FReepers vs. Code Pink at Walter Reed (round IV w/ Medea & Murphy coming to our side)

DC Chapter ^ | May 7, 2005 | BillF

[BillF]

For the forth time in just over 4 weeks, DC Chapter FReepers conducted a FReep of Code Pink's anti-war protest at the gate of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where many of the most severely wounded troops from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are taken for continued treatment and rehabilitation. The FReep of the leftists' obscene blood dance was on the Friday night, April 29.

The honor roll of those in attendance: kristinn, tgslTakoma, Exit148, Always Free, staytrue, Christopher Lincoln, BufordP, and BillF.  I'm doing this report in place of the originally-designated writer, who got tied up with other matters.

Code Pink co-founder Gael Murphy and Code Pink chief founder Medea Benjamin separately came over to talk to us, each for at least twenty minutes. Below are sound bites, WAV files that you can click on to hear or right click and save for later listening.

(The announcement of the FReep is here  and here is the after-action report on the previous round III FReep of Code Pink's weekly Friday night attempts to exploit our war wounded for  propaganda. Code Pink (CP) pretends to support our troops, but Code Pink leader Medea Benjamin has bragged about the $650 K that her groups raised for "the other side" (her words) in Fallujah, Iraq. The first round FReep of CP a couple weeks back is described here and included CP sending three disruptors to stand next to us, one of them ranting about killing people and saying that he had a gun in his pocket, and then the three fleeing just ahead of the police.)

As usual, we set up diagonally across the intersection from the leftists. We concentrated on holding flags and signs and did not deploy the MOAB (Mother of All Banners, see earlier reports for photos).

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO OPEN A LARGER VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW. Click on another photo and its larger version should open in the same window that the first enlarged photo did.

Christopher Lincoln, Always Free, staytrue, and kristinn.

Leftists setting up, with Medea Benjamin at far right.   Banner unfurled.   Banner placed on the Walter Reed fence.

tgslTakoma and Exit148. tgsl's sign refers to Marla Ruzicka, the activist who previously was with Global Exchange (Code Pink's parent organization) and was killed by a car bomb in Iraq, a case of friendly fire by enemies of America. The Pinkos had dedicated their vigil to her.

We watched from across the street as Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin went through the gate and into the hospital. She later told us that she was visiting a friend who is a patient there. Upon reflection, it is apparent what Medea and her comrades are up to. They try to befriend the soldiers to find one or more who, vulnerable in their wounded state, can be manipulated into joining the anti-war movement. As part of this evil scheme, Code Pink pretends that they care about the troops and the treatment that they are getting, even though the Code Pink web site promotes an anti-military recruitment campaign using the slogan "Mothers don't let your children grow up to be killers," see http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?id=221 (not linked to avoid giving them the link). Therefore, Code Pink claims that the military are killers. Why would they care about killers? Only to exploit war-wounded for their twisted propaganda purposes. While Medea was in the hospital, Code Pink co-founder Gael Murphy, who apparently is their usual Washington leader, came over and engaged in a series of debates with us. I was holding the recorder so my voice is most prominent and traffic noise is sometimes a problem, but I've selected some of the more amusing and audible sound bites. The sound files with asterisks (*) are especially enlightening or amusing. CLICK TO HEAR SOUND FILE (OR RIGHT CLICK TO SAVE AND LISTEN LATER) (43 sec, 470 K): BillF, kristinn, and BufordP debate Murphy starting with me asking why she sent over the disrupters several weeks ago. * SOUND FILE (50 sec, 547 K): BillF debates Murphy on why the Pinkos support military that Code Pink calls "killers." SOUND FILE (58 sec, 634 K): Continuing the debate.

