Heckler repeatedly interrupts Obama speech

[aggiesal]

Source: NBC News

By Michael O'Brien, Political Reporter, NBC News

President Barack Obama was repeatedly interrupted by a heckler whose taunts slowed the delivery of a major national security speech in the Washington, D.C. area.



The unidentified heckler began shouting at the president toward the tail end of his highly-anticipated address, when he touched upon U.S. policy toward detainees suspected of terrorist acts.

A woman in the crowd yells at President Barack Obama during his address to the National Defense University on Thursday.

Obama was forced to pause three separate times and talk over the protester, interrupting the flow of the closing section of the speech at National Defense University.

“I'm about to address it ma'am, but you've got to let me speak,” Obama scolded the woman. “Why don't you sit down and let me tell you exactly what I'd do."

The antiwar group Code Pink, which often interrupts high-profile political events with vocal protests against U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy, said its founder Medea Benjamin was the person responsible for the interruption.

. . .

Read more: http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/23/18449779-heckler-repeatedly-interrupts-obama-speech?lite

---

Complaining about how Obama is dealing with the hunger strike in Gitmo.

[Tx4obama]

1. The code pink person HAS been identified as Medea Benjamin

Obama Masterfully Uses Code Pink Heckler To Make His Case That GITMO Must Be Closed
Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101664335

[MADem]

2. I don't think they HELP at all. I remember how they turned the Plame hearings--which were

important to me and many others--into a distracting, stupid joke. I don't understand why people support them--they undermine the causes they purport to support.

It is quite often like they have marching orders from Karl Rove.

What better way to denigrate or marginalize a position or point-of-view by having kooky, oddball, uncouth assholes touting it?

[sheshe2]

31. +1! nt

[FSogol]

59. Looks like someone thinks Code Pink are above criticism.

At Fri May 24, 2013, 11:10 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

I don't think they HELP at all. I remember how they turned the Plame hearings--which were
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=491312

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

This is over-the-top: Code Pink takes marching orders from Karl Rove in the same way that President Obama is a Kenyan Communist.

This whole remark is simply an exercise in calling Code Pink names as is seen at the end of the last remark:

"...kooky, oddball, uncouth assholes..."

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri May 24, 2013, 11:14 PM, and the Jury voted 3-3 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: An opinion, and not alert-worthy.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: What a stupid alert. This is Democratic Underground, not Code Pink Underground. If you have to exaggerate someone's comments to make them seem worse than they are, you probably shouldn't be hitting alert. Hope this is a 6-0 Leave it and hope the Admins take a look.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT and said: You do realize that whether this post is hidden or not depends on how many supporters or detractors of Code Pink are randomly chosen?

On that note, I vote hide.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[MADem]

65. Unbelievable--who knew that Code Pink were members of DU?

I think that alert was an abuse of the jury system, myself! Talk about bullying conduct--and the only thing more amazing is that three people went along with the charade. The alerter misrepresented my intent (quite deliberately, unless they are a very poor reader) --and the jurors either didn't read the post themselves, or went along with the game for other reasons.

The alerter said: Code Pink takes marching orders from Karl Rove in the same way that President Obama is a Kenyan Communist.
But I said: It is quite often like they have marching orders from Karl Rove. And my objection to them was that they were unfairly, childishly and rudely disrupting the POTUS, which is a far cry from associating him with Kenyan communism.

I never said they actually TAKE orders from Rove (and anyone reading the post can see that)--I said their conduct is LIKE that, and that's because they behave stupidly, and provide aid and strength to the GOP nutters with their anti-Plame/anti-Obama antics. I'm astounded at the inability to parse the written word by four DUers--or the eagerness to play "Gotcha." Oh well--it all becomes part and parcel of our permanent records here, the admins know who's who when it comes to these alerts, and is an interesting element of the "DU experience."

Quite often I serve on juries where I, personally, because I am an old fart and set in my ways, find the POV distasteful or offensive, but if it doesn't violate TOS, I do the right thing and vote to leave. Sometimes, too, I serve on juries where the alerted-upon poster is someone who has been a real jerk over the years, or shitty and mean to me or someone else on this board, and I manage to overcome temptation and not vote to hide IF the post doesn't deserve it.

