My Obama supporter experience

[dropkickpa]

Saturday March 15th, Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day parade

Me and Dropkid got to downtown at about 10am, right before the parade was set to start. A LOT of Obama supporters showed up where we had planted ourselves after we got there. During the course of the parade, my 7 year old daughter was shoved, pushed, stepped on, hit in the head, yelled at, and knocked down. By Obama supporters. I got into 2 separate serious verbal confrontations (one which I thought might come to blows) when I asked them to "Watch what you're doing! There's a lot of kids here and they're getting trampled." My daughter has a huge bruise on the top of one foot where she was stomped and both her knees and elbows are scraped up and bruised. This is not even condidering the number of elbows I took to the head and other body parts and the papercut from a sign I got on the back of my neck.

I was called a fucking bitch. I was called worse. In front of, not only my child, but the hundreds of families on the street.

The supporters were unruly, constantly encroaching on the parade route to zealously wave their signs (at the Dalmation club of pittsburgh?!?? Do spotted dogs have a preference?) so that police and parade workers had to constantly tell them to step back so the marchers and vehicles could make it through. They shoved their way in front of young kids so they could line the route.

It was bad enough that we moved to a different spot, away from the spot where'd we'd

If Obama can inspire this sort of zealotry where common human decency and manners are forgotten, I don't want him. We've had 8 years of people who support their candidate with this level of religiousity, and I'm sick of it.

[GarbagemanLB]

1. Great reason to not support a candidate.

[Hoof Hearted]

160. Between IRL experience and this board, I'd say it's a great reason.

The Obama supporters at a coffeehouse talk I went to that Chelsea gave were intolerable assholes that had to be removed.

It's an pattern.


Obama's caucus wins aided by 'disruption'?

<snip>
The memo was written by a University of North Carolina professor emerita of anthropology, who served as a volunteer Clinton precinct committee officer in the Washington state caucuses last month. It warned other volunteer organizers about so-called "strategies" alleged to have been observed by herself and by Clinton volunteers in Iowa and Nevada. The volunteer, in a phone conversation I had with her, asked that her name not be used. Granted, these events were "observed" weeks ago, but are still worth considering. Here are the relevant parts of the memo:

"1. Individuals arriving all at once in large groups can disrupt the caucus by making it difficult to keep track of sign-in sheets, among other things. It created crowding in one caucus site that I am aware of and there weren't enough chairs for people to use. Other behaviors that can make it difficult for the caucus to run smoothly are deliberate disruptions with things like chanting, sign waving, dancing or singing. The Precinct Chair (or Caucus Chair) will need to insist on order.

"2. Individuals may arrive who are not registered to vote in a particular precinct with the story that 'they just moved there.' Some places where this has been observed, the person really didn't fit the picture of somebody who had 'just moved into' the precinct. They were allowed to register to vote and to caucus. (I do not know whether this individual's vote has been certified or not.) Bottom line: know your precinct demographics and make note of individuals who are registering to vote on site. (If they are so excited about participating, why haven't they registered before.)<snip>



http://www.eagletribune.com/puopinion/local_story_074062506.html?keyword=secondarystory

[zanne]

2. I have been to many Obama rallies...

And I have never encountered any rude people. As a matter of fact, I walk with a cane and people always went out of their way to help me out. You just ran into a bad crowd, so please don't try to paint all of Obama's supporters as rude "zealots". They aren't.

[jlake]

11. At the Obama rallies they are not interacting with Hilly supporters and the general public.

[rug]

3. I had a similar experience in Scranton Saturday.

But there were way fewer Obama supporters.

[Arugula Latte]

4. Riiiiiight. I'm sure ALL the rude supporters were for Obama, and

ALL the Clinton supporters were behaving like Victorian ladies at a tea party.

[ronnykmarshall]

23. Lemon or cream?

[dropkickpa]

24. I didn't run into many HRC supporters.

I had several very unpleasant run-ins with Obama supporters.

[Blue-Jay]

5. OMG! My car was keyed by an Obama supporter!

Well.... I can't say for a fact that it was an Obama supporter, but since they're the only type of people who would act like that, I can safely assume it's so.

:rofl:

[dropkickpa]

25. The whole Obama signs and placards, stickers, and pins

were a clue, along with them shouting Obama.

[rug]

30. Lol

[Blue-Jay]

64. "Lol" indeed.

:rofl:

[JVS]

81. Kucinich supporters burned down my house, kicked my grandma in her teeth, and raided a daycare

When I asked them to "Watch what you're doing! There's a lot of kids here and they're getting trampled.", which isn't a question at all, they punched me in the face.

[democrattotheend]

6. All candidates have overly zealous supporters

Clinton has many right on this forum, who see fit to constantly insult Obama supporters and act like 3-year-olds.

I am sorry this happened, but you can't judge Obama by a few overzealous volunteers.

[CreekDog]

7. I think you are confused, those were LaRouche supporters

:think:

[rodeodance]

133. STOP it--this is a serious --for chists sake-use your brain!

CreekDog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Mon Mar-17-08 10:35 AM
Response to Original message
7. I think you are confused, those were LaRouche supporters

:think:

[CreekDog]

138. i'm talking about you...i'm talking about you

:evilgrin:

[cooolandrew]

I'll take youat your word but a few HRC supporters are not up for sainthood either.

[Clovis Sangrail]

8. you went to a parade and expected something different?

0.0

I'd say you have a better than 50/50 chance of that stuff happening anytime you're in tight packed crowd.

