitment office; Update: Attacks will continue, support needed
Oct. 7: Revolt against Code Pinkos in the Bay Area
Oct 8.: Protesting Code Pink in Berkeley

Related: Zombie’s photos of Code Pink vs. the Marines

Posted in: Berkeley

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#233192

On February 1st, 2008 at 1:41 pm, jwm said:

Response to #55

I think there should be a submarine named the California. Not everyone living in California agrees with the Berkeley City Council. Also, there was a battleship called the California that served honorably for many years.
JWMatney
U.S. Navy
1974-1978
#233236

On February 1st, 2008 at 2:09 pm, UberInfidel67 said:

#42…by “venting” I meant the people HERE who are wishing earthquakes upon Berkley. I am no where near Berkley (Thank God) and don’t agree with them. You misread my post. Please don’t confuse me with these idiots again.
#233413

On February 1st, 2008 at 4:31 pm, KaosKlerik said:

On February 1st, 2008 at 8:47 am, supersean said:
Kevin K.

So because of a vocal minority, you want to punish the majority who proudly support our armed forces?

I’ll believe that when they vote out 8/9th of that council. Until then they shall reap what they have sown.
#233419

On February 1st, 2008 at 4:38 pm, KaosKlerik said:

On February 1st, 2008 at 10:04 am, Mach1Duck said:
What is to be expected of a citizener that tries to put street talk (ebola) as a subject in their schools?

Ebonics is the “street talk” language. Ebola is a flesh eating disease.

In a way they are similar. One eats flesh and the other rots your brain.
#233627

On February 1st, 2008 at 8:28 pm, FloridaBill said:

On February 1st, 2008 at 4:38 pm, KaosKlerik:

So THAT’S what’s going on…

They’re victims of the “Ebolics Virus” and can’t help themselves… Their brains are rotting and their 1960’s flesh is being eaten.

They must be asking for ANOTHER massive federal social program to solve their problem.

I say, send in the Marines!

But, alas, the Marines won’t go unless ORDERED (they’re ininvited and unwanted)!
#233650

On February 1st, 2008 at 9:25 pm, Jimmie said:

I find it hard to believe that you could find a potential Marine in berkely?…you have to be clean cut and able to run and jump and be strong? they must be comming in from outside berkley?
#233820

On February 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 am, pokenhorn said:

The rest of the nation should invade, conquer, and occupy Berkely. Let the machine guns sing and the bombs go boom. Herd the seditious freaks into a barbed wire enclosure and pipe the Marine Hymn in an infinite loop into their quarters. Such foulness by the Berks is an effective resignation of their citizenship, and of their membership in the human race.
#234498

On February 3rd, 2008 at 1:15 pm, kahall said:

I would like for someone to try this crap around here (Mid MO). I would personally go down and…..Say Hi? If you know what I mean. Do we still use the word a$$hat? Yes, yes we do.
#240315

On February 9th, 2008 at 3:51 pm, Tommygun said:

Kahall at #92

If you mean what you say, those types have regular protests in the two biggest towns in mid-Missouri every week. Plenty of opportunity!