Thread: New front in Berkeley-Marines war: U.S. Senate

New front in Berkeley-Marines war: U.S. Senate
Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau

Friday, February 15, 2008

(02-15) 04:00 PST Washington - --

The fighting over Berkeley's snub of the U.S. Marine Corps hasn't died down - it's moved to the U.S. Senate.

South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint made good on his threat to punish the Berkeley City Council by introducing a proposal Thursday to strip the city of more than $2.1 million in federal earmarks and give the money instead to the Marine Corps.

"This particular case became the business of the American people when the city of Berkeley insulted our troops and their constitutional mission to defend our country, while still coming to the federal government asking for special taxpayer-funded handouts," DeMint said.

The measure appears to be going nowhere. Lawmakers are loath to rescind another member's earmarks - for fear of losing their own. DeMint attached it as an amendment to an Indian health bill, and Democrats warned it could be ruled non-germane.

But the bill's slim odds didn't stop California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer from rushing to the Senate floor to denounce it.

"State and local governments all across the nation pass resolutions and measures that many of us don't agree with on a host of issues. Disagreements are part of the political process," she said.

"Why on Earth would we punish good, decent citizens because some members of their local government or their sewer district or the mosquito abatement district or water district, any of their districts, say something that's highly offensive?"

Boxer said she disagreed with the letter the City Council originally approved, which called the Marines "unwelcome intruders" for operating a downtown recruiting center. But she noted that DeMint is ignoring the latest developments: The council voted 7-2 Wednesday not to send the letter, while restating its opposition to the war and refusing to apologize.

"You would think Sen. DeMint would be very glad of that," she said. "He's not. He's still angry and he is still wanting to fight the battle of a couple weeks ago."

In fact, the Berkeley City Council may be the only group trying to make this fight go away. Anti-war groups like Code Pink are loving the attention paid to their cause. And for talk radio hosts and politicians on the right, it's an easy way to marginalize the war's critics as unpatriotic.

For DeMint, it's a double-bonus: He gets to appear both pro-military and anti-pork-barrel spending.

But the threat to Berkeley's funding is unusual. And it's not simply DeMint. His 10 Senate co-sponsors include Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. In the House, the same "Semper Fi Act" has 71 co-sponsors.

The five earmarks were all approved last year: $750,000 for ferry service to Berkeley and Albany; $87,000 for the Berkeley Unified School District's Edible Schoolyard program; $94,000 for the city's police and fire emergency communications system; $975,000 for the Robert T. Matsui Foundation for Public Service at UC Berkeley; and $239,000 for the Ed Roberts Campus, which serves disabled adults and children.

Since this whole debate is a food fight, it was no surprise which earmark DeMint attacked first.

"One earmark provides gourmet organic lunches to schools in the Berkeley school district while our Marines make do with military rations of sloppy joes and chili beans," he said. "This is unacceptable."

Boxer was apoplectic. She showed photos of students in Berkeley working in the garden, learning how to plant and grow vegetables.

"They work the garden, they learn about nutrition, they learn how to cook the food," Boxer said. "Here's a program that teaches them to love the whole notion of eating in a healthy way, and that's the program he went after?"

No action had been taken on DeMint's amendment as of late Thursday.

E-mail Zachary Coile at zcoile@sfchronicle.com.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... DV2MEH.DTL

Comments(160)

New front in Berkeley-Marines war: U.S. Senate
Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau

The fighting over Berkeley's snub of the U.S. Marine Corps hasn't died down - it's moved to the U.S. Senate. South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint made good on his threat to punish the Berkeley City Council by...


ehulbert wrote:
Gee, a whole 2 million dollars. I sure that will really hurt Berkeley.

Posted 2/15/2008 6:44:57 AM
Recommend (16)Report AbuseForASong wrote:
"Shut up, or we'll punish your children." Classy. And classic, for this bunch of Repubs.

Posted 2/15/2008 6:51:27 AM
Recommend (69)Report Abusephoenix09 wrote:
I wonder if DeMint put forth this amendment before or after he voted to give telecoms (and Bush) immunity for their warrantless wiretapping of Americans.

Posted 2/15/2008 6:55:14 AM
Recommend (44)Report Abusejohn07801 wrote:
Is there anything these people won't do to defend their illegal war?

