OMG -- Did you just see the footage of the 'gold-star mother' on Keith

[Sparkly]

Olbermann? Ousted for heckling Laura Bush, and then arrested for disorderly trespassing or some such? Astounding.

[notadmblnd]

1. I saw it and I hope those people have t rouble sleeping at night.

nt

[annabanana]

46. Absolutely heartbreaking...................

This is how much our kids lives mean to them.

[Ducks In A Row]

2. All she was doing at that point was talking to reporters

she wasn't even in the hall at that point.

loved the bit at the end. They sent her a request for money for the bush campaign.

the reporters were kinda of shocked at the police were doing this. I'm shocked. It's time to get rid of bush.

[madmax]

3. Mother of soldier killed in Iraq disrupts first lady Laura Bush's rally

September 16, 2004

Mother of soldier killed in Iraq disrupts first lady Laura Bush's rally

HAMILTON, N.J. (AP) - A woman wearing a T-shirt with the words "President Bush You Killed My Son" and a picture of a soldier killed in Iraq was detained Thursday after she interrupted a campaign speech by first lady Laura Bush.

Police escorted Sue Niederer of Hopewell, N.J., from a rally at a firehall after she demanded to know why her son, 1st Lieut. Seth Dvorin, 24, was killed in Iraq. Dvorin died in February while trying to disarm a bomb.

As shouts of "four more years" subsided, Niederer, standing in the middle of a crowd of some 700, continued to shout about the killing of her son. Secret service and local police escorted her out of the event, handcuffed her and placed her in the back of a police van.

Laura Bush continued speaking, touting her husband's record on the economy, health care and the war on terror to those attending the rally in this suburban community of 90,000 people near Trenton.

more: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2004/09/16/pf-631903.html

[punpirate]

17. Well, the only good thing in this story...

... is that out of 90,000 people in Hamilton, NJ, they could only scrounge up 700 Republicans to listen to the Stepford wife.

Let's hope there are more mothers of dead soldiers asking the same question of the Bushes. *sigh*

[Riddler]

4. I Saw It

And it was disgusting. This woman was standing OUTSIDE the hall where Pickles was speaking, just talking to some media people when she's handcuffed and dragged away by the police. WTF????? We should be emailing every news outlet demanding that they show footage of it so the people can see what has happened to our right to dissent under President Scum-bag.

[Sparkly]

8. Exactly -- how on earth could they have charged her with anything?

I'm not a lawyer but that makes NO sense to me. None.

Btw, welcome to DU! :hi:

[Cha]

5. I didn't see her and why is she a "gold star mother"?

Some of us think Teresa should call her and try and comfort her.

[Beaverhausen]

10. Her son was killed in Iraq

I think that is where the "gold star mother" name comes from.

[Sparkly]

13. Gold-star means she's the mother of a soldier killed in combat

During WWII the government gave them gold stars, which were displayed in their windows.

[Cha]

20. Oh dear! Thanks!

How sad..I would go anywhere and ask that question if my son were killed by gw bush. This has got to get out how callous laura, of the glazed eyes, bush is!

[DemDogs]

87. And Laura did not stop them?

What is wrong with these people?

[izzie]

I saw one of the flags in a window yesterday.

Went by so fast, but think it had a blue star. It was the thing we counted when we road in cars as kids. They were every place in those days.I used to spend a lot of time in graveyards( I do family history) and it is sad to see the young men who have died in wars.

[RevCheesehead]

15. dupe

Parents were given these stars during WW II.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

6. The gal got her licks in

And Olbermann helped her. That film clip should be shown around the clock.

The lady said she had a ticket, it was open to the public and wanted to know what they were arresting her for. She said, haul me in that she had a right to be there. Said to arrest her on cameras. Gutsy lady. As they are hauling her away in handcuffs she told the camera that she and her ex-husband had written Bush about the death of their son. He didn't write them back but she did get a letter from the RNC asking for a donation.

[Mz Pip]

12. That was incredible

THe only response she got from Bush was a request for money.

Unf*cking believable.


OK Kerry, this one is right over the plate. Knock it out of the park.

