What happened to Corrine Brown is scarier than almost anything else...

[Jeebo]

Randi Rhodes was just talking about Florida Democratic Rep. Corinne Brown, who represents Florida's third congressional district which includes Duval County and urban Jacksonville. Republicans in the House were attempting to forbid that chamber's members to call on the U.N. to monitor our election in November, and Rep. Brown objected to this proposal in a floor speech in which she used the terms "stolen" and "coup d'etat" in referring to Florida 2000 and said that she and many others will never "get over it." Republicans went apoplectic and had her words STRICKEN from the congressional record and had her BANNED from giving speeches on the House floor. They did this to ONE OF THEIR OWN MEMBERS, for heaven's sake, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LIKE WHAT SHE WAS SAYING AND THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO SILENCE HER POINT OF VIEW.

HOW CAN THOSE FASCISTS DO THIS? WHAT IS THIS F**CKING COUNTRY COMING TO THAT THEY EVEN THINK THEY CAN?

It's becoming clearer and clearer to me almost by the minute that Republicans are not FIT to hold positions of power, and that they are the visible tip of that iceberg that is attempting to take over this country and the world with it. And this is scarier to me than Osama bin Laden, terrorists hijacking planes, and even backpack nukes smuggled into American cities. Because those terrorists never will actually take over the world, but the few visible and many hidden members of that iceberg CAN and WILL, if we don't stop them soon.

Ron

P.S. -- I hope the next time Republicans pull THIS outrageous stunt, another Democrat will take the baton and give the SAME speech, and then when THAT Democrat gets stricken and banned, ANOTHER Democrat gives the same speech and gets the same treatment, and then ANOTHER Democrat and ANOTHER one, and on and on ... This would be a TERRIFIC way to raise a big stink about this particular kind of outrageous Republican stunt, but I realize that it would require a lot more party unity and courage than Democrats are known for displaying.

[indigobusiness]

1. She was AWESOME

I saw the clip. Gutsy lady.

This has legs.

[BAPhill]

7. Is that clip online?

I would like to see it!

:dem:

[indigobusiness]

15. It will be, if it isn't...

I saw it on cnn

[LWolf]

43. Yes.

http://msnvideo.msn.com/video/default.aspx?setcp=B&list=undefined_undefined&prepend=d0403881

[wtmusic]

51. Wow. Macs not supported.

That sucks. I can't even watch with IE on a Mac.

Fuck Bill Gates.

[Hoping4Change]

2. Why wait? Why doesn't every Democrat stand up and

repeat her speech? Are they going to ban every Democrat?

[DebJ]

5. Hey watch out they will probably take your advice!

[library_max]

9. Of course they would. In a heartbeat.

They are the majority. They impeached Clinton for no better reason than because they are the majority. And think how much easier it would be to ram their legislation through if all the House Democrats were banned from the floor.

No. This was a symbolic gesture. I'm glad someone did it, but to get more than one Democrat banned would have been foolish.

[Hoping4Change]

11. If someone is banned does that mean they can't vote?

[library_max]

12. No, they just can't speak. That's bad enough. /nt

[Hoping4Change]

19. Then they should repeat the speech and attend thereafter

with duct tape over their mouths. What a great picture to broadcast daily around the world!

[bobbieinok]

31. can't speak for ONE DAY

[Hoping4Change]

39. So if only one day every Democrat should repeat her speech!

[bossfish]

3. C'mon you guys...

The BIG story of the day is Martha Stewart.

An elected member of Congress getting censured for a statement is SO pre-9/11...

Get with it.

[goclark]

4. It was THE WORST and where were the Media Whores?!!

This is the last straw! Whoopi and now Corinne!
Is this the pay back to the NAACP?
You'll be sor reeee Rethugs.
I will personally vow to double my efforts to get your butts out of office. Kerry will cover Florida!!

The nerve,this is a dictatorship!
How can they do something like that on the floor of Congress!

[DenverDem]

6. Where were the meida whores?

Bent over.

[Jacobin]

16. I just saw the clip on MSNBC

They DIDN"T say that she was banned from speaking for the day.

They DID say that repukes blocked the UN from monitoring the election.

On balance, crappy reporting. As usual.

[Eric J in MN]

8. I wrote about this in my blog, and...

...included a photo of Rep. Corrinne Brown.

MoveLeft Media

http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2004_07_15_the_words_stole_the_election_removed_from_house_record.asp

[LittleApple81]

10. They used a rule that you cannot attack other members of the

house...and because she said "YOU stole the election" that qualified to strike it off the record.
But I have seen that on TV more than anything else the Democrats have done in the last moth.
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THEY ARE GOING TO GET AIR TIME... by being in your face ASSERTIVE (I won't say aggressive because I want a positive word).
Remember Senator Schumer with the chickenhawk graphics? Otherwise Dems don't get the time of day from the TV parrots.

