Politics & Government
Protesters: Obama's Just Like Hitler
Display sign with Obama donning Hitler mustache; call for impeachment.
Two anti-Obama activists urged Hopatcong residents to call for the impeachment of the president outside the post office Tuesday morning.
The pair, Hackensack residents Margaret Greenspan and Art Murphy, set up a kiosk featuring unflattering images of the president—one showing him with a Hitler mustache. They railed against his economic policies at the corner of Hopatchung Road and Durban Avenue.
"Our constitution is being ripped up in favor of a policy that favors Hitler's," Greenspan said. "Which is what [Hitler] started with. He started with budget cuts, getting rid of the elderly, euthanasia against retarded kids. All of this stuff is being done today. They're cutting the budget on all these things. And cutting the budget means people are going to die."
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Murphy said his group—the LaRouce Political Action Committee, named for political activist Lyndon LaRouche—is "mobilizing to get Obama impeached or removed from office immediately."
Murphy called the national debt ceiling deal—an agreement that will raise the nation's $14.3-trillion debt ceiling by $2.1 trillion while cutting spending $917 billion over 10 years, with an added cuts of $1.2 trillion to come from a select committee of Congress members later in the year—"a completely treasonous vote."
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Murphy said LaRouce PAC promotes the reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act. Passed in 1933, the act was aimed at separating commercial and investment banking. Key provisions were repealed in the 1980s and 1990s.
The pair didn't spare Gov. Chris Christie from their criticism. One photo displayed Christie and Obama dressed up as comedians Laurel & Hardy.
The pair notified police of their presence, police said. No reports of harassment were made against them, police said.
But Hopatcong residents' reactions were split on Murphy and Greenspan's presence.
Stephanie Adragna, who was with her two children, said she didn't mind the activists voicing their opinion. "They didn't bother me at all," she said.
Brenda Breheny said it was within the pair's constitutional rights to protest, but "I just think they should let [Obama] finish out his term and let the people's vote speak. If [Murphy] were to ask me my opinion I would tell him not to waste his time. Not that I think one way or the other, but I think the vote in November will speak volumes. He's got a year and a half left. Let him finish it out with respect."
Bob Papis, 83, disagreed. The 32-year Hopatcong resident wanted Obama out now.
"We've got to do something to get Obama out," he said. "And I hope it happens."
Art Meola, 68, was OK with the protest.
"That's what America's all about," he said. "You wouldn't ever do this in a lot of other countries."
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