CBS: Hecklers Banned At Bush Rallies

[leftchick]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/13/eveningnews/main635966.shtml

<snip>
The art of TV-friendly political stagecraft reaches new levels in this campaign. At "Ask President Bush" events, even the president makes no bones about the fact that he's speaking to invited guests.

"Okay, I've asked some citizens to come and help me make my points," he said.

As relaxed and affable as a talk show host, the president answers friendly questions -- which are often not questions at all.

"Mr. President, I don't have a question. I've got three thank-yous," said one supporter.

He also helps his handpicked guests to make a point.

"I don't know, Linda, if you're in a position to say this. But most people who go back to school with the new jobs end up making more money."

Linda: "Absolutely."

Mr. Bush: "Yeah, she was. That's good."

This tight control means that hecklers like those who greeted Kerry and Edwards in Missouri are almost never seen at Bush events.

[Endangered Specie]

1. And arent we all just shocked and amazed by this...

Hit me like a ton of bricks </sarcasm>

[gatlingforme]

12. LOL, Your sig. line is interesting. Kind of creepy that Stalin would

have the sociopathic audacity to say such a thing.

[Endangered Specie]

13. Well, he would know.

[canuckybee]

2. Who knew?

[drscm]

3. How do they hope to reach the undecided voters, or

have they given up on them - depending on other methods to "get the votes."

[jpgray]

5. So long as the crowds are presented on TV to undecided voters

Bush can hope that it seems he is well-loved by the people.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

39. It is a microcosm of the whole shrub presidency. It's a big "FU" to

the (non Repub) rest of the country, and the rest of the world.

[TahitiNut]

4. Ideological cleansing

So much more effective than mere ethnic cleansing. :puke:

[truthisfreedom]

Political cleansing. Democratic cleansing, more like... if they had their

way, the rethugs would make it ILLEGAL to be a Democrat.

[Barret]

8. No they wouldn't

I think we a dealing with a new breed of fascists this century.

Dictators of the last century made no secret of their type of government. They had no problem eliminating dissent. Of course many of those regimes fell.

I think this group wants to have as much power as possible, yet maintain the illusion of a democratic government. This way they get the power, yet don't have to worry about upsetting the masses so long as they THINK they are in control...

[Zorra]

6. What a coincidence. Hitler did the same thing. n/t

[truthisfreedom]

7. let's call it what it is... CHILLING.

[wildeyed]

9. three thank-yous? Just shoot me.

It's all about getting out the message without any distractions, and making sure that there's no public argument to spoil the party.

Well I guess that about says it all. But at least the story is getting reported and it doesn't make the chimpster look good.

[montana_hazeleyes]

10. I wish he'd*

start to talk and all that would come out is clucking like the chicken he is. (apologies to chickens)

[quaoar]

11. Wow

And all this time I was watching those crowds on TV and just assumed that Bush was beloved by the common man. LOL

[Toots]

14. They are just going through the motions

They have something else figured out. They are not even making an attempt to win over any voters. This is all show. Kerry is doing it so they feel they must also but they have other plans laid out.

[shanti]

15. i think so too

they've been making so many outrageous statements lately, statements that would NEVER fly, that it is making me very wary....they have something up their sleeves for sure!

[xxqqqzme]

17. it IS getting spooky.

The more outrageous they R, the less it is covered. What have their corrupt, evil minds laid out 4 all of us? Will they so blatantly steal this election and DARE the people 2 rise up and squash them?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

40. What, like about "rich people have accountants, and therefore get around

paying taxes, so there's no point taxing them?!" (shrub was much LESS articulate in making this point) And he said this TWICE?

[shanti]

42. that's one of them

but there are soooo many more!

[susu369]

29. "Devious plans"

Sadly, I must agree with you - they have "devious plans" laid out. Would not be the first time.

George Bu$h* is totally incompetent and phony. That's why I have always called him The Potemkin Village Idiot.

[nolabels]

32. Watching the guide posts along the way

That is kind of scary, but some of us crazies or even half crazies have been saying that kind of thing for the last couple years now. I hope not and have tried to do what ever was possible to help but one must understand the forces at work here.

These CEO's and boardrooms would rather gut the US democracy and install a shell of it rather than give up ANYTHING.

I tell you man, they are greedy bunch, different than the ones that came before them.
It's all about the money and power, don't ya know :shrug:

[mountainvue]

16. Coward. n/t

[Gloria]

18. When I saw this on air, I thought it stopped short of discussing

the loyalty oaths and preventing Americans from seeing the President whose salary they are paying....

In other words, this story did very little to get to the real creepy
stuff going on.........

[kayell]

28. I noticed also that they left out those important points

I wonder why?

[young_at_heart]

19. Is this really the American Way?

Surely there must be a few Republicans who are bothered by their leader acting so cowardly.