The idea behind the jury system is to alert on uncivil behavior, not muzzle valid criticisms--and this alerter was trying to censor me because she or he did not like my opinion, which is one that is held by more than a few Democrats and DUers. Code Pink ARE NOT Democrats. The Democratic Party owes no loyalty to them. They are often disruptive and they don't add to the conversation--they are a self-aggrandizing, attention-seeking, childish crew who play a foolish "Look at MEEEEE" game and don't know how to effectively protest. They ARE helping Rove and his crew, even if that's not their intent. They are an object of derision and mockery from both sides of the aisle, and they serve--like it or not--as a rallying point for the right wing, who point, laugh and gain strength from their "antics." I'm sure the freeper crowd was thrilled with their most recent performance.

If they go right, I'll go left--and so will most people I know.

Thanks for posting those results FSogol, I truly do appreciate it--I love me a little transparency!

[Eleanors38]

92. Wow. This alert wouldn't even make the qualifying rounds in the Gungeon. nt

[Tx4obama]

9. The FACTS regarding GITMO, Obama, and Congress (for those that do not know them)

The reason GITMO is still open is because of CONGRESS, not Obama.

Read the updates, from the bottom of the page upwards here: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/177/close-the-guantanamo-bay-detention-center/



Note: Regarding Politifact ratings: An important point about Obameter ratings: A Promise Broken rating does not necessarily constitute failure or mean that Obama failed to be an advocate for his promises. He could exert tremendous effort to fulfill any given promise but it could still die because of opposition in Congress. <SNIP> http://www.politifact.com/about/

[TekGryphon]

14. Right, and that idiot clouded the issue.

By interrupting Obama in the middle of a speech in which he's outlining how he's going to pressure Congress to close Gitmo, and yelling at him to close it down right now, she just fortified the false notion that somehow Gitmo is open because Obama wants it open.

Absolute. Complete. Idiot.

I hope Code Pink disavows her. She'd be more at home at a Tea Party rally holding a misspelled sign.

[Pachamama]

34. Code Pink cant disavow her....she is Code Pink

I know Medea personally and am actually someone who has always respected her courage and for taking stands....

I loved when she interrupted Lapierre of the NRA after Newtown....she has done many brave things...

But not today....I dont disagree with her points, but I think that what she did was very rude, very disrespectful, very stupid....she made herself the fool....she attacked the very person who can help accomplish her objectives and interrupted a live speech in such an amazingly rude way that I dont think she won points or made her point and cause, but rather looked like a nut job and so rude....Code Pink cant disavow her, because she is Code Pink. But people who have supported Code Pink in the past will no longer support her. She made Code Pink look crazy....even to the liberal, progressive Code Pink supporters like myself....i was very upset when I heard the interruptions and even more so when I found out it was her....

Sorry Medea....you went to far this time and did in my opinion a really stupid and wrong thing....lost credibility that I dont think can be regained....

[pengillian101]

36. +1! K&R n/t

[snappyturtle]

51. I agree wholeheartedly. I have been a supporter of Code Pink but today's

rude display to the President of the United States went too far.
I don't remember ever seeing Medea haranging bush like she did
President Obama today.

[MADem]

67. Her crew also did a great job making a mockery of the Plame hearing.

No one even remembers VP's testimony, because of the stupid pink-garbed idiots waving signs and making faces directly behind her. Those antics also made ALL the footage unusable for the cable/network news, and the issues VP raised never gained critical mass.

[jonthebru]

52. Hey, if you know her "personally"

Let her know next time you see her that many. many people think she is a fucking impertinent stupid immature jerk.
OK?

[olddots]

63. Okay I will

but I will also tell you the sane thing okay ?

[John2]

55. I actually

think the best way for the President to handle her, since she is the leader of a organization, would be to have a personal meeting with her, in the same way he engages Republicans. He could lay out the issues and let her know this isn't easy and the opposition he faces. That way, he can get her organization's support against those who really are obstructing the effort to close tanimo. I agree with her issues but her efforts are directed in the wrong direction. It should be a the rightwing Congress, corporate media ( such as FOX) and those fellow Americans supporting this agenda. Has she ever been invited to the White house for a one on one?

