Friday, September 10, 2004

defender of the constitution

Dana MilbankSecret Service Not Coddling Hecklers (washingtonpost.com):

"Bush forced a smile as the seven interrupted his speech in waves. As the crowd drowned them out with chants of 'Four More Years,' the demonstrators were led roughly from the room by event ushers as a few attendees shouted 'traitors.' Outside, plainclothes Secret Service agents, joined by Blake Gottesman, Bush's personal aide, circled the demonstrators.

One uniformed Secret Service agent complained to a colleague that 'the press is having a field day' with the disruption -- and the agents quickly clamped down. Journalists were told that if they sought to approach the demonstrators, they would not be allowed to return to the event site -- even though their colleagues were free to come and go. An agent, who did not give his name, told one journalist who was blocked from returning to the speech that this was punishment for approaching the demonstrators and that there was a 'different set of rules' for reporters who did not seek out the activists. " (emphasis added)
No comment necessary. Just a full-throated scream.