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In Washington, one of the bill's sponsors, Rep. Ted Poe (R- Texas), fumed on the House floor recently that the city had a " '60s peacenik, hippie mentality that world peace can occur by sitting around smoking dope and banging on the tambourine."
Others said Berkeley had insulted Americans.
"No matter what your thoughts on the war, most people believe you should support and defend our military and families," said Wesley Denton, a spokesman for Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).
In the California Legislature, Assemblyman Guy Houston (R-Livermore) has threatened to sponsor a bill withholding $3.3 million in state road funds intended for Berkeley.
Some say the City Council went too far, even for Berkeley.
"You'd think the council would stick to city matters. It's OK to speak out as an individual, but when you do so as an institution, you jeopardize a lot of things -- from federal money to the reputation of your community," said Bruce Cain, a political scientist at UC Berkeley.
"The politicians are speaking for people who elected them on a different basis. They didn't run on a foreign policy platform, but on city issues. It's not fair to citizens for them to speak without a mandate."
On Monday, the recruiting station was closed, but it wasn't clear whether the controversy had caused the closure. One local businessman said the protests had already hurt those around the building.
"We're ground zero," he said, asking that his name and that of his business not be used. "No matter who is right or wrong, customers are staying away."
On the street, Berkeley residents had mixed feelings about the standoff.
"This is Berkeley. Whoever yells the loudest usually gets their way," resident Sara Nickerson said as she walked past the empty recruitment center.
Business owner Joe Roberts agreed. "The council people don't see their domain as the city, they see themselves as judge and jury to the world. This is the Kingdom of Berkeley. This is what politicians do here: stir up needless trouble."
For his part, Wozniak said he hoped the demonstrations would be peaceful. "The reaction's been unfortunate," he said. "Much of it has been posturing by the Republicans on behalf of their constituents, much like our council was pushing for the antiwar folks."
john.glionna@latimes.com
Others said Berkeley had insulted Americans.
"No matter what your thoughts on the war, most people believe you should support and defend our military and families," said Wesley Denton, a spokesman for Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).
In the California Legislature, Assemblyman Guy Houston (R-Livermore) has threatened to sponsor a bill withholding $3.3 million in state road funds intended for Berkeley.
Some say the City Council went too far, even for Berkeley.
"You'd think the council would stick to city matters. It's OK to speak out as an individual, but when you do so as an institution, you jeopardize a lot of things -- from federal money to the reputation of your community," said Bruce Cain, a political scientist at UC Berkeley.
"The politicians are speaking for people who elected them on a different basis. They didn't run on a foreign policy platform, but on city issues. It's not fair to citizens for them to speak without a mandate."
On Monday, the recruiting station was closed, but it wasn't clear whether the controversy had caused the closure. One local businessman said the protests had already hurt those around the building.
"We're ground zero," he said, asking that his name and that of his business not be used. "No matter who is right or wrong, customers are staying away."
On the street, Berkeley residents had mixed feelings about the standoff.
"This is Berkeley. Whoever yells the loudest usually gets their way," resident Sara Nickerson said as she walked past the empty recruitment center.
Business owner Joe Roberts agreed. "The council people don't see their domain as the city, they see themselves as judge and jury to the world. This is the Kingdom of Berkeley. This is what politicians do here: stir up needless trouble."
For his part, Wozniak said he hoped the demonstrations would be peaceful. "The reaction's been unfortunate," he said. "Much of it has been posturing by the Republicans on behalf of their constituents, much like our council was pushing for the antiwar folks."
john.glionna@latimes.com
