Retirees arrested at Sen. Feinstein's LA office

AP ^ | July 30, 2009

[Indy Pendance]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A group of retirees who refused to leave Sen. Dianne Feinstein's West Los Angeles office until she talked to them about health care reform has been arrested.

Los Angeles police Sergeant Rich Brunson said Thursday that at least eight people were being taken into custody and would likely be booked for trespassing and released.

Cate Engel, a spokeswoman for the group California Alliance for Retired Americans, says the activists - all between 55 and 87 years old - wanted to talk to Feinstein about strengthening Medicare and using the program as a model for health reform.

The group arrived at Feinstein's office around noon and refused to leave her conference room until their arrest more than six hours later.

A call to the office seeking comment was not answered.

[1000 silverlings]

lol, I like the cop, looks like the guy in Texas who watched me take my driver’s license exam

[chris_bdba]

You mean now we aren’t even allowed to ask questions of our Congress critters otherwise you are arrested? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a Republican congresss critter having anyone arrested in their offices? Is this a clear clue of Democratic fascism or what?

[taxesareforever]

Not allowed to debate the health care bill.

[TomOnTheRun]

Like it or not, be it good or bad, the left is/was good at coming out for their causes, swaying public opinion, grid locking entire cities, ending wars...etc. Some of their tactics were extremely effective.

I hear you. But "the effective thing to do" isn't the same thing as "the right thing to do". Even if it were I'm not sure that "went to the office of somebody who wasn't even in the state, demand to speak with them, and wouldn't leave no matter how much they pleaded" is effective at doing much more than making them seem like cranks. This may have been red meat to people already in our corner but I suspect it just seems obnoxious to others... to the people that we need to be bringing in.

[Tzimisce]

*GASP!*

You reprinted this without permission! The AP is going to be SO pissed.

[dragnet2]

But "the effective thing to do" isn't the same thing as "the right thing to do".

Given the level of corruption at all levels of government, what would be the right thing to do?

[keats5]

Wow, I wish there were photos of this at the site.

[SierraWasp]

Hey Feinstein! Like we told our moms who used to scold us ... “We hear you but we’re not listening!!!” Ha Ha Ha!!!

[Indy Pendance]

Video at Hot Air

[DPMD]

Feinstein called the cops. They were arrested. Ergo, they were not minorities. Take it from there.

[dalereed]

” wanted to talk to Feinstein about strengthening Medicare and using the program as a model for health reform. “

Keep them locked up, they have it all wrong!!!!

[WilliamofCarmichael]

In the summer of 1989, Mr. Rostenkowski, then a congressman from Illinois and the powerful chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, was besieged by a crowd of 50 senior citizens in Chicago . . . the protesters -- shouting "coward," "recall" and "impeach" -- forced him to sprint through a gas station to his car. . .

The protesters were angry about [a new Medicare law] . . .That law was soon repealed . . . the television images of Mr. Rostenkowski under assault struck fear in the hearts of politicians . . .

"Politicians were traumatized by the Rostenkowski episode," said Henry J. Aaron, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Yes it's not the same -- the seniors in the Senator's office should be glad that they were merely trespassing.

If they did what seniors have done before in our history they could be charged with terrorism for going after a Rat Party (formerly the traditional, patriotic Democratic Party) leader or stalwart.

[jersey117]

Is ‘stupidly’ even a real word?

I wondered the same thing first time I heard it.

[keats5]

Thanks! I’m so glad this was caught on video.

[6ppc]

I think the LA Police acted stupidly. Even though they had proof the geezers were on their own property, they went ahead and arrested them.

[Danae]

Its designed to get Press coverage. They knew they would not get to talk to the Senator.

But thats what we will all have to be doing, going and refusing to leave until those responsible for this Nazi health care are called to account for it.

[algernonpj]

Re: care for clunkers ... almost fell off the chair laughing.

[tet68]

Why are the races of the seniors and the cops missing?

Obama is going to get together with them later and
share some cans of Metamucil.
“Maybe we’ll talk about other stuff, it all Depends.”, he said.

[6ppc]

Obama is going to get together with them later and share some cans of Metamucil.

Fiber Summit!!!

[Syncro]

She’s 76 years old herself. Doesn’t she realize in this healthcare plan there’s an iceburg with her name on it?

Politicians are exempt from this new bill.

They get what ever care they wish to have, and get it right when they need it.

The Politburo is exempt from peasant problems.