[dropkickpa]

29. I've been going to the St. Paddy parade here for

over 15 years, never experienced this type of thing before. I stand in the exact same spot every year and know many of the people around me just from the parade. Anytime in the past that I or my child has been jostled, people generally will say "I'm sorry." Didn't happen this year, even after repeated requests made by me to please watch out for the kids.

[Clovis Sangrail]

114. maybe you answered your own question

over 15 years, never experienced this type of thing before. I stand in the exact same spot every year and know many of the people around me just from the parade

did you know the Obama supporters as well?
I know I more often get ticked off at people I don't know than those I do.
People who know me generally know what buttons not to push on me, and I on them.

:shrug:

It's also what your expecting from people.
I live around a bunch of SFRs and expect them to act a certain way... consequently I see them acting that way all the time.

[sniffa]

9. .

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[YOY]

13. Sounds a bit right to me

n/t

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cali]

42. Ended up moving? Gee, maybe you should have immediately

removed your child from the situation where she was getting hurt. And you cast aspersions on yourself with your own account. As a parent it's reprehensible to endanger your child.

[cliffordu]

67. It's obvious to me that there is some child abuse going on,

and not from the crowd, either. Who would subject their CHILD to what amounts to a beating so they could go to a fucking PARADE??? :puke:

[Name removed]

130. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[qnr]

139. Amazing. So parades are off-limits to children these days? n/t

[Abacus]

79. I had the same question, honestly

I'm a parent too and find your story either difficult to believe or worrisome. The people in my city aren't particularly kind or polite, but they don't just throw "fucking bitch" around; I think you're either omitting, exaggerating, or live in the least hospitable city I've ever heard of.

[doyourealize1]

86. That's pretty sick

To call someone a bad parent for taking a child to a parade. Take a step back and start looking at the perpetrators rather than the victims whether the supporter is the HRC or Obama follower

[WolverineDG]

115. Taking a child to a parade isn't the problem

leaving said child in that situation where she is getting physically abused without resorting to law enforcement the OP states was there IS bad parenting.

dg

[moriah]

88. And if it'd been HRC supporters...

... I somehow can't see you getting all outraged at the parent for daring to attempt to allow their kids to enjoy the St. Patrick's day parade they've likely enjoyed all their lives from the traditional place.

You'd have come down harshly on those horrible nasty supporters of Sata... er, HRC.

It likely doesn't take long for a kid in a crowd that's acting like a mob long to get scrapes, bruises, stepped on. It sounds like one person nearly trampled her child and stepped on them, another person knocked them down. So you're going to condemn the poster for one injury, her trying to ask people to watch out, them calling her a fucking bitch, another injury to her child, and then her leaving and finding a safer place for her child to try to enjoy the parade despite her bruises?

Give me a break here. It doesn't matter if they were supporters of HRC, BHO (would rather use the H than seem like I'm calling a candidate of my party body odor), JSM, the Rams, the Saints, God, or Satan, they behaved badly and hurt children that SHOULD be able to enjoy an event like a St. Patrick's Day Parade without getting hurt. It's not like this poster was taking her child into a mosh pit at a concert. I'm sure if they had been brandishing signage indicating another affiliation she'd have posted about those horrible nasty ____ supporters in appropriate places -- DU is an appropriate place to discuss politics.

You don't help your candidate by this kind of juvenile ad hominem attacks on people.

[sniffa]

89. I think she would have actually

especially if it was a lie like this story.

[doyourealize1]

92. Continue to be blinded

It just so happens that Obama supporters in this thread thinks that this post is a lie. Then again, these same posters seem to be saying that it's the parent's fault in this supposedly falsified story. Something doesn't add up here.

Plain and simple, just as the previous poster mentioned. Deflecting the blame on the parent, especially when it takes a freaking couple of seconds for a child to get hurt, is downright irresponsible.

Politics is politics, and it's debatable whether the OP is attributing zealotry to all of Obama's supporters, but at least have a little self decency before you criticize a parent who bemoans a child getting hurt.

[sniffa]

93. Doesn't matter. Bingogate is going to bury this story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5122289

[moriah]

94. Are you simply incapable...

... of believing that a few people who happen to support the same candidate as you can do no wrong??

... of believing that a person might actually tell what they see as the truth on a board when it just so happens to reflect badly on a few people who support your candidate, and therefore must deny the person's account, mock it, and support another supporter of your candidate's ad hominem attack on the OP's parenting??

Really, it's that kind of thing that adds to the impression of supporters of your candidate being "zealots".

[sniffa]

98. No, I just don't believe bouncy stories

especially when they're over the top bouncy. If you want a lie to get by, you have to work a little harder to not make it such an obvious lie.

[Cha]

116. lol...I think you outbounced

the op.

[sniffa]

118. Make it bounce

[sniffa]

128. But not by much

;)

And that was just done on the fly. I usually like to really invest in my threads, but this one just screamed for a rapid response so I just banged one out.

[Cha]

131. Rapid Response! Glad you did..

it makes it so much more palatable. I alerted his dropkickass and probably wasn't the only one on that post 'cause I see it's gone.

[cali]

109. Quite wrong. I'd have the same reaction

if I read this story from an Obama supporter about Clinton supporters. Most people here know I'm not shy about telling Obama supporters that I think they're full of it when I do. And sorry, to me, as a parent, I know damned well what I would have done had I been in a crowd where my child was repeatedly being pushed, shoved and stomped on. You know, according to the OP the injuries suffered by her kid, must have been bleeding. Scrapes do that you know. Who the fuck would stay at a parade with their kid in that kind of shape.

