Hillary has "goons" ejecting people at her rally!

[gaiilonfong]

Tweety had Medea Benjamin on from Code-Pink discussing the taser incident. During the segment Medea held up an anti-war shirt that she wore to a Hillary rally. She claims that Hillary had "GOONS" throw her out just for wearing the shirt. No matter what you think of code-pink, this is a democracy and they have a right to wear whatever they want to a public rally. Apparently Hillary is using Karl Rove tactics to stifle dissent.(I wonder if her campaign has a manual for these tactics like Chimpy does)
It doesn't surprise me, I always thought she had ReTHUGlican tendencies when it came to her tactics politically. She is a disgrace and should be called out for it.

[liberal N proud]

1. Last time that happened, bu$h stole two elections

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[gaiilonfong]

3. thanks

I have been a long time lurker. I will disclose I am not a Hillary fan or hater, but this story really has me angry. She needs to apologize for this garbage.

[eleny]

4. I also watched the segment

And posted about it here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1837234#1837412

I'd like to hear the Clinton campaign's side of this. Just to be fair.

If what Medea said is true, it's shameless to have ejected her from the event.

[PatSeg]

44. Her shirt only said what most Democrats feel right now

Chris Matthews handled the whole thing very well, speaking of the loss of free speech and saying that was what we were supposedly trying to bring to the Iraqi people, while suppressing it at home.

[hedgehog]

5. Welcome to DU and come over to the lounge if you need a break.

[Vidar]

6. Follwing in shrub's footsteps.

[EV_Ares]

7. I saw that, have always been pissed about Bush doing that and now

I find out Hillary is doing the same thing. Dam.

[ericgtr]

8. It's no secret

that I am not a Hillary fan but do we know the whole story here? These code-pink people seem a bit radical, I have my doubts that Hillary would just up and have this person tossed for just holding up a shirt. I am willing to bet there was more to it than that and it's probably not easy to speak when people are being disruptive. Not to mention this person could've been removed by security, without consultation to Hillary.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

17. I find Code Pink to be filled with "goons," too. I agree with

their message but abhor their methods. When you pass over reasonable, studied discussion straight into a position that most MSM outlets and people write you off as whack jobs you are doing something wrong. Once that happens your message is lost to the four winds. Time for a change in tactics. Code Pink has jumped the shark and they need to reorganize, re-energize into a strategy that stops their being punch lines for Leno and Letterman.

[SaveElmer]

25. They are irrelevent...

Hillary being heckled by Code Pink if anything will only help her. Another group that believes their right to scream at the top of their lungs anywhere anytime is more important than the free speech of others....

[Peace Patriot]

28. Code pink "a bit radical"? They are merely expressing the views of SEVENTY PERCENT

of the American people--an overwhelming, epochal antiwar majority--that is being completely ignored by Congress, the President and the war profiteering corporate news monopolies and their next crowned head, Hillary Clinton.

Furthermore, she was thrown out for wearing a T-shirt, not for disrupting anything. You in favor of evicting people from a political event on SUSPICION that they MIGHT yell something embarrassing to our dear leaders? For chrissake, if Hillary can't handle a heckler, how's she's going to lead the country? Like Bush--insulated from criticism and living in his own little horror-filled dream world? She should welcome dissenters, if they've got something to say. She should be able to stand on her feet and defend her policies in any circumstance. The American people are sick unto death of these icky, cosmetic, overly scripted, political charades, that ignore the horrors that our government is perpetrating, and that smooth everything over with obedient, vetted audiences, and a completely phony illusion of unity.

The police state starts here, with the tagging, eviction and marginalization of Americans who have something they want to say, before they even say it. This fascist mode by corporate/war profiteer Democrats didn't begin with Hillary. In fact it dates back to the police riot at the Democratic Convention in 1968--massive beatings, head bustings and arrests of people who wanted the Democratic Party to stop the horrible Vietnam War, in which 2 million people were being slaughtered. Most recently, we saw it manifested at the Democratic Party Convention in 2004, with Iraq War protesters "caged" far away from the convention in Boston.

