No protests of any sort allowed!
The Secret Service says it is investigating the claims of three people who claim they were removed from President Bush’s town hall meeting on Social Security last week after being singled out because of a bumper sticker on their car.
The three said they had obtained tickets through the office of Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Colo., had passed through security and were preparing to take their seats when they were approached by what they thought was a Secret Service agent who asked them to leave.
Alex Young, 25, an Internet technology worker from Denver who was among the three removed from the event March 17 at Wings over the Rockies, said officials told them the next day they were identified as belonging to the “No Blood for Oil” group.
Young said they belong to no such group, but the car they drove to the event had a bumper sticker that read: “No More Blood for Oil.”
“I don’t think a bumper sticker on a friend’s car should disqualify me from seeing the president,” Young said.
So the new job of the Secret Service is to go around the parking lot and look for bumper stickers?
During the Presidential election last year, this was the only way one ever got to see the President. If an audience member had any suggestion of dissent; an opponent’s campaign button or shirt, a protest sign, etc., they were asked to leave the “rented therefore private” place.
Just recently, the city of Evansville Indiana, got screwed by the Secret Service. During a visit by the Vice President, a protested successfully sued the City when his 1st and 14th Amendments rights were violated. A S. S. agent told City Police to keep protestors 500 feet from the entrance. During the trial, the S. S. refused to supply any witnesses, evidence, or other assistance to the city.
The Secret Service’s reply was to the effect that they expect the local police to supply the major part of the detail and to pick up that cost. The President and Vice President are no longer invited to Evansville.
From the Indianapolis Star, March 19, 2005
http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/230429-9346-093.html
Note: this is a cached document.
What if I know someone who has a friend who has an anti-war bumper sticker?
Nothing new if you’re an old fart who recalls the McCarthy Era — and the official abuse of privacy and the 1st Amendment. You can always find several flavors of cop, ready and willing to serve politicians, regardless of the abusive practices required.
They’re Good Germans, too.
Come over to DZFM for a free music mix download John.
Water and oil don’t mix.
http://compactURL.com/ksjq
McCarthy…wasn’t that Charlie? Wasn’t he Murphy Brown’s brother?
I just looked through my daughters American History book…and, there is no mention of the “McCarthy Era”. It’s totally glossed over in schools today…..so, this is all new stuff to the newer generations.
When I was a kid (just after the McCarthy Era) I heard virtually nothing about it, either, in school. The first inkling I had was watching the Woody Allen movie regarding blacklisting in Hollywood. I, literally, had no knowledge of any of it. (What was the name of the Woody Allen movie?)
….Scary isn’t it? We’re doomed to repeat that part of history, again.
Take this fight all the way to the top! American’s deserve to see what this administration is doing. Your situation is not uncommon, but you will be the one’s to bring it into the light for all to see! You have more support than you can imagine. Please don’t give up. Your voice will be ours.
I remember when Bush came to Seattle. He was whisked in his police-escorted limmo from the airport to his private meetings with select billionaires.
All protestors, confined to their designated areas, were allowed to scream and wave their signs blocks away. I doubt that Bush was even aware of them.