German antique
Could that have been President Bush's controversial former secretary of labor nominee Linda Chavez and her husband, Chris Gersten, arguing Sunday afternoon with a Purcellville, Va., antique dealer peddling a Nazi flag?
Yes, says our eyewitness.
"The local merchant had the flag hung over the edge of the table to display it for sale — this was a consignment item," says Ken Hottenstein. "After all of the yelling and threats by the Chavez's to get the [news]papers, call the police and people in high places involved, the merchant rolled the flag up just to get them to leave, which they did."
Mr. Gersten was reportedly so agitated at the display of the flag that he "picked up an item and threw it down on the display table. Mind you, he had not purchased that item," the witness says.
The couple, who live near Purcellville, in rural Northern Virginia, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
"I am a conservative and I can't stand it when people wish to censor and hide history," says Mr. Hottenstein. "Are we to take every thing that offends people and destroy it?"
Mrs. Chavez last year withdrew her nomination to head the Labor Department after reports surfaced that she'd hired an illegal immigrant in her home. She denied the charges, saying she was only helping a penniless Guatemalan refugee flee an abusive relationship.
She was later critical of the Bush administration for not being overly supportive during her failed confirmation process.
I don't know about that, but it sure attracted Linda Chavez and her husband.
