Protestors stop White House Karl Rove's speech at convention!

[Poll_Blind]

Breaking on DRUDGE:
Protestors stop White House Karl Rove's speech at the College Republican Convention in DC Friday /// some 25 protestors hiding at the Capitol Hilton burst into a frenzy and tried to storm the stage where Rove was addressing the crowd. Organizers were not prepared and Rove was forced to stop in the middle of the speech... Developing...

PB

[mbperrin]

1. How funny!

Hope they were wearing nose filters to keep Rove stench from their nostrils!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

21. No shit

That man looks more like a pig than any human on earth.

[madmax]

2. Good for them!!!

Using repug tactics against them :evilgrin:

It's not like stopping the vote count!

[0007]

3. I love it - I love it - I love it

Wish it could have been junior.

[Cha]

4. How brave and ferocious they sound! I'm not sure I could get

in the front lines like that!! I hope nothing happens to them like with the anti-war nuns who are getting 2 and a half years prison time. :-(

But I will go to NYC to protest the repugnants at their convention site. :grr:
:kick:

[diamond14]

7. we have plenty of lawyers here in DC, who will step up to defend

these brave people...what's even better, the whole Hotel staff likely helped them get in, and will help them escape...that's DC for you...everybody here would prefer that shrub go home to Texas...shrub treats DC like dirt, and we are please to repay him for his discourtesy....

this is a good one on rove...make him realize his vulnerability...maybe he'll go home too...we'd like our government back...

WE THE PEOPLE !!!! spoke.....shrub and his minions cannot block us out forever, there are more of us than them...POWER TO THE PEOPLE !


BOOT BUSH IN 2004

Re-Defeat bush* in 2004

Clinton/Clinton in 2004

[w13rd0]

5. "burst into a frenzy"...

...by tomorrow it'll be "eating babies"...

This is great, STORM THE BASTILLE!

[janx]

17. "Burst into a frenzy" -- consider the source, ha!

Typical Drudge sensationalism. :nopity:

[diamond14]

6. GREAT JOB !!!! what a display for rove...may he always be

reminded about the blood on his hands, and hear the screams of the dead Iraqi children every single night of his remaining days....

seems that the hotels are getting popular for successful protests, including the recent gigantic PINK SLIP for bush* rolled out of a hotel room window at bush* visit to LA....cheers to all the protesters...keep up the good work...our thoughts are with you...for wings on your feet....

[gristy]

8. I want to rumble too!

Man, wish I could be there. You know, if this was happening in my town and somehow I ended up on the planning committee, I'd make sure we had someone with a cell phone talking to someone at a computer so a report on what was developing/happening could be posted as it happened. That would be so cool!

:bounce:

I searched the internet for other sources of info on this and couldn't come up with anything.

[Catherine Vincent]

9. Good for them!

I sure hope they don't get abused by policemen that are * buttkissers.

[young_at_heart]

10. This sort of thing hasn't happened too often

in past administrations.....if at all! Gives one a clue as to the volatile nature of our current situation.

[diamond14]

11. in DC, we know the DRAFT is coming...and people are moving

to stop bush* ASAP...in other parts of the country, nobody believes the shrub will bring back the DRAFT...but we keep trying to tell you...take action to save your own life NOW...

Re-Defeat bush* in 2004...your life depends on it.....

[Catshrink]

12. Re-defeat Bush in 2004

That is awesome! DU should make that into a T-shirt.

How 'bout it? Who designs the shirts and other stuff in the DU store?

[diamond14]

13. got that slogan from www.Democrats.com...

the Agressive Progressives

take a look at their web site:
www.Democrats.com

we already had dinner meetings to brainstorm the democratic elections here in DC area, at the same time 4 other cities also had dinners on Bastille Day !!!

you can help too. look at the site, it's loaded with activist ideas...you can easily get involved, meet your neighbors, make new friends, help get our government back...and stop bush, before he kills us all...

