But ... You are "the man".
I know
Posted on 02/01/2006 3:27:09 PM PST by LouAvul
WASHINGTON - Capitol Police dropped a charge of unlawful conduct against antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan Wednesday and offered apologies to her as well as a congressman's wife after they were ejected from President Bush's State of the Union address for wearing T-shirts with war messages.
Police removed Sheehan and Beverly Young, the 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 was not arrested.
Capitol Police did not explain why Sheehan was arrested and Young was not. However the unlawful conduct charge against Sheehan was being dropped, according to Deputy House Sergeant of Arms Kerri Hanley. And in a private meeting Wednesday, Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer apologized and planned to issue a statement, Rep. Thomas told reporters.
"They were operating under the misguided impression that the T-shirt was not allowed," Hanley said Wednesday. "The fact that she (Sheehan) was wearing a T-shirt is not enough reason to be asked to leave the gallery, or be removed from the gallery, or be arrested."
A foreign-born American citizen who was the guest of Rep. Alcee Hastings (news, bio, voting record), D-Fla., also was taken by police from the gallery just above the House floor, Hastings said Wednesday.
The congressman met with Gainer and said he also requested a meeting with House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., about the incident.
"I'd like to find out more information," Hastings said in an interview, identifying the man only as being from Broward County in Florida. "He is a constituent of mine. I invited him proudly."
Sheehan's T-shirt made reference to the number of soldiers killed in Iraq: "2245 Dead. How many more?" Capitol Police charged her with a misdemeanor for violating the District of Columbia's code against unlawful or disruptive conduct on any part of the Capitol grounds, a law enforcement official said. She was released from custody and flew home Wednesday to Los Angeles.
Young's shirt had just the opposite message: "Support the Troops — Defending Our Freedom."
The two women appeared to have offended tradition as much as the law, according to several law enforcement and congressional officials. By custom, the annual address is to be a dignified affair in which the president reports on the state of the nation. Guests in the gallery who wear shirts deemed political in nature have, in past years, been asked to change or cover them up.
Generally, the House's sergeant at arms sets out rules at the House speaker's direction. The Capitol Police enforce them and the Secret Service evaluates any threat to the president. Rules dealing mainly with what people can bring and telling them to refrain from reading, writing, smoking, eating, drinking, applauding or taking photographs are outlined on the back of gallery passes given to tourists every day.
However, State of the Union guests don't receive any guidelines, Hanley said. "You would assume that if you were coming to an event like the State of the Union address you would be dressed in appropriate attire," she said.
Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, had been invited to the speech and given a ticket by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif.
Capitol Police Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said police warned Sheehan that displays such as her T-shirt were not allowed.
Sheehan said she had one arm out of her coat when an officer yelled, "Protester." She said she intended to file a First Amendment lawsuit over the episode.
Young was removed from the gallery during Bush's address and told she was being treated the same as Sheehan.
Her husband was angry about the way she was treated.
"Because she had on a shirt that someone didn't like that said support our troops, she was kicked out of this gallery," Young said on the House floor Wednesday, holding up the gray shirt.
"Shame, shame," he scolded.
Mrs. Young was sitting about six rows from first lady Laura Bush when she was asked to leave. She argued with police in the hallway outside the House chamber.
"They said I was protesting," she told the St. Petersburg Times. "I said, 'Read my shirt, it is not a protest.' They said, 'We consider that a protest.' I said, 'Then you are an idiot.'"
I'm amazed at the genius of our present administration.
Knowing that Mrs. Sheehan was probably going to have a message (body count) on her t-shirt -- and not wanting to allow her make a circus atmosphere of her presence, what did they do?
Planned to have the wife of conversative, wearing a Pro-troops message, do the exact same thing. Both ladies were made to leave.
And now to apologize to Mrs. Sheehan. It takes the steam out of their antics.
It can't get any better.
I saw a documentary on Squeaky not too long ago, and she had that same slack jawed other-worldly look on her face that this character has.
What's the problem?
They definitely need to apologize for that... to the searcher.
Not Boxer but Feinstein, Boxer was reelected in 2004.,
Feinstein is up for reelection this year.
What is wrong with our government...why can't they just have some balls and say, Nobody with any message on their clothes will be allowed at a SOTU under and presidency. Period. STOP THE MADNESS.
"Nobody with any message on their clothes will be allowed at a SOTU under and presidency. "
I agree with you. The state of the union is a serious affair. Nobody in a t-shirt or anything that isn't professional should be allowed in. I expected something that stupid out of Sheehan but am sorry that Congressman Young's wife decided to show up in a t-shirt as well.
According to that story she has a mouth like a drunken sailor and the class to match.
I do applaud her work with Marines and other wounded soldiers, but that doesnt change the fact that she wore an inappropriate shirt to the SOU address, and she owes the Capitol police an apology.
Never underestimate the numbers and stupidity of California Liberals.
No t-shirts, tank-tops or flip-flops.
tarred and feathered and rode outta the USA on a rail
Sheehan calling someone an idiot is like Michael Moore calling someone a "No talent fat slob".
Now that the door has been opened, moonbats will crowd the next State of the Union address, wearing T Shirts with commie slogans, but it will not be a protest.
Two heads of the same beast. I can't tell them apart.
All the cops did by apologizing is spur the moonbats on more. Nothing will ever stop them from whining about The Man oppressing them.
But ... You are "the man".
I know
Good point.
No doubt in any reasonable person's mind that sheeham could be a threat to GWB - she certainly has been stalking him for the better part of a year.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.