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.

[TaxRelief]

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.

I would happily pay for warning cards to be printed that could be handed out to patients..

"Be alert for anti-war psuedo-pacifists disguised as soccer Moms: They will attempt to use you to aid and abet the enemy."

[TaxRelief]

Several of the code pinkos appear to have Adult ADHD. Perhaps they just need to have their energies redirected to more noble causes, such as supporting the troops.

[BlueOneGolf]

OUTSTANDING FREEP! I'll listen to the .WAV files later. Way to go standing up to the Lefties! The next time you see that wounded soldier please tell hime and his wife I said "Thank you" for their service and sacrifice on our behalf to keep us free. Keep on FReepin'!!

[BillF]

Murphy had only lied about the budget, but was lying about Code Pink not being connected with the 3 disruptors who hassled us weeks ago.

She denied all knowledge and questioned why I was making up the story. I said I could email her the photos of the disruptors with their "Kill the Poor" signs. She said that she saw them, but the disruptors were not connected with Code Pink.

I told her that we have photos of the disruptors, including the loony who claimed to have a gun in his pocket, when they were making their signs with the Pinkos. She said that the three just happened to make their signs next to the Code Pink people.

Murphy's not even a very good liar, just a habitual liar.

[BillF]

Medea Benjamin claims that the Medea of the play was given a bum rap. Benjamin says that she had read an alternate translation in which Medea wasn't responsible for the death of her children. I immediately said, "let me guess, George Bush was responsible."

Benjamin probably just took the brown acid before she read it.

[BillF]

Thanks for the kind words. More importantly, thanks for your service.

[andyk]

Soooo sweet! Thanks for the post.

[paul_fromatlanta]

Good job... however somebody feels about the war, taking it out on our wounded is sick.

One question though... what's the story about the woman with the dead daughter... was that sign really tesing her about that? That doesn't seem consistant with the message.

[BillF]

Belatedly replying to your question about the woman with the dead daughter. It wasn't real her daughter.

Medea Benjamin's given name was Susan Benjamin, but thirty plus years ago she adopted the name "Medea." Medea was a character who murdered her children in a classic Greek play, but Benjamin told us that she read a different translation in which Medea did NOT kill her children. (I'm not sure whether she is being truthful about that alternate translation story.)

Marla Ruzicka, an activist who previously was with Global Exchange (Code Pink's parent organization), was killed by a IED in Iraq. Benjamin was like a mentor to Ruzicka and Benjamin said, following the death of the much younger activist, that Ruzicka "was like a daughter to me" (they were not related).

Thus, Medea in the play killed her children, whereas Medea Benjamin led her daughter-like protege to the danger which killed her. Moreover, the murder of Ruzicka was committed by "the other side" in Iraq and Benjamin has bragged about giving supplies to "the other side."

[purpleland]

So-called social and health programs are devised to provide employment for the "liberal" bureaucracies they create. Since the programs are directed by "liberals", you can be sure they benefit "liberals" and their cronies.

Interesting that Medea Benjamin was kicked out of Cuba. Reminds me of the feminist extremist, but brilliant, anarchist/communist Emma Goldman who was exiled from the U.S. to Soviet Russia from where she was eventually kicked-out for being too radical. Soviet Communism was not very liberal afterall.

[paul_fromatlanta]

Thanks for the response.

[BillF]

Just uploaded the photos for this again.

My web hosting company changed last year, followed by my hard drive failure, with great difficulty recovering data from backup. I’m finally putting photos back on my web site so the photos will be available. I’ll probably do 3 or 4 sets per day when I’m home, but may be traveling for a while so that it may take about 5 weeks to finish all Walter Reed threads.