Anti-War Congressional Democrat placed on NO-FLY List!

[Lt. Governor 2B]

http://www.pressrepublican.com/Archive/2006/02_2006/022320061.htm

Congressional candidate put on no-fly list
McHugh challenger and war opponent Johnson claims bias
By JOE LoTEMPLIO, Staff Writer
PLATTSBURGH -- A candidate for Congress has been put on a federal watch list as a possible terror suspect, and he wants to know why.

Dr. Robert Johnson, a Democrat from Sackets Harbor, near Watertown, who is challenging incumbent Republican John McHugh in the 23rd District, said he was denied access aboard a Continental Airlines flight to Florida on Jan. 17 from Syracuse after officials informed him that he was on a "no-fly" list.

"I flew to England in December and there was no problem, then in January all of a sudden I'm on the list," said Johnson, a heart surgeon and former officer in the U.S. Army.

According to the federal Transportation Security Administration, watch lists are compiled based on "recommendations and information received from federal agencies, including intelligence and law-enforcement agencies."

Johnson said officials at the Syracuse airport would not tell him why he was placed on the list.

"Why would a former lieutenant colonel who swore an oath to defend and protect our country pose a threat of terrorism?" Johnson said.

Johnson, who ran against McHugh and lost in 2004, has been outspoken against the war in Iraq. He wonders if that is why he wound up on the list.

"This could just be a government screw-up, but I don't know, and they won't tell me."

Johnson said that if he is being targeted because of his views on the war, it is an outrage.

"This is like McCarthyism in the 1950s."

Johnson was eventually allowed to board the flight to Florida, but the incident has left him angered and frustrated.

"Being on that list and not being taken off is like character herpes; it's with you forever."

McHugh spokeswoman Brynn Barnett said it is possible that Johnson wound up on the list by mistake.

"Maybe there is somebody else named Bob Johnson that's on the list," she said.

Asked if Congressman McHugh had anything to do with Johnson being placed on the list, Barnett said sternly, "Certainly not."

Johnson said he wrote a letter to the Transportation Security Administration but doubts they will take his name off the list.

"I was shocked by this, at first, and kind of amused, but then when I started to think about it some more, it was chilling and scary."

[Mythsaje]

1. Things that make you go hmmmm...n/t

[Nashyra]

2. It's partially last name

My son's last name is Johnson and we could not check in because his name was on a "list" He had to be "cleared", needless to say not to many beaucrats working on Christmas Day. We finally got on, the agent told us it was because of his common name but he has problems everytime he flies

[Tom Joad]

5. Johnson? Must be what, 2 or 3 million Johnsons in this country.

And then i hear that if the name turns up bad, it does not matter the age... It could be a toddler and there will still have to be cleared.

Wait, if they are around two, maybe there is something to that...

[NanceGreggs]

3. Obviously an honest mistake ...

"Bob Johnson" - sure sounds like your typical Middle Eastern, terrorist Muslim name to me.

I sure hope they're not allowing those damned "John Smiths" of the world to board out planes without a triple check!

[yurbud]

4. "I'm afraid we'll have to go ahead with the cavity search until it gets

straightened out."

[joeunderdog]

16. Smith is too white. Johnson could be black, so you can't take too

many chances. :sarcasm:

Probably on the voter purge list, too.

[Erika]

6. Once on the no fly list - always on it

Personal experience.

[LiberalGuy000]

7. "character herpes"?

That's an interesting way of putting it.

Maybe if he starts taking acyclovir, being on the no-fly list won't be so painful. :P

[Bozita]

8. iirc, Ted Kennedy was on list for 3-4 months after Ashcroft intervention

Kennedy appealed to him personally. Ashcroft was AG at the time.

[Morning Dew]

12. yep - more intimidation from the BFEE

eom

[Ediacara]

9. Lt. Governor 2B

Could you please modify your title so it matches the title publiched by the Press Republican? Also, could you reduce the quoted excerpt to no more than three paragraphs?

[Copperred]

10. Petition drive?

Someone should start a petition drive to just demand the repeal of this entirely stupid idea.

REPEAL THE NO FLY LISTS PERIOD.

[NanceGreggs]

11. Good post ...

... and GREAT THINKING!

Welcome, Copperred!

:toast:

[lumpy]

13. Damn straight.

No fly lists are unconstitutional.

[unhappycamper]

14. Lt. Governor 2B:

Please be aware that DU copyright rules require that excerpts of copyrighted material be limited to four paragraphs and must include a link to the original source.

In the future, please insure your posts adhere to this standard.

TIA,

unhappycamper
DU Moderator

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FreedomAngel82]

15. Of course the republican had something to do with it

Doy. And yes it is McCarthyism.

[Cobalt Violet]

17. Repugs seem to abuse anything they can.

They really need to be put back under their rocks.

[Stephanie]

18. Worst sound-bite ever >

"Being on that list and not being taken off is like character herpes; it's with you forever."

[progressoid]

19. Damn Doctor/Democrat/Lieutenant Colonels. Why do they hate Amurica?

[mainer]

20. Robert Johnson, James Moore, Dave Nelson.... who's next?

If only some terrorist would claim his name is "Bush." Maybe we can keep all Bushes off planes.

[Zan_of_Texas]

26. John Lewis, that's who.

Former civil rights activist, African-American current member of the U.S. House of Representatives was on the no-fly list about the same time as Ted Kennedy. Took more than once for HIM to get off it too.

[Pachamama]

21. And so it begins....

:scared:

[newyawker99]

22. Lt. Governor 2B

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.


Thank you.

NYer99
DU Moderator

[Buns_of_Fire]

24. At least you'd think they could tell you at the time of TICKETING

if there's a problem. It would really chap me raw if I got everything all set up for a trip, arranged my ticket through my friendly travel agent (or online), got to the airport, and then got shunted off to the persona non gratia line to have my Precious Bodily Fluids examined. :grr:

If you find that you're on their Double Secret Probation List at the airport, do you at least get a refund on the ticket?

[Zan_of_Texas]

27. Ha, that would take all the fun out of it! They want maximum nuisance!

As someone has pointed out elsewhere, if somebody is really a terrorist, ARREST THEM ON THE SPOT!

For cryin' out loud!

Don't just delay them. This is complete B-S.

[stickdog]

25. Kick (nt)