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Bush Heckled By Protesters on Fourth
By Tommy ChristopherJul 5th 2008 5:53PM
Filed Under:ePresident Bush, Republicans, Featured Stories, Humor
On his final U.S. Independence Day as president, Bush told an audience Friday at the home of the Declaration of Independence's author that he was honored to be present for the naturalization. Shouts from protesters were heard during Bush's remarks, and the president responded by saying he agrees that "we believe in free speech in the United States of America."There are several videos of the incident that are getting heavy traffic on Youtube (MSNBC has the whole speech here). Here are two that I think best showcase the unprecedented impact of these activists.
Check these out, and then tell me if you think activism is dead. I saved the best one for last.
No, you are not imagining things. George W. Bush made them look foolish.
To be fair, they looked foolish enough on their own, but Bush put the cherry on top, and in a way that showcases what is wrong with a lot of modern-day "protests."
His line about believing in free speech, probably unwittingly, highlighted the fact that the protest was in no way connected to the event. What did the throng of newly-minted citizens do to deserve such a taint on their moment of celebration? Did the protest have anything to do with Bush's immigration policy?
Along similar lines, I reported on singer Rene Marie's "switcheroonie" of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" for the National Anthem at a mayoral event in Denver on July 2nd. What had the mayor done, besides choosing her to sing, and what did the state of the city address have to do with the singer's feeling of alienation, justified or not?
By contrast, this protest by students at the University of Florida combined the publicity of the event, an elegantly simple premise, and the direct provocation that their tuition dollars were funding Alberto Gonzales' speech, to much greater effect.
Here's another tip for all of you would-be protesters: You can burst forth with the wisdom of Solomon, but if you're wearing a clownish, local used-car dealership's Uncle Sam costume, you'll just look like an asshole. Sit down and shut up, indeed.
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 4)RIChris8:04PMJul 5th 2008
Jo; I saw this and thought it was Fred & Forrest Gump, watching helicopters.
erin8:24PMJul 5th 2008
this is biased, bah
sandy9:17PMJul 5th 2008
I am disgusted by war protesters of every ilk. Shut
up you fools. Men and and women are dying so you
can look like idiots and have free speech. It was an
inappropriate venue for this protest. Get a life.
danielistical9:54PMJul 5th 2008
How did these protesters get every one knows you have to be invited by ticket or ordered by superiors to get to a bush speach,,, did they get arrested?? can we mail swimsuits to them while they are being water boarded in GITMO?? America so not impeach bush out him on trial for the criminal that he is,, we can start with plundering you'r and my SOC.SEC. monnies, add some war crimes, thow in a little ileagle wire tapping, some torture, but most of all hold him responsible for the needles deaths of our brave troops in I raq for his Lies,, thats right I said lies
Dave Lipshutz10:14PMJul 5th 2008
You got the problem backwards-- not enough people have opened their mouths. Yeah, right, sit and clap politely for a man who sent 4,000 to their deaths for nothing.
Where's the "appropriate venue" for the protesters? In most cases they've been roped off miles from the guy. In almost all cases his audiences are handpicked because he doesn't have the guts to hear people who don't agree with him.
So he had to hear a few people yell at him? So what? How's that compare to the 4,000 who had their heads blown off? Wish they could "get a life", but they're dead.
Dave Lipshutz10:16PMJul 5th 2008
Yeah, mean and women are dying because not enough people had the guts to open their mouths. Right, just sit and clap politely for a man who sent 4,000 kids to die for nothing.
Where's the "appropriate venue" for the protests? Most protests have been roped off miles from where the guy speaks and he handpicks his audiences in almost all cases because he doesn't have the guts to hear people who disagree with him.
So he had a few people yell at him? So what? Compare that to the 4,000 who had their heads blown off. Wish those 4,000 could "get a life".
Spirit of '6810:29PMJul 5th 2008
Yeah, maybe instead of going out and physically protesting our proto-fascist, war-criminal "president", they should have stayed home and masturbated, a.k.a writing a blog.
