WASHINGTON — You might think they had all done this before — like maybe in the ’60s during the Vietnam War.
The few thousand who gathered in Washington for Free Republic’s March for
Justice on Saturday were enthusiastic and vocal in their indignation over
President Clinton’s voluminous scandals. In an energetic demonstration usually seen from liberals, none were so inhibited that they couldn’t strike up spontaneous chants like “Impeach the bum!” at regular intervals.
Verbal expressions were outdone only by the creativity of the protest
signs, which almost every demonstrator possessed. Snazzy backgrounds coupled with catchy phrases all communicated the desire to be rid of the
current occupants of the White House.
Free Republic, an Internet site where patriots gather to discuss current
events and thoughtfully vent, began talk of the event three weeks ago. Jim
Robinson, the site’s disabled founder who wanted to come by himself and protest in front of the White House, inspired the rally. Plans came together quickly, and word-of-mouth traveled as far as it could in a short
time.
Participants came from as far away as California, and many went to extreme
efforts to be there. Some decided at the last minute to come. All were likeminded in their reason for being there, however: it was to be seen and
heard.
Gary Sandquist, who came with a friend from Des Moines, felt compelled to
“come and put in my 2 cents worth.”
He aired his feelings about how poorly the media has covered the Clinton
scandals. “I can’t understand how the media hasn’t picked up on all this
administration has done.”
Others, like Jack Lee of Kentucky, expressed similar sentiments.
“I’m frustrated,” said Lee. ” The media won’t go out there. There’s so much
(scandal) out there. If we let (Clinton) get away with it … where’s the
morality? We’re being trampled on.”
Many were neither Internet savvy nor conservative. Jean Markiewicz, who
came with her two sisters from Michigan, said that this year is the first
that she’s going to vote for a straight Republican ticket.
“I’ve always voted for whom I thought was the best candidate, regardless of
party,” she said. “There are something like 115 people in prison for perjury. I can’t understand why the Democratic Party supports (Clinton).”
The crowd was fed continually by a stream of prominent speakers who called
for the president to resign or be impeached. Those addressing the rally included Rep. Bob Barr, R-GA, literary agent and Linda Tripp friend Lucianne Goldberg, and former White House FBI agent Gary Aldrich, among others.
Larry Klayman, chairman of Judicial Watch, has filed several lawsuits
against the Clinton administration regarding various scandals. Of his organization he said, “We are seeking to bring back an appreciation of values in America.”
He detailed many of his cases, including the unauthorized release of Linda
Tripp’s Pentagon file and Kathleen Willey’s letters to the president.
Klayman called Clinton adviser James Carville “a very evil individual” and
vowed to “get a verdict against this administration.” The audience cheered
resoundingly.
Former Arkansas state trooper L.D. Brown, who worked on President Clinton’s security detail when he was governor, used the occasion to speak out after years of silence. He called the occasion his “coming out party.”
Brown confessed that he was one of Clinton’s “enablers,” and said “you have
to have a major intervention in your life to split with (the Clintons).”
Former presidential candidate Alan Keyes spoke, in part, of the president’s
repentance and search for forgiveness.
“We came here today to rebuke my brother Bill Clinton,” said Keyes. “On the day I see that he has wholeheartedly repented, I will gladly forgive him,” he continued. “I will believe he has repented when Bill Clinton gives up his ill-gotten gain.”
Still, the day was created for the people, and the people responded to the
speakers as well as each other. Most went home with new friends and several e-mail addresses. Coverage by C-SPAN brought the rally to the whole
country.
Sisters Jean Markiewicz, Stephanie Waters and Rose Miller had boarded a
Greyhound bus at 1:15 Friday afternoon and arrived in Washington at 6:15
a.m Saturday. For Rose, the 17-hour trip was worth enduring to find a different kinship for which she had longed.
“Maybe I’ll be with people who think like me.”