[opihimoimoi]

23. Yup,very unAmerican and UnManly to boot.

[SemperEadem]

20. that proves that Bush didn't serve in the military

he is not prepared for anything... if he'd faced combat in his younger years, he'd know how to handle being under enemy fire.

he's afraid of hecklers and those who think differently than he does. He has to rely on manufactured reality in order to lull the sheeple into their god-given right to a stupor.

[goforit]

21. What do you expect with a tyrrannical Dictator????

[0rganism]

22. Double standards for "free speech zones"

Working at the Kerry rally in Portland today, I was dumbstruck by the stark contrast in first ammendment permissiveness for rightwing anti-Kerry demonstrators vs. the anti-bush demonstrators. The anti-Kerry hecklers set up shop a few feet from the entrance gate to the rally, and harrassed everyone going in. There was no fence, no robocops, no protection whatsoever. Anti-bush protestors are kept blocks away from GOP events, surrounded by barbed wire, and threatened with violence by cadres of DarthVader-lookalikes.

The difference, I guess, is that WE CAN TAKE IT.

Liberals don't need training wheels when it comes to free speech. Conservatives are still trying to figure out their tricycles.

[moondust]

24. Then let his invited guests pay for his stupidity.

The rest of us who aren't invited can simply stop paying taxes to support him and his private government. Deal?

[Tight_rope]

25. It's not the first time...Bush can't stand to hear the "TRUTH"

[Piperay]

26. Chimp's handlers know

that if he gets heckled or even distracted he will fall to pieces and make even stupider statements than usual so they must control it all for the TV cameras. They want it to look like chimp has loving crowds wherever he goes so when he steals the election many people will believe he actually won cause he is so loved. :puke:

[jdonaldball]

27. People, this is good for our side

Let him preach to his own choir.
If only the hard core Bush loyalists are welcome at his rallies, then he's excluding a margin of swing voters.
On the other hand, Kerry's ability to stand up to hecklers just demonstrates his intelligence and strength of character all the more.

[dbt]

30. Did CBS show the protests at the Inaugural Parade?

I don't recall any of the networks showing the footage that we saw in Fahrenheit 911.

If it indeed was omitted, this was a HUGELY important lie-by-omission on the part of the Media. It set precedent for only showing bu$h surrounded by Friendlies. It also was the moment that the Media showed that it would not cover dissent.

It would have been the moment that the "news" media became the Propaganda Branch of the Government.

:argh:
dbt

[GoldenOldie]

31. Proof that Bush is a failure at Foreign Diplomacy

If Georgie is unable to face "The Loyal Opposition," within his own Nation while protected with Secret Service and local police during his campaign stops, why would anyone think that he is capable of discussing International problems with foreign government officials that require a debate of issues.

Clinton, Gore, and now Kerry and Edwards have not prevented "The Loyal Opposition," from attending their campaign stops and have allowed them to voice their attacks against them. Bush and Cheney have not given this same respect to the voters that may disagree with them.

[annabanana]

35. none of them did..

That F9/11 footage was a real eye-opener for many of the people in the theatre I saw the movie in..... came as a complete surprise. Bush had to SNEAK IN THE BACK.... literally as well as figuratively

[dbt]

43. Then ANOTHER nagging question arises:

Where did Moore GET the footage? Did he have his own photogs on-scene with an eye toward making a film two or more years later? Or did he just purchase some, er, unused footage from a network?

:freak:
dbt

PS: Thank you, annabanana!

[arwalden]

41. They'll Certainly Show The Protesters At The KERRY Inauguration.

That will be the main focus of the day.

-- Allen

[annabanana]

33. Well it's about goddam time.....

that this stuff got some airtime on one of the big four broadcasters. I'd like to see this tidbit repeated as often at updates on the Peterson trial (fat chance)

[brentspeak]

34. I wish Kerry would point this out during HIS rallies

Kerry should remind the public in clear terms about how Bush prearranges his speeches in such a cowardly fashion. Say that he (Kerry) isn't afraid to confront his political opponents, speak to the American public without vetting the crowd.

Otherwise, the only people who'll be aware of Bush's tactics and stupidity are those like us who carefully follow the news.

[leftchick]

37. I agree brentspeak.....

and welcome to DU! John Kerry should bring this up at his next event and again and again. JK does not vet his crowds and have them sign "loyalty oaths" only the cowardly CIC* does!

[Bo]

36. Republicans are afraid.

very afraid.

[Xipe Totec]

38. Just Following Established Doctrine

"A Party member is expected to have no private emotions and no respites from enthusiasm. He is supposed to live in a continuous frenzy of foreign enemies and internal traitors, triumph over victories, and self-abasement before the power and wisdom of the Party."

- George Orwell 1984

[Ezlivin]

44. Your IQ must be THIS low to enter

That's the sign they must post at the entry to these Bush events.

They also want people who've studied for their urine tests.