MzPip
:dem:

[Sparkly]

22. If that happened to me, I don't think I could be as polite as she was

I'd be crazy with rage to begin with. And the idea of big men in uniform handcuffing a grieving mother!! Tell me they couldn't have resolved whatever their problem with her was, without restraining her? What were they afraid she'd do, deck them?

[LittleClarkie]

23. Imagine

if a Bush supporter got arrested at a Kerry rally. Oh the humanity.

[Kimber Scott]

95. They arrest them and then drop the charges. That seems to be the

pattern anyway. I don't know why the police don't stand up to the SS on this stuff. They should have to follow local law. I believe the ACLU has filed a suit for some of the people that have been arrested for "trespassing" at Bush rallies.

[Pirate Smile]

7. I hope all the news channels and local news stations show this as much

as possible.

Was she holding her son's hat with blood on it? So, so sad.

:(

[cheshire]

9. I would think even Pubs would see this as wrong. God how far can they go?

[prouDem]

21. This is outrageous.

Sometimes getting arrested is the only way to draw attention to oneself. Civil disobedience has a long history as being an effective tool. I think it was here. This woman had something to say, and now we've all heard it.

[Sparkly]

27. I don't even see it as civil disobedience -- not once she was outside

She was outside the building talking to media. What laws was she breaking? I don't see the disobedience.

Welcome to DU, btw :hi:

[prouDem]

62. I called it disobedience

because she got arrested. As usual, the Bush morons plan backfired. They should have just let her sit there and listen to Laura speak. Since they caused a scene, now we all know about the story.

[Sparkly]

68. Yes, just disagreeing is now being "disobedient"

I know some don't like the comparison, but there really are shades of Nazi Germany here. :(

[RevCheesehead]

39. Welcome to DU, prouDem.

I'd wave, but the seriousness of this topic is holding me back.

Thanks for your thoughtful comment.

[blm]

59. How FAR can they go? Freepers will get her address and harass her.

Fockin' Bushmoonies. Scratch any Bushloyalist and you'll find a moonie underneath.

[kentuck]

11. I felt sorry for the lady..

Her son had been killed in Iraq earlier this year....and they treated her like a hardened criminal...arms behind her back, handcuffed, and forcibly pulled away...as she was screaming something about her "rights"... :(

[Avalux]

14. I saw it - very disturbing

she kept asking "what am I being charged with?" when she was led away. Also said she and her ex-husband wrote letters to shrub when their son died. They got no response. What they did get was a request to contribute to the smirky/snarly campaign.

How the hell could she be trespassing when the event was open to the public?????

[nostamj]

16. she's the kind of mother I wrote this for...

from The Question W Revue - it wasn't ALL laughs...

A MOTHER'S LAMENT

NO, I DON'T FEEL ANY SAFER
AND I AM NO LESS AFRAID.
I MARCHED TO STOP THIS MADNESS
HAVE WE BEEN BETRAYED?
YOU SAID THE THREAT WAS REAL.
YOU SAID THAT WE HAD CAUSE TO FEAR
BUT WAS THE MOTIVATION CLEAR?
DID MY CHILD DIE FOR A LIE?

THE COFFINS ARRIVE IN DARKNESS
THE WOUNDED KEPT OUT OF SIGHT.
YOU SAID YOU'D HUG EACH MOTHER
BUT I'M STILL WAITING
YOU'LL NEVER KNOWN THIS PAIN
MY CHILD WAS NOT PROTECTED
BY PRIVILEDGE LIKE YOURS
CAN YOU EXPLAIN?
I ASK YOU AGAIN SIR...

