Sheehan Arrested

[alicia-w]

okay and wearing a tshirt has what to do with that?

in retrospect, the Washington Post article says she was "vocal". THAT can be defined as disruptive, but neither person should have been removed for wearing a T-shirt.

[Stratosphere747]

It was what was on the T-shirt and its intentions. The only reason was to do nothing but draw attention to herself. Imagine the fixation of the media and the coverage they would have given her by focusing the cameras on her.

She had ample time to protest right before she entered. No matter what one feels of the President, this was his time to present the SOFTN and what lays ahead. Not the time for her Anti-war BS.

[fwbbreeze]

OMG, please.. that's extreme. the woman asked a question and deserved an answer. since he's an elected official paid by taxpayer dollars, he should give her one.

Brent, you're not even old enough to JOIN the military.

I read the House Rules and cant find one mention of a rule prohibiting demonstrations in the gallery.

http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/109 ... s_text.htm

What does Brent's age have to do with this discussion...facts are facts and I have no doubts this woman was there simply to cause a scene and be disruptive....as she tries to do everywhere she goes.

fwbbreeze

[alicia-w]

so expressing an opinion differing from someone else's is being disruptive....

well, heckfire, i should have known that just from being in here!

[fwbbreeze]

so expressing an opinion differing from someone else's is being disruptive....

well, heckfire, i should have known that just from being in here!

No thats not what I said, expressing an opinion is fine there is just a time and place for everything. Just as Sheehan was removed so was the lady showing support for the troops.

fwbbreeze

[gtalum]

I really think it's a disturbing trend to arrest someone for a t-shirt.

[fwbbreeze]

I really think it's a disturbing trend to arrest someone for a t-shirt.

If she was outside of the Capitol I would totally agree with you. But its a rules violation inside the Capitol and that is where she (and the other lady) were!!

fwbbreeze

[alicia-w]

the bottom line here is that she WASN'T arrested for wearing a t-shirt, but for disorderly conduct (being "vocal").

[gtalum]

I really think it's a disturbing trend to arrest someone for a t-shirt.

If she was outside of the Capitol I would totally agree with you. But its a rules violation inside the Capitol and that is where she (and the other lady) were!!

It's actually not a rules violation. In fact, a circuit court decision in 1997 specifically exempted the wearing of t-shirts, buttons, and ribbons from being considered "protest" for the purposes of removal from the capitol building.

[gtalum]

From Bynum v. U.S. Capitol Police Bd. (Dist. D.C. 1997):

Believing that the Capitol Police needed guidance in determining what behavior constitutes a 'demonstration,' the United States Capitol Police Board issued a regulation that interprets 'demonstration activity,'" and that regulation specifically provides that it "does not include merely wearing Tee shirts, buttons or other similar articles of apparel that convey a message. Traffic Regulations for the Capitol Grounds, § 158

I really hope Ms. Sheehan and Ms. Young take this to court.

[gtalum]

For what it's worth, I agree that Ms. Sheehan is a nutjob wacko. However, the GOP is best served by giving her free rein to do what she will. She does a lot of harm to the Democrats.

[azskyman]

I will not make this political...I will not make this political....I will not make this political, BUT....

A person who has something worthwhile to say adds validity to his or her remarks when they say it in a form and manner consistent with the home they are visiting.

I believe the message in Jill Clay's (the widow of the fallen Marine) presence shows respect for her husband, her country, and those in the home she was visiting.

While she has lost a son and few of us can relate to that, Cindy Sheehan's presence with a t-shirt in that house dishonored her son and showed disrespect for those whose house she was visiting. She was rightly removed before anything more could be said or done.

[alicia-w]

Here's the annotation of the prohibition: It isnt House rules, it's US Code, however the circuit court opinion clearly excludes t-shirts from that rule. Disorderly conduct resulting from vocal and disruptive behavior is not excluded, thus why she was arrested and the Congressman's wife was not. This is NOT about a tshirt. It's about her being vocally disruptive.....

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/ ... -000-.html

[fwbbreeze]

Ok here is my final point on this and I will let it rest. Not 100% sure this is totally correct but its my 2 cents. Mrs. Sheehan was in the gallery as a guest of a member of congress. As stated in the rules only certain individuals can even be in the gallery's of the House of Representatives

D. The House and Senate Gallery studios are closed to everyone except accredited reporters and technicians, Members of Congress, Congressional press secretaries and Gallery staff. Additional Congressional staff members may also be permitted to attend interviews if space allows.

therefore the rule she broke is as follows:

J. Rules of Congress prohibit Gallery members from engaging in lobbying, advertising, publicity, or promotion work for any individual, corporation, organization or government.

anyways there is my justification to get this wacko out of the State of the Union! If I am wrong so be it its just my opinion!!

http://www.house.gov/radiotv/rules.htm

fwbbreeze

[fwbbreeze]

another stating they broke gallery rules!

http://us.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/01/s ... index.html

fwbbreeze

[GalvestonDuck]

From Bynum v. U.S. Capitol Police Bd. (Dist. D.C. 1997):

Believing that the Capitol Police needed guidance in determining what behavior constitutes a 'demonstration,' the United States Capitol Police Board issued a regulation that interprets 'demonstration activity,'" and that regulation specifically provides that it "does not include merely wearing Tee shirts, buttons or other similar articles of apparel that convey a message. Traffic Regulations for the Capitol Grounds, § 158

I really hope Ms. Sheehan and Ms. Young take this to court.

"Traffic Regulations for the Capitol Grounds?"

Is it possible that your argument would stand if she were somewhere else outside or inside the building, but not in the Gallery where those within are subject to the rules of decorum and order?

[Brent]

another stating they broke gallery rules!

http://us.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/01/s ... index.html

fwbbreeze

and from CNN. Can't accuse them of being biased towards Bush.

[Brent]

OMG, please.. that's extreme. the woman asked a question and deserved an answer. since he's an elected official paid by taxpayer dollars, he should give her one.

Brent, you're not even old enough to JOIN the military.

I read the House Rules and cant find one mention of a rule prohibiting demonstrations in the gallery.

http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/109 ... s_text.htm

1. He already met with her once... after her son died. She could have asked him anything she wanted to then, but she did not. She had her chance. Not even every family of someone killed in Iraq gets the ONE chance she got!!!

2. What the heck does that have to do with anything?

[southerngale]

OMG, please.. that's extreme. the woman asked a question and deserved an answer. since he's an elected official paid by taxpayer dollars, he should give her one.

Brent, you're not even old enough to JOIN the military.

I read the House Rules and cant find one mention of a rule prohibiting demonstrations in the gallery.

http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/109 ... s_text.htm

What does Brent's age have to do with this discussion...facts are facts and I have no doubts this woman was there simply to cause a scene and be disruptive....as she tries to do everywhere she goes.

fwbbreeze

I agree about Brent's age. He shows more maturity than many adults I know, including Sheehan.

[greeng13]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for a redress of greviences.
1st Amendment US Constitution.

How exactly was she "speaking"???? by wearing something? "expression" maybe..."speech" no.

they do not allow cameras in the Supreme Court of the US (and many other courts in the nation as well...) so what it seems like some of y'all are trying to say is that if you bring a camera into the Supreme Court of the US and "use" it you shouldn't be asked to leave???