[quote]As Republican presidential candidates scurry across the state campaigning for support at business after business, one local restaurant is hoping not to get involved in the hype leading up to the state's Jan. 10 primary.
"No Politicians No Exceptions" reads the sign taped to the entrance of Colby's Breakfast and Lunch, a popular eatery on Daniel Street.
Employee Jessica Labrie, who made the sign and placed it on the outer door of the restaurant, said she posted it Tuesday in response to several complaints from customers.
Labrie said several GOP presidential candidates — including Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer — have visited the business since the summer. Each time, Labrie said, their presence was an interruption.
"They make a big deal when they come in here," she said. "You can watch all this stuff on the news, but when you're here eating breakfast, you don't want to hear it."
The most recent candidate visit came Monday when Roemer, who has struggled to gain traction in the race, stopped in. Labrie said Roemer popped in unexpectedly and announced who he was to the entire restaurant.
"It disrupted people's conversations who were having breakfast," she said.
A similar situation occurred in the summer, when Labrie said Perry and Bachmann visited the restaurant for lunch. She said the visit was marred by overbearing campaign staff members who requested to reserve one side of the small restaurant despite there being only 10 tables in the entire establishment.
"They said, 'Just so you know, you'll have the pleasure of waiting on Gov. Perry and (Congresswoman) Bachmann. Don't be nervous. Just be yourself and you'll be fine.'"
Labrie said she responded with, "I don't know if you really want me to be myself."
A two-year employee of the restaurant, Labrie said she considers herself only slightly interested in politics. She said most of the staff at Colby's has a similar view.
"It's a business, first and foremost," she said. "We don't want our customers to feel uncomfortable."
Owner Jeremy Colby echoed his employee's statements Wednesday. Colby said candidates and politicians have been stopping in for many months and have at times overwhelmed his small business.
"I find it incredibly rude," said Colby, who said his political views are as liberal as they come. "I also find it amusing that they talk about how the economy and small business is so important, yet they are OK with creating a disturbance that impacts my small business."
Having owned the restaurant since 2003, Colby said, his business model is only successful if he is able to turn over its 28 seats in an orderly fashion. He said that is hard to do when a politician barges in and interrupts customers as they dine.
"I don't appreciate Joe Blow coming in here and whoring around the dining room for votes," he said.[/quote]
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[B]Source:[/B][url]http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120105/NEWS/201050403/-1/NEWSMAP[/url]
I can understand this. They might not want the insane amount of media coverage or the tangle of traffic that it would cause, let alone having secret service poking around the place.
'Course, in making it an official policy, they've attracted media attention anyways, so I guess it's not that :v:
Isn't this technically discrimination? I'm pretty sure you can't not serve someone just because of their job title or pending status as a presidential nominee.
[QUOTE=SomeRandomGuy16;34087112]Isn't this technically discrimination? I'm pretty sure you can't not serve someone just because of their job title or pending status as a presidential nominee.[/QUOTE]
Sure it's discrimination. One of those okay instances of it.
Shit, that's awesome. I wouldn't want some politicians trying to talk to everyone while I'm trying to eat either.
[QUOTE=CheeseMan;34087137]Sure it's discrimination. One of those okay instances of it.[/QUOTE]
I've always felt that discrimination is universally a bad thing.
[QUOTE=SomeRandomGuy16;34087112]Isn't this technically discrimination? I'm pretty sure you can't not serve someone just because of their job title or pending status as a presidential nominee.[/QUOTE]
I really don't think there's a law that prevents discrimination based on employment.
Good for them.
[QUOTE=ewitwins;34086935]I can understand this. They might not want the insane amount of media coverage or the tangle of traffic that it would cause, let alone having secret service poking around the place.
'Course, in making it an official policy, they've attracted media attention anyways, so I guess it's not that :v:[/QUOTE]From what I've gleaned from the wording, they don't mind the extra attention so much as people coming in solely to be disruptive attention whores.
[QUOTE=Pennywise;34087186]From what I've gleaned from the wording, they don't mind the extra attention so much as people coming in solely to be disruptive attention whores.[/QUOTE]
Their business is welcome so long as they don't run off the rest of their business, from what I read.
While I understand her feelings, yeah, it could be considered discrimination. I suppose the main difference between this and racial and other forms of discrimination is that you are freely capable of choosing to be or not be a politician. Its rather difficult to choose to not be black anymore. Possible (if you have lods of emone and set your hair on fire,) but far from easy.
[QUOTE=SomeRandomGuy16;34087112]Isn't this technically discrimination? I'm pretty sure you can't not serve someone just because of their job title or pending status as a presidential nominee.[/QUOTE]
If it's a private business they have every right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.