[brooklynite]

57. So, the White House should schedule a meeting with anyone who's an obnoxious jerk?

That'll work out well.

[MADem]

68. Krisp on a cracker, might as well put Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh in the Lincoln bedroom, then!

[MADem]

66. +1!!! I hope you don't get alerted on for daring to speak the truth about what

happened at that speech. Apparently we have a few people here who will brook NO dissent!

I agree with your POV entirely.

[NYC_SKP]

3. And Obama, classically, turns it into a WIN!

Even as he scolds her for not letting him finish a thought, he openly embraces her right to speech and permits it.

Boosh wouldn't have let her within 1000 yards of the building entrance.

[flamingdem]

6. He really did! nt

[Iliyah]

4. Just imagine

if it were a GOPer, Code Pink wouldn't be allowed in. As a matter of fact, it would been closed off to only kiss ass reporters, fake news, jon karl, et al.,

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Or if they had got in

would have been escorted out.

[fishwax]

53. well, she was escorted out in this case, too, but

she was given a lot more leeway than she would have gotten under the last president. And Obama handled it with so much more grace (and intellectual agility) than bush would have.

[ucrdem]

7. Gotta wonder who let her in.

Is it fascism to disinvite a celebrity protester from a counterterrorism speech?

Seriously, why would anyone let MB within a hundred yards of the auditorium on today of all days? A university is not a street or park and they surely wouldn't have let me or anyone else in if we'd just shown up and they hadn't cleared our credentials. Why would Benjamin be any different, with or without a press pass?

[grantcart]

11. Ironically she helps the President by the contrast in both content and style.

[ucrdem]

12. I guess you could say that

but it took him awhile to find an angle. If she was planted by team Obama he'd have had a soundbyte at the ready.

[aggiesal]

15. Fascism is . . .

Government run by Corporations.

I don't see how [Font color=Red]"dis-inviting a celebrity protester from a counter-terrorism speech"[/font] would be considered Fascist.

[ucrdem]

17. It makes you wonder about his security.

Like, does he have any? If they don't know who Medea Benjamin is by now they're in the wrong line of work.

[TekGryphon]

13. Every organization has their nitwits, this was Code Pink's

I don't know how on earth she thought protesting the biggest advocate on closing Gitmo this nation has, by disrupting a speech on a renewed push to close Gitmo, would somehow advance her cause.

Come on, Code Pink. Control your people. If you know you've got a lady in your group that's a few bulbs short of a box, don't leave her alone to sabotage the cause.

[alcibiades_mystery]

21. She's the leader of Code Pink, my dude

[Katashi_itto]

37. Doesnt say alot for Code Pink, does it

[Hell Hath No Fury]

16. Thank you for keeping it real, Medea --

I am so proud to say that I voted for her for Senator.

[ucrdem]

19. You're in California?

wiki says she ran against Feinstein in 2000 and got 3.1% which in Calif is nothing to sneeze at. I voted in that election and don't remember seeing her on the ballot. That it doesn't mean she wasn't, as it was 13 years ago and 3rd party candidates are as frequent as flies California. Usually they're retired or semi-employed and merit little or no press attention. But it wouldn't explain why anyone let her into this or any event.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

23. Yes, I am in CA --

and chose Medea over Feinstein -- it was a no brainer. Feinstein hasn't gotten my vote since her first run.

[ucrdem]

26. Okay I remember Global Exchange from the Clinton years

but I didn't realize she was part of it til I just looked her up. I only became aware of her when Code Pink hit the scene around 2004. But she seems to have a respectable past so I suppose it's possible that she has friends who can get her invitations to important events. But geez, you'd think somebody on the security side would have made a phone call or two when they saw her name on the guest list.

[BlueCaliDem]

29. Did you vote for Mike Strimling in the primaries last year? eom

[longship]

20. I don't know much about her.

But she acted like a fucking jerk today.

Obama was willing to engage her and she continued acting like an asshole. Even after the President asked her politely to let him respond she persisted with her rude interruptions. She wasn't interested in hearing anything. She just wanted to be a jerk.

I had heard her name but I had no idea about her until today. She's a fucking jerk, IMHO.

[longship]

25. Raising awareness by being a jerk.

Kind of like the tea party folks.

I am not impressed.

