Police Apologize, Drop Charge Vs. Sheehan

[techs]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060201/ap_on_go_co/state_of_union_sheehan
Capitol Police dropped a charge of unlawful conduct against anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan on Wednesday and apologized for ejecting her and a congressman's wife from President Bush's State of the Union address for wearing T-shirts with war messages.

"The officers made a good faith, but mistaken effort to enforce an old unwritten interpretation of the prohibitions about demonstrating in the Capitol," Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said in a statement late Wednesday.

"The policy and procedures were too vague," he added. "The failure to adequately prepare the officers is mine."

The extraordinary statement came a day after police removed Sheehan and Beverly Young, wife of Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young, R-Fla., from the visitors gallery Tuesday night. Sheehan was taken away in handcuffs before Bush's arrival at the Capitol and charged with a misdemeanor, while Young left the gallery and therefore was not arrested, Gainer said.

"Neither guest should have been confronted about the expressive T-shirts," Gainer's statement said.

Gainer added that he was asking the U.S. attorney's office to drop the charge against Sheehan. The statement also said he apologized to the Youngs and "share the department's plans for avoiding this in the future."

"A similar message has been left with Mrs. Sheehan," Gainer said.


I guess we still have or almost have free speech in this country. Mistake, my *ss. The Bushies got what they wanted, Sheehan in handcuffs so she couldn't use her Constitutionally protected right of free speech.

 

[ntdz]

Personally, I don't find it appropriate to wear anti-war shirts in the Capital during the State of the Union...very bad taste.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: ntdz
Personally, I don't find it appropriate to wear anti-war shirts in the Capital during the State of the Union...very bad taste.

And the good news is, thanks to the First Amendment, you don't have to. You can wear what you want.

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: ntdz
Personally, I don't find it appropriate to wear anti-war shirts in the Capital during the State of the Union...very bad taste.

And the good news is, thanks to the First Amendment, you don't have to. You can wear what you want.

Yup...

 

[RichardE]

Freedom of speech is not absolute...

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: ntdz
Personally, I don't find it appropriate to wear anti-war shirts in the Capital during the State of the Union...very bad taste.

How so? Just because its the SotU doesn't mean people should be required to kiss Bush's butt and humor him with faked support of the war.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

She's supposed to sue. I think she's a loon, but hey she was legally there. This was clearly a way to manage her.

Be funny if she won the suit.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: RichardE
Freedom of speech is not absolute...

That might be, but in this case, the officer appeared to be wrong.

Bush administration trying to silence their critics....like they have tried so many times before.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

This was not the first time a poteintial rabble rouser has been removed from the gallery for a SOTUA. It won't be the last. I don't know why anyone has to make a big deal about it.

Although to be honest, the camera shots of her that would have been periodically flashed up on screen would have been priceless.

 

[Compnewbie01]

I heard she was rolling out a banner. So it may have been more than the shirts.

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: RichardE
Freedom of speech is not absolute...

Did she yell, "FIRE!" in the middle of the House gallery? If not, you'll have to make a better case about what she actually did for your statement to have any meaning.

Apparently, the D.C. police haven't found whatever you're worried about.

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Compnewbie01
I heard she was rolling out a banner. So it may have been more than the shirts.

It wasn't. There was no banner.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Compnewbie01
I heard she was rolling out a banner. So it may have been more than the shirts.

It wasn't. There was no banner.

I had heard about the banner thing too. Apparently it was disiniformation. Wonder who spread that false rumor???

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
This was not the first time a poteintial rabble rouser has been removed from the gallery for a SOTUA. It won't be the last. I don't know why anyone has to make a big deal about it.

Yep. In fairness, as mentioned in the OP, they also ejected the Congressman's wife wearing a "Support Our Troops" shirt. They apologized for that as well.

Edit: To clarify, unlike Sheehan, they did NOT arrest the Congressman's wife.

Although to be honest, the camera shots of her that would have been periodically flashed up on screen would have been priceless.

That's why I think Sheehan was stupid. Simply being there would have generated tremendous publicity for her and her cause. You know they would have shown her on camera, and they would have cut to her for reaction shots. She got greedy and probably hurt her cause.

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
This was not the first time a poteintial rabble rouser has been removed from the gallery for a SOTUA. It won't be the last. I don't know why anyone has to make a big deal about it.

Yep. In fairness, as mentioned in the OP, they also ejected the Congressman's wife wearing a "Support Our Troops" shirt. They apologized for that as well.

Edit: To clarify, unlike Sheehan, they did NOT arrest the Congressman's wife.

Although to be honest, the camera shots of her that would have been periodically flashed up on screen would have been priceless.

That's why I think Sheehan was stupid. Simply being there would have generated tremendous publicity for her and her cause. You know they would have shown her on camera, and they would have cut to her for reaction shots. She got greedy and probably hurt her cause.

She should have at least waited until the end before getting arrested.

 

[jlmadyson]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: RichardE
Freedom of speech is not absolute...

That might be, but in this case, the officer appeared to be wrong.

Bush administration trying to silence their critics....like they have tried so many times before.

Yep, George Bush might as well have arrested the two himself. Try to get the facts before spewing left wing propaganda.