Posted 2/15/2008 7:02:29 AM
Recommend (3Report Abuseim4themoney wrote:
Where are these so called anti-war celebs coming to the aid of Berkeley. 2 mil to these people is nothing. Say OK, you take there money well here's some to keep the protest going. Fact: Recruiters lie to their prospective targets and convince them they are going to be saviors. Fact: When they get back they realize they made a huge mistake, while they are getting fitted for prosthetic legs and arms.

Posted 2/15/2008 7:23:34 AM
Recommend (17)Report Abusenorcalguy101 wrote:
So Hillary had over $348 million in earmarks...I wonder how many millions Boxer has garnered for her State that is already $14 billion in debt? Berkeley doesn't deserve a dime ForASong...oh and phoenix09....if a package enters the United States from a foreign source....do you believe the Federal government does not have a right to open and inspect the package without a warrant? Well, they do. And incomming telecommunications fall under the same purview....why not try educating yourself on constitutional law before you go about espousing ignorance...

Posted 2/15/2008 7:26:04 AM
Recommend (55)Report Abuseronj1955 wrote:
Like the Marines need any more money!

Posted 2/15/2008 7:27:18 AM
Recommend (17)Report Abusestimpy wrote:
ForASong, "Shut up or we'll punish your children" is exactly what Berkeley said to the Marine Corps. Seems pretty hypocritical of you and Berkeley to boo hoo about your right to express yourselves while preventing the Marines from being able to express themselves. Reap what you sow. This brouhaha could be the best thing that's happened to the USMC in recent years.

Posted 2/15/2008 7:32:37 AM
Recommend (75)Report Abusespknb4thkn wrote:
politics is a four letter word, and so are politicians

Posted 2/15/2008 7:40:34 AM
Recommend (14)Report Abuseprofcool wrote:
Berkeley's highest priority for public spending is to increase poverty in the city as a way of inculcating unrest. They are building a massive poverty housing complex exactly across from the University as a statement of their contempt for all things that promote prosperity. Its a pity if some of the projects aren't funded in retaliation for Berkeley's anti-Americanism, but in the end free government money from the state and feds is exactly how the city sustains its priorities. Why should the country fund such values?

Posted 2/15/2008 7:53:46 AM
Recommend (74)Report Abuse

The remainder of the comments can be found at the web page below... there are way too many to post

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article/c ... DV2MEH.DTL

I think we all should pray for Berkeley

Dear Lord,
Please let Berkeley, California break off from America and drift westerly passing underneath the Golden Gate Bridge that so many American fighting men have passed under on their journey into Harms Way to protect the American people (including those of Berkeley California). Lord we further humbly ask that after passing under the Golden Gate bridge that you allow Berkeley (no longer a part of the great state of California) to continue on it's journey out in to the beautiful Pacific Ocean where dear Lord you let it slip beneath the waves( if you would like Sir we can arrange for a US Marine Corp Rifle Team to do a 21 gun Salute).
Amen

State and local governments all across the nation pass resolutions and measures that many of us don't agree with on a host of issues. Disagreements are part of the political process," she said




Maybe if those citizens begin to feel the negative consequences for their foolishness in voting these asses into office in the first place, they will stop it, now won't they?

If Berkley wants to be some giant commune for aging hippies stuck living in the past, let them have at it. Just don't expect the taxpayers to pay for it.

Since when does it take a couple hundred thousand dollars to grow a garden?? This is ridiculous and beyond absurd!

California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer said:

"Why on Earth would we punish good, decent citizens because some members of their local government or their sewer district or the mosquito abatement district or water district, any of their districts, say something that's highly offensive?"

1. It was the Berkeley City Council not some obscure government agency.
2. That particular "highly offensive" remark could be viewed as a Hate Crime and treason.
3. The Berkeley City Council discriminates based on occupation.

California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer said:

"They work the garden, they learn about nutrition, they learn how to cook the food," Boxer said. "Here's a program that teaches them to love the whole notion of eating in a healthy way, and that's the program he went after?"

Why the need of a specially funded program to teach this--schools once taught this in Home Ec. and Future Farmers of America.

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a
difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem" --
President Ronald Reagan