[xocet]

61. Please consider this....

She did come across as a jerk, but it seems that sometimes that is the only way to get an issue out into the public eye. If the big picture is considered, what she did is much less "being a jerk" than what is being done to innocent civilians in other countries by our drone program.

What are a few loud words in comparison to brutally killing civilians whose only crime is to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Her point - though it was hard to make out due to low volume - is that drone strikes will likely radicalize more people against the USA than will be taken out by the strikes; i.e., that there will be a net increase in the threat to the USA.

President Obama presented the argument that other ways of neutralizing the targets of the drone strikes would cause even more radicalization than the interdiction does. Thus, the underlying issue was minimized and swept aside without any public debate of the issue. The President never had any intention of addressing the issues to which she referred. Why would he? It would only make his job harder and increase the likelihood he would say something that the Republicans would twist and use against him in the future.

Simply put, the USA should not be in the practice of killing innocent civilians at all. That is really the main point. Is the entire world really a legitimate battlefield? If not pressing a button will prevent the death of an innocent person, why press the button? Is the security concern really that imminent or is the use of drones to kill just that easy and politically cheap in our country?

Drone strikes kill, maim and traumatize too many civilians, U.S. study says
By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 8:33 PM EDT, Tue September 25, 2012

(CNN) -- U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan have killed far more people than the United States has acknowledged, have traumatized innocent residents and largely been ineffective, according to a new study released Tuesday.

...

In contrast to more conservative U.S. statements, the Stanford/NYU report -- titled "Living Under Drones" -- offers starker figures published by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, an independent organization based at City University in London.

"TBIJ reports that from June 2004 through mid-September 2012, available data indicate that drone strikes killed 2,562 - 3,325 people in Pakistan, of whom 474 - 881 were civilians, including 176 children. TBIJ reports that these strikes also injured an additional 1,228 - 1,362 individuals," according to the Stanford/NYU study.

Based on interviews with witnesses, victims and experts, the report accuses the CIA of "double-striking" a target, moments after the initial hit, thereby killing first responders.

...

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/25/world/asia/pakistan-us-drone-strikes

If CNN is not an acceptable source, here is the Stanford/NYU study that discusses the issue:

Living Under Drones: Death, Injury and Trauma to Civilians from US Drone Practices in Pakistan

Acknowledgments

This report is the result of nine months of research by the International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic of Stanford Law School (Stanford Clinic) and the Global Justice Clinic at New York University School of Law (NYU Clinic). Professor James Cavallaro and Clinical Lecturer Stephan Sonnenberg led the Stanford Clinic team; Professor Sarah Knuckey led the NYU Clinic team. Adelina Acuña, Mohammad M. Ali, Anjali Deshmukh, Jennifer Gibson, Jennifer Ingram, Dimitri Phillips, Wendy Salkin, and Omar Shakir were the student research team at Stanford; Christopher Holland was the student researcher from NYU. Supervisors Cavallaro, Sonnenberg, and Knuckey, as well as student researchers Acuña, Ali, Deshmukh, Gibson, Salkin, and Shakir participated in the fact-finding investigations to Pakistan.

In December 2011, Reprieve, a charity based in the United Kingdom, contacted the Stanford Clinic to ask whether it would be interested in conducting independent investigations into whether, and to what extent, drone strikes in Pakistan conformed to international law and caused harm and/or injury to civilians. The Stanford Clinic agreed to undertake independent fact-finding and analysis on these questions, as well as others related to drone strikes and targeted killings in Pakistan, beginning in December 2011. Later, the NYU Clinic agreed to join the research project and participated in the second research trip to Pakistan, as well as in additional research, writing, and editing of this report.

In the course of the research, the Stanford and NYU Clinics have exchanged information and logistical support with Reprieve and its partner organization in Pakistan, the Foundation for Fundamental Rights (FFR). The latter organization assisted in contacting many of the potential interviewees, particularly those who reside in North Waziristan, and in the difficult work of arranging interviews. The Stanford and NYU Clinics designed the research project, analyzed information, and drafted and edited the report independently from Reprieve and FFR.