[moriah]

119. I apologize, then, for my assumption, Cali.

From looking at the OP's responses and trying to gather what she says occurred, it seems her story is it was something like this:

They attend this particular parade every year, her kid really enjoys the parade. The area where they usually observe is relatively quiet and peaceful for people watching a parade -- not an area where the drunks and more rowdy people usually hang out, although she says the area where the alchies hang out is rowdy but not that rowdy -- and she also said SHE wasn't one of the drunks.

This year was apparently different. From what she said this was the parade in Philadelphia that HRC was in. Some Obama supporters had come to show their support for their candidate. They had chosen the same area that the OP and her family usually watch from.

She said herself that HRC's presence might have been what contributed to some of the conflict. It might have even been when HRC was supposed to be coming near that particular streetcorner -- I don't know if that was the case or not, I don't think the OP said where HRC was in the parade. It sounds like the Obama supporters were trying to move where they could see or be seen better. They might have been looking more toward the street and not seen a short child. Her kid got pushed by people who probably weren't paying attention to shorter people, fell down. She says at first she attributed it to just jostling, and says her kid did NOT want to leave that area because along with the Obama supporters, there were the people she knew and hung out with every St. Patrick's Day there. She said her kid was not crying and is a tough did, that she said ouch, but was not being forced to be there by any stretch of the imagination. That when they were jostled/pushed/ran into they did move a bit each time trying to get out of the way but not abandon their usual watching place.

Then a supporter stepped hard (or "stomped") on her kid's foot. Again, it likely was an accident. It pissed her off, though, and she got more vehement than her previous "Hey, my kid's here, please be careful of her". The person, who I assume was wearing/carrying something indicating her support for Obama, accused her of screaming at her (sounds like Dropkickpa was pretty vehement), called her a fucking bitch, and didn't seem to understand that her outrage was for her child being hurt, or didn't seem to care. Dropkick then moved her kid out of the area despite her kid "protesting the whole way".

It sounds like Dropkick was much more upset about what happened than Dropkid was, and that Dropkid didn't really care about the injuries, she wanted to have fun at the parade she enjoyed. Most parents will be very upset if their kid is injured, especially by someone being careless who didn't even seem to show regret for what happened when it was pointed out to her. A lot of kids blow off small injuries, and if until the stomping all it was was scraped elbows and knees, well, kids playing get scraped knees and elbows all the time, they usually see it as not as important as getting to have their fun.

It also sounds like the person who really pissed her off was the one who stepped hard on Dropkid's foot, didn't even apologize, and called her a fucking bitch for defending her child. And that the anger at that and her child's injuries is what prompted her post, and her anger was what caused her to generalize about Obama supporter "zealotry".

I'm not sure if the OP will agree with the way I've summarized it here, but she's been attacked several times and while I may not be a parent, it bothers me when other people attack people's parenting skills. Perhaps this is because I've spent a lot of time with other people's kids, I have two goddaughters, and I remember my own accident-prone childhood (and adulthood, but this is about kids). No parent is perfect, and expecting perfection out of parents instead of honest effort to try to protect and help their kids doesn't help the situation even when, actually especially when, real abuse or neglect is going on. Kids fall down. A skinned knee, skinned elbows, those things happen, it pissed the OP off that it was caused by inconsiderate adults, but she tried to maneuver out of their way without relinquishing her family's right to be on the same street during a public event. Not being overprotective (not saying you are, or that getting a bleeding kid out of a situation is being overprotective, but you know the "helicopter parents" that are out there who want to protect Little Johnny from ever experiencing the slightest amount of pain and judge the people who don't act the same way as deficient parents) isn't being neglectful or abusive or being a bad parent.

When the line was crossed between ordinary carelessness and callousness, she overrode her daughter's desire to be there and took her to a different street altogether to watch the parade. She made a judgement call, and she admits she's not a perfect parent, but I don't think she was a neglectful parent. Or that DHS needs to be called like another poster suggested. Likely part of the reason DHS is not able to address REAL abuse in kids is that they keep getting the reports of BS and can't weed all of them out or give the needed attention to the really abused and neglected kids because they're required to investigate all reports.

It also pisses me off that people immediately assume someone is lying -- this wasn't really you, but several other people in the thread. It looks like DropKick has been on here for awhile, they've got a high post count, and you'd think if they were ordinarily a liar or a shit-stirrer all the time that it'd be already known since they've had ample posts to demonstrate it in. I'm new, I'm willing to tolerate it if I post something and people don't believe it since I *haven't* yet demonstrated to the community my character so much as the OP here has. But troll and liar are thrown around a lot, and if they're misused they lose their power.

Yeah, the way I try to summarize and interpret what was said doesn't come across as "bouncy" as the OP might have in her first post, but to me it sounds like she was pissed off at people who hurt her kid. People are known to get a bit dramatic when people hurt their kids. And when people call them a fucking bitch after they point out that the person hurt their kid. But immediately assuming a prolific poster must be lying unless they've previously demonstrated it just because they seem angry about what happened just doesn't sound right to me.

Sorry for the long-winded post. And again, I apologize for assuming and misjudging you, Cali. I am new here, I don't know all of you all that well. I only found DU when this primary got going, and I don't spend as much time on here as many others. I drop in and with all of the activity on GD:P I only read a snippet of what all gets posted here. I am sorry for making assumptions about you, who have also been a prolific poster, without looking at your history.

Take care of you, have a great one....

[dropkickpa]

164. You've pretty much got it right

Thank you.

[rodeodance]

134. This is a personal attack on a DU member!!

[Terran]

12. This would be the dumbest post of the day

regardless of which candidate's supporters it was about. A complete waste of bandwidth, and I blame you for tempting me to even respond to this bullshit.

[dropkickpa]

33. Then don't read it.

I hadn't encountered any supporters of either dem candidate until this point, being in Pennsylvania and ignored until we suddenly mattered.