Gael Murphy argues with tgslTakoma.	SOUND FILE (51 sec, 557 K): Always Free, BufordP, and kristinn debate Murphy. *SOUND FILE (123 sec, 1.3 M): Continuing debate between Murphy and BufordP, kristinn, and Always Free. Kristinn to Murphy "You're an American citizen in name only." SOUND FILE (63 sec, 758 K): tgslTakoma confronts Murphy about calling our military "killers". BufordP is part of the debate. Murphy asks if she can get a copy of the Code Pinko sign (Flora McDonald's great sign, not around that night). tgsl tells her that she can for $600 K (approximate amount that Code Pink gave to the "other side" as Medea Benjamin described the donation). SOUND FILE (124 sec, 1.32 M): Murphy debates healthcare, advocating that we have healthcare as good as they have it in Cuba. "Swim to Cuba" was one of my comments.  She asks why we don't want all insured as in Cuba. BillF said "we should have America in America and Cuba can be in Cuba." tgslTakoma exposed Murphy's lie about uninsured and poor not getting healthcare. Murphy asked why, in tgsl's example, the woman didn't have health insurance. I told Murphy that the person lacked health insurance because Murphy was too cheap to pay for the person's insurance.
kristinn watches as BufordP tangles with Murphy.	SOUND FILE (78 sec, 786 K): Murphy denies connections with the disruptors of 4 weeks back , but, contrary to her earlier denial of any knowledge, admits that she saw them. BillF, BufordP and tgslTakoma point out that she is lying. Later, when told that we have photos of the three disruptors making their signs with the Pinkos, she said that the three just happened to make their signs next to the Pinkos. SOUND FILE (98 sec, 1.04 M): Murphy talks up the Cuban medical system. BufordP and BillF are not convinced. Then she gives us little handouts with photos of Iraqi children that the Pinkos have painted Saddam mustaches on. SOUND FILE (60 sec, 651 K): Murphy debates the Code Pink contribution to "the other side" with kristinn, tgslTakoma, and BufordP. SOUND FILE (94 sec, 1 M): Murphy debates the Code Pink contribution to "the other side" with kristinn, tgslTakoma, and BufordP. tgsl points out that Murphy wants more Americans killed. Buford says "if you're going to stay over here, you have to get busy" and hands Murphy a FReeper sign to hold (see photo in left column). FReepers than shout across the intersection to the leftists that she has joined our side SOUND FILE (56 sec, 610 K): More Murphy debates with.tgslTakoma, BillF, and BufordP. tgsl suggests that Murphy should, as her political statement, "set herself on fire for peace."
BufordP gets Murphy to hold one of our signs.	Some time after Murphy left, Medea Benjamin came out of  the hospital, went back to the other Pinkos, and then walked over to our group carrying the only American flag that the Pinkos had. SOUND FILE (44 sec, 481 K): Benjamin discusses the death of her protégé. (Marla Ruzicka, former activist with Code Pink's parent organization, Global Exchange, was killed by a car bomb in Iraq several weeks ago as Ruzicka was surveying American-caused civilian deaths and injuries.) kristinn points out that Medea set Marla on the path that got her killed by terrorists who are supported by Code Pink. SOUND FILE (41 sec, 440 K): kristinn points out the CP reference to our military as "killers." Benjamin discusses her "heavenly" time in Cuba, claiming that she was disillusioned after living there for 4 years. (Later she claimed that she wanted Castro out.) SOUND FILE (99 sec, 1 M): Benjamin discusses how much better it is that Cuba sends doctors abroad, instead of bullets and bombs. BillF points out that sending bullets and bombs was necessary to beat the Nazis and liberate Afghanistan. BufordP, Always Free, and kristinn discuss matters. SOUND FILE (36 sec, 385 K): Benjamin wants  illegal combatants to be given Geneva POW status, contrary to the provisions of the Geneva Conventions. BufordP and BillF disagree.
Chief Code Pinko Medea Benjamin walks up to kristinn and our side.	*SOUND FILE (64 sec, 481 K): Benjamin discusses Afghanistan and infiltration with BillF, BufordP, and Always Free.  After Buford mentions Muslim FBI translators who refuse to blow the whistle on fellow Muslims, Medea says that maybe our country is infiltrated. "You're an infiltrator in this country, too," is what I said to Medea. SOUND FILE (74 sec, 690 K): Benjamin tries to explain the contradiction between her alleged friendship with military members and the Code Pink view of our military as "killers." SOUND FILE (28 sec, 310 K): kristinn applauds no terrorist attacks in the U.S. after Sept 11, but Benjamin decries an increase around the world. BillF says the increase is caused by her friends. *SOUND FILE (100 sec, 1.1 M): Benjamin talks about working with ANSWER.  She describes ANSWER as Stalinists who are "nasty, angry." *SOUND FILE (50 sec, 1.1 M): Benjamin says that neither of our respective sides is as bad as the other says, but kristinn disagrees with respect to them not being as bad as we think they are. BufordP corrects Medea when she accidentally lets the flag touch the ground. Medea says "I like you guys. I love your Mother of All Banners." SOUND FILE (55 sec, 592 K): Benjamin won't back Hillary in '08, but she says that she normally backs a candidate who finishes in third place or below. *SOUND FILE (46 sec, 506 K): Benjamin explains her choice of "Medea" as a first name. She claims that Medea really did not kill her children.

BufordP poses with Medea Benjamin.