Cavallaro, Knuckey, and Sonnenberg supervised and directed the preparation of the report, oversaw the writing, and served as the final editors of this publication. Students Acuña, Ali, Deshmukh, Gibson, and Shakir drafted initial sections of the report. Acuña, Ali, Gibson and Shakir synthesized and restructured the initial draft sections. Holland from the NYU Clinic also assisted with research for the report. Firas Abuzeid, Jennifer Ingram, Usman Liaqat, Clara Long, Waqas Mustafeez, Ada Sheng, and Zade Shakir assisted the research team in the review and fact-checking of the final version.

...

http://www.livingunderdrones.org/report/

[longship]

62. My issue wasn't about her claims.

My issue was that she was in a winning position when the President acknowledged her and even politely responded to her. A reasonable person would then have let him speak. If she had further questions she could have reasonably expected that he would listen.

But no! That wasn't good enough for her. She apparently decided that interrupting was the best strategy against someone who is trying to politely engage her.

I will stand by what I posted. Medea Benjamin looked like a jerk, which the world now highly suspects is her true character, including me. Nice work, Ms. Benjamin. You pulled defeat out of the jaws of victory.

[xocet]

79. There is no reason not to stand by what you posted.

My only request was that you consider that there is no dialog on these issues with the President. He still apparently feels that it is more than alright to kill innocent civilians including Al-Awlaki's 16-yr-old son, a US citizen, by drone strike - it is just a cost of doing business.

A speech is a one-way event, and the crowd usually only listens unless there is a Q&A afterwards. The only way to get a message out to a larger audience is to try to make it heard at the larger event.

There is no need to suspect anything about her motivation or her character. Here is an interview:

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/5/24/that_woman_is_worth_paying_attention

[longship]

82. Not suspecting anything about her motivation.

But her character is a bit sucky if she thinks what she did helped her case in any way. She tried to shout down the President when he had just acknowledged her.

She acted like a jerk. I have no respect for somebody who acts like that.

I am sorry that I have to disagree with you, but here we are.

[xocet]

83. No problem. Thanks for the conversation. n/t

[longship]

84. You are welcome.

Always nice to have a respectful DU conversation.

[TheIdiot]

90. Some folks simply insist...

... on killing the messenger - that's way easier than dealing with the message.

[jeff47]

22. She did an excellent job showing she doesn't know what she's talking about. (nt)

[BlueCaliDem]

32. I support Code Pink because they're non-violent, but this woman

was being a real jerk, and because of it, I'm beginning to doubt Code Pink's activist arm.

The president was explaining how he was going to close Gitmo and she bursts into this heckling, taking away what I wanted to hear the president to say {which, when he got the chance to explain it, was good news to me that he isn't done fighting for it's closing}. I wished she had waited at least until he was finished before she heckled, but I guess she knew where the speech was leading to and it didn't look as if her pre-planned heckling would have made much sense then - so interrupt the president and hurl all kinds of accusations at him to at least make her day productive, I guess.

[tblue]

40. Not sure she what she accomplished

I am all for Peace. I bought a Code Pink t-shirt because I thought I related to what they tried to do. But I am not sure what she accomplished today besides making a lot of people annoyed with Code Pink. I know it is damn near impossible to get a non-corporate message broadcast on tv so I don't have any suggestions for how to do it better. I just think this heckling makes people dismissive of what should be a compelling message and an effective organization. I want what they want though. I really do. I think.

[KG]

18. !

[dkf]

27. Now all the conversation is about code pink, not Guantanamo.

Great move...NOT!!! She undermined her own cause.

[ucrdem]

28. In the press maybe, but it won't affect any legislation

at least IMHO.

[dkf]

30. No, but Obama was trying to get control of the narrative, trying to lead instead of being caught

by the next scandal.

She took control away from him by being so obnoxious. This is NOT what he needs. It won't help him do what she wants.

[SidDithers]

33. Medea Benjamin and #StandwithRand...

Sid

[jeff47]

35. Golly. Add this to disrupting the Plame hearings

and it's almost like she's not interested in helping the causes she claims to support.

[annm4peace]

38. I was proud of Medea and support her action

and it wasn't just Medea there, next to her stood ret. Col Ann Wright (another incredible citizen) who resigned her position as diplomate

I really can't understand the negative comments about Medea by DU'rs. She is trying

Under the NDAA the President CAN release those at Guantanamo. He should have done it in the 1st year and he could have.

