Is There a Double Standard?
I saw this, and many other signs on the fence surrounding West Side Park this Saturday morning. It was part of a large demonstration by the local Veterans For Peace chapter. By “large demonstration”, I mean it had a huge sign presence that stretched for at least 50 yards along the fence. I’m not sure that there were more than 12-18 actual demonstrators.
I took this picture and bring this up because I remember that in 2002, as a County Commission candidate with little money, I asked the parks department if I could set up a political rally in this tax-payer funded space. I needed to be able to access the public and allow them to have access to me so I could share my platform personally. I was refused. I was told: “No political rallies.”
Well, things must have changed. Or perhaps it is purely a case of selective enforcement. I’d love to have them weigh in on this site and let me know.
In 2002, I learned the hard way about the antipathy that candidates must face. The Girl Scouts can sell cookies in a shopping center, and certain selected “charities” of dubious veracity can set up a table in that shopping center, and anyone seems to be able to set up a car wash, but a local candidate is told “no” on the grounds that then they will have have to let them all do it.
Besides the fact that this is an irrational fear (most candidates are unwilling to give that kind of access, nor can they all be omnipresent at multiple shopping centers) , it is one that the centers do not take into account when allowing the aforementioned groups to squat on their property.
I remember well how humiliating it was to be chased off from any venue where there was a line forming because I dared to gather signatures to get on the ballot. The people I approached did not complain. It was always the manager of the theater, or whatever.
So, why is it that a candidate is the only one who has to pay for his or her “free speech”? We are told to use direct mail and advertising, but then we are vilified for raising the money to pay for that advertising. It is the height of hypocrisy. Or perhaps it is something that no one ever thinks about.
And that is part of the reason why I created this site. It’s a totally free venue where the candidates can say whatever they want. What remains to be seen is if they will use what is free, or just keep raising money.
Don Marsh
