# So am I the enemy now?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-enemy-now/265739>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 23, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-enemy-now/265739 "2004-09-23T19:49:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-enemy-now/265739/41 "2004-09-27T11:19:23Z")

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> [@sleestak](#):
>
> I imagine that if someone started doing something similar at a Kerry rally they would be detained and charged with the something along the same lines.

Doubtful. Kerry and Edwards have been heckled at speeches, and I don’t recall any arrests.

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**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-enemy-now/265739/42 "2004-09-27T13:51:12Z")

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The Portland Oregonian had a great cartoon on this. [Go to the 8/13 Cartoon.](http://www.oregonlive.com/galleries/news/index.ssf?ohman) .

I think it is dangerous ground when the Secret Service decides to have people arrested for showing support for the “wrong” candidate at rallies. The SS is not Bush’s Gestapo, they’re there to ensure his security. Protecting Mr. Bush from the notion that someone in the nation disagrees with him is not ensuring his security. The Rupublicans are now engaged in a limbo dance to see how low they can go to associate Mr. Kerry with terrorism- from [The Washington Post](http://http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45672-2004Sep23.html)

> [@](#):
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> On Tuesday, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said terrorists “are going to throw everything they can between now and the election to try and elect Kerry.”

> [@](#):
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> The previous day in Warsaw, Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage said terrorists in Iraq “are trying to influence the election against President Bush.”

> [@](#):
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> In March, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told a group of Republicans: “If George Bush loses the election, Osama bin Laden wins the election.”

> [@](#):
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> On Fox News, conservative commentator Ann Coulter said, “It’s unquestionable that Republicans are more likely to prevent the next attack.” Kerry, she said, “will improve the economy in the emergency services and body bag industry.”

The evidence is clear. You support Bush, or you are the enemy and Osama loves you. You come to a rally and don’t support the leader, you’re cuffed and stuffed. There is still time to wake up and give freedom a chance.

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**Author:** ![Somnambulist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Somnambulist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Somnambulist)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-the-enemy-now/265739/43 "2004-09-27T14:42:55Z")

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> [@Scylla](#):
>
> The correct viewpoint is that we are at war with Islamic fundamentalism and terrorists both here and abroad.

Sorry to step in on a point of order but is America actually at war with Islamic fundamentalism? If so, what are the objectives in this war and do both of your main political parties support it?

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