[liberalitch]

14. Why is aggressive a negative term?

I ask in an aggressive manner...
while poking you in the chest with my finger

[Jacobin]

17. I guess that lets DeLay off the hook

:eyes:

[Eric J in MN]

18. When she said "you stole the election," she didn't mean Rep. Steve Buyer,

..R-Indiana.

She meant the Republican Party.

She didn't violate a rule agaisnt accusing a House member of a crime.

This is censorship

built on lies

by bullies.

[LittleApple81]

34. I know... they were saying: Did you say YOU? Did you say YOU???

They are like dogs!

[LittleApple81]

41. On COUNTDOWN: Olbermann asks the SAME QUESTION I ASK. YEAAAH!

He said: She would not have gotten any TV time...do they need to forget politeness if they want to be heard!!!!!

[Eric J in MN]

56. The word "YOU" in the English language is both singular and plural.

She was using it in the plural sense, to refer to certain Republicans.

She wasn't saying that the Rep. from Indiana personally stole the election.

[T Bone]

61. Rep Steve Buyer was VERY involved in the Florida theft personally

Buyer was down there in Florida during the theft. He and his office used their authority find out which military people could get access to the emails of military people who ballots had not yet been received from. Then he was trying to contact those military people. HE WAS VERY PERSONALLY INVOLVED. That's why he has trouble wiping that shit-eating grin off his face.

[bossfish]

13. Just saw the clip of Brown on Lou Dobbs...

She was PISSED and good for her!

[seabeyond]

20. would require courage. and god i am hungry for some courage

from your mouth to the reps floor

[vicman]

21. Video link

on this page from Buzzflash. They say to hurry before it's disappeared as well.
http://www.buzzflash.com/alerts/04/07/ale04016.html

[LittleApple81]

40. This is one that is better quality to watch. I know there is a DUer

that can convert MSN videos to something you can store on disk....
It would be great if he/she could do it to this one.

http://msnvideo.msn.com/video/default.aspx?setcp=B&list=undefined_undefined&prepend=d0403881

just type in the search video box: Heated Exchange

[Kahuna]

22. THIS is why they hate us. We are hypocrites. We say we are..

democratic and free. But we let 2000 happen and what happened to Corrine happen. No offense. But damn Nader and his supporters! They let this happen. We were making progress in this country. But Naders young supporters are too young to realize how things used to be under republican presidents. And for Nader and his supporters to say that there's no difference??? Well! Witness the damn difference. They say, Bill and Al took us to the right. Bullshit. They knew not from whence they spoke. They hadn't seen what a movement to the right was really like. Now they see. :puke:

[noiretextatique]

28. they hate "us" because "we" are wimps?

nah...they hate us because they are thin-skinned, hateful, fascist bullies.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

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

[zeemike]

23. We should write her

And praise her for her courage.
We need more Representatives like her in the house.

[maggrwaggr]

25. then do it! Here!

http://congress.org/congressorg/bio/?id=164&lvl=C&chamber=H

[goclark]

35. Thanks for the link

I loved letting her know how brave she was yesterday!

[murielm99]

36. Done!

I praised her for her courage.

[Cha]

24. The reich types want to do it again in 2004 so,

of course, they want that on record for th 2000 selection.

[vetwife]

27. So its Ok for Cheney to speak after saying F you outside the senate

floor? I mean, he wasn't on the record...We got his record.
Corrine Brown was a champion today. Doesn't matter if they wouldn't let her speak the rest of the day....I don't think they should let cheney speak the rest of the time but the inmates are running the asylum...Maxine Waters and Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Lewis all should have picked up where she left off. Waters and Lewis would do it but Pelosi might rip her botox if she yelled that loud !
I am a dem but they better step up and represent us !

[Eric J in MN]

30. Cheney said go f yourself on the Senate floor, but they weren't...

...officially in session at the time, so nothing was done.

[PATRICK]

59. Not facing down

all the accumulated outrages of 2000, in fact fawning for bipartisan phoniness and ignoring ravaged ideals, deadly realities, they gave permission for the fraud to be ignored, legitimized and hence repeated.

I didn't expect my party to win everything all the time, but they have no mandate anywhere, or any duty, to give America away.

The GOP has no choice but to run an anti-American campaign more full scale than ever if they want to survive. Not facing up to that reality risks an invitation for them to cross all remaining lines- which they cannot now because they do not control the majority, do not operate undiscovered, do not own all the power of most branches, even the military.

Unless it is given meekly away.

[burrowowl]

26. Call and encourage her:

202 225 0123. I did and then call your reps. and tell them the 2000 election was stolen!

[Zookeeper]

29. I sent an e-mail complaining to NBC about their coverage

of Congresswoman Brown's courageous statement. Apparently, they referred to it as, "an outburst."

