Woman `surprised' by her outburst at Cheney

[central scrutinizer]

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2004/09/22/d1.cr.protester.0922.html

excerpt: A woman cited last week for trespassing at a rally featuring Vice President Dick Cheney said Tuesday that she had gone there with plans to ask about the draft - not to disrupt his speech.
"When he said, `We've made the world a safer place,' I just had this primal need to say `No!' at the top of my voice," 54-year-old Perry S. Patterson of Eugene said.

......snip........

She was cited for second-degree criminal trespass, a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $250. She faces an Oct. 1 court date.

.....snip.......

she asked police how she could be considered a criminal trespasser when she had a ticket to attend the event.


.....snip.......

Bob Avery, chairman of the Lane County Republican Party, said it was difficult to accept Patterson's account, because volunteers at his office had been clearly instructed to screen ticket seekers to ensure that participants were either Bush-Cheney supporters or at least open-minded about backing the ticket's election.

end excerpt

In other words, free speech is verboten in Bushco's world and only sycophants are welcome.

[LisaLynne]

1. Ugh!

So, Avery is basically saying that he couldn't believe that anybody with actual views that might not be totally on message was allowed into the event. Yeah, that sounds about right.

[Paradise]

Ugh-ly! n/t

[librechik]

2. IOW, free speech is PROUDLY AND BLATANTLY banned at Bush rallies

they should be ashamed instead of so self-righteous.

Who are these Pod People who took over my country?

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. We should find out where this lady lives

and send her donations for her fine.

Such a fine lady, with such a strong booming voice is an asset to the cause.

:-)

[FearofFutility]

10. Excellent idea!

And she should definitely sue.

[PotatoBoy]

13. Done, I think I found her.. let's all pitch in $5.

I found her phone number, or at least I think it's her. I won't call yet.

If we get 50 people to donate $5, that will cover the max. fine of $250. No money will be accepted until I determine if there will be a fine, and for how much.

If you are interested in donating, please private message me with your name, e-mail address, donation amount, and an optional message you'd like to Perry to see. I'll be happy to organize this. I'm dead serious about this. PM me and after I get enough people willing to donate $5, I'll PM you back with my personal information so you know I'm not trying to scam you, and you can send me $ via PayPal, I'll consolidate the cash, write her a check, and also enclose your optional notes of appreciation. I think it would be an awesome gesture. It infuriates me that people can't speak their mind at these repuke gatherings without getting arrested.

[PotatoBoy]

15. Gee, that went well

Ok great..two responses only? wtf? Geez people. It's $5 for a good cause.

[leesa]

25. No problem. Just need to make sure it is her and she wants the $$

[luaneryder]

14. I'm in for a tener! Let me know n/t

[Dookus]

4. I hope she sues

the police, the event organizers, and the bush administration itself.

[denverbill]

5. When will Parlock be charged then? n/t

[ChrisK]

6. The part I wonder about ..

"she asked police how she could be considered a criminal trespasser when she had a ticket to attend the event"

When was it a crime to disagree with your Government?

I have seen videos at Kerry rallies with Bush supporters there and he never asked them to leave, not that I know of so why all the hush hush at a Bush/Cheney rally?

Just too sad that this is all thats left of "Freedom" in America..Agree with Bush and friends or face jail and fines for speaking your mind.

[Dhalgren]

7. When is this farce going to sink into the publics consciousness?

When will it become common parlance that Bush can only appear before a picked crowd and why isn't this questioned more openly. The media treat this as though it were just natural that an elected official of a democratic republic would be unable to appear in an open forum without a pre-screened audience. I think that is the thing that really gets to me with all of these "news people" - especially NPR - they simply talk about these absurd issues as though they were normal and no one would even question them. ARGGGGGHHHH!

[BiggJawn]

21. It's the GroupThink.

"Well, after all, it *IS* Mr. Cheney's rally. Why shouldn't he expect to see only people who like him? I'm sure that nasty John Kerry doesn't let protestors into HIS rallys. Why, I heard Rush say that just last week...Well, My sister-in-law told me she thought she heard Rush say it...Anyway, I think it's rude to act up at a rally that people spent a lOT of money to put together..."

Glug-glug-glug-glug-glug.....

Kool-aid, Kool-aid, tastes GREAT!!!

[donco6]

8. I've had the same reaction.

"I just had this primal need to say `No!' at the top of my voice," 54-year-old Perry S. Patterson of Eugene said."

Usually, mine is followed by a string of expletives and a shoe directed at the TV.

[noonwitch]

9. I hope she fights it in court

I know most people pay their fines, because lawyers are expensive, but she had a ticket to be there and it is a free speech issue.

[LiberalBushFan]

11. wtf

The arrest and fine at a campaign rally should be the headline, not the fact that she was surprised by her outburst.

[Skarbrowe]

12. *'s handlers know that he

cannot be trusted to deal with someone in his audience that disagrees with him. Or even interrupts him. My god, do you realize how hard it must be for them to keep the idiot talking in barely recognizable sentences? If he had to respond to someone in the audience, no telling what he might say or do. The devil himself might pop out of him. No, you have to keep * boy calm and on message.

[LiberalFighter]

22. Especially since he enjoys the "questions" that his supporter pose him

[KansDem]

16. The new "USA"

...only sycophants are welcome.

The "United Sycophants of America"

[napi21]

17. This is evidently the Party SOP! Same think happened to the lady

who spoke up at the Laura Bush rally. Same charges an all!

I heard the lady from the Laura rally on a talk show yesterday say that the local police were very nice to her, but they had to take her away in the "paddy wagon" because they were forced by the SS and the Pubs.

She also has a court date in early Oct.

[CBHagman]

18. I have that reaction to Cheney, too.

He seems utterly remorseless and utterly conscienceless. Money and power -- that's all that seems to dwell in his thoughts.

[progressivebydesign]

19. Where are the journalists?? I mean the REAL ones!!???

How could this NOT be a HUGE story? How can the transformation from allowed guest to criminal trespasser, by virtue of an opinion, be legal????? Fascism. We are slipping.. and like the frog in the slowly heating pot of water, we won't jump out, because it's happening little by little.. until we're all cooked.

God Bless what's left of America, the free.

[BiggJawn]

23. They're at CBS, getting the Shaft

The rest of the so-called "Journalists" are too worried about losing their precious fucking "Access" and seat in the back of AF-1 to make waves

[robbedvoter]

20. And that's why women vote for W - they love being shut up& arrested

[shanti]

28. interesting that it's usually women

in these situations....

[leesa]

24. She had a ticket. No trespassing charge possible.

The Nazi thugs need to be stopped!

[AP]

26. They bring charges knowing they'll lose, but they want to discourage...

...others from disrupting the photo ops.

People should have the courage to speak up regardless.

[Roland99]

27. The Bush Apologists are out in force in other forums

Saying it was a private event and if the organizers wanted her gone, she should have left quietly.


Freedom of Speech is useless anymore, according to them.

Toe the line or spend a night in jail.