Posted on 10/29/2003 6:39:14 AM PST by End Times Sentinel
When is someone in this town going to stand up to Johnny Dougherty and tell him to stop his guys from thugging up our elections?
Time and again, members of Doc's union - Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - have engaged in bully-boy tactics and punch-in-the-mouth politics. It's become their stock in trade.
They did it again Monday night in South Philadelphia at a Sam Katz rally at Front Street and Snyder Avenue.
When the Republican candidate arrived, he was greeted not only by a handful of supporters, but about 100 union guys chanting "Street, Street, Street" and "Four more years."
Their aim wasn't to cheer Street.
Their goal was to drown out Katz. Stop him from speaking. Bust up his little rally.
They succeeded. Unable to be heard over the shouts and obscenities, Katz had to beat a retreat.
As he made his way toward his campaign van, he was surrounded by the union guys, who continued their harassment.
According to reports in this paper and the Philadelphia Daily News, the highlight of the night was a guy named Mike Fera screaming at Katz, calling him a "sexual predator."
Asked what he meant, Fera said he was referring to a sexual-harassment suit filed against Katz 20 years ago by an employee who later dropped her suit.
Fera wasn't satisfied with hassling Katz. He went for the candidate's wife, Connie, who was at the rally.
Wife harassed
"Hey, Mrs. Katz," he yelled. "How's it feel to be married to a sexual predator?"
Connie Katz smiled and winked at Fera. God bless her.
Fera is leader of the Cement Masons and Plasterers Union - which is apt, him being a blockhead.
Katz called the protesters "brownshirts masquerading as union guys."
I never thought I'd write this, but Katz was being unfair to the brownshirts. The Nazis were infinitely more despicable, but at least they wore brown shirts to advertise what they were representing. They wanted everyone to know who they were.
The union guys are too cowardly for that. Every time there's an incident like this, Johnny Doc is out there, denying it was his guys, or saying they weren't acting under orders, or just denying that anything happened.
He did the same yesterday, telling radio talk-show host Michael Smerconish that the guys at the Katz rally weren't part of an organized protest. They were just neighborhood guys who happened by the rally.
Right. And I'm the tooth fairy.
This is not a renegade group. This is organized activity by the unions.
Doc is treasurer of the local Democratic Party. The construction unions are among the mayor's biggest supporters.
Don't cross us
It used to be the unions were an auxiliary of the local Democratic Party. Lately, the party has become an auxiliary of the unions.
And woe betide the candidate who dares to oppose them.
They will get harassed at rallies and become the subjects of scurrilous, false flyers passed around their neighborhoods. Sometimes, their personal property will get vandalized.
Just a coincidence, of course.
It's all done anonymously, under the cover of darkness. Cowards playing bullies. Then along comes Johnny Doc with his ritualized denial.
It's hard to figure out which is worse: this thuggery, or our tolerance for it.
It's part of the local political machismo to wink and shrug and say: "Hey, it's Philly; it's just the way things are."
Well, it isn't the way it is supposed to be. Not in America, at least.
Here are the rules: You have a right to run for office. You have a right to your opinion. You have a right to make speeches and appeal to voters.
You have a right not to be harassed. You have a right not to be verbally abused or threatened. You have a right not to be punched in the mouth.
We have several amendments to the Constitution that spell it all out.
In the meantime, Mayor Street should tell Johnny Doc to tell his guys to cease and desist.
And this time, Mr. Mayor, don't wink. Mean it. Tell them to stop.
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
At every level, from local to national.
Hmmm. I wonder if this has to do with those $80,000 rowhomes they're selling around the Temple U. area?
Anyway, even if Gore had been elected, I'm sure Andy Cuomo would have been on the case.
In the neighborhood next to mine (Hawthorn), the new row homes were built for the paltry sum of $286,000. Central Air, Cable, Washer and Dryer, Garage... just the bare essentials, for those on public assistance.
I don't mind footing the bill for that and to line the pockets of the Street cronies. After all, I'm a Conservative White Republican, and we're all rich and powerful.
Owl_Eagle
”Unleash the Hogs of Peace.”
P.J. O'Rourke Parliament of Whores
He also reported that seventy year old ladies were pushed around by the union thugs and < ther candles blown out >. Not sure if I caught that last part right. Maybe it was a candle light vigil.
Yeessh ...
Too bad Goode's aerial bomb on MOVE didn't take out the entire city.
Michael
Dom Giordano said the sexual harrassing thrown at Mrs. Katz went beyond the little in this report. Dom said the thug who yelled out "You know you want me baby!' was the least of it. -bvw
I missed Dom's show but Jeff Katz was implying that they were calling Mrs. Katz "the C- word". Gross, disgusting, vulgarity. The Democratic party does themselves proud once again.
Hang in there Owl-Eagle and get out the vote.-Temple Owl
Despite the fact that I strongly suspect we're not going to win, the house is fully stocked with Katz posters, fliers, tape and staple guns, just waiting for the rain to let up.
I'll be out on election day, knocking on doors, giving rides, whatever it takes. (As a Temple Football fan, I'm used to impossibly uphill battles)
Owl_Eagle
" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"
This one is not impossible. With guys like you, we have a chance.
The exact reason I cross union picket lines every chance I get.
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