PLEASE, WHAT WAS THIS WAR FOR?
WAS IT ALL A LIE?
WHY DID MY SON DIE?
WAS IT ALL A LIE?
WHAT WILL YOU TELL THE CHILDREN?
TELL THE WIDOWS?
TELL THE MOTHERS?
TELL THE NATION NOW?
THERE WERE NO WEAPONS FOUND.
SO WAS YOUR REASONING SOUND?
DID YOU DECEIVE ME?
WHO SHOULD I BELIEVE?
WAS IT BLOOD FOR OIL?
HAVE YOU SEEN OUR FAMILYS GRIEVE?
THROUGH MY TEARS I WILL SPEAK
OUT UNTIL I'M HEARD
SO HEAR ME SIR
I WILL BE ANSWERED NOW
MY FAMILY PAID THE HIGHEST PRICE OF ALL.
NOW WE CAN GIVE NO MORE.
AND SIR, HIS NAME WAS PAUL.
PLEASE, WHAT IS THIS WAR FOR?

lyrics copyright 2004 by Jeff Matson
all rights reserved.

[Cha]

32. Beautiful!

[nostamj]

69. thanks, I wish you could hear my partner's

beautiful music for those lyrics, esp. when performed by THIS lady:

[A_Possum]

18. They had the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq ARRESTED???

Are you joking??

And these people are supposed to be good at campaigning? Good at supporting our military?

This is a MAJOR SCANDAL. If Bush doesn't get out there and apologize to this poor woman for the grave error in judgement of whoever charged this woman with a crime, he's nuts.

[Cha]

34. Well, he is "nuts"...so I don't think we'll

see an apology from bush..they never admit to ANY Wrong doing!

[Skip Intro]

51. Yes - they were all but dragging her away

She was already outside the, uh, laura bush speech, talking to reporters, and the cops effin' handcuffed her and dragged her off.

My jaw dropped.

Her son gave his life for the lying scum whose wife was "speaking" inside, and she's arrested for talking to reporters outside the building.

Stay up for the rebroadcast of Olberman's show. Everyone needs to see this.

[CornField]

19. This, for me, has been the most depressing thing about this election

I just saw the Countdown piece and I was moved to tears. How could they? How could those officers arrest that woman? She wasn't yelling at anyone -- she wasn't disrupting anything. What was her crime?

Honestly, I don't know how much longer I can do this... it's heartbreaking. We should not treat our military families like this -- hell, no American should be treated like this!

[Ducks In A Row]

30. What really gets me that people can see this and shrug and vote for *

The thugs in the hall were shouting "4 more years" and I heard they were laughing at her being dragged out, and shouting at her that her son volunteered, as if that made it ok for him to be dead.

all the people in that hall, including the murderer laura bush should be shipped over to iraq and dropped naked into fallujah.

[Sparkly]

40. Maybe they'll draw coffins on bandaids now

How could they sink any lower?

Nobody "volunteered" for an unjust war. They wanted to serve their country, not BushCo. I agree with you -- drop them in Iraq and let 'em yell "4 more years" and "bring it on" over there. :mad:

[Cha]

41. That doesn't surprise me at all..

these are types of people bush attracts..just like him..too bad there are millions of 'em.

[A_Possum]

24. Maybe Kerry can go her bail

That's about how ridiculous it's gotten. These Bush people are creeps.

[Cha]

42. Kerry to the rescue, Again!

[NJCher]

25. so it's come to this

Putting handcuffs on the mother's of dead soldiers.

I don't even think the Nazis sunk that low.


Cher

[Cha]

49. They get their playbook from the nazis...

so maybe they did:-(

[OilemFirchen]

26. Gold Star Mothers got me thinking...

Anyone remember this?

New York Senator Hillary Clinton refused to meet with a delegation of Gold Star mothers.

Status: False.

I'm itchin' for the wingnutz to start attacking the GSM's.

C'mon. Bring it on.

[nostamj]

64. i couldn't resist tweaking that pic!

[foo_bar]

89. fark bush

[DemBones DemBones]

78. George thinks his heart is in his abdomen?

Weird.

[RevCheesehead]

28. Imagine Kerry (John or Teresa) responding to her pain:

We need to acknowledge your pain. We had hoped that your son's loss would be seen as a noble sacrifice, if circumstances surrounding this war were different. We will do everything possible to prevent your loss from happening to other mothers and fathers...


To refuse to even ACKNOWLEDGE this woman shows Mrs. Bush for the woman she truly is: one who avoids the truth, and has the SS to protect and shield her from the unpleasant realities of life.