I am telling the complete and honest truth, and if you don't like it, tough shit.

[rug]

40. You know, I was wondering why things were quiet in GDP Saturday.

Now I know where they went.

Sorry you had a bad experience there.

[Terran]

69. Oh I'm not doubting you believe what you wrote...

But don't you see how utterly vacuous your post is? Not voting for a candidate because you had a bad experience with some people who support that candidate? Your vote is a waste of time if that's your mindset, no matter who you vote for.

[LibraLiz1973]

103. Um.. yeah. About that. You might want to keep any truth about Obama's nutballs

to yourself. No one on this board wants to hear it. They are to rabid.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience- and more sorry that your poor child got pushed around.
There is NO excuse.

[peace13]

14. I am sorry for your child if this really happened.

It must have been frightening and it sounds like you didn't keep her safe. I have never seen an Obama supporter that acted the way you describe.

[uponit7771]

15. How do you know they were ALL Obama Supporters?! Thank you in advance

[TexasLady]

26. that is what I was wondering.

were they wearing pins?

[dropkickpa]

36. The signs, placards, buttons, stickers and shouts of "Obama"

were a clue.

[The Night Owl]

16. Oops! Double post. {EOM}

[moobu2]

17. This is what a populist candidate rally usually looks like

When they’re confronted with people who do not support that candidate. They can become very emotional and irrational and worse etc...

[The Night Owl]

18. I have come to the realization that many of Barack Obama's supporters are loyalists...

I have come to the realization that many of Barack Obama's supporters are loyalists who see their candidate as a political strongman even though he, to his credit, has not aspired to be that.

[dionysus]

19. cough *BULLSHIT* cough... PARLOCK ALERT

parlock is that you?
:rofl:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

75. I think I found a photo of the OP at that parade

[dionysus]

80. ROFL

yes!

[proud2BlibKansan]

163. My thoughts exactly

:rofl:

Who would ever have guessed that Mr Parlock was a DUer?

[txaslftist]

20. Why did you keep your 7 year old there?

After the first time she got whacked or elbowed or whatever...

What were you thinking?

[cali]

21. no kidding. And a 7 year old child who is as beat up as the OP

claims is crying while he/she is being hit and pushed to the ground and shoved. This does not have the ring of truth.

[txaslftist]

22. If it IS true, DHS needs to be involved.

Get this poster some parenting classes or something. Participation at a political event is no excuse for endangering your child.

[dropkickpa]

43. The St. Patrick's Day parade is NOT a political event

And it has NEVER been like this in the 15 years I have been attending and standing on this particular street corner.

[dropkickpa]

44. No, she wasn't crying

She said Ow! but that was mostly it. She's a tough kid and didn't want to move away from her friends that were also around us.

[Nia Zuri]

47. Don't forget stomped..

Reminds me of my son when he doesn't want to go to shcool. He doesn't know when to stop. "i have a headache and my leg hurts and I have a tummy ache and my neck hurts....

[dropkickpa]

37. We stayed because the first couple of times

I put it down to the regular jostling one gets in a crowded situation. We moved after it escalated.

[LisaM]

27. Why are you criticizing the OP for taking her kid to a St. Pat's parade?

I understand that the Obama supporters may have wanted to locate where their signs would show on television, but what kind of person would show up at a parade and stand in front of a seven-year old? The only people who I think should be in front of seven-year old are maybe four and five year olds, and people in wheelchairs. Shorter people go in front. This is how parades work.

The purpose of the day was obviously to celebrate St. Patrick's day, not to campaign for Barack Obama. I fully understand that parades and politicking go together, but you mingle with the crowd, you don't block someone's view of the parade.

I am not very tall and I DETEST when taller people block me at events. When Howard Dean came to Seattle in 2004, I spent half the time looking at someone's shoulder and finally had to ask the person to stand behind me.

[cali]

34. You don't see anything wrong with a parent staying at an event

where their 7 year old child is being repeatedly pushed, shoved to the ground and hit? As a parent, I see a lot wrong with that. If that had been my child, I would have left the area immediately with my kid in my arms, the first time he got shoved to the ground or hit. Not allowed it to happen again and again, as the OP claims happened. And then I would have called the cops.

This story reeks of bullshit.

[LisaM]

41. I see a problem with pushy people at parades

And it's not easy to work your way out of a crowd going the other way.

I like you, Cali, but I think you are in a bit of denial about the way Obama supporters act. I actually don't think it's BS, because (and don't take this personally) of the epithet thrown at her for trying to see the parade. I know the "F" word has come into popular usage, but I have seen thrown around here a LOT by Obama supporters.

[dropkickpa]

48. We did move

We kept scootching down the road to get away from it, but it was pretty unavoidable all along this particular area. I finally made Dropkid move (she did not want to move as many of her friends and people we know stand in that area) to a completely different street to get away from, with her protesting the whole way. You do not know my child, so don't presume to know exactly what was going on with her. She did not want to move from that spot, and she is an extremely tough and stubborn kid. I'd finally had enough when I yelled at the woman who stomped her foot to fucking watch it there's kids and SHE proceeded to scream "I'm fucking sorry but there's no need for you to be screaming at me like that! Fucking bitch!"

I'l spare you the rest of the "conversation", it was unpleasant to say the least.

[cap hill]

167. You reek of self-righteousness!

Get a grip, bama.

[Voice for Peace]

28. RW Plants?

[backscatter712]

35. Very likely. I smell bullshit from the OP.

[dropkickpa]

51. Doubt it

Seriously doubt it.

And it's not bullshit, but think what you want.