It is nauseating to know that we are in for more of the same--a "happy face" kabuki convention, and a campaign in which the views of 70% of the American people are edited out by both parties.

[freefall]

38. Thank you, Peace Patriot. Well said. n/t

[illinoisprogressive]

9. many keep warning that Hillary is alot like bush and using Rove's playbook

[elizm]

11. And MANY keep ignoring it. nt

[msongs]

16. you've already said you will not vote for her if she is the dems nominee - you are biased nt

[Clintonista2]

23. Makes you wonder who the real enemy is

IMO, nothing is worse than the self proclaimed "Dems" who will end up supporting the repigs on election day.

[elizm]

27. You need to sell your t-shirts...you have to be unbiased. nt

[ericgtr]

20. In this case

I would like to hear the whole story, does anyone have a link? It seems to me that everyone is taking this on faith without any facts. Did Hillary order them out? Were they (or Medea) loud and disruptive? Medea claims it was Hillary that had her "goons" throw her out, I would like to see this backed up.

[AtomicKitten]

10. That fascist behavior is Bush-esque and I hope HRC stops these tactics.

The country is in turmoil and requires (and is entitled to) vent by exercising free speech.

[iconocrastic]

12. Ouch - the yelling - like fingernails on a blackboard

[rinsd]

13. Which rally was she talking about?

[superkia]

14. Read the posts about the kid getting tazed, Allot of people accept...

having their freedom of speech controlled to what the system wants with no real guidelines since they started the attack on our rights. Its ok to physically grab people and arrest them for speaking to long and pointing out negatives in a political arena. Its not allowed anymore, thats why Bush, ABC, Clinton, they all separate people because of their personal views. It is now ok to segregate people and even arrest people because of speech and views? And people think its ok, we have been dumbed down and brainwashed by the government to think its ok?

[Trajan]

49. One cannot yell 'FIRE" in a theater .....

Free Speech is limited by law .....

I havent gotten involved in this as of yet ...... But, while it is unnecessary for ANYONE to be arrested for merely asking questions, it is my understanding that this student had manhandled his way into the line, and was being physical in doing so .....

I have taught my kids this: IF you even touch someone without their permission, you have committed simple assault .... I was not there, and all we have is chunks and snippets of the conclusion .... But I know there might be instances where someone who is asking questions at one moment may have done something prior that might warrant some response from the police .....

I hate to give the police any more slack than is absolutely necessary, but I think it is clear that the bulk of the young crowd were glad he was apprehended .... The tazing is another issue .....

I love freedom of speech, but not if you punch me in the mouth before you enjoy that right ..... The free speech issue is a red herring if the student was confronted for assaultive behavior ....

Those who commit assault, even jostling in a line, can expect a possible arrest .....

I recall my drunken brother who was stopped for DUI (I was in the back seat, sleeping it off) ....

First he was talking to the police .... then he was swinging at them ..... and then they were restraining him .....

By the time I got out of the back seat: he was handcuffed and being led away, screaming: " I didnt do anything ! "

Um ... brotha ? ..... I saw you ..... you punched at them first .....

Shrugs .... an anecdote, yes .... but a powerful one for me .....

[obama_girl]

15. Al Franken beat up that Dean Heckler

that was pretty uncalled for.

[Mnpaul]

41. sorry but that is just a freeper talking point

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/27/elec04.prez.democrats.larouche/

[saracat]

18. Could it be the manner in which Medea presented herself rather than what she wore that had her

ejected? I do NOT know the story or where medea even was when the "ejection" took place.I have been asked to leave "private areas" at times for secret service reasons.(not for Hillary but Bill)It may not have been her shirt and in any event it is doubtful Hillary was consulted about this.

[bluedog]

22. Code Pink has been dogging her for some time now

http://www.listenhillary.org/article.php?id=789

[saracat]

24. Wow! I don't even support Hillary and that is too much.

Even if she promised to withdraw the troops immediately they would still "dog" her!Do they ever "dog" Republicans? I have not seen them do it.

