"Black Hats" at the RNC. . . . . official goon squad

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/04/st-paul-minn-8212-fearing-demonstrations-from-ron-/
'Black hats' keep lookout for troublemakers
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Fearing demonstrations from Ron Paul delegates here at the Republican National Convention, the party has created a "black-hat" squad to track the Paulites and other potential troublemakers to make sure they don't cause a scene on the convention floor.

Identified by their black baseball caps emblazoned with a white star, squad members keep an eye on delegates they fear might cause a scene. The squad is empowered by the convention managers to take delegates' credentials and kick them off the convention floor -- a step one convention official said would be unprecedented.

Squad members have made "their presence known, to let all people know big brother's watching them," said a Republican official familiar with the squad who has been involved in the last 10 GOP conventions.

Convention spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment.