Cops raid Dem fundraiser in San Diego, and pepper-spray the guests

First, some background:

In April of 2006, in California’s 50th District (including San Diego), Francine Busby was the Democratic candidate in a special Congressional election to replace Randy “Duke” Cunningham, the Republican incumbent who’d been nailed for bribery, mail fraud and some other crimes.

Busby faced off against Brian Bilbray, a moderate Republican who took a very hard line on illegal immigration, which earned him the support of local Minutemen and other xenophobic elements in San Diego.

That race, which Busby “lost” by some 4000 votes, was fraught with stark anomalies and glaring improprieties, from the pre-election storage of Diebold machines at poll workers’ private homes (they sat there for two weeks) to Dennis Hastert’s hasty swearing-in of Bilbray with thousands of votes still uncounted, and the election not even certified. Moreover, it had lately been revealed that those machines were eminently hackable by anyone, and in less than two minutes. So insecure were those machines, in fact, that the state decertified them after they were used in Bilbray’s close “election.”

All of that, and more, was covered in detail by several sharp observers of our ludicrous election system, on the blogosphere and indy radio (not by the mainstream press); and San Diego had a major grass-roots movement going, to hold a manual recount of all ballots and a real investigation (a movement driven by election reform activists, not by the Democratic Party).

[Brad Friedman was especially active all throughout that episode, his non-stop coverage thorough and detailed; so you should do a Google search on him and Busby/Bilbray, if you're interested in knowing more.]

Although the GOP unilaterally “settled” the affair by moving quickly to “elect” Bilbray all by itself, the story did not stop there, but continued through the general election in November, with Busby once again the challenger. And then, not too surprisingly, she “lost,” and under circumstances even fishier. Again the DRE machines had been housed illegally in poll workers’ homes before Election Day (this time for three weeks); voters were not told they had a choice between machines and paper ballots; the counting of those ballots was deliberately delayed; and a special exit poll revealed a six-point warp in Bilbray’s favor.

Busby sat out last year’s election, and is now back in the running; and, even though the woman is no firebrand, she is clearly facing some intense right-wing hostility in San Diego, both from individual extremists and the local cops.

Please read the three accounts below, and send them far and wide.

This Weimar interlude is quickly turning into something else, as the far right finds it ever harder to maintain themselves through vote suppression and election fraud alone.

The only way to stop the slide toward fascism it is to raise some hell about it, and DEMAND that those in power stop pandering to the extremists (even if the latter are in uniform).

MCM

Mark,

Things are way over the top when police officers barge into a private residence and slam the homeowner down to the ground in front of 25 guests because she refused to give them her
date of birth.

Katie

Statement from Shari Barman-Statton Handout
June 29, 2009

As the Cardiff homeowner involved in the incident on June 26, I want to issue the following statement in an attempt to address much of the misinformation which has been reported.

On June 26, we hosted a fundraising event for Congressional candidate Francine Busby. The event was scheduled from 7pm to 9pm and was an opportunity for those interested to meet Ms. Busby. Approximately 50 people attended. At around 8:15pm, on our back patio, Ms. Busby made a brief speech to those in attendance with the use of a PA system. During her remarks, a male heckler from another property behind our home started shouting disparaging remarks about Busby as well as gays. Ms. Busby finished her remarks at around 8:45pm and the event continued. Shortly thereafter, most people started leaving. Other than quiet background music there was no other entertainment.

At approximately 9:35pm, as the event was winding down, with the remaining guests just standing around engaged in conversation, a Sheriff’s deputy named Marshall Abbott walked into our home unannounced and asked for the homeowner, at which time I identified myself. In a very aggressive manner, Deputy Abbott said he had received a noise complaint and I explained that Ms. Busby had used a PA system for approximately 30 minutes but we were very aware of finishing before the 10pm sound ordinance went into effect. Deputy Abbott asked for my name and date of birth. I gave him my name and politely asked him why he needed my date of birth. He said it was for identification purposes in case they needed to return to the premises. Because he had my name and I had identified myself as the homeowner, I asked why he would need my date of birth. He told me I was under arrest, grabbed my right arm, twisted it behind me and threw me on the ground. Some of the 25 or so people who were still in attendance observed what was happening and started asking the deputy what was going on. My partner, Jane Stratton, asked him to please be careful as I had recently had right shoulder surgery. His response was to knock her to the ground. At this point, some of the guests attempted to come to my aid and to Ms. Stratton’s. Without warning the deputy started pepper spraying everyone, even those who were simply standing in the area. All of this happened in a matter of minutes. I was subsequently arrested and transported to the Vista detention center and released the following day at 11am.