Old Lady USA10:37PMJul 5th 2008
Well, Well, Well .... Just returned from a little trip down memory lane and what do I find?
Tommy - In doing research, trying to answer your question from yesterday, went lookiing for some of my "fav's" to share and noticed... damn, they all seem so angry ... protest this, protest that.... thought it was just me, and the (then) times ....
But, since one of the issues here is HOW to protest - with some class, I offer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPudiBR15mk
'Ya all know the chorus, here is "the rest of the story"... Check out the lyrics at:
http://www.lyricsdomain.com/2/bruce_springsteen/born_in_the_usa.html
I wish the Boss would have allowed Ronald the First usage... we'd still be talking about it...
Old Lady USA10:40PMJul 5th 2008
Then, there is someone putting today's images to the "Hall of Famer" ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rnrt4c5gSU
ps - George doesn't look so Presidental about 3/4 of the way in...
Crystal10:41PMJul 5th 2008
Heckler's, heckle because it's their nature.
Obama hecklers taunt Gov. Granholm of Mich. for praising Hillary.
Obama hecklers taunt Hillary Clinton in North Carolina while speaking at the state Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson Jackson dinner.
donnie dynomite10:43PMJul 5th 2008
You know this man(Bush) screwed us yet you condone it thank GOD these protesters spoke for the millions and millions of people displeased with the 8 years of bullshit he put us through i wish more protesters come out i know i will and THAT just me being patrioctic and to those that dont agree...i feel sorry for you and ill pray for you cause you are soooo lost and you are not a true American!!!!! freedom of speech
Mrbline10:49PMJul 5th 2008
Mr. Christopher,
I have to disagree with you here. What struck me about the video is that while Bush was making the line you claim that put them in their place, the protestors were being escorted away. Were the protestors made to look like fools, or did Bush's statement while citizens were being man-handled away negate every word he spoke, demonstrate how right they were?
Sometimes you have to take the opportunity given to make your point. It is not like we can make an appointment with the guy to air out our grievances. I recall Cindy Sheehan trying to get just that . . . an opportunity to speak with her Commander in Chief. Where did that get her?
Protests are oft ugly, unorganized, and the people doing it get put in many unflattering positions. This is the general nature of the beast from even before the founding of our nation. People do it because here it works.
Old Lady USA10:58PMJul 5th 2008
Then, there is someone putting today's images to the all time "Hall of Famer"....
And, George doesn't look so Presidental about 3/4 of the way in....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rnrt4c5gSU
For the purest - Stephen Stills when they were still Buffalo Springfield, 1967
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3VrvG7286c
Old Lady USA11:04PMJul 5th 2008
Tommy - This one is for you
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=1yuc4BI5NWU&feature=related
with the backup for the rest:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Land_Is_Your_Land
Manuscript Version of Woody's lyrics
http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/3448/thisl1.html
danielistical11:18PMJul 5th 2008
george bush protected no one from nothing... We get Hit every day if it is in Japan Germany,Afgaanstan or Iraq,, Uless you think that a US military base is not american soil,,,,,Bin Laden promised to attack america economicaly also ,,look around is he protecting any one that way??
Grace11:37PMJul 5th 2008
Bush - you deserve every protest that comes your way. You and your evil sidekick Dick lied about the Iraq war - over 4,000 plus have died from your deceit not to mention the innocent Iraqi lives. And where the hell is OBL?
Your lies and greed will end this November. No Bush, no Dick and no John, 3rd term Bush, McCain.
Old Lady USA11:47PMJul 5th 2008
Opps -
Tommy - that's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yuc4BI5NWU
big tex12:44AMJul 6th 2008
Hmmm, gives you the feeling some people out there are upset with Bush.
big tex12:49AMJul 6th 2008
It demonstrates bush doesn't do too well without a hand picked audience.
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Jo in SoCal7:30PMJul 5th 2008
Hey protesters: take a tip from these guys! They didn't have to compromise their classiness AND they managed to get their message across loud and clear to George W.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O42muyE2Wqc