[moriah]

96. But OP is a +1000 poster!

I could understand if you would have thought something like that if I'd been the one to post the OP's post considering my low post count, but perhaps before you or the many others accuse this person of lying, maybe you could check their post history to see if they have a tendency towards it in their past posts?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

32. Let's see the police report.

:shrug:

[sniffa]

46. Good point

http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/police/

[dropkickpa]

50. I didn't report it to the police

But if I had, I am sure I'd have people saying all kinds of shit about me trying to stifle political expression and calling in big brother, yadda yadda yadda. The situation didn't warrant police involvement.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

53. In that case I don't believe you.

Some Obama supporters assault your young daughter, and you use it as a broad brush against all Obama supporters, but you didn't call the cops?

Pure bullshit.

[dropkickpa]

60. BAH

You are way off base. I made NO broad brush statement about Obama supporters. I relayed my experience Saturday about my first encounter with Obama supporters here in Pittsburgh.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

77. "My Obama Supporter Experience"

See, dropkick, you've got a very wide credibility gap.

[dropkickpa]

84. My experience has been limited to the people I encountered

At the parade. I'm in PA, all of the candidates have ignored us until the past week or so.

[cap hill]

168. How's your second encounter going?

Are the O'Bamas making a good impression yet?

[alcibiades_mystery]

166. I'd settle for a picture of the "bruised foot"

:-)

Picture or it didn't happen!!!

:rofl:

[zulchzulu]

38. I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but you seem to fail to mention...

...what you were doing to get people to be pissed off at you?

I don't understand how the parade could be so rowdy and that your daughter was pushed and shoved. What were you doing there if the crowd started getting so unruly? If I had my daughter in such a situation, we would have gotten the hell out of there if only because that's what a responsible parent should do in that situation.

Where you really drunk or something?

As for trying to tag Obama supporters as some kind of brownshirts, I have been to rallies where thousands of Obama supporters were absolutely respectful and law-abiding.

Where you waving any signs at people?

[dropkickpa]

59. Dead fucking sober

I did nothing, we were watching the parade and people behind us kept waving signs and shoving. When I'd ask them to please be careful THEY would become confrontational and downright rude.

This is NOT what the parade is like normally. I have NEVER experienced this, even down at Market Square (where a lot of the drinking goes on). My daughter likes to go down there because a lot of the pipers will gather there after the parade and play in one particualr out of the way spot. And, while rowdy and loud, I've never experienced the sort of thing I experienced this year along the parade route. Generally, people have always been very solicitous of the people with children. And I deliberately choose a spot on the parade route that is very far away from Market Square to avoid craziness from those drinking.

Going to an Obama rally is NOT the same as going to a public parade that is 139 years old (1/4 millon people attended at low estimates). HRC did march in this parade, which may have something to do with the frezied air.

[AGirl]

39. I am sorry about what happened , and i am sorry you have to read the disgusting comments on here.

I hope your child will be okay.

[dropkickpa]

61. She's fine

She's a real tough kid, I almost wish she had made more of a fuss, then i could have been that super-parent I apparently am not. Her answer to me the majority of the time when I asked her if she was okay was "I'm fine, I want to stay here."

[greguganus]

45. **BREAKING** Hillary pays her minions to carry Obama signs and stomp on small kids! n/t

[George_Bonanza]

49. Didn't a Hillary supporter once STAB an Obama supporter?

[rug]

65. Yes, after the Obama supporter started choking him.

[Texas Hill Country]

52. i am not shocked. i have seen the same thing locally.

[stratomagi]

54. Ugh..

flame alert.

[goletian]

55. it was that dangerous and you didnt get your kid out of there? good job!! - nt

[goletian]

56. it was that dangerous and you didnt get your kid out of there? good job!! - nt

[GarbagemanLB]

57. AN OBAMA SUPPORTER KILLED MY BROTHER.

:rofl:

[Hepburn]

58. What total bullshit....and I will tell you why.

Unless you wish to admit that you are a negligent parent, this crap did not take place as set forth in the OP.

You have an absolute duty by law to protect your minor child from this kind of violence and abuse as you allege. She was physically injured according to you. So...you stayed there? Let it happen to your minor child? You moved her where to protect her?

What the hell does that say about YOU if this story is true???

One way or another you outed yourself: Either as an unfit parent or a liar.

Take your choice....:puke:

[dropkickpa]

63. Whatever

As I stated previously, a lot of it I put down, at first, as regular crowd jostling. Believe what you will.

[Hepburn]

68. So....

...what did you do to protect your child when this moved on from a "regular" crowd??? From your OP, the facts support that you stayed and thereby allowed your child to be injured.

As I said, either you are lying as to what went on...or you are a negligent parent.

Which label fits?

I litigated enough child custody cases to catch the bullshit in this argument from when I opened you OP. You have a duty to protect your child under the law. Did you do that ... or as you stated is she bruised and battered because you failed to remove her from the danger? Did you leave to protect her...or are you lying about what took place?

I used to see the same kind of bullcrap made up in divorce cases all the time: One parent alleges to get an advantage that the other parent during the marriage abused the kids...and the question on that is: What did you do to stop the abuse and protect the child...or are you lying about what went on?

I have seen enough of this disgusting bullshit to fill a lifetime and I smell the lie in your OP...unless you are admitting that you did nothing to protect your child and she was injured once you realized this was not a "regular" crowd.

So which is it?

:eyes:

Edit for typo

[rug]

71. You think this is abuse and you litigated abuse cases? I smell bullshit.

Allow me to introduce you to my malpractice lawyer.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

76. Is this you guys at the parade today, dropkickpa

[mrreowwr_kittty]

73. You beat me to it! I just posted the same thing down below.

Either the OP is lying or should have his/her child taken away by CPS.