Things are beyond desperate at Guantanamo. Check out "Cage Prisoners"

There are innocent men who have been on a hunger strike for over 100 days and are close to dying. They need to see action that they are being released not more empty words.

Medea and many of us are tired of the empty words from the President. It isn't the 1st time he has said he has pushed for the closing of Guantanamo... and it probably won't be the last.

I have many in many protests and actions since 2003 to bring attention to the illegal action at Guantanamo.

Medea has seen the result of our war and occupations in Iraq, and Afghanistan and drone attacks in Pakistan.

I'm glad she spoke out, she spoke for me and for many americans who are sickened by what our Government is doing.

The President could meet with Medea and other Peace activists.

[mimi85]

39. Did you watch any

of the MSNBC shows after the speech? Keep an open mind and watch the reruns. Especially Chris Hayes. Haven't seen LO yet of course, but I am looking forward to it. You may be surprised.

[annm4peace]

41. Yes I watched it

I watched Chris Hayes... and then Rachel Maddow who shows how many times Obama has said he would close Guantanamo and other poiticians who have said they are going to close Guantanamo.

Maybe someone from the White House could go to Guantanamo and talk to these innocent men and apologize and let them know they are going home or to a new home and will be reunited with their family members.

The 1st time there was a hunger strike at Guantanamo it was because of the mistreatment of the Children that were being held at Guantanamo.

[annm4peace]

48. Rachel Maddow had on Jeremy Scahill

It is important that people listen to Jeremy Scahill and all his facts.

I wish they had Jeremy Scahill on Network shows so the rest of the US public could hear some facts.

and don't get me started on how may children have died because of Drone attacks.

maybe you can go buy Medea's book on Drones.

[mimi85]

85. I did see that

and he made a good point (although I wonder if he ever smiles). Anyway, there are nowhere the tens of thousands being killed when Dubya was President. Sadly, these things just can't be stopped overnight. We're out of Iraq now and it looks like they're going back to their old ways.

I would love to see us come home immediately from anywhere there are troops in the world; I just don't think humans are capable of being truly peaceful. When I was much younger we did a lot of screaming and yelling - we got out of Vietnam just to end up somewhere else.

I think Medea could have made her point in a less obtrusive way. Her message was lost and the press just called her "a heckler." Didn't accomplish much. At least PBO treated her with respect which is more than you can say for her behavior.

[burnodo]

42. She dared challenge and interrupt the President

and, in another thread, she's now associated with Rand Paul by default

[woo me with science]

56. She "DARED CHALLENGE" the King?

I mean, the elected public servant?

OFF WITH HER HEAD!



Oh, the idiocy of this authoritarian-speak.

[jeff47]

44. You might of heard of this "Constitution" thing.

It gives Congress absolute power over spending.

Under the NDAA the President CAN release those at Guantanamo.

Yes, but there's a problem with that. Congress has forbidden any money be spent to do so.

So it really doesn't matter if Obama has the power to close it. To actually do so without abandoning the detainees in place requires spending money.

[hughee99]

64. I don't think that's accurate.

Congress is withholding funds for relocating the "detainees" to another prison somewhere else. If they are RELEASED, the government can pay to fly them to their home country, they are not stuck in Guantanamo. The president has the power to release them.

[jeff47]

74. There's several Congressional restrictions in place.

In addition, there's several prisoners who are no longer welcome in their home countries.

[hughee99]

75. Yes, and this is another issue,

but none of the financial restrictions congress has set prevent the president from releasing prisoners, and sending them back to their home countries if those countries will have them.

[forestpath]

60. +1000 Somehow it's different when peace activists interrupt Obama from when

if it was Bush they were interrupting.

Funny how that works.

[MADem]

69. If Bush were announcing that he wanted to close Gitmo, I'd be the first one to say

"Shut up, you loudmouth protesters, and let the man talk."

It's not about the situation being 'different' --it's about POV. And there's nothing "funny" about that at all.

[forestpath]

71. And I don't believe Obama any more than I'd believe Bush. Heard it all before!

[MADem]

73. Well, that's your opinion. I don't remember Bush ever saying he wanted to close Gitmo, so I would

have actually LIKED to have heard that before.

