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China heckler at White House charged
Reuters ^ | Fri Apr 21, 2006 | Reuters byline

Posted on 04/21/2006 12:39:37 PM PDT by Jack Black

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A heckler from the Falun Gong spiritual movement who disrupted a White House appearance by Chinese President Hu Jintao was charged in federal court on Friday with harassing, intimidating or threatening a foreign official.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington said the misdemeanor charge carries a penalty of up to six months in jail.

The woman, who entered the White House grounds as a reporter, interrupted a formal arrival ceremony between Hu and President George W. Bush on Thursday and shouted: "President Hu, your days are numbered. President Bush, make him stop persecuting Falun Gong."

The embarrassing episode marred the South Lawn event and created a diplomatic stir. Bush personally apologized to Hu for the incident.

U.S. officials identified the woman as Wang Wenyi, 47, a reporter with The Epoch Times, an English-language publication strongly supportive of the meditation movement that is banned in China.

Spokesman Channing Phillips said she was arrested by the U.S. Secret Service and that the U.S. Attorney's office decided to proceed by filing the federal charge in court.

The law at issue bars harassing, intimidating or threatening a foreign official in the performance of their official duties.

When she was arrested, the heckler was charged with disorderly conduct. The spokesman said that charge, under local law, could be brought later.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: china; fulongong; heckler; hu; huvisit; irony; protesting
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To: Charlotte Corday

BTTT


121 posted on 04/21/2006 1:31:31 PM PDT by Unicorn (Too many wimps around.)
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To: Antonello
Agreed, this episode is crass and its seems like something ANSWER would try.

Right thing to do, just wrong time and place to do it
122 posted on 04/21/2006 1:31:49 PM PDT by Roverman2K
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To: clawrence3

Telling Hu he should stop killing Falun Gong is harassment? Well, I guess it is interfering with his "official duties"...


123 posted on 04/21/2006 1:32:09 PM PDT by mikeus_maximus (Welcome to Meximerica, courtesy of the GOP.)
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To: RegulatorCountry
I believe the entire incident was blacked out by Chinese media. It will only be an "explosive domestic issue" if the communists decide to pursue that path. The Chinese people are unaware, almost without exception, that this ever occurred.

So you are reliant on their government censorship as your diplomatic strategy? Thank God for their draconian tactics. They really saved us this time. I guess their tyranny isn't so bad when you can use it to support your views, right?

124 posted on 04/21/2006 1:32:25 PM PDT by Antonello (Oh my God, don't shoot the banana!)
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To: Emmet Fitzhume

Yah, guess that memo got lost with the one that the AG was going after the leakers.


125 posted on 04/21/2006 1:32:28 PM PDT by Mr Cobol (Spring has sprung, grass hasn't riz, where that Global Warming is?)
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To: tumblindice
Domo arigato, George Bush roboto

Now THAT's funny!

126 posted on 04/21/2006 1:35:31 PM PDT by mikeus_maximus (Welcome to Meximerica, courtesy of the GOP.)
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To: mikeus_maximus

Thank you, sir, thank you very much, danke schoen.
My next song, "Hu Ain't Nuthin' But a Hounddog"
Hit it boys . . .


127 posted on 04/21/2006 1:38:42 PM PDT by tumblindice (We wouldn't want to offend our chinese overlords)
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To: Antonello

"I guess their tyranny isn't so bad when you can use it to support your views, right?"

What sort of convoluted logic is this? You're the one wringing your hands about "diplomacy," while seeming to applaud disgraceful treatment of a woman who spoke out against tyranny in her home country being faced with jail time. She's really facing worse than that, as far as Chinese agents in this country are concerned.

But, what's one woman's life, when we're talking about keeping feathers unruffled? /sarc


128 posted on 04/21/2006 1:39:23 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: Jack Black

She should be given a Medal Of FReedom.


129 posted on 04/21/2006 1:42:11 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi)
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To: Jack Black
The woman, who entered the White House grounds as a reporter,

AKA the Enemedia!!!

Time for a REAL security crackdown on so called "reporters"!

130 posted on 04/21/2006 1:43:41 PM PDT by rawcatslyentist (Strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government)
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To: dirtboy
I look at the outrage over Terri Schiavo, and what China is doing far exceeds the moral depravity of what happened to Terri. They are killing healthy political dissidents for organs. And Hu should be heckled from the moment he sets foot in this country to the moment the bloody despot leaves.

And if you were the President and I were Hu, I'd walk right out of the talks. Once I got home I'd be tempted to gift wrap a big box of human livers and send them to the White House with this note:

President dirtboy:

Congratulations. Your foolish pride killed this batch of people. And you'll fart the Communist Manifesto before China ever enters diplomatic talks with the U.S. again. By the way, we're now going to ramp up our prison work camps like never before and crush you on the world market. Enjoy your triple digit inflation. P.S. Let your little Falun Gong protester friend know that she hasn't even begun to see persecution of her group.

Is that the result you want?

131 posted on 04/21/2006 1:51:58 PM PDT by Antonello (Oh my God, don't shoot the banana!)
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To: Antonello
Is that the result you want?

It worked wonders to bring down the Soviet Union, eh?

132 posted on 04/21/2006 1:53:14 PM PDT by dirtboy (Illegal is to immigration is as methyl is to alcohol - both make a good thing toxic.)
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To: Jack Black
"We have a right to speak out in this country. It's OK. Dissent is what makes us great. We are a good people. It's OK. Let her speak ..."

"... now arrest this witch for making my Chi-Com guest feel bad about how he treats dissent in his country ... "

133 posted on 04/21/2006 1:53:40 PM PDT by manwiththehands (Lead, follow or shut up.)
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To: Jack Black

Sometimes it seems like this Administration does things that DUhers could not improve on to make Bush look bad.


134 posted on 04/21/2006 1:54:14 PM PDT by Democratshavenobrains
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To: tumblindice
Domo arigato is Japanese, not Chinese. You'd obviously make as good a linguist as you would an international statesman.
135 posted on 04/21/2006 1:54:57 PM PDT by Antonello (Oh my God, don't shoot the banana!)
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To: BearWash
Did you used to work for Colin Powell?

No.

136 posted on 04/21/2006 1:55:50 PM PDT by Antonello (Oh my God, don't shoot the banana!)
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To: Jack Black

Shame on You BUSH!

Can't wait to hear how Hugh Hewitt spins this one for the administration!

137 posted on 04/21/2006 1:56:34 PM PDT by Verax
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To: Antonello

Thank you, thank you very much!


138 posted on 04/21/2006 1:59:27 PM PDT by tumblindice (And you're a bigot too/Am not.)
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To: PghBaldy
I agree. Notice how this is appaling to the MSM (the heckler), but the Easter Egg infiltration was not. Same thing, IMO. People using an event to make a statement. Trespassing is trespassing.

Thank you. And welcome to FR.

139 posted on 04/21/2006 1:59:53 PM PDT by Antonello (Oh my God, don't shoot the banana!)
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To: Jack Black
There is a time and place for everything, and embarrassing our president is at the very least a severe lack of judgement, to say nothing of good manners.
I'm sure many here will be foaming at the mouth about freedom of speech, but that's my position and I'm sticking to it.

Some price to pay is essential here. Specially reporters should not abuse their special privileges.

140 posted on 04/21/2006 2:06:32 PM PDT by Publius6961 (Multiculturalism is the white flag of a dying country)
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