Shame on you, Pickles. You are turning into Barbara.

on edit: This was Pickles' response:
As shouts of "four more years" subsided, Niederer, standing in the middle of a crowd of some 700, continued to shout about the killing of her son. Secret service and local police escorted her out of the event, handcuffed her and placed her in the back of a police van.

Laura Bush continued speaking, touting her husband's record on the economy, health care and the war on terror to those attending the rally in this suburban community of 90,000 people near Trenton.

She made several references to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and noted that many in New Jersey, including some in neighbourhoods near the firehall, lost family members that day.

"Too many people here had a loved one that went to work in New York that day," Bush said. "It's for our country, it's for our children, our grandchildren that we do the hard work of confronting terror."

[A_Possum]

33. That's what I mean by a stupid campaign

If the Bushco was any kind of a campaign in reality (instead of in the minds of the media), Laura would have stopped everything, called that mother up onto the stage and taken her hands and wept with her.

I can only presume Laura is terrified of doing such a thing. And the Pugs are terrified of what's happening in Iraq.

They ought to be.

I hope this clip gets some real play in our playtime-cartoon news, but it probably won't. You'd think at least CBS would show it.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

29. But, but, but...Dems are just as bad because they tore up a kid's sign!

And then handed it back to her! GASP!

[vetwife]

37. MFSO need to be all over this one ! This alone could be an ad

Military families are encouraged to speak out and this is what happens Yeah I saw it. Some of you saw it and it lies here on a Board. I will talk it up every chance I get on the airwaves. I want to challenge each and every DUer here. I want everyone to listen to the Guy James Show Saturday. I want everyone to call every Radio Station, from Air America to Randi Rhodes, and flood Fox and CNN with this story. Don't think we can't make a differecne.
Also you can keep calling C-Span on Washington Journal until you get through. You should also write Keith and thank him for the piece. Did you see it anywhere else? Nope..I don't think so. If you did see it, it was spun. You can make a difference. Its time to bring the matter front and center ! MFSO needs to be contacted and told we are behind them and something else...imagine just imagine if that were Marie? We know it very well could be. Same pain, same hurt. The woman is entitled to freedom of speech !

[Sparkly]

50. Good idea!! And write to VFW and American Legion

Where else? I'll look up email addresses...

[vetwife]

56. Most of them are squarely in Bush's corner..General public

Moms..Mothers of the military.....that is where this story neds to be...I don't say all the big vets orgs are there with Bush but most are !

[Sparkly]

65. Emails -- FWIW

Wouldn't hurt to drop a note of thanks here, as you said--
Keith: [e-mail]

Wouldn't hurt to drop a note expressing outrage and demanding a public comment here --
VFW: [e-mail]
...and many others here:
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=misc.contact&cfid=1938003&cftoken=43683733

American Legion: Page of contact forms:
http://www.legion.org/?content=help_contact

And as you suggested --
Military Families Speak Out: [e-mail]

[Skip Intro]

86. PUT IT IN AN AD!

YES!

Let America see what really happens to the families of those who have died because of george w bush.

Let America see what freedom is really like under george w bush.

[CornField]

47. Just for the record, I'd like to kick some sense into those Dems (m)

Look at this little girl!


It's wrong -- no matter who the hell does shit like this -- IT'S WRONG!

[A_Possum]

55. Well, if this gets more coverage than the mom

which it probably will, that's WRONG.

I'm sorry someone tore up her sign, but that's not even in the same category as arresting a mother whose son was killed in Bush's war.

[Still_Loves_John]

61. Could you share the story for that picture?

I'm a little confused as to whats going on. It looks like the girl is at a Kerry rally with a Bush sign...What's wrong with her father? You know that you'll get shouted at if you show up at another party's rally with opposition signs--why would he want to expose his child to that?