If you don't believe our POTUS, if you think he's a liar, well, why are you even here at DU?

[annm4peace]

43. The White House could have sent someone to speak with this group of Americans

100 Day Guantanamo Hunger Strike Press Conference at National Press Club Thursday, May 16, 10am

Washington, DC -- On Thursday, May 16th at 10am CODEPINK will be hosting a press conference in the Zenger Room at the National Press Club. As the health of the striking prisoners deteriorates, human rights advocates and military officials are speaking out, calling on President Obama to take immediate action to close the prison.

Speakers (full bios below):
Colonel Morris Davis, former Guantanamo Chief Prosecutor
Carlos Warner, lawyer for eleven Guantanamo Bay detainees
Captain Jason Wright, JAG lawyer for two Guantanamo Bay detainees
Imam Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of the Muslim American Society's Freedom Foundation
Diane Wilson, military veteran on a hunger strike since May 1 to close Guantanamo
Medea Benjamin, moderator, CODEPINK cofounder

The following day, Friday May 17th, marking the 100th day of the beginning of the hunger strike, a coalition of activists will stage a vigil in front of the White House from noon until 1:00 pm. They will don orange jumpsuits like the ones worn in Guantanamo, read the names of the prisoners and letters from their families. Colonel Morris Davis will deliver his change.org petition, with over 200,000 signatures, to the White House.

CODEPINK has launched an urgent call to save the lives of the 130 prisoners on hunger strike in Guantanamo and has been staging actions across DC for the last several weeks. Over 1,200 people from around the world have joined a rolling hunger strike. Diane Wilson, who will be speaking at the press conference, has been on a water-only hunger strike since May 1st and intends to continue her strike until the prisoners cleared for release begin to be freed.

Speaker bios:

Colonel Morris Davis: Colonel Morris D. Davis (born July 31, 1958) is a United States Air Force officer and lawyer, was appointed to serve as the third Chief Prosecutor of the Guantanamo military commissions September 2005 until October 2007. He resigned from the position due to objecting to the appointment of William J. Jaynes, II, former General Counsel of the Department of Defense, as Presiding Officer of the commissions. He retired from active duty in October 2008 and has been speaking out publicly against the continued operations at Guantanamo Bay prison.

Captain Jason Wright represents two Guantanamo Bay detainees facing trial
before the U.S. Military Commissions: U.S. v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad and U.S.
v. Obaidullah. Mr. Mohammad’s capital case is currently in active litigation, and
Mr. Obaidullah remains uncharged despite enduring more than 11 years of
detention.

In August 2011, CPT Wright was assigned to the Office of the Chief Defense Counsel for the U.S. Military Commissions and now splits his time between their offices in Washington, D.C. and U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

Carlos Warner
Carlos is an Assistant Public Defender for the Northern District of Ohio. He has been a public defender for 15 years. He, along with his colleagues, represent 11 men held at Guantanamo Bay, including Yemeni men cleared for release. He has worked tirelessly to close Guantanamo both publicly and behind the scenes. He still believes with the President's will and force, the prison could be shuttered in a year.

Imam Mahdi Bray is a long-time civil and human rights activist currently serving as the Executive Director of the Muslim American Society's Freedom Foundation (MAS Freedom), and former President of the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations (CCMO). Imam Bray serves on the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Alliance, Interfaith Worker Justice and is a national co-convener of Religions of Peace-USA. He has served as political advisor and strategist to several national state and local political campaigns. Imam Bray has served as a liaison between the President's White House Faith-Based Initiative Program and Congressional Affairs on behalf of the Muslim Community.

Medea Benjamin is cofounder of the peace group CODEPINK and the human rights group Global Exchange. She has worked for years to close Guantanamo, including organizing a march of former prisoners and family members of present prisoners to the Cuban side of Guantanamo. She is author of several books on US policy, including Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control.

Diane Wilson is an environmental activist, anti-war activist, an author, and a fourth generation shrimper from Texas. She is a co-founder of the anti-war organization CODEPINK. She has been on a water-only hunger strike since May 1st in solidarity with the prisoners and intends to continue her strike until the prisoners cleared for release begin to be freed. On May 10, Ms. Wilson, a grandmother, was arrested at the White House for chaining herself, by her neck, to the fence.

