Del. state trooper helps enforce Rick Santorum's 'family' values

[LynneSin]

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050814/NEWS08/508140325/1013/NEWS
Del. state trooper helps enforce Rick Santorum's 'family' values
08/14/2005

U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, the Republican from Pennsylvania, espouses many controversial views -- that women shouldn't work outside the home, that legalizing gay marriage would lead to legalizing polygamy and bestiality, that government should discourage birth control.

He's even written a book, "It Takes a Family," to spread his viewpoint.

Understandably, people who disagree would like to tell him so. But, as several teenagers and some of their parents found out last week, trying to do that in Delaware could land you in jail. Santorum appeared at the Barnes & Noble bookstore adjacent to Concord Mall on U.S. 202 Wednesday night for what was billed as a book signing and discussion. College students Stacey Galperin and Miriam Rocek of Newark decided to attend to hear what he had to say.

"I knew about him from his promotion of the federal marriage amendment," said Rocek, 19. "I thought I would go and just talk to him during the book signing, tell him I disagreed with a lot of his policies, just engage him in dialogue."


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The security, however, wasn't provided by a private guard, but by off-duty Delaware State Police Sgt. Michael DiJiacomo, who was hired for the occasion through a private security service. No official report of the incident was filed because no arrests were made, but state police spokesman Lt. Joe Aviola said, "As I understand it, they actually were being disorderly within the store. Someone overheard them saying they were going to cause a disruption."

That's not quite the version the teens related. "I heard ask the woman, 'Do you want me to get rid of them,?' " Galperin said. "I went to tell the kids the cop was going to kick them out, and he was very pushy. He came up to us and said, 'If you don't leave you'll be arrested, and if you can't post bail you'll be put in prison.' He said it was private property and we would be arrested for trespassing."

When the girls protested that they hadn't done anything, DiJiacomo told them they were under arrest. After taking them from the store, Galperin said, "He told Miriam to put her hands on the car and kept telling us, 'You're going to embarrass your family, you won't get into college with this on your record.' "


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"What he told me was, 'They don't want you there,' that it was all under the direction of Santorum. Maybe he was making it up, because I called Santorum's people and they've denied it to me, but I got the impression they didn't want anyone there who didn't agree with him."

[cornermouse]

1. Maybe they should start a boycott of that Barnes and Noble store?

I know if the local Barnes and Noble did that, I wouldn't go back.

[LynneSin]

3. I'm going to wait to see what B&N says about it

I know that store and they are a good sort of folks. I have a feeling that this cop overstepped his boundries or was given instructions from the Santorum team to keep the opposition out of there. But the idiot went so far as to tell these girls they would be jailed and not be able to get into college (which btw, they were college girls).

But seriously, if B&N backs this guy and refuses to apologize to those girls I will ban going to that store. Borders is right nearby - I'll make due!

[Fridays Child]

4. It was Santorum's security team, not Barnes & Noble's.

B & N should have never agreed to the requirement that attendees must have receipts for the book, in order to attend an author's signing and discussion session. I hope they don't allow it, in the future. But B & N is a solidly "blue" company, and I'll continue to support them.

[jsamuel]

2. we can't take this anymore

:mad:

[wli]

5. trial ballooning future plans for the Homeland Offense Gestapo?

Doesn't look good at all.

[Ian David]

6. Take Santorum's books off the shelf and hide them behind other books...

all over the store.

It's what I've been doing with "Doctor" Laura's books.

Stick them behind cookbooks, Dog Grooming for Dummies, etc.

Just spread them around, hidden BEHIND books in various sections of the store. Be creative where you hide them. For example, behind a book on "abnormal psychology" or "Heather Has Two Mommies."

And then take a copy of Hillary Clinton's book, "It take a Village," leave it where Santorum's books used to be.

When I used to go to Wal-Mart, I'd take "Doctor" Laura's books and put them in the "Feminine Hygiene" section next to the stuff that's supposed to make you feel "fresh as a summer's day." That would be a good place for Santorum's books. Or maybe next to the dogfood.

Remember, it's not theft because it's not leaving the store. It's not vandalism, because you're not damaging anything.

And you're not suppressing free speech, you're expressing it-- especially if you're creative and ironic about where you re-locate the books. And don't "hide" them in the trash. Don't "hide" them in the bathroom or someplace where books don't really belong.

I don't believe it's illegal, but it's certainly annoying, and they'd be within their rights to throw you out of the store if they catch you.

So, have some fun Spreading Santorum around the store.

[pointblank]

7. I have done this many times. at Target or Wal-Mart..

with Hannity's, O'Reilly's, Coulter's Savage's etc....

I usually just turn them around and put them all on the bottom shelves or something...I have never moved them to other departments...hmmmm maybe I will put Santorum's books in the birth control section....