Media Fails To Report Maliki Protester Was CodePink

Sweetness & Light ^ | July 26, 2006 | N/A

[Sam Hill]

You would never know it from our one party media, but the "disruptor" at Prime Minister al-Maliki's speech was not just a random protestor.

She was none other than the professional anti-America agitator (and Hugo Chavez paid agent) Medea Benjamin.

From a CodePink press release:

Medea Benjamin is arrested on July 26 for interrupting a speech by the Prime Minister of Iraq.

Medea Benjamin Arrested For Disrupting Iraqi Prime Minister’s Congressional Address

Fasting co-founder of CODEPINK and Global Exchange says Iraqis want war to end

CODEPINK and Global Exchange cofounder Medea Benjamin is arrested on July 26 for interrupting a speech by the Prime Minister of Iraq.

WASHINGTON - July 26 - This morning, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addressed a joint session of Congress. During a segment of his speech in which al-Maliki said that Iraqi's ink-stained fingers evidenced their desire for democracy, Medea Benjamin, cofounder of CODEPINK: Women for Peace and Global Exchange, stood up from the gallery and shouted, "Iraqis want the troops to leave, bring them home now! Listen to the Iraqis!" Benjamin repeated the statement several times before she was forcefully lifted from her seat, handcuffed, and escorted out by Capitol police. Benjamin was wearing a pink shirt with the statement "Troops Home Now" written on it.

Benjamin, 54, of San Francisco, CA, is currently on her 23rd day of a long-term fast for peace called the Troops Home FAST (www.troopshomefast.org). She is charged with disrupting Congress. Whether Benjamin will receive a simple citation or will be booked at jail is still being determined by Capitol police. If she is not booked, Medea Benjamin will be available for comment and interviews. If you would like to speak with her, please call her cell phone 415 235 6517.

This disruption follows two days of requests for a meeting with Prime Minister al-Maliki. Since al-Maliki's arrival in Washington DC, women and men who are fasting for peace as part of CODEPINK's Troops Home FAST have been trying to arrange a meeting with the prime minister and the Iraqi Embassy. Fasters have been waiting for a response to a letter requesting a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss an Iraqi reconciliation plan that includes a timetable for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Iraq. Benjamin stood outside the Iraqi embassy for the past two days waiting for a response to this letter.

Yesterday evening, fasters were ordered by police to clear the sidewalk in front of the embassy in preparation for al-Maliki's arrival. Five fasters refused to leave, thus risking arrest. The Iraqi Ambassador spoke with Benjamin by cell phone and asked that she and the fasters move aside, in exchange for the possibility that she and peace mom Cindy Sheehan would get a personal audience with al-Maliki during the evening reception. Sheehan and Benjamin also agreed to break their fast if granted a meeting with the Prime Minister. He promised to call should any challenges arise and this not be possible. However, Benjamin was denied entry to the embassy that evening, and waited for an hour outside, where she watched the prime minister arrive and leave without acknowledgement of their agreement.

After witnessing Benjamin's disruption, Maxine Waters, member of Congress and chair of the Out of Iraq Caucus, stated, "We are going to witness more and more public outrage as the violence in Iraq escalates in this ongoing occupation."

Benjamin's public statement is in line with recent polls from Iraq saying that only 1% of Iraqis trust U.S. forces with their security. Despite these numbers, Prime Minister al-Maliki is in Washington to request additional U.S. troops in Baghdad. Also in opposition to public opinion in both Iraq and in the U.S., the Bush administration has rejected and gutted the peace plan proposed by the Iraqi government.

Iraqi blogger and analyst Raed Jarrar of Global Exchange and Foreign Policy in Focus, who is also participating in the Troops Home FAST, said, "Medea Benjamin is speaking on behalf of the overwhelming majority of the Iraqis and the Iraqi Parliament who want the troops out of Iraq." A recent World Public Poll shows that 87% of Iraqis want a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Medea Benjamin and Cindy Sheehan stalking outside of Maliki's residence on day 22 of their withering "fast."

Why the media refuses to admit that the anti-war leftwing protesters are the same handful of people, is beyond me.

It's almost as if they want to create the impression that there are more of them than there actually are.

But why would they want to do that?

(Thanks to the Age of Hooper for the Cindy photo.)

[Sam Hill]

"Brit Mentioned Medea Benjamin, but failed to mention Code Pink's Walter Reed protests."

Yes, or her other history -- apart from her minor role in the WTO business.

Oh, well. It's still nice that he picked this up. Nobody else will, you can bet.

[Sam Hill]

"The whole MSM is trying to sweep all the names under the rug."

They won't ever mention it.

It was just a few weeks ago when Suzy (Medea) pulled the same kind of stunt during Rumsfeld's hearing on Capitol Hill.

Not a single media outlet noted that it was professional protester Medea Benjamin. Not one.

[tobyhill]

They need to report the NEWS and give the name of the Congressman who let her in, Major Owens.

[Just A Nobody]

I will try to catch it on the replay tonight. Was it worth it?

[RedRover]

At this very moment, a Mod is feeling the notches on his zot belt. And a troll lies still.

[Armedanddangerous]

You know...it's soooooo simple, I don't know why no one else figured it out.

Just take large, clear photos of all the usual suspects, put them on posters by the door of these speeches, and if one of the code pinkos comes up to the door the

DON'T FRIGGIN LET THEM IN!


Thank you, and good night.8-)

[airborne]

"Listen to the Iraqis!"

Umm, he IS an Iraqi!!

[RedRover]

"Listen to the Iraqis MEEEEEEEEEEE!"

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I don't find Ann Physically "hot". Very thin and the hair does nothing for me.

That being said, the rest of her, including her attitude, make her sexy as hell.

The inverse/reverse is true of Medea Benjamin.

[Doctor Raoul]

Why is Michael Jackson holding that sign?

[Darlin']

What an idiot.

[airborne]

Mark them with an ear tag.

It works for other wild animals.

[maica]

She and her husband also run a travel agency, nice way to launder funds. Trips to the border of Iraq, or interesting areas of Nicaragua and Venezuela, etc.

[maica]

She practically stalks Rumsfeld hearings.

[nopardons]

Brit Hume reported it, on his show tonight and even threw in Crazy Cindy Sheehan, to boot. :-)

[rogator]

I think they (MB and AC)are both hotter than firecrackers.
To bad that MB doesn't have a brain as well formed as the rest of her.

[RedRover]

O'Reilly did, too. Though only said it was Code Pink. (Wonder if he's a lurker?)

[nopardons]

Yes, he did.

I don't know if O'Rielly or some of his assistants lurk here or not; but, I absolutely, positively know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that Brit Hume and/or people who work for him, lurk here and have done, for many years. :-)

[Victoria Delsoul]

She was none other than the professional anti-America agitator (and Hugo Chavez paid agent) Medea Benjamin.

I bet she gets louder according to the amount she gets paid. Disgusting!

[Republican Wildcat]

Medea Benjamin will be available for comment and interviews. If you would like to speak with her, please call her cell phone 415 235 6517.

Oh...that is so tempting.