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Representatives of fringe political candidate Lyndon LaRouche brought their “Impeach Obama” show to Danville on Wednesday, drawing roughly equal numbers of jeers and cheers from those who passed by their table set up on East Main Street in front of the post office.
“Hi! Take a moment. We’re impeaching Obama,” Jenny Burns cheerily called out to anyone within earshot of the table, prominently decorated with posters of President Barack Obama sporting a Hitler moustache.
Most people ignored the invitation during a reporter’s hour-long stay, but many of those who engaged with Burns and co-worker Allen (he wouldn’t give his last name) did so with passion, whether they expressed support or disgust for the booth’s provocations.
Linda Burger of Danville became so enraged at the defaced posters of the president she ripped one off the table, carried it into the parking lot and crumpled it up while engaging in a spirited conversation with Burns, who was in pursuit.
“I don’t like that little Hitler moustache on my president. I think that is so disrespectful,” Burger said. “He’s our president. This is our town. Take your stuff somewhere else.”
Burns called Burger “stupid” for not believing Obama authorized drone assassinations of American citizens and “a criminal” for tearing down the poster. Allen reported the incident to Danville police. Burger returned the somewhat crinkled poster and left before Sgt. Glenn Doan arrived about 10 minutes later.
“You’re allowed to express your opinion, but you’re not allowed to destroy other people’s things,” Doan told Burns, promising to investigate.
Burns said she and Allen were working for LaRouche, a political extremist and conspiracy theorist who ran for president eight times between 1976 and 2004, but said they “are not supposed to talk to the press.”
She did explain, however, that their stop in Danville is part of a 50-state campaign to have Obama impeached.
Burns and Allen told those who stopped by the table that Obama committed impeachable offenses such as using drones to strike American citizens and violating the War Powers Act by starting a war with Libya without approval from Congress, among other transgressions.
They asked those who showed interest to sign up for a mailing list and make a financial contribution. A few people signed up and took pamphlets, but no one forked over any money while the reporter was there.
Earl Belcher of Harrodsburg was curious about the table, listened to the pitch and walked away with some literature, which he said he would read when he got home before deciding whether to support the impeachment effort.
“I’m totally against the guy. He’s not doing much for the country,” Belcher said of Obama.
Another man, who declined to provide his name like many who approached the booth, was much more strident in his appraisal of the president.
“You’re right on target,” the man told Allen as he approached the table. “He’s a bad person, absolutely the worst person I’ve ever seen. He’s not an American. He is absolutely a socialist. He doesn’t even look presidential. You know what I mean. Think about it.
“But I’m not putting my name to anything. He’s the kind of guy who would come after me. He’s got people around here that would take me out,” the man said as he made a slicing motion across his throat.
The table stirred the passions of Danville resident Karen Underwood Sweet, but for the opposite reason. Sweet said the display upset her so much as she drove by that she turned around to tell Allen and Burns how she felt.
“I find that highly offensive,” Sweet said, wagging a finger at Allen as he approached her vehicle. “I’d say a few more choice words, but I’m trying to be nice about it.”