Benjamin mentioned how much she loved the "Oh no, It's Code Pink-O" sign, as had Murphy before her. That's a fantastic sign made by Flora McDonald and she's used the sign in DC and at Fayetteville. Benjamin posed for the photo at left with BufordP in response to my request. After Benjamin went back to her side, along with a couple leftists who briefly came over to talk or take photos, the Pinkos started packing to leave. Several wounded soldiers and their wives and kids happened by and talked with us. They were quite happy that we were there to counter the Pinkos. One soldier (see last photo), who suffered horrible, life-altering wounds in Iraq last fall, told me "you guys are our heroes" (i.e., the FReepers for coming out to counter the Pinkos). I said, "No, you and your fellow soldiers are the true heroes.  We're just out here holding up signs to support you true heroes. One of the FReepers has a tagline that she uses on all her posts bragging that 'My sons liberated all the Iraqi and Afghan honor students.' She has a son in the Army and another in the Marines." [That FReeper is ArmyMarineMom.] I continued, "You and our other troops liberated the honor students of Iraq, all the students of Iraq, and the rest of Iraq. Words cannot convey the greatness, the honor, the sacrifice of your deeds." He said, "Well, we do appreciate you being out here." I had a nice chat with him and his wife. I thanked her also for her sacrifice, both when her husband was overseas and now as she helps him deal with his injuries. After talking with the Pinkos, "Americans in name only" as kristinn told Murphy, it was nice to finish with some real Americans.

     Wounded soldier and his wife were happy to have us there.

[cibco]

As a Vietnam vet, you don't know how much I appreciate what you are doing. You are all Great Americans! God bless...

[gitmo]

I know some missionaries who go to Cuba several times a year. They always try to take vitamins and aspirins. They say a lot of the kids show protein-deprivation and vitamin deficiency diseases.

One of them told me he could be universally loved in Cuba if he could bring a shipment of toilet seats into the country. There are no longer any such luxuries to be found. Anywhere.

[Doctor Raoul]

Benjamin discusses how much better it is that Cuba sends doctors abroad, instead of bullets and bombs.

ANGOLA.

It's a word in an obscure African language that means "Medea is a liar, look at all the Cuban soldiers."

How obscure? You'll never see it in the NYT, even the crossword puzzle.

[Doctor Raoul]

Interesting exchange between kristinn and "The Murph".

The Murph: Bring them home now.

kristinn: Bring them home victorious.

The Murph: THAT'S not going to happen.

Any doubt who she sides with?

Ever notice the never ask the terrorits to stop killing people or try to hold them "accountable".

[Doctor Raoul]

Some time after Murphy left, Medea Benjamin came out of the hospital, went back to the other Pinkos, and then walked over to our group carrying the only American flag that the Pinkos had.

Nobody in Code Pink smokes. She came over looking for a light.

[Doctor Raoul]

Notice that Medea speaks of peacekeepers from different countries, America soldiers are explicitly excludes US soldiers from those whom she considers "good ones".

Medea, they are too good for you and your ilk.

[Doctor Raoul]

Notice that Medea speaks of peacekeepers from different countries, America soldiers are explicitly excluded from those whom she considers "good ones".

[Mr. Silverback]

Great job! Keep on whompin' 'em!

[Mr. Silverback]

I know i'm not telling you DC folks anything you don't already know, but in my personal experience it's a common thing for these peaceniks to try to be buddy-buddy with the counter-protesters. Deep down even the most jaded and hateful manipulators among them believe that they can change anyone's mind because it's all about dialogue, and they're obviously right.

The problem is, then we gently drop the reality anvil on them, and it ruins their whole day...

[Mr. Silverback]

Holly Buckets

One of Hyacinth Bucket's sisters?

[Mr. Silverback]

Thank you so much for going.

[Mr. Silverback]

There are no longer any such luxuries to be found. Anywhere.

Oh, I'm sure they've got them in the places they take the fellow traveller/useful idiot tour groups...

[BillF]

You get healed up. Then, we will look forward to FReeping with you.

[BillF]

It will be good to FReep with you again. Looking forward to it.

[BillF]

We don't use a megaphone or do any chanting because it's a hospital zone.

Some cars honk to indicate support for our signs. Others honk to indicate support for the Pinkos. Our side doesn't encourage honking, but I don't know if some of their signs encourage honking.

Hope that your ankle heals quickly.

[Trteamer]

You guys get to have all the fun!

Thanks for FReeping.

[Mo1]

BTTT

[Taxman]

So am I!

[nina0113]

I'm sorry I haven't been able to make any of these but I am just totally slammed until July. Somehow my small little family Fourth of July party has turned into a Cecil B. DeMille production, which means every home improvement project I have left unfinished in the last eight years has to be completed by July 2nd. I'm thinking of switching my direct deposit to Lowe's, and they ought to be painting our names on their car any day now.

[TaxRelief]

Medea says "I like you guys. I love your Mother of All Banners."

Guess she wants y'all to know she reads our threads.