WP: Secret Service Not Coddling Hecklers

[kskiska]

By Dana Milbank

COLMAR, Pa., Sept. 9 -- Secret Service agents are famous for their willingness to take a bullet for the president. Less famous is their willingness to take out a heckler for the president.

Officially, the Secret Service does not concern itself with unarmed, peaceful demonstrators who pose no danger to the commander in chief. But that policy was inoperative here Thursday when seven AIDS activists who heckled President Bush during a campaign appearance were shoved and pulled from the room -- some by their hair, one by her bra straps -- and then arrested for disorderly conduct and detained for an hour.

After Bush campaign bouncers handled the evictions, Secret Service agents, accompanied by Bush's personal aide, supervised the arrests and detention of the activists and blocked the news media from access to the hecklers.

The Bush campaign has made unprecedented efforts to control access to its events. Sometimes, people are required to sign oaths of support before attending events with Bush or Vice President Cheney. At times, buses of demonstrators are diverted by police to idle in parking lots while supporters are waved in. And the Secret Service has played an unusual role; one agent cooperated with a plan by the Bush campaign last month to prevent former senator Max Cleland (Ga.), a Kerry ally, from handing a letter to the agent outside Bush's Texas ranch.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9703-2004Sep9.html

[peekaloo]

1. Let Freedom Reign............eom

[indepat]

32. Reich on!

[kskiska]

2. Look at this

One uniformed Secret Service agent complained to a colleague that "the press is having a field day" with the disruption -- and the agents quickly clamped down. Journalists were told that if they sought to approach the demonstrators, they would not be allowed to return to the event site -- even though their colleagues were free to come and go. An agent, who did not give his name, told one journalist who was blocked from returning to the speech that this was punishment for approaching the demonstrators and that there was a "different set of rules" for reporters who did not seek out the activists.

[2Design]

6. and nazi germany starts to rise again from the ashes

[LiberalFighter]

10. Sounds political to me...

despite Secret Service claims that they are above that.

Those that use that tactic should be ID and removed from service.

[Dover]

22. sounds more like the SS are paid mercenaries rather than employed

by OUR government.

[saigon68]

40. Seen this behavior at rallies in the thirties

In a certain European Country

[librechik]

30. I think this is illegal--why don't the reporters sue?

So the SS doesn't have to abide by the rules--or the law?

Beware, everyone.

[Shallah Kali]

3. Photos of the hair pulling

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040909/480/pajl10209091850

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040909/480/pajl10109091829

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. And even there Yahoo lies. They claim this is an audience

member, but you can clearly see his USSS lapel pin and microphone.

Up is down.
War is peace.
Black is white.

[DoNotRefill]

13. Ummm....he's a little long in the tooth to be SS.....

eom

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

15. lots of them are older now

They are not all youngins anymore.

And, he may not be as old as his hair indicates. I know many people with grey/white hair in their 40's. especially in Law Enforcement.

[grasswire]

14. who is this man?

[Rockholm]

28. Just another Misogynist for Bush

[librechik]

31. Why, it's GIRLY MAN!

yes, it's GIRLY MAN! His secret power? He fights like a girl! And loves it!

[lolly]

4. Why?

Is the Secret Service inherently right-wing?

Were they this protective of Clinton?

Or does AWOL screen his guards to make sure they're all wingnuts?

[punpirate]

5. Funny that the Secret Service...

... by and large, lets Repub hecklers at Kerry events go right on with whatever they please.

What should be said is that this is an official Bush policy that began when Bush was governor and tired of environmental activists picketing around the governor's mansion.

Bush doesn't tolerate dissent. Remember, this is the president who infamously exclaimed, "there ought to be limits to freedom."

Well, anyway, limits on the people who don't care for Bush and his policies. :mad:

[Rose Siding]

8. This is such a serious thing...

snip>
An agent, who did not give his name, told one journalist who was blocked from returning to the speech that this was punishment for approaching the demonstrators and that there was a "different set of rules" for reporters who did not seek out the activists.
---------------------------

I wish there was a way that Milbank could have portrayed the dangers of such a practice. Another article today reported that the pres debate organizers are asking for the reporters to declare their race on applications for credentials. Scary stuff.

[saracat]

9. I can't stand it anymore.I officially personally hate Bush!

If they are reading this , so what.I hate him for what he is doing to us.He is a disgusting monster and need to be packed away. The Secret Service are doing the nation a disservice by preventing the pretender from hearing his dissenters.They should be ashamed.

[Citizen Daryl]

11. Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer ... Keine Meinungsverschiedenheit.

[Dogmudgeon]

25. Was ist "Meinungsverschiedenheit"?

Digame, por favor.

--bkl

[grasswire]

12. there was an article...

.....months ago about how the secret service and WH are filling their ranks with graduates from the ideological universities such as Falwell's Liberty University. Anyone remember it? That could explain what's going on.

[Just Me]

16. I'm impressed. An article that finally depicts something akin to reality.

Wish that reality was more aptly distributed to the American people,...but, I can only "wish",...in a country built upon illusion by those in delusion.

[slaveplanet]

19. Does it?

from the other thread-http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2331753

Steadily over the next three hours they moved us from the holding cell to fingerprinting, while repopulating us with the men that were in an adjacent cell who had been arrested long after we had on Tuesday, but who were moving through the system faster. Four AIDS activists who had managed to get on the floor of the convention before stripping off their suits (they had hospital smocks on underneath) and unfurling a banner had been brought in and deposited in our cell. They were attacked and beaten on the convention floor by Secret Service and Republican delegates, but it was the four non-violent activists who were charged with felony assault. The picture was becoming much clearer. At about 3:00am, they finally pulled the last eight of us out of the cell, chained us together, and marched us off to fingerprinting.

