best
way to respond to UFPJ would be to let them rant on and trust
in the good sense of the American people to see the UFPJ
demonstrators for the politically intolerant people that
they likely are. A heavy-handed response to UFPJ will give
the demonstrators the excuse to claim they are the victims
of the mean-spirited, militarists, racists, sexists, homophobes,
despoilers of the environment, among other demagogic findings.
The UFPJ organizers likely have visions of Chicago 1968 as
they prepare for Madison Square Garden 2004. Republicans
should encourage New York City to take a low-key approach
to the anti-GOP demonstrations. Indeed, Republicans would
be wise to consider that a massive, militaristic-looking
police response to the demonstrations would delight liberals'
eyes, prompting an outburst of left-flinging demagoguery.
Republicans
might, instead, go out among the demonstrators, and surveying
the "creative and colorful" posters, inquire: "Where
are the signs protesting the terrorists who attack our country?" Likely,
such anti-terrorism messages will be very few, it at all,
among the UFPJ, which, taking to the streets, seems, simply,
United for Power Jousting.
|