Take Back America disses Code Pink

Published on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 by CommonDreams.org
Peace Activists at Hillary Clinton’s Speech Try to Take Back “Take Back America”
by Medea Benjamin


<SNIP>

Fearing that CODEPINK would openly confront Clinton on her pro-war policy, the organizers of Take Back America entered into negotiations with CODEPINK a few days before the conference. “We had lengthy discussions where they pleaded with us not to protest during her keynote breakfast address,” explained Gael Murphy, one of the cofounders of CODEPINK. “Instead, we were told that we could distribute flyers explaining Hillary’s pro-war position to the crowd inside and outside the hotel, and we would be called on to ask her the first question after the speech. We agreed.”

However, when CODEPINK showed up on Tuesday morning in advance of Clinton’s speech, the security guards refused to allow them to pass out flyers, even outside the hotel. “Take Back America violated the agreement from the moment we arrived,” said Ms. Murphy. “Even though we had a table inside the conference, burly security guards blocked us and informed us that it was a private event, that we were not welcome, and they escorted us out of the building. We telephoned the conference staff who then told us that we couldn’t enter the hotel, couldn’t leaflet the event, the hallways—anywhere. They went back on their word and tried to quash even peaceful, respectful dissent.”

<snip>
Ann Wright, the army colonel and diplomat who resigned over the war, was appalled by the actions of the conference organizers. “They took away leaflets supporting Jonathan Tasini, the anti-war Democrat who is running against Clinton in New York. They searched people’s bags for banners; they even took away an ‘Impeach Bush’ banner from Veterans for Peace. Free speech needs to be upheld by progressives and trying to curtail dissent undercuts the whole purpose of this conference,” said Wright.

<snip>
“We were amazed to discover that the organizers of Take Back America treat dissent the same way that the organizers at a Bush rally do,” said Ms. Murphy. “Most progressives do not support Hillary Clinton, and stifling our legitimate, heartfelt opposition to her pro-war position is an outrage. I guess we have to take back ‘Take Back America.’”

Medea Benjamin (medea@globalexchange.org) is the cofounder of CODEPINK: Women for Peace and Global Exchange. For Hillary Clinton’s position on the war, go to www.ListenHillary.org.

###
Link: http://www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/views06/0613-33.htm

...the 'taxicab' parties of 1930s Spain. The leftists fragmented into so many microparties over tiny disagreements that, the joke went, you could get all the members of most parties into a single taxi. The result was a brutal Civil War and fascist rule. Do we have to learn this lesson again the hard way?

set the bar for Democrats! They were the first to come out against the War and had the spine to do such publicly. They are Leaders, and I am proud. O8)

Their liberal credentials are impeccable. I'm just worrying about the left's tendency to self-destruct the moment they scent the possibility of victory.

with the party fragmenting, than I am concerned that some will find the tactics of Bush for "crowd control" and message manipulation appealing. Senator Clinton needs to be challenged by the anti-war democrats.

it's the same with schumer and dscc threatening to support lieberman in an independent move.

Senator Clinton can't have it both ways. If you support this War, expect protesting.....

than the Spanish Civil War. I get your analogy, though.

Such schisms are only normal when you have a large group of people who are being denied access to power by an institutionalized party elite.

Unless the Right again comes up with a means to demonize the Left, such as anti-Communism, I doubt whether there will be an actual split, purge, or third-party movement. Everyone knows that would only play into the hands of the enemy.

it is more than 'dissing'. It describes behavior and attitude I'd expect to see in at a Bu$hCo event. If Clinton had any credibility (doubtful), She has none now. If it were me running, I would have made sure the agreement was kept. For better or for ill. This event may, may be the beginning of the end for 'moneybags' corporatist Hillary - and I sincerely hope it is. She is, space cadets, suffused by the dark force.

That by far weighs most heavily against her nomination. We know it, and she knows it, too.

Just read about how you treated CODEPINK at the Take Back America Conference. First, having that war-approving fake "centrist" (GOD I HATE THAT TERM) Bush enabler Hillary Clinton as your keynote speaker demonstrates your probable affiliation with/sympathy for the PNAC front group, the Democratic Leadership Council as well as with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee--both contemptible organizations whose main mission appears to be ensuring the continued dominance of the corporatists.

Even without that, though, the way you treated CODEPINK at the conference just demonstrates how you have nothing to do with progressive ideals or working for change but rather apparently endorse Bush's own tactics of silencing and marginalizing dissenters. You have been exposed and you may expect NO support from me now or at any time in the future. We The People are fed up with the lies and BS and with FAKE "progressive" organizations. May you die out quickly and quietly as you deserve.

link to the feedback form: http://www.ourfuture.org/feedback.cfm

I made good use of it.

giving us the link.

Does anyone know if dccc is involved with the organizing group of Take Back America? IMO, DCCC is turning out to be as bad as DLC.

the Democratic Party and has pretty much taken oveer and changed the way we select our candidates for national office.

There was a time when states took turns nominating Presidential candidates at the convention and then voting on those names. Today, the DLC simply TELLS us who is electable or not according to THEIR opinion and then closes the door on any further discussion or action.

I used to support the DCCC until I really began to look at the leadership of that organization. They are no different than the DLC. Both groups want to run the Democratic Party the same way that BushCo is running the Republicans. The problem is...most Progressive Dems are used to thinking for themselves.