[bluedog]

29. google clinton and code pink

you'll find alot of info on their protests against her and at times are asked to leave by the hotel management or others......

[jonnyblitz]

31. they had been dogging republicans until the DEMS took

power. they infilitrated the GOP convention in 2004 and unfurled a banner (at the time people like you at DU WHINED about them saying they would make "us" look bad), I have seen them infiltrate Rumsfeld speeches and other hearings. You must have slept through all of that. People like you who believe DEMS should be exempt from criticism on this war and it's only the republicans who should be held accountable need to seriously get a fucking CLUE!

[TheWraith]

19. Medea Benjamin's greatest aspiration in life is to become Ralph Nader.

You know she's not a Democrat, right? And that she and her group deliberately seek out and attack Democrats, including anti-war Democrats, as opposed to targeting Republicans where their actions might be useful? The Republicans couldn't ask for better friends in terms of trying to push responsibility for the war onto the Dems.

I'm not wild about Hillary at the moment, but Medea Benjamin and Code Pink are far from an example of harmless protest.

[fenriswolf]

21. all i gotta say

all i gotta say about hillary is that she rakes in the most cash from lobbies supporters www.whitehouseforsale.org and the fact that once she gets into office all the power and precidance that good ol' GW has grabbed will be hers, she can contineau in his footsteps without the outrage he has cause by his power grabbing. I do not believe she represents the american people especially since she has never been a middle class citizen. I do not believe that she has the best interests of us at heart as by her money record she has to have at least some corporate interests at heart. I do not believe that she has americas health at heart (how conviniant will it be for the insurance companies when we HAVE to have health insurance just like car insurance) I believe that hillary feel off the progressive bandwagon awhile ago.

kucinich '08 (unless gore runs)

[AlCzervik]

26. Has anyone here actually been to a rally or meeting where this has happened or

actually know anyone that has?

[Cameron27]

40. Medea Benjamin was on Hardball talking about it,

I think that's where the OP got the story. If she was only thrown out because she was wearing a peace t-shirt, then she's got a point, but I don't know if that's the entire story.

[emilyg]

30. Be nice to get the full story before jumping to conclusions.

[saracat]

35. And thats the truth!

[Cameron27]

42. Yep, I agree.

[paulk]

32. considering the feelings Ms. Benjamin has for HRC

anything she reports has to be taken with a mountain of salt.

kind of like the rest of your post and it's unsubstatiated accusations...

[BrightKnight]

33. ...and she eats puppies! - n/t

[The Count]

34. I thought DU-ers established that disruptors need to be ejected and tazered

So, I am not waiting for the "Hillary is the greatest" threads filling the first page in response to this.
Also the timing of this is a bit suspicious - as it refers to no specific event. Seems more like finger pointing from Kerry defenders.

[Freddie Stubbs]

36. What exactly constitutes a 'public' rally?

:shrug:

[Ethelk2044]

37. I heard that on tweety today too. They were telling people they could not wear those shirts.

[tammywammy]

39. I'd rather hear the other side of the story before jumping to conclusions on this

Code Pink already has a long history with Hillary Clinton, so I'm going to take this story with a grain of salt.

[MODemocrat]

43. Code-Pink embarass themselves

even though their hearts may be in the right place. If this hadn't been Hillary's rally, would they
have referred to her "bouncers" as goons? Absolutely not, it's their hatred of her; no doubt in my
mind about that. :+

[WCGreen]

45. Pinkie and the Brain...

Pinkie and the Brain...

One is a Genius...

The Other's Insane....

[Stephanie]

46. Was it a rally or was it a fundraiser?

I know some of Code Pink got into a Hillary luncheon last summer in New York.

[Capn Sunshine]

47. well when they're not busy throwing folks out, they post here at DU

the behavior is appalling, and it never ends.

[2rth2pwr]

48. Well, at least she doesn't have them tasered. nt