From the Associated Press:

Three-year-old Sophia Parlock cries while seated on the shoulders of her father, Phil Parlock, after having their Bush-Cheney sign torn up by Kerry-Edwards supporters on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, at the Tri-State Airport in Huntington, W.Va. Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards made a brief stop at the airport as he concluded his two-day bus tour to locations in West Virginia and Ohio. (AP Photo/Randy Snyder)

I could spend hours trying to come up with the words that describe my feelings about this story. I don't think I would ever get it right. Looking at the Union Member to the girls left, you can see that the smug brute still has pieces of her sign in his hands. I wonder what the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades has to say about this. Three Year Old Sophia Parlock was threatened, mocked and bullied by one of their members in a public venue, IUPAT emblem brazenly displayed for the world to see as if it were some kind of smarmy endorsement.

This is disgusting. My heart goes out to Mr. Parlock and his daughter. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for showing up there with that sign. God Bless You both.

Perhaps we should let the IUPAT know exactly how we feel about the way their members represent their organization. Send their General President an e-mail; his name is James A. Williams.

Posted by Michael at September 17, 2004 12:14 PM