Gray Davis' Goons Illegally Harass Petitioners

NewsMax.com ^ | 6/27/03 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

"Opponents of the move to recall Gov. Gray Davis are asking their supporters to intimidate signature gatherers and complain of harassment at stores where recall petitions are circulating, stepping up the political battle taking place in front of Wal-Marts and Home Depots across California," the San Francisco Chronicle reported today.

An e-mail message and Internet posting titled "How to Advocate Against the Recall" falsely instructs Davis' supporters, "It is OK to stand in front of their table or approach potential signers before they do, or otherwise inhibit their activity." It tells people to claim they are "offended by being harassed" and complain to store managers.

"Remember, the longer you engage them, the fewer signatures they can collect," said the memo, distributed by a Big Labor group that comically calls itself Taxpayers Against the Governor's Recall. (These are the first "taxpayers" we ever heard of who like being $35 billion in the hole; in reality they're mostly government employees who are on the taxpayers' dole.)

"If anyone is suggesting that speaking out against the recall - exercising their First Amendment rights to speak out in the presence of signature gatherers - is somehow illegal, I would seriously question that," said Carroll Wills, spokesman for the group. "People have the right to free speech. Supposedly that is what the petition process is all about."

However, it is illegal to threaten petition gatherers, damage their property and bribe them to abandon their work, and these very things are occurring, the left-leaning newspaper said.

"I've been a coordinator for three years and collecting signatures for 11 years, and I've never seen anything like this," said Paula Wagner, 48, who supervises about 50 petition gatherers in Orange County.

"I was warned from the very beginning that if I hooked up with this recall I was going to alienate myself with other companies, and when this was over, what was I going to do?"

And check out what all those intolerant "peace"-loving leftists in San Francisco are up to. Attacks on petition workers there are so common, reported coordinator Tom Bader, that efforts are being shifted elsewhere.

He expressed disgust with the tactics of Davis' Big Government minions.

"These people are actually being told on the Internet to file false complaints," Bader said. "The circulators have been threatened all over the state that they are not going to work on any other petition. Then there is the physical aspect of it."

"A few weeks ago," said petition circulator Gloria Anderson, 48, who was working at a Home Depot in Redlands, "I had some guy walk up and try to yank my sign down. He called me a Republican bitch. I'm not even a Republican."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
California Governor's Race
DNC

[Kuksool]

The Grayout Goons are going to attempt to invalidate as many signatures as possible. The fact that he would try to do such a thing is reason enough to recall him.

[kevkrom]

Any enterprising Califorina FReepers want to try and get pictures and/or video of these tactics?

You've got to love the recall effort simply for, if for no other reason, forcing the California 'rats to use every dirty trick in the book to try and retain Grey-out Davis...

[ChadGore]

Tell the grey out goons, they'll have to go join the Iranian regime if they want to roam the streets, beating up on freedom loving people.

[adam_az]

Sounds like the took a page out of the Iranian playbook... What next, machetes and whips?

[adam_az]

beat me to the Iran reference!!! by moments.

[ScottinSacto]

I hope no one went into this enterprise expecting anything but this type of attitude/behavior. If so, some folks have not been paying attention lately.

[narby]

Terminate Gray Davis

[L.N. Smithee]

You've got to love the recall effort simply for, if for no other reason, forcing the California 'rats to use every dirty trick in the book to try and retain Grey-out Davis...

If only it mattered to them.

The success of the California Democratic Party is in great measure due to their willingness to conceive and support such dirty tricks, combined with the average Demo voter's ignorance and/or approval.

This is not limited to the Pacific Coast. Here's a link to the Massachusetts News' coverage of the "blocker" harassment in action. It was organized by people who didn't want a Defense of Marriage Act measure on the 2002 Mass ballot.

A hidden camera took this shot of a young man standing very close, arguing loudly with anyone who disagreed. It's difficult to deny his illegal actions when these pictures are seen. The security officers at the Natick Mall were on top of the situation and finally told the blockers to leave because they were causing a disturbance, but that did not happen in most areas.

The young woman blocker watches as another blocker (left with beard) argues with a signer (on the right) while the signature-gatherer (facing the camera) tries to calm down.

[Godzilla]

You know that at the anti-recall website under the same announcement to interfer with signature collectors are a whole bunch of phone numbers to call these slugs to report where good Americans are collecting signatures. Perhaps some well placed Freeped phone calls reporting locations that are a long walk off a short pier could have them chasing their tails for a while.............

[Carry_Okie]

Anybody who thinks that Bray Davis would ever resign the governor's chair, please take note.

He'll do anything to stay in power.

[Carry_Okie]

Sounds like the took a page out of the Iranian playbook... What next, machetes and whips?

Wrong country. Think Zimbabwe, and yes, if the Slave Party thought they could get away with it, they would stoop that low.

[Roughneck]

"It is OK to stand in front of their table or approach potential signers before they do, or otherwise inhibit their activity."

This certainly does not work at the liberals bastion of hate: ABORTION CLINICS.

[John Jorsett]

This certainly does not work at the liberals bastion of hate: ABORTION CLINICS.

Excellent point. Try this tactic at a clinic and you run the danger of being hauled away.

[blau993]

"A few weeks ago," said petition circulator Gloria Anderson, 48, who was working at a Home Depot in Redlands, "I had some guy walk up and try to yank my sign down. He called me a Republican bitch. I'm not even a Republican."

I am afraid Gloria must be charged with an incomplete denial. She has only denied being a Republican.

[MalcolmS]

"A few weeks ago," said petition circulator Gloria Anderson, 48, who was working at a Home Depot in Redlands, "I had some guy walk up and try to yank my sign down. He called me a Republican bitch. I'm not even a Republican."

So I guess she's ok about the other thing he called her?

Or is the R-word so much more insulting than the B-word. On second thought, the reporter's attention probably wandered and missed that part.

[Bullish]

These people just give ya' so many reasons to hate them.

They wouldn't know democracy if it knocked all their teeth out.

[Imal]

How heartwarming to see the Demorats sticking with their traditional playbook. I'm sure Jimmy Hoffa would be proud.

And when an instigator grabs you by the collar and shouts in your face, be sure to look for the union label.

After all, the best thugs are union-certified.

[Little Bill]

Go out in threes two to collect signatures and one to photograph harrasment, have a date and time stamp on your camera. If possible get a public clock in the background.

[mewzilla]

The Greystopo ride again.