Al Kamen
WashingtonPost: At the Conservative Political Action Conference, which featured Vice President
Cheney as its opening luncheon speaker yesterday, one of the various exhibition
booths hawking paraphernalia had some virulently anti-Muslim vinyl bumper
stickers, for $3.95, including one that said: "No Muslims -- No Terrorism."
Sources said an attendee at the groups 30th annual conference, at the Crystal
City Marriott, called Cheneys office to complain and a Cheney aide called CPAC
organizers to express "strong displeasure."
The booth operators removed the anti-Muslim stickers from the rack before Cheney
spoke -- though they left up some more tasteful items, such as the stamps that
said: "WANTED! Crimes against children," and had a picture of former attorney
general Janet Reno, "A.K.A. The Butcher of Waco. " And they left others
supporting the Confederate flag and such.
But the offending stickers were not really taken off sale. When a Washington
Post reporter asked about the anti-Muslim bumper stickers, a booth attendant
smiled and reached behind a sheet, saying conference organizers had ordered her
to take them off display.
"Somebody doesnt believe in free speech," she complained, offering them for
$2.75 apiece.
Talk about going off-message!
By Al Kamen
Friday, January 31, 2003; Page A25
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3956-2003Jan30.html/A3956-2003Jan30.html
