Originally published October 15, 2008, 03:36 p.m. EST. Updated October 15, 2008, 03:44 p.m. EST
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Pictured is a display containing encouragement from ownership for customers to vote Nov. 4 on Tuesday at the Booksmith in Seneca. The store contains several displays of political books, covering Republican and Democratic topics. Booksmith employees and its owner, Tricia Lightweis, have been the subject of politically-charged verbal attacks during this election cycle and during past election seasons.
SENECA — You don't have to tell Tricia Lightweis how shrill the rhetoric surrounding this presidential election has become.
She's been hearing way too much of it in her Booksmith store in Dogwood Plaza.
After having shots fired into her store, her car rammed from behind as she drove home one night and dead animals left on her doorstep in 1992, Lightweis thought the issue of censorship was past.
Back then, the issue was sex, and the protestors were religious zealots, some of them ministers. The anger they directed at Lightweis was fueled by a bestselling book my Madonna. Eventually, the issue faded as the storeowner went public with the threats and violence being directed at her.
Then, along came this election cycle.
Lightweis has owned and operated the Booksmith for 20 years. She has been through five election cycles. She has never encountered the kind of vitriol and temper tantrums unleashed on her and her employees that she has seen this year.
"I'm disappointed that we are here again, revisiting censorship and threatened economic harm," she said.
"You can put your thumb right on when it started," Lightweis said. "It was the week of the Democratic National Convention. Since then there have been at least 30 people who don't want to see anything that goes against their opinion."
She said it would be reasonable to characterize what she is experiencing as "right wing attacks," adding that two books at the center of the storm are Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's book, “Change We Can Believe In,” and a humor book by Joe Quint entitled, “72 Things Younger Than John McCain.”
"Where were these people when I had 60 copies of the (Kenneth) Starr report (on Bill Clinton) for sale right next to a cigar aficionado display?" she asked. "Where were they when I had two full displays of Sarah Palin's book just five days after McCain named her to his ticket?"
Lightweis said the attitude, which she described as arrogance, goes beyond the routinely childish pranks she has to put up with such as covering up the Bill and Hillary Clinton biographies with books by Ann Coulter. She said many of her 18 employees have been verbally assaulted and said the outrageous behavior displayed by some customers has cost her money in insidious ways such as time spent arguing or apologizing to other customers who have had to witness an outburst.
"These are frightened people, incapable of a logical argument. Instead they choose to control what others see and have available to read," she said, noting that the detractors appear to cross socio-economic lines and are of various ages and both sexes.
"I realize this is an important election, perhaps more important than most," she said, "but to arrogantly make the assumption that my choice of books reflects my political personality … When I come into this store, I'm a capitalist, and I'll compete with the best capitalists in the country.
"There has to be balance," she continued. "I don't buy books for a cause. I buy books for a customer base."
Lightweis said that 85 percent of her clientele are repeat customers and that they understand she offers a wide array of books. The other 15 percent, however, she says are out of line, screaming for censorship and attacking her employees in the process.
"The printed word cannot be censored," she said. "That's how it started in Nazi Germany. We live in a diverse community, and that is my target audience."
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October 15, 2008
5:15 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Right wing hate mongering zealots believe that there is only one opinion and it's their narrow minded one. They don't care about Our Constitution & everyone's right to free speech & free expression. They are the most unpatriotic people in Our Nation;but think they are just the opposite. Just try not to let their ignorance get you down. Soon this election will be over & hopefully they will all crawl back under the respective rocks they came from....Peace Now!!!!
October 15, 2008
6:07 p.m.Report inappropriate content
It's a bookstore for goodness sakes!! If you don't want to read a particular book then don't buy it! What ever happened to our free country?
October 15, 2008
11:05 p.m.Report inappropriate content
C'mon, people. Bookstores exemplify the concept of free speech in this country. You might not agree with all the books a store carries, but you have to respect their right to carry them *unmolested* as the basic tenant of the free market economy.
And another thing, the titles a bookstores carries the most of will be the titles that sell best for them (that's capitalism, remember?). If you perceive a bias one way or another, that's just the reflection of the market's valuation of that political brand, not a reflection of the store owner's personal philosophy. Don't try to run her off the road.
If you disagree with the way the political winds are blowing: run for office!
October 16, 2008
9:21 a.m.Report inappropriate content
OMG! I can't believe people are really doing all this! For goodness sake, it's a bookstore! I wonder if these same people go to the library and pull the same stuns? I bet these same people are the ones you can tell them the sky is blue but to them the sky is gray with blue strips!
I shop at the bookstore (a nice bookstore I might add). It never even cross my mind to judge the bookstore on the products it carries. Come on people, grow up!
I thought this world was full of some weird people, but I didn't think it was this bad! What is Ms. Lightweis suppose to do? She's running a business. She's catering to everybody's interest, not just one group of people.
