You must not offend the tyrant! He is our friend. d
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.
The United "Door Mat" of America...
Come on over and scrape your feet globalists.
It's not a pro-Bush rally : (
Possibly the equivalent of picking up the jerk you just tripped and making excessive apologies? "Oh dear, I'm sooooooooooo soooooooooorry! I just can't imagine how that heckler got in here!"
If that's true that would be very sad and mean that we are indeed nothing more than a paper tiger. You don't shame anyone but yourself by hiding behind some womans skirts.
Do you think that, just maybe every once in a while, it might be in our nation's best interest to assure visiting dignitaries that talks with us won't lead to confrontations that may become explosive domestic issues for them in their home countries? I'm not saying we have to sanction their policies, but if we want to expect them to be willing to meet with us, we can't give them unnecessary reasons to stay away.
You must not offend the tyrant! He is our friend. d
check this out:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/6-4-21/40651.html
Screw the Foggy Bottom types. Bush had just asked Hu to allow more free expression - and then wants to prosecute someone who subsequently exercised such?
Bush should have told Hu that this is what happens in a free society.
My first thought as well.
"confrontations that may become explosive domestic issues for them in their home countries"
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.
Wiping our collective asses with the first ammendment. Why not, the second has pretty much already been flushed.
I want a President who is receptive to overwhelming public opinion on a subject, governs with common sense, and whose political philosophies in office reflect the political philosophies of his power base.
I don't think that's too much to ask. Its no more than the Democraps expect of THEIR incumbents. We should accept nothing less.
By the way the black woman covering the protesters mouth is a secret service agent. This is a defense exhibit. They did not treat her as a serious security threat which would involve tackling, bear hugging, etc. The wanted her to shut up.
And any government official worth THEIR salt would never have filed the charges in the first place.
And if the President were a wise man - he would immediately step in and urge the charges be withdrawn.
Obviously the federal government considers this a much more dangerous crime than illegal entry through our borders, SS fraud, welfare fraud and documents forgery that every illegal worker is doing now.
Statement by The Epoch Times On the Events at the White House
At the welcoming ceremony for Chinese Communist Party leader Hu Jintao on the south lawn of the White House on Thursday morning, Dr. Wenyi Wang stood up in the press corps and shouted slogans.
Dr. Wang attended this event on Epoch Times press credentials. However, her actions were her own. In protesting in this manner, she did not act on behalf of The Epoch Times . Moreover, she had not consulted any of her Epoch Times colleagues beforehand about her staging this protest. If The Epoch Times had known of her intention to use this event to protest, we would have seen that her press credentials were withdrawn.
The Epoch Times apologizes to President Bush and the White House for Dr. Wang's actions.
However, while The Epoch Times does not approve of the methods used by Dr. Wang, we think the world does need to understand what might have moved a respected medical professional such as Dr. Wang to take such unconventional actions.
.........
Dr. Wang has played a very important role in developing this story. She has been able to use her medical expertise to help evaluate the reports of organ harvesting. And she has worked closely with our two original sources.
At the same time, as a physician, Dr. Wang has felt acutely the nightmare of doctors violating their trust in this horrifying way.
The crimes against humanity first uncovered at Sujiatun are only the latest form taken by the persecution of Falun Gong in China. That persecution has seen all of the might of a giant totalitarian regime used to try to "eradicate" a peaceful meditation practice that believes in following the principles of "truthfulness-compassion-tolerance."
This is a desperate situation. "Peter," the journalist from China who first told us of what was happening at Sujiatun, understands this. At a press conference today, he said, "I am willing to use my life, if that is the price I have to pay to expose this crime."
Dr. Wang also clearly understands this is a desperate situation. She took matters in her own hands today to try to let the world know what is happening.
That's a load of crap. "Your days are numbered" is a statement of fact or opinion, not a threat. If you start a fight based on this statement being considered "fighting words" or a threat the DA would eat you alive.
Deport her to China!
That is an incredibly short sighted viewpoint. Our ability to influence foreign nation depends upon our diplomatic relations. This woman, regardless of her intentions, potentially damaged our government's ability to aid her cause. If you further aggravated the situation by telling the people you want to persuade in some way to 'go suck Mandarin duck eggs' you might as well grab a knife and carve out livers yourself. But you'd feel better about yourself in a smug, self righteous sort of way so it would be justified, right?
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