Comments on: Dear Cindy Sheehan

By: Tiff

Tiff — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 16:26:42 +0000

It’s worth noting that signs and protest-wear are generally prohibited in the Capitol, without regard for the content of the message. This has been the policy since long before the current administration took office.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 16:25:15 +0000

I don’t think they’re the voice; there’s plenty of people like me who are centrist in many ways but find the current social policies of the Republican party sufficiently repugnant that we’re going to go Dem for the forseeable future. The far left just -seems- like the voice of the party since nobody else has any goddamned balls so there’s no competing voices.

The media has an impact on this as well; look at the public image that Howard Dean has gotten saddled with, despite being one of the more fiscally conservative types in the Democratic party. What he’s most known for is opposition to the Iraq war, despite all his other messages and fiscal history, primarily because Iraq was big news so Iraq opposition got the most ink.

By: JMD94

JMD94 — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 15:35:54 +0000

For the record, rep Bill Young’s(R-Fla)wife was also booted for wearring a “Support Our Troops” T shirt.

Personally, I think that the Cindy Sheehans, Move On, Code Pink crowd etc. ultimately help Bush and could ultimately lead to another Republican victory in 2008. National elections are won in the middle. As long as the far left is the voice of the Democratic Party, they won’t win.

By: Lite

Lite — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 13:34:52 +0000

Cindy Sheehan does not get it.

A Presidential SOTU address is a bi-partisan event and not a stage for her to inject her viewpoint.

Save me the rhetoric about free speech, Sheehan’s actions are just plain disrespectful.

F Cinfy Sheehan, she’s pretty much ruined the memory of her dead son.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:48:56 +0000

While I personally loathe the “free speech zones” (I thought that was “the US”) and other stifling measures, I think inside the House during the address its the obligation of attendees to be quiet, respectful and non-disruptive. Message shirts don’t qualify as courteous dress in my book.

That said, the long history of the Bush administration of stifling any appearance of dissent sure makes it hard to be on their side on this…

By: wayan

wayan — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:18:01 +0000

“Protesting from the House of Representatives is prohibited.”

Whaaa? Have you ever seen a floor debate? That’s a more lively & possibly disruptive action than a T-shirt. Especially one so muted as the number of american war dead in Iraq, plus “How many more, Mr. Bush?”

By: Tom Bridge

Tom Bridge — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:14:58 +0000

According to the Post, it was the number of american war dead in Iraq, plus “How many more, Mr. Bush?”

Protesting from the House of Representatives is prohibited.

By: wayan

wayan — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:11:15 +0000

Depends on what the shirt says. If its a muted “Bush where is my son?”, I think they went overboard. if its a flashing, day-glow short that says “f%#k Bush”, then they might have a case. the whole freedom of speach thing, ya know.

By: Tom Bridge

Tom Bridge — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 03:56:30 +0000

Ah, well then CNN’s initial story is wrong. Either way, you comply with the Capitol Police or you go to jail. Surprise? Shouldn’t be.

By: wayan

wayan — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 03:47:20 +0000

Good try Tom, but it was actually a T-shirt, which is a little draconian, if you ask me. from WASHINGTON (CNN) — Peace activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Tuesday in the House gallery after refusing to cover up a T-shirt bearing an anti-war slogan before President Bush’s State of the Union address.

“She was asked to cover it up. She did not,” said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman, adding that Sheehan was arrested for unlawful conduct, a misdemeanor.