Keep Earmarks from Berkeley

"I've been working with Code Pink, and I believe in their cause and I believe that what they're doing is the right thing, they are bringing maximum pressure to bear on the whole question of the Marines being in Berkeley, they don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here and they should leave."

 

If you read this quote from Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, you might be under the impression that Karl Rove took over the military and has ordered the military to capture this poor, defenseless town. You might even believe that Mayor Bates would be open and honest about his feelings towards the military.

 

You would be wrong on both counts.

 

It seems that the City Council of Berkeley, California recently passed a resolution that has many outraged. In it, they call on the Marine Corps to leave their recruiting office in town. If the Marines refuse to listen to the City Council, they will be considered, "…uninvited and unwelcome intruders."

 

Just in case the Marine Corp didn't catch the hint, the City Council next gave a parking spot to Code Pink in front of the recruiting station, a matching noise permit, and the thanks of the Council for Code Pink's work to, "…impede, passively or actively," the activity of the Marines. While the Marines have a long history of fighting and dying for the United States, Code Pink has a history of donating aide to the families of Islamic terrorist (to the tune of an estimated $600,000). My wife points out that the Marine Corps probably doesn't want a recruiting station where they aren't wanted. If the City of Berkeley truly wants the Marines gone, maybe they should just buy out their lease on the property she suggests. Sanity appears to be in short supply in Berkeley.

 

As these resolutions gained press coverage and outrage (and the City Council claimed they were misunderstood) some began taking matters into their own hands. Sen. DeMint (R-SC) has purposed withdrawing recent federal money from Berkeley. He points out, "I do not believe a city that has turned its back on our country's finest deserves $2 million worth of pork-barrel projects." A portion of the $2 million was originally to go to Chez Panisse restaurant to design school meals that promote "environmental harmony". (My wife asks where the "environmental harmony" appears when insulting the military.) Instead of the standard school lunches, students would get "Comte cheese soufflé with mache salad". Perhaps the Marines could leave their MRE's for the students…

 

A California Assemblyman is pushing to withhold state transportation funds from the city. Others have sent emails to the city council blasting their decision. Move America Forward is collecting signatures condemning the actions of Berkeley's City Council.

 

Catherine Moy reports that the "anti-war anarchists" have shown themselves to be as reprehensible as the city council. At protest last week by pro-troop and pro-Marine groups, the anarchists tried to provoke people into fights. One person reported that the anti-war groups were made up of "…an assortment of old hippies dressed in pink," and high school kids dressed in orange and black. The high school students were brought to the protest by their teachers.

 

The City of Berkeley is within its rights to criticize anyone, including the Honorable men and women of the Marine Corps. However, my tax money shouldn't go to fund their arrogance. In the words of Jim DeMint:

 

"Actions have consequences. When the Berkeley City Council decided to insult the Marines in a time of war, it was a $2 million decision. Especially in a time of war, we cannot allow cities to just play insulting games at our troops' expense while continuing to shower those cities with congressional favors."