[CornField]

76. Here's the cutline

Three-year-old Sophia Parlock cries while seated on the shoulders of her father, Phil Parlock, after having their Bush-Cheney sign torn up by Kerry-Edwards supporters on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004, at the Tri-State Airport in Huntington, W.Va. Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards made a brief stop at the airport as he concluded his two-day bus tour to locations in West Virginia and Ohio. (AP Photo/Randy Snyder)

----

BTW, I've heard several people say "why would anyone take a child..." For the record, I have three children and they've all attended both rallies and protests with me. It's democracy... it should be a place parents can take children.

[dweller]

63. what is that about?

is that pic something to do with this story?

dp

edit: Okay, i see your response above mine. But are you comparing apples and oranges here?
The sign was torn up by K/E supporters, not the SS. The child or her father were not arrested for exercising their free speech. Granted, what happened to their sign is wrong, and the action by the supporters was wrong.
But, imo, this does not equal what this Gold Star Mother had happen to her.

dp

[Sparkly]

31. She should be a guest on talkshows -- show their fears of the public

at any of their staged, tightly-controlled events, and show the sheer hypocrisy of claiming to honor the military while hiding their deaths and arresting their mothers...

I hope everyone in the military and every veteran sees that footage.

[oasis]

35. The stuff Micheal Moore documentaries are made of. (eom)

[kentuck]

36. She put up a brave front but her dear heart was breaking....

and they treated her like dirt. That makes me so angry. What has this nation become? :(

[moondust]

38. Totalitarian.

Right out of the Stalin/Hitler archives.

[vetwife]

45. can we get a clip of this up !

[moondust]

60. ??

I know I don't have a recording.

[speedoo]

43. Sounds like Keith gave it more coverage than all the local NYC stations..

combined.

ABC and CBS local evening news broadcasts covered it very briefly.

On the other hand, they were all excited about the NJ race tightening up.

I guess the coWard and his scumbag helpers have more than just the cable whores bought and sold.

[Texas_Dem]

44. there is a pattern here...

arrest those who disagree with you.
fire workers who oppose your point of view.
make citizens sign loyalty oaths.
silence voices that you deem to be against you.

Heard the other day (can't remember where) that Republicans think George Orwell's' book "1984" is a guide on how to run the country. It's not so funny now.

[A_Possum]

48. How could DU'ers show our support for her?

Is there anything we can do?

[vetwife]

52. YES...Look at my post ..#37

Big time, look at my post

[Sparkly]

53. Start with vetwife's post #37

I'm not sure if there's some way we could show support to her directly, in ways that wouldn't open her up to more abuse by Freepers, for example... Ideas?

[vetwife]

54. I am for contacting Olberman's show or getting the transcript and

writing her but that is not what she wants. she wants to be heard. She probably belongs to MFSO and there needs to be emails sent around regarding this incident to every freeper whether you like them or not. I am going on the Vet sites and doing it !

[A_Possum]

66. Is there some way that our support would help get her story out

I understand you that our sympathy alone is not what she wants. But I'm wondering if we can make some kind of symbolic gesture that would be vivid enough to bring real attention to what happened.

Something beyond e-mails. Something more concrete?

E-mails too of course, that goes w/o saying.

[Sparkly]

73. I hear you. She's clearly no shrinking violet to have done what she did.

She's an outraged, grieving mother and it seems she wants to be heard.

What if we all sent flowers to that police station and asked them to deliver them to her -- all from one flower shop, and then called the news media to report it? Would they?

Or what if somebody in the area delivered some sort of "singing telegram" or some such to that police station, or a bagload of sympathy cards?

Off the top of my head...

[A_Possum]

75. the flowers are a possible idea

for sure local news would report that

[Sparkly]

83. I don't know how to begin to find out which police station it was

or even which firehouse the speech was. "Near Trenton" NJ is all I know. Anybody?

[A_Possum]

85. let's brainstorm it here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x825893

[kymar57]

57. OK no flames

But was she removed from the hall and arrested or was she she removed and then arrested while she was outside talking to reporters?

It's outrageous either way. Just trying to keep the facts straight.

[enigmatic]

71. She was arreasted as she talked to reporters outside..

Pretty disgusting..

[Ducks In A Row]

72. removed from the hall, standing talking to reporters, arrested

if you can watch the repeat of olbermann in msnbc

they might have it on their web site later.

