There's Not Much Love for Free Speech, Either
There's no defending a comparatively few violent criminals whothink molotov cocktails are an acceptable form of politicalexpression. But what do you say about hundreds of liberal Democratsfrom one Maryland community who want to boycott a business whoseowner dares to show his support for John McCain?
The sign went up Sunday evening, bold black letters against thestark white background of the marquee at the Colony South Hotel& Conference Center in Clinton: "Country First.McCain/Palin."
By daybreak, pandemonium had broken loose all across heavilyDemocratic Prince George's County. Many local supporters ofDemocrat Barack Obama, jolted by the message as they headed downBranch Avenue on their Monday morning commutes, grabbed cellphonesand BlackBerrys to notify friends. Operators of neighborhood e-mailgroup lists cried foul to their memberships. The NAACP loggedcalls. Community leaders demanded boycotts of the hotel, a commonvenue for Democratic events.
"Businesspeople have to be mindful of the sentiments andsensibilities of their market trading area, and Prince George'sCounty is overwhelmingly for Obama," said community activist ArthurTurner of Kettering, who was among those advocating a boycott."People I have talked to look at the sign as a slap in the face.They feel it was blatant disrespect. . . . I have heard people saythey will no longer patronize Colony South because of thatdisrespect."
One Democrat even offers a comment that could have been used todefend a boycott of the Dixie Chicks:
"While a business has the right to display what it chooses, thepublic has a right to show its contempt for that decision,including boycotting," said Mel Franklin, president of the GreaterMarlboro Democratic Club.
So much for freedom of expression! Half the population ofClinton, Maryland seems ready to shut down the hotel simply becauseof the owner's political views. Don't expect a national focushowever, on the attempts by Obama supporters to squelch dissentingviews. That wouldn't fit with the narrative.
And a side note: Prince George's County is probably home to morefederal employees than any other county in the nation. The hotelsits on one of the main commuting routes to downtown Washington.It's more than likely that many of the boycott proponents aregovernment workers.