Last night at Book Revue in Huntington, Sean Hannity's program director Phil Boyce (he of Promise Keepers, the wives submit or get hit group of the early 1990s) tried to have me arrested because he didn't like the question he thought I was going to ask Sean Hannity. Boyce called the cops on his cell phone, two policemen showed up, asked me to come with them, and a couple of hundred of Hannity sycophants cheered, clapped, and a few shouted arrest him as I walked toward the bookstore exit at the direction of the police officers. Full details will follow after the flip but the key points to remember are that no personnel of the book store ever asked me to leave while in the store, I behaved superbly and remained calm and cool at all times, and of course I committed no crimes.
The place was packed with about 1500 people. (still less than 1/10 of 1% of the LI population) This is Sean Hannity's hometown area, his base, etc... plus he had his turd blossom Mark Levin with him.
About 5 mins after arriving at the bookstore, one of the managers (I'm withholding his name, he did tell me) came over to me and said that you must be the "big guy" and that he and the staff read what I posted on DK yesterday and that they really appreciated it. He also told me that NOT ONE staff member wants "these people here." He said I was welcome at the store and again was appreciative of my level headed advice for any other people that would show up. I've been there many times before, I was easily recognizable.
Hannity spoke a little and then the Detestable One, Mark Levin, spoke about his dog book. I positioned myself to be in the path as he exited from his speaking spot to his book signing spot. As he came by I offered him recruitment forms for the military and asked him, "Hey Mark would you like to join the military?' He said, "Oh I know you" He then calls me a dope and says, "I'll go if you go." So I took him up on it. I said, "Make you a deal, if we can have it arranged that we get sent to Afghanistan only and pursue Osama Bin Laden, I'll go if you are going with me." (I would honor this offer.) He got irate not thinking that I would actually take him up on that offer. I implored him to go sign up with me.
While standing in the audience I got to hear the insanitized yell, scream, insult, show their insanity, etc... According to the insanitized Democrats are Islamocrats, Clinton sold nukes to China, there were WMDS found in Iraq, I'm a communist, Bill Clinton is a traitor and scum, Bush has been great for the economy, etc... Also, one guy asked me if I had parents and said that they made a mistake by having me. (How pro-life) Other insults hurled my way included calling me dumber than a rock, a douche, etc... None of these responses were reciprocated in kind. Instead, I would give jovial responses like "Brilliant of you sir, how very pro life" or "Yep I have an IQ of 70, 2 + 2 = 7," etc...
As I moved closer on the lines toward Hannity who was signing autographs, Phil Boyce came over. Instead of approaching me Phil Boyce (who is a good 6 ft 5 and bigger than me who is 6 ft 3 and not skinny) approached a conservative wingnut near me and said, "Are you the guy who asked Mark Levin if he was going to join the military? Boyce was in his face and the guy is denying it so I said, "I think you mean me. I'm the guy who asked Mark that question." At the time Phil Boyce was wearing a Mark Levin stalker fan club T Shirt. Boyce had a beard.
Boyce gets in my face and says to me, "You're not asking Sean Hannity that question." I said, "You're right I think I have another question for him." Boyce said, "Well what it is." I said, "I have an idea but I may change my mind by the time I get up front so I don't know yet." Boyce responds, "Well leave the store or I'll have you arrested." I responded, "I have a right to be here. The manager said I could be here. You don't work for the store so you have no authority to tell me to leave." I also said that if somebody who works for the store tells me to leave I will gladly do so and invited him to bring over the owner or manager of the store if that's what he wanted.
Boyce then proceeded to call the cops on his cell phone. (Not a wise move) Apparently he told the cops that I was "causing a disturbance" and "refused to leave private property." Boyce said that the cops are coming to arrest you and I said, "Ok if they do I'll sue you." Boyce responded, "I don't care, I have lawyers."
A few minutes later two police officers arrived, came up to me, and said, "Can I speak to you for a moment?" I said, "sure." They asked, "What's the problem?" I said, "I have no problem. I'm here at an event and nobody from the bookstore has ever asked me to leave." They then said to "come with us" and as I started walking the Hannity sycophants cheered, clapped, and a few shouted "arrest him." Hannity sat there smirking with Boyce at his side.
The cops went outside with me, asked for my license, and spoke with me. They even asked me if I had ever been arrested. I told them that I've been here over 2 hours, behaved all the time, mentioned the anecdote with the manager, and that Boyce and Hannity want me kicked out because they don't like my questions.
The cops got the owner of the store to come out. The owner confirmed that I caused no problems nor any disturbances despite Boyce's claims to the contrary and that he the owner had security personnel around the store at all times and that the security was instructed to notify him or the police if anybody was causing a problem and that none of them did. (This is a key little fact.) The owner and I agreed at that point that there's no need for me to come back in the store tonight and I suggested just say you don't want me back tonight and I have to oblige. The owner followed my lead and the cop just asked me if I was getting out of here and I said I'll be out of town in 3 minutes. The officer wished me a good night. The Hannity onlookers who came outside were pissed that I was NOT arrested. However I was falsely imprisoned for a few minutes and slandered because of Phil Boyce, who had actual or apparent authority on behalf of Sean Hannity and/or WABC Radio.
Some additional thoughts.
First, there are instances where cops inject their personal biases, lose control, lie, etc... everyday in this country. In this instance the two Suffolk County police officers did a TERRIFIC and PROFESSIONAL job. They did their due diligence, kept their calm, ascertained the facts, figured out what was going on, and responded lawfully and professionally at all times.
Second, there is something very disturbing about people who would cheer and clap to have you arrested simply because they don't like your politics. But that's Hannity's America, it sure as hell ain't mine.
Third, I am contemplating legal action against Phil Boyce and those entities responsible for Boyce's behavior. I want to do further research before deciding what to do.
Fourth, these cowards like Hannity, Boyce, and Levin can't handle debate and dissent. They operate in a world where they manipulate images, take sound bites out of context, cut people's mikes, keep informed voices off the airwaves, etc...
Fifth, the stupidity of these people like Phil Boyce amazes me. One, if you wanted somebody to leave, you probably could have gotten the store security or the store owner to get someone to leave. Two, you are a moron for calling the police on your own cell phone. If you're going to do that, you should have used a public store phone so as not to have the call traced to your records. Three, you'd be better served by having waited for me to ask whatever question I would have asked up close before taking action. Not too smart, pal.
Finally, this story needs to be told notwithstanding that I'm the subject matter of the story. The idea that leading conservative media voices would try to arrest a person simply over a question is appalling and unAmerican.