Read more.

Dear Freinds,

It’s one thing to have an outstanding fundraiser. It’s another to have an outrageous fundraiser.

In case you haven’t heard, a politically motivated phone call and an over-reaction by a deputy sheriff sent a violent message across San Diego County and the national news wires, that Francine Busby’s campaign is drawing serious right-wing fire. The crank who spewed hateful, obscenities during my remarks is likely the same “neighbor” who called in the phony noise complaint during my fundraiser on Friday, June 30. Word is that he is boasting about his great work!

The evening ended with innocent people being injured by pepper-spray, handcuffed and traumatized. The hostess was forcefully arrested and spent the night in jail for asking a deputy why he needed her date of birth! Taxpayers should be outraged that a helicopter, at least 6 deputies, firefighters, paramedics, a canine unit were sent for an incident that was absolutely unnecessary and avoidable. In fact, the complaint was about noise that didn’t exist at 9:30 PM, before any noise ordinance takes effect. Click here to read my account and click here to read the official statement released by fundraiser hosts, Shari Barman and Jane Stratton.

It’s the 11th hour to show that you have the courage and the commitment to stand with me against the strong forces that are gathering against us. It’s also the 11th hour for you to join with over 650 supporters to help me reach my goal of raising $200,000 by tomorrow. Don’t rely on others to do this. I need YOUR support to show that we have what it takes to fight and win. I am asking you to please go to www.busbyforcongress.com now, before Tuesday’s deadline expires.

I would have asked you sooner, but this violent disruption distracted me from working to achieve this important campaign goal. I’ve been speaking out for truth and defending our civil rights on every TV station, radio, newspaper and blog that I could possibly reach. So what am I going to do about this travesty? Fight harder. Fight for the truth. Fight to defend our civil rights. Fight to defend free speech and Democracy. I am going to fight even harder to stop this hateful intimidation. I hope that I can count on you to fight this
battle with me. This incident was instigated by a caller who complained of my “Democratic Demonstration” according to Sheriff’s deputies. Democrats, or anyone who believes in democracy, should be outraged and stand up for what is right.

Please make your online contribution today, or click here to download a contribution form to fax in. Call us to pick up your check… or bring it by (Call 760 632-9080). Your contribution will show that you aren’t afraid to stand with me. I hope that this shot across the bow has strengthened your resolve as it has mine.

Tuesday is the last day to meet my goal of raising $200,000. Now…we are at the 11th hour. So please. If you have the courage and stamina to fight with me, please go to www.busbyforcongress.com right now and make a contribution before Tuesday’s deadline – midnight!

Thank you for your continued support,

Francine

Contact: Mike Kreizenbeck
Mike@Busbyforcongress.com
http://sandiegodems.com/pdf/Busby206-28-09.pdf

An incident that occurred Friday night that has become public. We are issuing the following statement in order to clear up misinformation.

This was a quiet private party in support of Francine Busby’s Campaign for Congress. There was no music, entertainment or rowdy behavior on the part of the mostly middle-aged guests. The evening featured remarks by Busby and casual conversation.

Neighboring homes were not visible from the secluded private home in Cardiff where the reception took place.
As Busby spoke to the attendees, a man was heard shouting from behind a wooded area. His obscenity-laced tirade against Democrats and Francine Busby included a number of threats.

At approximately 9:30 PM about twenty-five guests remained quietly chatting when a deputy sheriff entered the home and asked to speak with the homeowner. Senior deputies who arrived later, explained that the deputy had been responding to a complaint about a “Democratic Demonstration,” which clearly mischaracterized the nature of the private reception and indicated that this may have been a politically motivated call. The call was suspected to have originated from the same person who had been shouting obscenities and threats from behind the trees. There was no cause for any neighbor to file a noise complaint.

When the homeowner asked the Deputy Sheriff why he needed her date of birth, the Deputy reacted by restraining the homeowner and throwing her to the ground. Alarmed guests, pleaded with the deputy to let the 60 year old homeowner go and stop hurting her.

She had recently had shoulder surgery and was clearly in pain. His response was to spray the women with pepper spray which caused confusion and outrage.

This incident is regrettable [NO KIDDING!--MCM] because it was instigated by an anonymous caller with a phony complaint and was avoidable and unnecessary.

Originally posted: Cops raid Dem fundraiser in San Diego, and pepper-spray the guests

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