Has the President commented yet...

[SHRED]

...on the police brutality running amok against Occupy?

Should he step in and denounce it?

I think he should.



--

[newfie11]

1. yeah he should but don't count on it happening. n/t

[Wilms]

2. Yes he has.

Pres. Obama's statement on peaceful protest

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2336032

[piratefish08]

3. why yes. yes he has.

"So I want to be very clear in calling upon the Egyptian authorities to refrain from any violence against peaceful protestors. The people of Egypt have rights that are universal. That includes the right to peaceful assembly and association, the right to free speech, and the ability to determine their own destiny. These are human rights. And the United States will stand up for them everywhere."

President Barack Obama - Jan 28, 2011

[SHRED]

4. I meant has he called upon USA authorities?

That is why I said "Occupy" movement.

I should have been clearer I guess.

[piratefish08]

6. he said this through a spokesman:

By BEN FELLER

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE -- President Barack Obama's spokesman is suggesting the president believes it's up to New York and other municipalities to decide how much force to use in dealing with Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.

Spokesman Jay Carney also says Obama hopes the right balance can be reached between protecting freedom of assembly and speech with the need to uphold order and safeguard public health and safety.

Carney spoke to reporters Tuesday as Obama flew to Australia. He was asked whether Obama had been following the early-morning police raid on Zuccotti Park in New York, where Occupy Wall Street protesters have camped out for weeks.

Carney said the president was "aware of it."

He said the administration's position is that each municipality has to make its own decisions about how to handle these issues.

link added http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/politics&id=8433242


"it's up to New York and other municipalities to decide how much force to use in dealing with Occupy Wall Street demonstrations." not WHETHER to use force. HOW MUCH force.

[SHRED]

10. Appears to negate his January position

So if a local law enforcement decides that destruction of private property, clubs, pepper spray, tear gas, soundwave torture, etc...are okay; then the President is fine with that?


---

[piratefish08]

12. riot police to help clean up health and safety violations.

perfectly okay.


of course others are waiting for an actual protesters DEATH to make the President's words have meaning........

[Courtesy Flush]

5. Now he's in a corner

Other nations may now gun down protesters in the street, and Obama will have to keep his mouth shut about it, after making no effort to protect them in his own country.

[pnorman]

7. Protesters are being gunned down in the USA?

Who knew?

[piratefish08]

8. got it. universal rights only begin with an actual street death.

who knew?

thanks for clarifying the new rules!

[pnorman]

14. The subject was direct intervention of the POTUS in such affairs.

Recall the actions of JFK & LBJ (DINOS both!) during the Civil Rights struggle.

[Tesha]

15. Yes, as long as one considers "shot in the head with a teargas grenade gun" to be "gunned down".

Most thinking people would consider this to be true.

Also, rubber bullets, beanbags/stingballs, and the like.

The only thing they haven't fired are full-metal-jacketed
rounds. Well, not since Kent State, anyway.

Tesha

[lunatica]

9. Shouldn't you wait until someone in OWS has actually been 'gunned down'?

But maybe that would cut into your fantasy.

[malthaussen]

13. A fractured skull from a tear gas cannister

... doesn't count? Or a lacerated spleen?

-- Mal

[malthaussen]

11. Not at all. That assumes Mr Obama is not a hypocrite.

Which may or may not be the case. Each municipality will have to decide that for its own self.

-- Mal