[Just Me]

21. Note: I said "akin to reality",...

,...which is closer than the illusion repeatedly fed.

Believe me,...I am fully acquainted with the illusions (or delusions or dreams or whatever you prefer) being fed via the media.

I take inspiration from any piece of reality being presented. Otherwise, I might fall into the same form of cynicism that has taken grip over this nation,...and I refuse to do that.

Know what I mean,...I hope.

[slaveplanet]

24. I know what you meant

Just pointing out that there is a big difference in being charged with disorderly conduct and held for an hour, as opposed to being charged with felony assault and being held for 48+ hours. What is the reality?

[Tight_rope]

41. Yes...I'm shocked myself...A story that reports the true...Unbelievable

I thought I would never be able to believe the media again. But I'm still taking everything they say positive about Bush* with a grain of salt!

[grasswire]

17. Bush's personal aide detained a reporter...

....keeping him/her from talking to demonstrators.

Blake Gottesman.

[shanti]

23. ugh

he even looks like a freeper prick.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

26. If I were the reporter, I would charge him with assault

Who is this prick to detain anyone?

[sattahipdeep]

27. Karl Roves [personal assistant]

Blake Gottesman?

[The_Casual_Observer]

18. If this campaign lasts much longer

they will probably set up a permanent gulag in the Nevada desert.

[JSJ]

20. hitler ss= bush's ss n/t

[livinginphotographs]

29. I find this line the creepiest.

"The Bush campaign has made unprecedented efforts to control access to its events."

Control access? To a publically "elected" (maybe not in this case) official?

This kind of shit is the reason that Cheney is still trying to link Iraq to 9-11; they're so out of touch with reality that Bush is convinced he's the world's greatest leader. This reminds me of Saddam's people never wanting to bring him bad news; I get the feeling Bush's aides are preventing Bush from knowing just how much the world (and his own country) hates him.


On edit: I found another one. the demonstrators were led roughly from the room by event ushers as a few attendees shouted "traitors."

How dare we question their king? Maybe those fuckers calling everyone a traitor should be over in Iraq instead of engaging in the circle jerk that is a Bush campaign event.

[Catfight]

34. Reporters should stop giving him press period! Reporters should

tell their bosses they are no longer going to type one fucking word for Bush and if they don't like it, add them to the 7 million unemployed under Bush's regime. Then have them apply to CBS for a REAL job!

[livinginphotographs]

35. They should, but they probably won't.

Damn librul media.

[Catfight]

33. The Media needs to crawl ALL over this. This is so American!

How can we stand by and allow this outrage to occur? What can we do?

[Tommy_Douglas]

36. You know they say the third Reich died with Hitler....

But it just went into hiding in the west as governments like the U.S. ended up harboring and using many of the brains and braun from Nazi German and Imperial Japan.

These guys lurked in the shadows of the U.S. government and in a number of instances you've seen their influence.

Sure there was no mass war killing millions (yet) and thankfully no halocaust. But the suspension of freedoms, the lies, and squelching of dissent are trademarks of the Reich.

[psychopomp]

37. kick

[underpants]

38. a "different set of rules" for reporters who did not seek out the activist

What's new?

[KansDem]

39. It's a good thing the protesters weren't heckling Saudi ambassadors...

That would really incur the wrath of the Secret Service!!!

[grasswire]

42. kick

I'm still mad.

[Scairp]

43. Go Dana go!

At least he is trying to tell the people what is happening. Not many others so-called "journalists" are, that's for sure.

[Shallah Kali]

44. 2 differnet articles on the protest

Supporters and detractors make their feelings known
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-09102004-363343.html

The protesters themselves were grabbed - some gripped by the hair - and removed from the room, with many supporters of the president shouting at them. Bush continued with his speech, hesitating briefly only a few times while the noise died down.

It was unclear exactly who removed the protesters. James Borasi, special agent in charge of the Secret Service's Philadelphia office, said his agents didn't do it - "unless there is an overt, threatening act against the president, we do not get involved."

He said it was probably volunteers or campaign staffers. Spokespeople for the Bush campaign did not return calls about the matter Thursday afternoon.

(snip)

They were released shortly after the president left, and Paul Davis, one of the Health GAP hecklers, said he and his fellow protesters had each been cited for disorderly conduct.


Protesters infiltrate pro-Bush rally
http://www.pottstownmercury.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12894279&BRD=1674&PAG=461&dept_id=18041&rfi=6

Minutes after President Bush began his speech, Davis, who was sitting about 35 feet from the stage, stood up and began yelling "Bush Lies. People Died" as the audience drowned him out by chanting "Four More Years."

About two minutes later, after the Secret Service and local police had escorted Davis outside, Murphy, Demarco and Moallin stood up and continued the "Bush Lies" chant.

(snip)

Two of the protesters later claimed they had been roughed up by real Republican volunteers, who were upset at the disruption. The protesters were ejected by the Secret Service, with help from Montgomery Township Police Department and authentic GOP volunteers.

"They (Republican volunteers) were pulling me by my hair," said Demarco, who wears his hair in long dreadlocks


Again the photos of the hair pulling
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040909/480/pajl10209091850
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040909/480/pajl10109091829

I wish someone could ID this guy and expose him for the jerk he is.