[QUOTE=CheeseMan;34087137]Sure it's discrimination. One of those okay instances of it.[/QUOTE]
But why? Do you think this because the nominees are Rupublican?
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34087157]I've always felt that discrimination is universally a bad thing.[/QUOTE]
It's not really discrimination. If a politician walks in with a suit and tie he's just going to look like the average businessman until he starts disrupting the business.
What they're saying is not to come in and harass their customers, which I think is perfectly acceptable.
[QUOTE=MuTAnT;34088012]It's not really discrimination. If a politician walks in with a suit and tie he's just going to look like the average businessman until he starts disrupting the business.
What they're saying is not to come in and harass their customers, which I think is perfectly acceptable.[/QUOTE]
Which basically what I said in my second post a short scroll down.
So a restaurant owner decides not to serve some people and for some reason it's a story?
[QUOTE=mastermaul;34087216]If it's a private business they have every right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.[/QUOTE]
this isnt accurate
[QUOTE=mastermaul;34087216]If it's a private business they have every right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.[/QUOTE]
...no they don't. And if you think they should, then should it be okay to also discriminate based on hobbies or other arbitrary factors? Eg; "No surfers allowed," "No plumbers allowed," or "No one with knowledge of quantum physics allowed,"?
I'm sorry, but not offering service for any reason that is irrelevant to the issue or business is and should be considered discrimination.
And then a candidate goes there because they've been denied service. Like a kid wanting a toy specifically because his mother's said she won't buy it.
[QUOTE=mastermaul;34087216]If it's a private business they have every right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.[/QUOTE]
Okay, no Blacks or Jews allowed in my restaurant.
Got a problem with that? Oh wait, who cares? It's my business!
[QUOTE=SomeRandomGuy16;34088776]I'm sorry, but not offering service for any reason that is irrelevant to the issue or business is and should be considered discrimination.[/QUOTE]
Doesn't matter if you're white, black, Republican or Democrat, if you came in and disrupted my business and harmed my customers' experience, I'd kick your ass out. It's less a 'No politician' rule and more of a 'No campaigning' rule to me. Reminds me of that one restaurant that had a "No English, no service" sign that was reported a while ago. They did it out of customer service issues, not bigotry. Same deal here.
[QUOTE=OpethRockr55;34089023]Doesn't matter if you're white, black, Republican or Democrat, if you came in and disrupted my business and harmed my customers' experience, I'd kick your ass out. [b]It's less a 'No politician' rule[/b] and more of a 'No campaigning' rule to me. Reminds me of that one restaurant that had a "No English, no service" sign that was reported a while ago. They did it out of customer service issues, not bigotry. Same deal here.[/QUOTE]
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I wouldn't want republicans on my business property either,good riddance!
Especially not Santorum,People would start vomiting all over the place,considering santorum means fecal matter and lube produced by anal sex.
[QUOTE=znk666;34094139]I wouldn't want republicans on my business property either,good riddance!
Especially not Santorum,People would start vomiting all over the place,considering santorum means fecal matter and lube produced by anal sex.[/QUOTE]
Holy crap are people still doing that joke.
[QUOTE=SomeRandomGuy16;34087112]Isn't this technically discrimination? I'm pretty sure you can't not serve someone just because of their job title or pending status as a presidential nominee.[/QUOTE]
If someone was interrupting your business on a consistent basis would you want to let them in?
[QUOTE=Amez;34094824]If someone was interrupting your business on a consistent basis would you want to let them in?[/QUOTE]The point is that the rule is a blanket "No Politicians". It'd be like saying "No Blacks" because a couple of black people were repeatedly annoying.
What politician would want to go to portsmouth anyway, it is basically a run down city with a recently rehauled downtown
[QUOTE=SomeRandomGuy16;34087112]Isn't this technically discrimination? I'm pretty sure you can't not serve someone just because of their job title or pending status as a presidential nominee.[/QUOTE]
no it's not
politicians aren't people
[editline]8th January 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;34094847]The point is that the rule is a blanket "No Politicians". It'd be like saying "No Blacks" because a couple of black people were repeatedly annoying.[/QUOTE]
the difference is that black people aren't inherently evil
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34087157]I've always felt that discrimination is universally a bad thing.[/QUOTE]
An african-american being served in your establishment does not in any way hinder your establishment's ability to make money, indeed, it increases it (paying customer). The disruption of a politician on the campaign rampage DOES disrupt your establishment's ability to make money. Ergo, it's one of the few cases of discrimination that makes sense.
Campaigning for military votes in Portsmouth perhaps?
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