Marines say they’re not leaving Berkeley

[unhappycamper]

Marines say they’re not leaving Berkeley
The Associated Press - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Feb 3, 2008 10:03:00 EST

BERKELEY, Calif. — While anti-war protesters chained themselves outside a Marine Corps recruiting center here, a spokesman said Corps does not plan to abandon the office even though the City Council has officially rolled up the welcome mat.

The Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday to tell the Marines that if its recruiters choose to stay in their rented downtown space “they do so as uninvited and unwelcome guests.”

Gunnery Sgt. Pauline Franklin said Friday that while the Corps respects city officials’ right to free speech, the Marines would not be leaving.

Conservative bloggers and Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, lashed out at Berkeley following Tuesday’s resolution. DeMint said he would draft legislation to strip the city of federal money, including funds destined for UC Berkeley, for school lunches in the Berkeley Unified School District and public safety.

“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,” DeMint said in a statement.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_berkeleymarines_080203/

[thunder rising]

1. You gotta love that Republican tough love! Horse's ass, has to rattle his baby saber. Typical

[nykym]

2. I saw this last week and it just

rubbed me the wrong way, so I fired off a quick note to Repug Denitmint to show my displeasure with his meddeling. I guess it's way more important to fix things in Berkley rather than deal with the problems in his own state. Why don't we all send Denitmint an email to show our displeasure with his antics - because that's all they are.