[stratomagi]

62. Could it have been YOU actually did something to provoke these people

I'm imagining a scenario where you tried to shove through a bunch of people with your child in tow and were pissing people off. You strike me as the type of person that has limited ability in social situations and may even be a sociopath. I mean you can't even understand that its not a good idea to take your kid through packed crowds. I've been to downtown PGH for events and sometimes the crowds get stifling and obnoxious even for me. You strike me as someone that overreacts to situations and make excuses for your own behavior while proclaiming you're the victim.

Grow up.

[LanternWaste]

66. Pretty much the same thing happened to me...

Pretty much the same thing happened to me at a lot of concerts, sporting events, school hallways and block parties... in fact, it happens just about every time I'm in a large crowd of people from diverse backgrounds.

Makes me think it's because we're in a large crowd of people, rather than because we're in a large crowd of Obama supporters.

(Post hoc ergo prompter hoc...)

[Blue-Jay]

70. An øbama ønce bit my sister

Mynd yøu, øbama bites Kan be pretty nasti.

[csorman]

82. .HAHAHAHAAA!

That made me bust a gut - thanks!

[JVS]

83. !

:rofl:

[moriah]

122. Good one!

No, seriously... good one...

[mrreowwr_kittty]

72. Let me get this straight: Your child was shoved, pushed, stepped on, hit in the head, yelled at,

And knocked down. Throughout the course of an entire parade. Rather than getting away from, and alerting the authorities on, these supposedly violent people who were assualting your child, you chose to remain in place. Was it that important to you to get a good view of those Dalmatians?

Smells like bullshit. Either that, or you are a REALLY bad parent.

[Catherina]

74. Ditto . Smells like bullshit

[Blue-Jay]

78. No way!

[sniffa]

87. Bingogate is much worse than this "alleged" incident

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5122289

[greguganus]

136. CALL FUCKING SOCIAL SERVICES IN PITTSBURG NOW!!

This child is in danger! If someone can get me her name and address we can get Social Services to save this child!! This poster is spending too much time posting bullshit on the internet when they should protecting their child!! Im series!! This is hugh!!

[rug]

141. In PA it's called CnY. You, on the other hand, need to be 302ed.

[Ysabel]

85. darn typos please subtract one rec that was a mistake / typo... (n/t)

[angie_love]

90. Its Fucking St. PATRICKS DAY LADY!!

why would you take your 7 year old child to a parade filled with drunken irish males? I wouldn't even go there, I wouldn't feel safe. I think its very irresponsible for you to take a child there!

[alcibiades_mystery]

91. Your OP is pretty obviously a lie, and

you're pretty obviously a liar.

What a despicable thing to do.

[moriah]

99. More people who insist...

.... that other supporters of their candidate can do no wrong, that no person who supports their candidate could ever be rude, impolite, pushy, or shovey.

I could understand all of this insistence to believe that she MUST be lying if she didn't have enough posts on her account for you to judge her reputation from, but has this poster happened to display a propensity toward what would be troll-like behavior in the past?

No?

Then why do you HAVE to believe that they must be lying now?

Again, like I said to another poster who insists that the OP must be lying, this whole belief that no supporter of Obama could do wrong really does add to the "zealot" perception....

[alcibiades_mystery]

112. As far as I'm concerned, supporters of Obama can and probably do commit all

manner of crimes and depredations. I have no trouble admitting that supporters of Obama could act badly in any number of situations. You got me wrong on that.

I don't believe the OP because she is a partisan hack, a fanatical Clintonite, and because her story is preposterous in anything like ordinary experience. The person is a liar and - quite frankly - an asshole.

[moriah]

146. Looks like I also owe you an apology then Alcibi....

I'm assuming (and I really need to be careful with that whole assuming thing, it does make an ass out of me) that you say she is a partisan hack and a fanatical Clintonite based on her lengthy posting history?

I have a tendency to give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to what they say happened to them. I wasn't there with her, I can't prove her wrong. I don't know the people on this board well, when I see a person with a long posting history I tend to believe they're an established person and not what most people would call a "troll". (And my post to you was more in frustration because so many people had immediately accused this person of lying and I couldn't see much motivation to support it except the really bad bitterness and suspicion that I see between the supporters of our two candidates.) Even when there is another person who says they witnessed an event and directly contradicts what another person said, there are the two stories and the the truth, which is usually a mixture of the two stories.

I don't see how it's preposterous to believe that excited supporters of one candidate might attend an event where their candidate's opponent was, want to see better and possibly to be seen better by the media, and jostle people around, more excited about their candidate and their candidate's rival's appearance than cautious about bumping into little people in the crowd. I can see people not paying attention to a kid if they were looking at the parade itself and trying to get a better view/make a better statement about their support of their own candidate to any media/people who were paying attention. I can see a kid, who is lighter, being knocked down by jostling that would only bump an adult around. I can see people who are intensely excited (not zealotlike, just excited) about what's going on being more frustrated about a little kid in their way when they realized they had bumped into them hard or knocked them down accidentally than concerned about a kid who wasn't crying and had gotten scraped up like lots of kids do on the playground. I can see a parent being frustrated by what is happening but not feel like they had to carry their kid out right then.

