Following Entry Posted 2/01/2008 05:43:00 AM

Marines Unwelcome in Berkeley

(Berkeley, California) With well-chosen, salty commentary, Digger expresses sentiments paralleling mine regarding two Berkeley City Council resolutions intended to frustrate and threaten the U.S. Marine Corps recruiting office.

Here's a nugget.

The city manager was directed to send a letter to the U.S. Marine Corps saying they are "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" in the city.

In addition, the city attorney has been directed to investigate whether the city's anti-discrimination laws can be enforced at the center, based on the military's consideration of sexual orientation in hiring.

Furthermore, the radical Code Pink group has been granted long-term parking privileges directly in front of the recruiting office so they can protest continuously.

Logically, though, the actions of the Berkeley City Council are to be expected since wild-eyed Marxists gravitate to the locale. And, since this is America, there's nothing to prevent them from assembling and democratically determining their own laws.

Even so, the Berkeley attitude of harassment towards the U.S. military should not prevail without consequences. My recommendation is to deny, cold turkey, all federal funding to the city of Berkeley, including the university. I'd check to see if San Francisco wants some of that action also.

It probably won't happen. But if it did, just once, I contend that the extreme leftist rhetoric and the harassment would become moderated. If Berkeley's decision-makers have to choose between receiving federal funds or continuing leftist belligerence, I believe they'll take the funds.

More.

[Update] Michelle Malkin has the scoop on the Berkeley backlash. A message from Senator Jim DeMint.

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."

Terrific! Personally, I'd chop Berkeley out of any federal funds, not just earmarks. But DeMint is on the right track.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.
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