The last time I was in there, I was amazed at all of the choices she carries. I know I looked around for over an hour! Some books, I had never heard of or never thought about reading, but it didn't bother me. Instead, it made me interested in something new. I bought some of those books that day and I'm happy I did.
October 16, 2008
1:46 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Just ask the librarian in Wasilla, Alaska about censorship. I'll bet she would have a lot to say about scare tactics. Good luck, Ms. Lightweis - we'll be shopping at your store very soon.
October 16, 2008
2:25 p.m.Report inappropriate content
This story has a familiar theme. It reminds me of the report from The Scranton Times-Tribune alleging that a McCain supporter yelled "kill him", refering to Sen. Obama at a Palin rally. After investigating, the Secret Service found no grounds for the story. Agent Bill Slavoski said he was in the audience, along with an undisclosed number of additional secret service agents and other law enforcement officers and not one heard the comment.
October 16, 2008
3:02 p.m.Report inappropriate content
At the library, people don't protest loudly. Instead, they just steal the books they disagree with.
October 16, 2008
5:17 p.m.Report inappropriate content
That is absolutely wrong what they have done in and to this bookstore. I like Tricia Lightweiss as a person, but I definitely do NOT agree with her political views. People need to grow up ... we all have different views and I think it is great we can put them out here on this website - but going and trying to destroy someone's business is over the line. Both sides have done it and it is nothing to be proud of. I commend her for her business and has been doing a great job for over 20 years - I agree with you - buy the books you like and just grow up! It is a shame that people on both sides feel that this is how they need to express their differences.
We had our McCain/Palin signs stolen from our neighborhood - now what good did that do? Absolutely nothing. C'mon folks - talking to each other and putting out the issues are the only way there is - you still may end up disagreeing with each other but that is okay as well - it's called America and too many of our Americans have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we all have freedom of choice.
They are crazies on both sides and that is a shame.
October 16, 2008
6:09 p.m.Report inappropriate content
They probably did it out of frustration that not 1 out of 5 working in there would help you if you were on fire.
When people do something like this it's not because they're standing for anything it's because they are taking advantage of a situation to wreak havoc, chances are strong they don't even vote.
October 16, 2008
6:13 p.m.Report inappropriate content
Btw, Ms. Lightweis has no proof and sounds to me like she is just guessing based on her political leanings. Anyone want to guess who's she supporting?
October 16, 2008
9:07 p.m.Report inappropriate content
who cares who she is supporting, people just be civil on voicing your opinions/differences
October 17, 2008
2:20 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Mrs Lightweis you have a wonderful store, all should appreciate the fact that they can find books about many subjects and not have to drive to other towns to do so.
I think that the american public have just realized what a raw deal they have been getting for years ( and from both parties) and they try and take out thier frustrations on whomever they can. Please keep your chin up and I along with many others will continue to shop at your store regardless of your political views whatever they may be.
I was once told that just going to a bookstore does not mean that you have good intellect nor that you can read.
October 17, 2008
8:59 a.m.Report inappropriate content
Marionlibrarian,
OMgoodness! They really steal the library books too? I am truly amazed at people. I'm so sorry the library has to go through this too. Do these people not realize that there are more than one copy of whatever book they don't like or don't want anybody else to see? What is our world coming too? I really am sorry that the library and the bookstore has to go through all this.
October 17, 2008
9:11 a.m.Report inappropriate content
I wonder if they try to ram the owners of convenience stores and other locations that sell alcohol, and other things that they don't believe in.. in their CULT? What they are doing is as much wrong as their belief that selling sex books is.
You can go to hell for lying just like you can for killing someone. They can keep that in mind when they judge others.
October 17, 2008
10:01 a.m.Report inappropriate content
I agree these people who do this in the "name of God" need to take a hard look at themselves ... I belive in God and I do not think he would approve. Again, this is so wrong and only hurts Christians in the end - the majority of Christians do NOT act this way and just makes it harder to spread the Gospel of Jesus.
October 23, 2008
9:52 p.m.Report inappropriate content
I am, at the same time, shocked that people would take my book so seriously and proud of the stand that the shopkeeper is taking.
Joe Q.
http://www.thingsyoungerthanmccain.com
October 29, 2008
10:26 a.m.Report inappropriate content
The Booksmith staff & management would like to thank the people that have taken their time to comment on the above article.
We acknowledge that there are far more people who support the Booksmith than those that chose to hurl empty rhetoric, negativity and devisive untruths. Our supportive customer base is, and always has been, our main priority. We appreciate you.
Personally, I also appreciate the comments that choose to call me, my staff and customers that have witnessed these behaviors - liars. Your brave transparency serves as a good example of various concepts used by would-be "censors."
As for Joe Quin, author of "72 Things Younger Than John McCain," thank you for taking the time to weigh in on our local political upheaval. And, I would like to assure you that the ugly vitriol against your book from the small - intolerant minority in no-way reflects this wonderful community. Your website rocks!
Tricia Lightweis
http://www.thebooksmith.com