I can also see a person who was trying to get a good look/get seen better who didn't notice the kid stepping on a kid's foot, and I can even see them being heavier or stepping with more force because of the excitement -- perhaps that adult had gotten jostled by someone else behind her and was only trying to keep their balance to keep from falling, and happened to step on the kid's foot with more force because they were off-balance? I can see a mother who has been frustrated that her kid was getting banged around and then finally stepped on hard, and losing it a bit by "screaming" (as she said the person accused her of doing) about them "stomping" on her child's foot. And if I were a fired-up supporter in a crowd, perhaps caught up by the crowd's excitement/possible negativity since it was the rival candidate who was to be appearing, got pushed from behind, tried to keep my balance, and accidentally stepping on a kid's foot, then getting "screamed" at, that I might be less concerned with the kid's well-being and less inclined to apologize, and perhaps even call the person a fucking bitch if I was upset.

I can also easily see how if I were the OP in this situation that she describes that I would be really pissed off, and might decide to vent about being pissed off on a forum where politics is discussed since the OP says the people were political supporters. And would probably come across more dramatic than it actually was, be more likely to attribute malice to what may very well have been accidental (but was still careless and impolite and rude). I could see letting my anger at the rude unapologetic person who trampled my child's foot reflect on everyone there who was bumping into me and my kid, and perhaps even make broad generalizations.

It just doesn't seem all that preposterous to me. Maybe her anger made it seem more dramatic than what her later posts seem to clarify about the situation, but I don't see the whole story as a lie. Then again, perhaps I'm too trusting.

[dropkickpa]

165. Seriously? Proof?

I'm no fan of HRC, my horse didn't run in this race, much to my dismay. I still haven't decided whether to vote in the primary at all.

[tammywammy]

95. ....

[sniffa]

100. Hey, quit stealing my lines

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5120659#5120904

:eyes:























:rofl:

[tammywammy]

102. I couldn't help myself

And this was the perfect thread to use the bouncy ball.

;)

[sniffa]

104. True, unlike the Bingogate story which is going to derail the already

dead in the water Clinton campaign. :D

[tammywammy]

105. Agreed

You have to watch those Hillary supporters, they're dangerous with those pins.

[sniffa]

106. Yes they are

[tammywammy]

107. I've given up bingo until after the nominee is decided

[sniffa]

108. I IZ DRIVIN REEL SLO IN FRONT OF U WIT MY BLINKER ON

TO TEH POLLZ TO VOTE 4 HILLARY.

LOLZ KTHNXBAI

[tammywammy]

111. ...

[stillcool]

97. Ah. So this is what that whole...

Pennsylvania "demographic" is all about.

[JoFerret]

101. Sorry you had this thuggish experience

Sometimes people do get overexcited. They do on DU too. And sometimes say the most dreadfully hurtful and ugly things

[B2G]

110. Denver's gonna be a hoot

Seriously, it could be ugly.

[WolverineDG]

113. Why didn't you call the cops?

if they were right there, telling these folks to get out of the way, you could have made an injury to a child complaint right then & there & put an end to it without having to move.

dg

[RetroLounge]

117. What a bunch of fucking assholes...

including the asshats that are attacking you in this thread.

Unbelieveable that you are being questioned as a mother and called a liar by these zealots here.

OmabaUnderground indeed.

Fuck all y'all

RL

[bicentennial_baby]

120. What is unbelievable is that...

you actually believe this story. Oh well. :(

[RetroLounge]

121. deleted

deleted.

fuck it...

RL

[rug]

124. You were right before you deleted it, RL.

:thumbsup:

You're 100% correct.

[RetroLounge]

125. Maybe

but losing friends over this bullshit isn't worth it.

RL

[sniffa]

126. I'm sorry Ignored believes this story

:hug:

You should probably add whomever it is to Ignore too.

[xmas74]

153. You're right-

it is the Obama Underground.

A few months' back I could have a great conversation with nearly anyone here. Now, I'm on most ignore lists.

It's sad what has happened to this place.

[mentalsolstice]

123. When I voted on Super Tuesday, I had a bad experience.

My fibromyalgia was really flared up, and I was waking on a cane, very painfully (I'm 47 years old and I also have mild cerebral palsy). I didn't have on anything that would indicate my voting preference. I entered my precinct at least 30+ seconds before a couple, who had on their Obama buttons, and their 5 kids with them. They actually "raced" me (as in pushed me out of the way) to the check-in table, and then with all the kids, at least 2 of them were under 3 y.o., it took 5-10 minutes to get them to come up with their IDs and sign in, while I stood there with ID in hand.

Yeah, well, guess who I voted for. Not Obama!

However, after today, I've decided the real deal is David Paterson.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

140. I would have let you go first.

<--- Obama supporter :hi:

[EmilyAnne]

143. I'm sorry that happened to you. Its a shame. Its great to see so many people who are that excited

to be voting, but they need to have some respect. I can't imagine Barack Obama physically pushing anyone and I'm certain he would be ashamed of such behavior. Those poor children are being taught to behave in such a disrespectful way. I'm just so glad that you weren't hurt.

[moriah]

150. Yuck! Sorry that happened to you!

I have fibro, not horribly bad yet, and so I can definitely empathize with how it feels on a bad day -- when it's really bad I hurt all over and don't want to be touched at all, let alone pushed. You'd think the cane would have clued them in that you didn't need to be pushed around -- one thing about fibro is that it's an "invisible illness" so it is harder for most people to understand that we're not doing well when we look fine.

I think that a lot of what happened with the OP, and likely in your case, was not true maliciousness but more inconsideration. I'm not sure what time you voted -- I came in just before school let out and so it was VERY quiet, I think there were only maybe 3 other voters at my precinct the entire time it took for me to cast my ballot. They may have been in a hurry, perceived that you would take awhile since you were using a cane, and were more selfish and inconsiderate than truly malicious -- I don't think they had the thought "Oh, let's push this lady with a cane out of the way for the sheer heck of it, it'll be fun!" any more than the people in the OPs story intentionally pushed and shoved her daughter or stomped on her foot.