Police chief blames vague policies for women's ouster from Capitol

WASHINGTON - Faced with a bipartisan furor, the chief of the Capitol Police on Wednesday apologized for ejecting anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and the wife of an influential Republican congressman from the State of the Union address and blamed vague policies for the actions of his officers. "The officers made a good faith, but mistaken effort to enforce an old unwritten interpretation of the prohibitions about demonstrating in the Capitol. The policy and procedures were too vague," Capitol Police Chief Terrance W. Gainer said. "The failure to adequately prepare the officers is mine."

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: RichardE
Freedom of speech is not absolute...

Did she yell, "FIRE!" in the middle of the House gallery? If not, you'll have to make a better case about what she actually did for your statement to have any meaning.

Apparently, the D.C. police haven't found whatever you're worried about.

There are limits on Free speech and expression, she was informed the rules before she partook in the speech, she knew the limits and chose to disobey them.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: Bowfinger

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
This was not the first time a poteintial rabble rouser has been removed from the gallery for a SOTUA. It won't be the last. I don't know why anyone has to make a big deal about it.

Yep. In fairness, as mentioned in the OP, they also ejected the Congressman's wife wearing a "Support Our Troops" shirt. They apologized for that as well.

Edit: To clarify, unlike Sheehan, they did NOT arrest the Congressman's wife.

Although to be honest, the camera shots of her that would have been periodically flashed up on screen would have been priceless.

That's why I think Sheehan was stupid. Simply being there would have generated tremendous publicity for her and her cause. You know they would have shown her on camera, and they would have cut to her for reaction shots. She got greedy and probably hurt her cause.

Even putting the congressman's wife aside... previous gallery members in previous SOTU addresses have been removed for one reason or another.

And yes, I think she did hurt her cause. (Although I'm not sure if anyone other than Michael Moore gives her any credibility anyway) She could have generated a lot of pub for herself just by sitting there and being quiet. Just being in the gallery would have been a huge statement in and of itself. Basically she came off looking like she lacks the self control to avoid wearing controversial clothing into an environment where controversy is not tolerated. All she did was add to her kook legacy.

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: RichardE
There are limits on Free speech and expression, she was informed the rules before she partook in the speech, she knew the limits and chose to disobey them.

Care to show me the rule book? The cops apologized. Looks like someone spiked their Sheehan alert system with bogus info. What do you know that they don't? :roll:

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: RichardE
There are limits on Free speech and expression, she was informed the rules before she partook in the speech, she knew the limits and chose to disobey them.

Care to show me the rule book? The cops apologized. Looks like someone spiked their Sheehan alert system with bogus info. What do you know that they don't? :roll:

Oh i don't know..all the people quoted as saying they were told before going in what was expected of them, and what they could or could not do. Of course the police apologized, they had too, they were getting a PR backlash.

 

[LumbergTech]

Originally posted by: RichardE

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: RichardE
There are limits on Free speech and expression, she was informed the rules before she partook in the speech, she knew the limits and chose to disobey them.

Care to show me the rule book? The cops apologized. Looks like someone spiked their Sheehan alert system with bogus info. What do you know that they don't? :roll:

Oh i don't know..all the people quoted as saying they were told before going in what was expected of them, and what they could or could not do. Of course the police apologized, they had too, they were getting a PR backlash.

convenient evasion..

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: RichardE
Oh i don't know..all the people quoted as saying they were told before going in what was expected of them, and what they could or could not do.

Then that darned First Amendment gets in the way, and all sorts of tacky fine expectations fall away. I respect Sheehan's opinon more than that asshat moron who gave the speech, last night.

The classic example of a realistic limit on free speech is shouting "Fire!" in a theater. Guess she forgot her matches.

Of course the police apologized, they had too, they were getting a PR backlash.

Thanks for your OPINION. Of course, you're welcome to it, and shock of shock, nobody's going to arrest you for dangling it, here.

 

[Thump553]

Fact of the matter is, the Bush handlers accomplished what they wanted-no Cindy Sheehan on TV during the State of the Union speech to embarass (or at least distract from) Bush.

This is an extremely common occurence around Bush-demonstrators/protestors are rounded up before his appearance and released afterwards with no charges made.

It's still illegal suppression of free speech. Whether or not that speech is in accordance with your-or my-current tastes is irrelevant.

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: RichardE
Freedom of speech is not absolute...

That might be, but in this case, the officer appeared to be wrong.

Bush administration trying to silence their critics....like they have tried so many times before.

Yup, I'm sure hes bothering with cindy sheehan right as he's making his speech.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: LumbergTech

Originally posted by: RichardE

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: RichardE
There are limits on Free speech and expression, she was informed the rules before she partook in the speech, she knew the limits and chose to disobey them.

Care to show me the rule book? The cops apologized. Looks like someone spiked their Sheehan alert system with bogus info. What do you know that they don't? :roll:

Oh i don't know..all the people quoted as saying they were told before going in what was expected of them, and what they could or could not do. Of course the police apologized, they had too, they were getting a PR backlash.

convenient evasion..

Evasion of a loaded question? Please, you do better than that.