Three-year-old Sophia Parlock cries while seated on the shoulders of her father, Phil Parlock, after having their Bush-Cheney sign torn up by Kerry-Edwards supporters on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, at the Tri-State Airport in Huntington, W.Va.
Blogs of War wants to find out the identity of the union thug with a piece of the little girl's Bush-Cheney sign in his hand. If you feel like voicing an opinion to the IUPAT for Kerry people, here's the link. The local union contact info (PDF) for Huntington can be found here.
In their 'From the Campaign Trail' section, they describe themselves as providing crowd control. I doubt Kerry hired them to be his Hell's Angels- this looks like some self-appointed goonery.
It was nasty of this guy to attack a child. It was also wrong of the father to involve his daughter in his expression of free speech at the opponent's rally. She would have been much happier eating a sundae at Dairy Queen and could get the life-lesson at an older age.
Sophia has a good big brother, though. Look at his little balled-up fist in the pic.
UPDATE:
The President of IUPAT has issued a full and complete apology. For those who are trying to find some way to make it all right for someone to rip up a little girl's sign, read Michelle Malkin and weep. (My thanks to Joe for the tip.)
My own opinion is as already stated. The right to free speech is a lot like having the right of way when driving- you always have to watch out for the other guy. Leave little girls at home when you're going to insist on either.
UPDATE II:
President Bush and First Dog Barney weigh in. (Via a comment from Kyer.)
Hey FC, yeah I had the same outpouring-of-righteous-indignation sort of reaction (as it my tendency) last night when I saw this.
This a.m. however I read this over at Right Wing News, and if you follow the link it looks like this is a guy who has built a cottage industry of infiltrating hostile pep rallies looking for a tussle.
That being said, it makes for good theater during the campaign season.
Posted by: joe at September 17, 2004 12:15 PMJoe, I did say the father was wrong to take her there. It's still wrong to tear up the little girl's sign.
Posted by: Donnah at September 17, 2004 12:24 PMYes and you are exactly right - you're the only one I read on this so far who made that point about the father.
Regarding "theater" though, if you follow that link to the liberal web site at http://rising-hegemon.blogspot.com/2004/09/bogus-assault-father-freeper-of-year.html
it looks like the union guy who ripped up the sign might be part of the family. Maybe it's not, but if it is, that's pretty bizarre.
Posted by: joe at September 17, 2004 01:11 PMMichelle Malkin talked to the guy on the phone and seems to indicate the info from the left wing site is hooey. So never mind.
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/000535.htm
Posted by: joe at September 17, 2004 01:39 PMI said that about the father because I'm a former little girl and know it to be true.
Thanks for the tip about Malkin. Blogrolling is on the fritz. I'll update. It's great that the union president made such a full and complete apology.
The goon needs a beating. The dad should be horse whipped. His daughter would have been injured had a melee ensued.
Posted by: robin at September 17, 2004 03:46 PMHey, it was wrong period for this guy to bring his child to an opponent's rally. Where is this guys common sense?!??!?!
Posted by: Ed in Philly at September 17, 2004 05:06 PMPresident Bush once again demonstrates the meaning of compassionate conservatism...
An excerpt: "After seeing the picture of the tearful Sophia on her dad's shoulders, aides said the president was sending her a little note Friday along with a signed campaign poster and an autographed photo of the prez and his dog."
The rest of the story can be found at US News and World Report.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/whispers/whisphome.htm
Posted by: kyer at September 18, 2004 01:53 AM