Pelosi heckled at progressive conference today

[proud2BlibKansan]

When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took to the podium to speak at the America's Future Now! conference on Tuesday morning, the California Democrat was interrupted by protesters screaming just a few feet away from the stage.

The Washington Post reports that health care activists shouted, "Our homes, not nursing homes," throughout Pelosi's policy speech:

The protesters, wearing orange shirts and chanting "Our homes, not nursing homes," did not let up until Pelosi finished her address and left the stage with security guards. The protesters said they were members of ADAPT, an activist group that advocates for disability rights and is fighting for passage of the Community Choice Act.

In response to the unexpected and prolonged disruption, Pelosi held her ground and shot back at the demonstrators that she wasn't going to cut her speech short or leave the stage.

"I'm not going to leave, I'm going to deliver my speech," the House Speaker said, later quipping, "Listen I'm used to noise, I talk to the Democratic Caucus everyday."

Despite breaking briefly to address the disruption, the House Speaker reportedly delivered her speech in its entirety in a graceful manner.

(Code Pink protesters also reportedly showed up at the Washington, DC event with a large sign reading "Stop Funding Israel Terror," but remained "mostly silent" during Pelosi's speech.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/08/nancy-pelosi-heckled-by-p_n_604442.html

[Bitwit1234]

1. Shows republicans are scared as hell of her.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Interesting comment. I have been to this conference and saw no republicans there.

[KamaAina]

5. As far as I know, the ADAPT Republican Caucus has a membership of zero.

ADAPT are radical disdability rights activists. They got their start in Denver, blockading the main bus transfer point downtown to dramatize the need for accessible lift-equipped buses (then not required, as this was before ADA). More recently they blcoked all the exits to the parking garage at the state house in Nashville, chanting "Just like a nursing home, you can't get out!"

Whatever else ADAPT may be, they are certainly not Republicans.

[Beaverhausen]

3. Not sure I follow. Is Pelosi cutting disability rights?

or are these people protesting the wrong person?

[mmonk]

4. No. It's about a bill.

http://www.adapt.org/cca.php

[KamaAina]

6. Looks to me like we're protesting the right person

this action got coverage in WaPo and HuffPo. Last year ADAPT activists chained themselves to the WH fence, with dozens of arrests. And... and... (crickets chirping) (tumbleweed blows down a lonely Main Street)

Figures. We can only get coverage when the M$M can try to spin it against one of their liberal boogeymen (or women). :eyes:

[KamaAina]

7. What's driving this protest (and the Community Choice Act it was meant to support)

It is a very well-kept secret that around one-quarter of those in nursing homes are people under age 65 with significant physical disabilities. A raft of studies has shown that it is far cheaper to provide home- and community-based services, yet obsolete Medicaid regulations steer the lion's share of funding into soul-destroying institutions (which, I need scarcely add, constitute a powerful lobby both on the Hill and in state houses).

This is what the Community Choice Act is designed to change. It's not calling for new funding, merely directing existing funding away from nursing homes and into the community. Yet it languishes in committee, thanks to the well-funded nursing home lobby.

[Catherina]

8. What did she expect? There are protests at her SF office every week

Please don't act shocked Nancy.