Buzzflash has some action ideas listed.

[vetwife]

32. My letter to her ! Go Congresswoman Brown !

Dear Congresswoman,
I love your spirit and you are right. We won't get over it.

The ones who have written you that the comments sickened them can't
stomach the truth. A dose of truth would make any blinded by this
administration sick. You did the right thing. I have one regret. That
every democrat and if there are any free thinking republicans or
idependents didn't step to the plate and pick up where you left off.

Keep on keeping on. We will take this country back ! My husband is a
disabled vet who fought in Vietnam with the 101st if for no other reason
to give you the chance to speak on behalf of how many Americans feel !

Sincerely,


Amanda L. Kato

[Zookeeper]

44. Great letter, Vetwife!

I'm also going to send her a letter on the Congress.org site. After reading a few of the letters attacking her, I want to add direct links to information proving that BushCo cheated in 2004. 'Just for all the meatheads who continue to believe only what our cowardly media told them.

[vetwife]

49. Thanks. Was.From the heart !

[bobbieinok]

33. in one of the original reports about this there was a long

reference to this being a congressional procedural matter. If someone says something perceived as derogatory to another member or group of members, the target(s) can call for a vote to delete.

As I recall, she questioned the results of the voice vote, so it was done again. The 'republicans' were very loud, so she called for a paper vote.

Apparently in this procedure, if a member loses the vote the comment is withdrawn from the record and the member may not speak on the floor for the rest of the day.

Anyone remember this or have a link???

Some DUers posting thought that another dem make the same comment.....and it should continue (until all the dems were silenced, was my view of the results of such an action.

It might have made a point though.

The whole thing occurred during a c-spann broadcast of the congressional proceedings. There was a play-by-play DU report.

[maggrwaggr]

38. what's disgusting

is that she and people like her (and myself) would like the UN to oversee our elections to make sure they're actually honest and accurate.

And the GOP doesn't want that.

How can they be so obvious?

[porkrind]

58. Democracy is failing in the USA.

This is another of the many symptoms.

:(

---

Read about the Right-Wing "Master Plan": http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/sam/sam-contents.html

Have you read "War is a Racket"?: http://lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm

[hvymtldrmr]

42. Denying people's rights

Denying a member of congress the right to speak, albeit one day, is taking away the voice of the constituents. I thought in America everyone had a voice? Oh wait ... that was old America, she died 3 years ago. And there wasn't a funeral.

[guajira]

45. E-mailed and Thanked her!

Thanked her for her courage and for speaking for me. Said I wished more politicians would do the same!

[Piperay]

46. DISGUSTING

that things have gotten so bad you can't even tell the truth without suffering the consequences! :grr:

[Zookeeper]

47. If anyone hears that C-Span is going to re-broadcast...

her speech or the vote, please post a thread. Or PM me.

Thanks!

[in_cog_ni_to]

48. You have to remember

these are the same people who called the police on our Democratic Representatives because one was in a meeting and wouldn't leave when told to and said mean things to Bill Thomas. Then they were meeting in a side room next to the meeting room and Bill Thomas didn't want them there so he called the police to arrest them. These people are NUTS...absolutely CRAZY! and EVIL.

[lottie244]

50. No, the American people are 'crazy' and 'evil' to vote them into office.

It is only a matter of time (less than 5 years) before America will be an undesirable place to live.

[bvar22]

52. Rich White Men put uppity black woman in her place!

These black women are getting pretty uppity and need to be taught a lesson. Whoppie felt our wrath; now Corrine Brown's gonna get a taste. These black girls shoulda learned a lesson from Cynthia McKinney! They should learn how to behave themselves by looking at Colin Powell who does everything we tell him to do. Hell, we even made HIM tap dance last week!






/sarcasm

[lachattefolle]

53. I sent her an email

basically praised her courage. Also suggested she and all the democrats should just slap some Tom Ridge duct tape over their mouths to make the right wingers weep with joy.

I wish I could be proud of my Representative, but he's a Republican hack whose position is 360 degrees opposite mine on everything. I gave up writing to him; only thing left to do is hopefully throw him out in November along with Shrub.

[donhakman]

54. This situation is neither rare or extraordinary.

But you have a right to be outraged.

Meanwhile there they go again, giving Corrine more coverage than she has had in 2 years.

[grasswire]

55. there's another rule against...

...criticizing the president. They've used that one before, too. I think it was against that Washington state congressman.

[Eric J in MN]

57. Thank goodness no Congressmen criticized Presidnent Clinton!

No wait, they did.

[lanparty]

60. This points to a deeper concern ...

I'm not surprised that her comments were stricken from the record. You see, the Congressional Record is a work of sheer fiction. It's a publicity guide for Congressman containing all kinds of fabricated items that NEVER happened.

We need a law that says the Congressional record must ACCURATELY report what goes on in chambers.