"The Voice of this woman is someone we should listen to"
Last edited Thu May 23, 2013, 05:03 PM - Edit history (1)
During the President's outstanding discussion of security issues ranging from pursuing terrorist organizations and lone wolf attackers to civil liberty issues to closing GITMO, the President made a comprehensive discussion of many sensitive issues and handled them with his trademark sensitivity and practicality. Among the other issues he outlined was the need to move from a war setting to a more basic law enforcement strategy.
At the end he made an impassioned plea and plan to close GITMO.
After laying the foundation for the case, once again, and as he was calling on Congress to remove restrictions on moving GITMO prisoners he was repeatedly heckled by a single woman who we could not quite hear.
The President was beyond patient and kind. He extended every courtesy to her and kept repeating, "I am about to address that very issue".
She continued to interrupt the President and the crowd continued to give the President enthusiastic ovations for both his handling of the woman and his determination to close GITMO (it was before a National Security crowd).
After her third eruption she was, obviously, being taken out by security and you could mark her movement by watching the President's eyes as he followed her movement out of the room.
After many seconds of silence he resumed, with another ovation, and said "The voice of this woman is someone we should listen to". He went on to note that she obviously wasn't listening to what he had to say but he didn't demean or ridicule her.
It was another outstanding performance by a great man who is a great President.
I have never seen any President treat such a rude heckler with such courtesy and decency.
he outlined were sensible in dealing with both security issues and issues of liberty.
Beyond that it is an example of each of us on how to interact with people we disagree with, whether at DU or at Denny's.
I will edit the link in when I find it.
Tks to TX Grandpa who has a link to the outburst and to the whole speech
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/23/obama-guantanamo-bay-prison-counterterrorism-speech/2355395/
The increasingly irritated president, who was trying to outline revamped steps to close down the Gitmo prison, re-started, only to be interrupted again.
"Now, this is part of free speech," Obama said. "You being able to speak, but also you listening and me being able to speak, right?"
As security officials began to gathered around Benjamin, she shouted at one point about Gitmo: "It's been 11 years!"
At another, Benjamin began yelling over the death of the 16-year-old son of a terrorist suspect during a drone strike.
"Is that the way we treat a 16-year-old?" Benjamin was heard to say.
Obama said at one point, "You should let me finish my sentence."
Benjamin went on: "Will you compensate the innocent family victims? That will make us safer here at home. I love my country. I love the rule of law. Drones are making us less safe."
As Benjamin continued to talk -- and was eventually escorted from the hall -- Obama said her words and those of other protesters have to be taken seriously.
The president also made a little joke about the situation.
"I'm going off-script, as you might expect here," he told the crowd, drawing chuckles.
"The voice of that woman is worth paying attention to," Obama said. "Obviously, I do not agree with much of what she said. And obviously, she wasn't listening to me in much of what I said. But these are tough issues, and the suggestion that we can gloss over them is wrong."
= new reply since forum marked as read
Ok, I denounce and reject myself.
But is it OK if I still imagine LBJ beating the crap out of Boehner and a couple of others I could mention? 
until later tonight but I appreciate that it's here for us.
BOG
were confronting George W. Bush and his cabinet in just such a manner she was a hero at DU. But rightfully doing the same to His Highness she is suddenly nothing but a rude heckler. 
I say to Medea Banjamin THANK YOU for trying to keep it real, and for maintaining your convictions regardless of who is in power. 
So very proud of President Obama for saying that and handling the incident with such cool and such respect. One of my best friends is a Code Pink Women For Peace member. She is also an Obama supporter and voted for him in 2008 and 2012. My daughter was very active with Campus Code Pink in college. She was also very involved in Women For Obama and OFA during the 2012 campaign. I understand their frustration and, by his comment, the President does, also. I'm frustrated, myself. But as I have said to both of them, Obama can't just order an edict to close Gitmo. He wants it closed. He wants to get us out of this war mentality. He can't do it alone. He has a lot of obstruction in Congress and the RW media. I still admire Medea Benjamin and Code Pink. They did a lot of the "heavy lifting" for the anti-war/anti-Bush movement during the horrible days of the Bush Administration. I didn't, and still don't, agree with all of their tactics, but I do believe their hearts are in the right place and they believe in a world of fairness, peace and equality. Their goals are the same as PBO and most of us active here on the BOG.
Again, I think the President's comment speaks volumes - "The voice of that woman is worth paying attention to." Once again, he is right.
Sorry for such a long-winded and exceptionally long post, but I think it is in our best interests to support this President and his efforts to move this country forward. Peace and love to all here at BOG.