11/27/00 9:10 a.m.
Revolution at the Crossroads
GOP rallies in Times Square.

Robert A. George is an editorial page writer
for the New York Post------------------------------------RAGGEDmail@aol.com

he focal point might be hundreds of miles to the south, but even rock-solid Democrat land like New York City felt the repercussions from what's going on in the Sunshine State.

"Soldiers count; dimples don't," was one chant.

"Al Gore's risky schemes/Stealing votes from U.S. Marines," was another.

"This opinion censored by Senator Lieberman," read one sign.

A man named Joe helps hoist a painting done himself on a large wad of tarpaulin showing Gore with the Constitution in one hand and lit match in the other.

Of course, a uniquely New York flavor was evident with another sign: "Al Gore's the biggest loser since Kotite! Go Jets!" Rich Kotite had the dubious distinction of going 1-15 and 3-13 in his two seasons as coach of the New York Jets football team.

That was the scene at a Sunday afternoon rally at 42nd Street and Broadway, in the shadow of the Times Square Brewery, across the way from the ESPN Zone. It was a sign that demonstrated clearly how high the stakes have become in the most divisive presidential election in more than a hundred years.

In certain ways, it was like many protests staged at the crossroads of the world. An at-times drenching downpour — on a holiday weekend yet — was not enough to keep away nearly 70 protesters. But notably, this was not the usual "anti-police brutality/anti-death penalty/free-Mumia" left-of-center rally.

No, surprisingly, this was Republicans gathering to voice, yes, their support of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney mere hours before Florida would certify the election. But the primary focus was to vent anger over what they saw as the increasingly outrageous tactics of Vice President Al Gore and Sen. Joseph Lieberman. As Paul Gigot pointed out in Friday's Wall Street Journal, Republicans are suddenly acting like Democrats and taking it to the streets (strike up the Doobie Brothers!). Most interestingly, this wasn't some rag-tag group of "rabble-rousers." It was a surprising cross-section: college students, professionals, parents with young children, and more than a few senior citizens.

A local lawyer (apparently one of the few of either party not currently down in Florida — Mark A. Pullano), started organizing last Tuesday — immediately after the Florida supreme court permitted the hand counts to continue. He e-mailed invites to friends and word was spread to Free Republic.com. (Freepers showed up proudly wearing embroidered jackets!). That was just about all it took. Why did Pullano feel the need to do this? "Al Gore and his supporters are trying to steal this election. That's just not acceptable."

Asked why New Yorkers — who voted overwhelmingly for Al Gore — should care about what's happening in Florida, another protester added, "This is bad for New York because the election uncertainty is bad for the markets. Besides, New Yorkers should be worried about their elderly relatives in Florida terrified by Democrats who were trying to discredit the election while the polls were still open."

If New Yorkers thought they could avoid what is rapidly becoming a constitutional crisis, they couldn't — as the signs demonstrate. Joe Lieberman's comments on Friday — likening GOP protesters in Miami-Dade to a "mob" trying to "intimidate" vote counters — have angered Republicans almost as much as the extended election result itself. There's a belief that something fundamental is truly at stake.

Adding to Lieberman's comments, New York Democrat Rep. Jerry Nadler said the Miami-Dade rally had a "whiff of fascism." As other Democrats mutter about possible violations of the Voting Rights Act, there's a sense that the very right to protest is now at risk.

Protesters on the left, of course, have in past years shut down colleges, office buildings, and laboratories, invaded churches, and snarled traffic in order to insure that their issues get a hearing. Now, with something major in play — the presidency — Republicans decide to take to their feet and Democrats suddenly start whining about "mob rule?" (In perverse tribute to the antics of the man who symbolizes the politics of protest — Rev. Jesse Jackson — the rally takes up a Jacksonesque chant, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Al Gore's to go.")

The inconsistency was infuriating for those in Times Square, who went out of their way to assemble peaceably — yet energetically. Lisa Fabrizio came to town from Stamford, Connecticut, furious with her own senator: "Joe Lieberman has let down the people of Connecticut. How dare he call protesters a mob! Protest is how this country got here. Ben Franklin must be turning over in his grave. The conscience of the Senate is no more."

But the controversy has energized even the most unlikely of protesters. Sylvia, who identifies herself as a "nearly-60 year-old" naturalized citizen from Italy — says "This is the first time I've ever participated in something like this. But after eight years of what has gone on in the White House, something must be said."

"Something," indeed. "Something" has been unleashed in Florida. "Something" truly primal. There's no telling where this one's going to stop.

A slightly different version of this article appears in today's New York Post.