[annm4peace]

45. Some responses tweets from others who support the actions of Medea

From Jeremy Scahill
In disrupting Obama's speech, @medeabenjamin asked POTUS a question no journalist has: What about the killing of 16 yr old Abdulrahman?

For people angry with @medeabenjamin/Code Pink, has it occurred to you that maybe the WH press corp should actually ask these questions?

[annm4peace]

46. The more I watch the clip

the more I am disappointed by the remarks made by other DU'rs.

[annm4peace]

47. another reason I support Medea speaking Truth to Power to the President

Omar Farah, a lawyer with the Center for Constitutional Rights, agreed, saying that Obama's words needed to be matched with action. Farah accused the president of over-relying on the good will of Congress to agree to help close the base. "Many of [the detainees] can be released starting tomorrow without Congressional assistance. In light of the tragedy unfolding at the prison, swift action is imperative. Until we see that, the president's speech is just that – a speech," Farah said.

[MjolnirTime]

49. All she wanted was a little attention. How sad!

[BeyondGeography]

50. She tried to rattle the Prez, utterly failed and then made a total ass of herself on Round 2

Didn't get the reaction she wanted on the first try. Sheer vanity.

[mwrguy]

54. She's a neocon tool

STFU and let the president do his job.

[Javaman]

58. right because questioning the president is bad.

[TekGryphon]

72. No, but advancing right-wing conspiracies and sabotaging a progressive speech is.

She's either a cognitively disabled idiot or she's on the payroll of the Koch Brothers.

There's no other explanation for doing what she did.

[hughee99]

76. Code Pink, RW front group?

I'm not a big fan of some of their tactics, but I'm not buying it.

[Javaman]

78. sabotaging a progressive speech?

code pink didn't know what was in the speech before hand so how could the "sabotage" it?

Sorry, but I'm not buying what you are drinking.

[TekGryphon]

86. Did you even bother listening to what he was saying before her interruption?

Because it's obvious she wasn't.

[Javaman]

87. I listened to the whole thing and

when she interrupted, Obama stated he was getting to that.

So you were saying?

[TekGryphon]

89. BS. He was addressing it before she interrupted.

Making excuses for promoting right wing conspiracy theories. Pathetic.

[Javaman]

91. so the person who has 114 posts accuses me of pushing right wing theories...

have a great day, I love your comedy style.

[TekGryphon]

93. 40k posts doesn't give you much of a grasp on reading comprehension, unfortunately.

I said you were making excuses for someone pushing right-wing conspiracies, not that you were promoting right-wing conspiracies yourself.

If you need my help breaking down sentence structures to identify subjects, let me know. $50 an hour tutoring and you can submit payment over PayPal.

[Javaman]

94. Have a great day.

keep digging.

[MADem]

70. Oooops--watch what you say, watch what you do!!!

Hell hath no fury like Medea fans scorned! I got alerted on for saying that she sounds like she's carrying Rove's water!

[Still Blue in PDX]

77. I was a Code Pink supporter early on when they were all about protesting the war in Iraq.

I don't recall exactly when I decided they weren't speaking for me, but it's been quite a few years since I unsubscribed from their mailing list and retired my pink Converse sneakers.

[Fire Walk With Me]

80. "HECKLER"? Code Pink also protested war criminal Bush, as did many of us.

Are all those who would stand up and challenge the mountain of BULLSHIT we face every day, "hecklers"? And did any here love Code Pink when they challenged Bush, but don't like them now that they're challenging Obama and this administration's bullshit?

Protesting is patriotic. This country was founded upon protest against bullshit. Fuck the corporate-owned media for mocking those representing the very foundation of this country. Their agenda is clear.

[dembotoz]

81. as obama moves to the center(which means moves to the right-by definition)

why would anyone be surprised that his is being attacked by some on the left?

I consider myself much more of a lefty than Obama is
and that distance is growing

and being left of Obama is not that hard-I see more and more facebook posts from ofa members who are shocked
at what he is doing and are questioning their support.
These folks are not out there lefties(which would be me-I confess)
These folks are his base

he ignores them at the parties peril

[Sunlei]

88. great Rplan,marginalize President Os important speech & make f 'in R heckler breaking news topic!