Still doesn't make YOU feel any better or your experience/perceptions any less valid, but it gives me a little more hope in the decency of mankind. I need all the reasons to make myself have that hope that I can get, especially with the way the world is today....

Hope you have a pain-free today, and tommorow, and heck... let's go for a wish for the whole week! *grin*

Take care of you....

[TZ]

127. FYI

I've had this type of experience at "family freindly" events like First Night (New Years Eve).
Also at sporting events. Hell there was a fist fight among drunks but Skins fans with Philly fans at a game..But that doesn't mean I'm gonna stop being a Skins fan because some of the fans are idiot zealots.

[kikiek]

129. I think it coincides with what is going on here. It is beyond the pale. No wonder Obama is losing

now against McCain. That isn't going to be fixed in November if people keep buying into the disruptor's posts here. And the long time DU'ers who perpetuate it have lost any respect they have earned over the years.

[rodeodance]

132. Your story is Horrible. I am so sorry to hear that Obama supporters treated you and your child like

that. gawd what is going on!!

[kiva]

135. Glad to hear your daughter is OK.

And am amazed by the reaction of some people to this incident. As far as I can tell, those who don't want to believe your account either say that you are a liar or a bad parent, but that even if you told the truth this shouldn't reflect on their candidate. To everyone who says that the behavior of a candidate's supporters shouldn't affect anyone's vote: good luck, you'll need it.

[greguganus]

137. Lmao..look at all the recs this bullshit post got. Obviously from Hillbots. n/t

[Starbucks Anarchist]

142. I'm sorry about your daughter, but you can't generalize people like that.

Like with every group, you're going to find good and bad.

[RBInMaine]

144. Went to an Obama rally of 10,000. VERY few problems.

Except for a few people cutting in line, it was fine. People were overwhelmingly very nice, very courteous. No trouble. Obama, as usual, spoke to the overflow crowd very graciously so as not to disappoint those who couldn't get in. He was awesome. So there.

[NastyRiffraff]

145. My god, I don't believe what I'm reading in this thread!

Calling the OP a bad parent, threatening to report her, even calling her a sociopath? Have you people gone mad in your zeal to "defend" your candidate? And it's not even in defense of your candidate, but of his supporters!

You weren't there. How DARE you judge someone who was in a tight situation, in what should have been a familiar scene, and there seemed to be mob rule by a few? I'm willing to bet that at least some of you who are questioning the OP's parenting skills, even calling it abuse, are pimply faced 15-year olds.

Grow up.

[Name removed]

147. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Der Blaue Engel]

154. GANG is right

This is a longtime trusted poster with many friends at DU. This is the sickest thread I've seen in a long time. DU smells like rancid shit right now thanks to you and your "gang."

[xmas74]

155. Or maybe she has

a child to take care of right now.

Those of us with children post when we have free time, like I'm doing at this moment. My child is in bed and I'm relaxing from a long day at work.

Oh, and good luck filing a BS complaint. Do you really think that'll work? What the heck ever!

[moriah]

157. Agreed....

She did post several posts earlier in the day giving more information that helped me understand better what happened...

Or she might be simply relaxing away from DU. Kiddo in bed, a little time before she's got to go to bed herself.... My man gets a little frustrated with me after I've spent too much time perusing politics boards, he wants me to pay attention to him!

[xmas74]

158. And it's St Paddy's Day.

I don't know if she is Irish (I am-but aren't we all today? And isn't that what's great about the holiday?) but maybe she's relaxing with a drink or two right now. I know I am, hence the nonsense spewing from my fingers tonight!

[xmas74]

148. I've been called a c*nt because of my Hillary

bumpersticker in the back window of my car and it's been done in front of my seven year old child. Why? Because I stated that I liked my candidate and would be supporting her instead of his candidate. (And yes, it was Obama and this altercation occurred in a Walmart parking lot.)

Before I supported Hillary I supported John Edwards. When I stated that to someone at work I was informed that I was racist for supporting him instead of Obama.



Don't you love the unification process? :sarcasm:

And hugs to you for putting up with that in front of your daughter. We can't allow people to speak like that in front of our daughters or else they'll think it's ok all their lives.:pals:

[iris5426]

149. As a fellow Burgh girl...

I was one of the drunkards in Market Square, not along the parade route...but I don't doubt your story...there were Obama and Hillary supporters EVERYWHERE in Market Square, waving signs in everyone's faces and trying to slap stickers on everyone...it's always so crowded there that everyone is pushy, so I can't make a comparison there...but I definitely believe your story...sorry you're getting shit on by others here, I'm sure I'm right behind you since I didn't talk a whole bunch of shit on your OP...

[moriah]

152. Drunk political activists/supporters....

.... I can see how that would have just went swimmingly.....

I can only imagine how many barfights have been started over politics over the years....

Hope you enjoyed St. Paddy's Day!

[zabet]

151. So sorry your experience

at the parade did not go well.
No parent can be blamed for
defending their child.
I also find it hard to believe
the personal attacks thrown at
you for relating a personal
experience.

[walldude]

156. Well thank god you choose your candidate

based on issues and not on the actions of a few assholes. Oh sorry...

[kikiek]

159. I am sure you were trying to say something there. Good try.At any rate it appears

it wouldn't have been relevant anyways. So garbled is good.

[walldude]

161. Yeah well sometimes shit happens. Fixed. But I'm sure

it still wouldn't make a lick of sense anyway.

[Name removed]

162. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.