[canuckybee]

58. I am stunned..how can anyone justify this?

and yet, I know some will try. If there is any justice in this world, this will be all over the news tomorrow. Has it occurred to anyone that without Olbermann we might never even have heard about it ourselves?

[diplomats]

74. This reminds me of the letter President Truman got from

the parent of a son killed in Korea. He blamed Truman for his son's death and Truman kept that letter in his night stand for years. I know he took it seriously.

Completely different from the * administration, isn't it?

[Carey46955]

92. It was painful..

One of the most painful things I have ever seen. And, yes, this footage should be shown on every newscast. Why is it not a surprise that it is only on Countdown that this has been seen?

[Cartooner]

67. I HAD SEEN THIS EARLIER... this alone should BRING DOWN BUSH

DISGRACEFUL ... and it shows the BUSH PEOPLE for what they are:

FASCISTS. I ONLY PRAY ENOUGH OF THE AMERICAN public reacts the way I have seeing this. I WAS REVOLTED.

[vetwife]

70. Enough People don't know about it ! Freedom of Speech Demand it !

Her son died for it , if for nothing else !

[Riddler]

80. My father spent 3 years

fighting agaist this exact same thing in 1942-1945. He fought, as did all the other WWII Vets to save the world from the very same thing we, as a country, are now being subjected to from this illegal, immoral, disgusting garbage that occupies the people's house. When are the Bush-apologists going to open their eyes and see what the rest of the world sees, and that's that this administration is more anti-American than our enemies.

[Cha]

91. It's gonna take a freakin' miracle with

all the greedy people out there!

Welcome to DU!

[bluedog]

77. l bush said after the woman was taken out about 9-11

Too many people here had a loved one that went to work in New York that day," Bush said. "It's for our country, it's for our children, our grandchildren that we do the hard work of confronting terror."


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/09/16/politics1409EDT0616.DTL&type=printable

[A_Possum]

81. So she knew exactly what was going on

She was trying to make it seem like the woman's son was killed because of 9/11.

And then had her arrested for daring to speak out.

[Cha]

93. How dare she use "9/11" as a talking point after

she hears this woman's son was killed in Iraq?!!!!

Sometime wouldn't you just love to shake these dipshits by the collar until some sense trickles in?

[grasswire]

79. freepers are absolutely silent on this

Just went nosing around over there, and don't see a peep about it.

[Texas_Dem]

82. They are hiding under their rocks

or plotting some spin on it.

[johnnie]

84. You can't interrupt pickles

Her batteries run out after an hour.

[Contrary1]

88. Maybe they are messing with

the wrong mother. She is showing up all over the place. Check this out:

Sue Niederer, Pennington, N.J., mother of 1st Lt. Seth Dvorin, who was killed in action in Iraq on Feb. 3:

"I asked Congressman Rush Holt (D-N.J.), how many wives, husbands and children of U.S. congressmen and senators actually are in a war zone in Iraq. You know what he told me? None. Let the president and senators and congressmen send their children over there to fight this war and see how they feel then."

http://www.motherspeak.org/from%20baghdad/sept9.html

[Cha]

90. Amen to that!

Thanks for that, too! And Welcome to DU!

[ProudDad]

94. There's an interview of her here

An Interview with Sue Niederer

http://www.counterpunch.org/weill05222004.html

[ProudDad]

96. And more information...A very powerful woman

"Niederer was later charged with defiant trespass and released."

What the F is defiant trespass??? And the bushidos are worried about malpractice lawsuits???

:shrug:

http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2004/08/15399.php

http://www.notinourname.net/troops/nothing-12feb04.htm

http://www.indcjournal.com/archives/000585.php

http://www.williambowles.info/iraq/antiwar_intvw.html

http://criticalconcern.com/sue_niederer_interview.htm

http://www.packetonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10958951&BRD=1091&PAG=461&dept_id=425744&rfi=6

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/BC373337-AD7C-4F93-8ABC-6AADD3B5AD7B.htm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4500390,00.html