[dolo amber]

62. I'd buy that

T-shirt for everyone I know :D

[bookman]

70. Great Slogan

It just my attention also.

[TacticalPeek]

71. cool excompression!

sez it all. or at least a lot of it.

[tomp]

35. and i'm here to tell you...

...that they're already getting help from the dems on re-instating the draft. rangel and conyers can talk abouthow they want an equitable draft, but it really just floats the idea. then the politicians play with it. i predict the draft will pass with dem support, either under bush or under a dem administration. that's because u.s. imperialist foreign policy is BIPARTISAN.

say absolutely positively no draft to whomever calls for it!

[Big_Mike]

55. I'm sorry, I just don't see it.

The technology of today's force contraindicates draftees. It takes too much time (about 15-24 months) to adequately train up a recruit to a decent level. When you talk about things like intel and signal, where schooling can take up to 18 months by itself, you get no Return on Investment.

The Germans back in the 80s only kept draftees in for about 15 months, overall. They paid crap for wages, and guaranteed so many duty days, unless war broke out.

They are the only force I worked with to any extent that used draftees. Besides the rotten attitudes many draftees have, you just don't have them long enough to train 'em to the standard needed.

There are many more stories out there about uncaring officers letting "cannon fodder" be chewed up than is actually the case.

I just don't see this ever happening.

[PartyPooper]

14. Perhaps Rove is like Shrub now...neither can go to an "unvetted" venue!

They will have to hide out at the White House, Camp David, or Crawford. Otherwise, they can only show up at a 100% repub, flag-waving, ass-kissing, puke fest! (And, I don't think they'll be spending much time with the military anymore...considering the crap our troops have had to put up with-courtesy of this crooked administration.)

I love it!

:bounce:

[diamond14]

45. so stand outside and hand out military recruitment brochures to

those new young reTHUGlicans-in-training..,

forces them to at least think about what they are doing...

hand out photos of the Iraq war...

think of NEW and different protest ideas...be creative...some of the best ideas make BIG impacts (the PINK SLIP banner - they legally paid for their hotel rooms...this rove stink - they have legal right to attend, since they paid the fee for conference and dinner)

there has to be a little more creativity here - if you look back at Vietnam, there were GREAT protest songs (still being sung today) and GREAT artwork, and GREAT poetry....

[TacticalPeek]

72. Really! Where's a recruiting sargent when you need one!

Sign 'em up for a burst of six!

Or get their lame cop-outs on record. "Other priorities", indeed.

[Skittles]

15. it's stories like this

that keep me hoping

[Rose Siding]

16. Yeah, that First Ammendment was waaaaay too broad.

I'm sure it just applies to me and those I agree with.

I can't believe no one sees this as a rights violation. If the pubs did this to a Dem I would be livid.

He gets to talk even if you disagree with him. He gets to talk without fear of physical intimidation, just like you. An attack like this will work to solidify support for ROVE.k

PROTEST. SHRIEK AND HOWL. But trying to silence a meeting of political opponents is un-Constitutional.

edit- I realize the 1st is re:govt making laws, but in an effort to abide by the spirit of the law, speech must be respected.

[ChillEB]

24. You know, you're RIGHT...

Can't believe I didn't *think* of it that way!

Shame on those lefty-pinko-bastard protesters!

They better just crawl back into their little, designated "First Amendment Zone" hidey-hole now, before Karl "The End's Justify the Means" Rove figures out that there IS a "First Amendment" and REALLY gives them the what-for!

[MinnFats]

27. ummm...Mr. Rove was NOT denied his First Amendment rights...

....If he wants to say something, he can call a couple of thousand Capitol reporters who will be happy to report it. He can get on radio and TV talk shows, grant interviews, hell the list goes on and on.
He can even stand up on a soap box on the Capitol mall. Whatever he's got to say will reach people.
So a couple dozen people got up and told him they thought what he had to say was bullshit? Tough hop, Karl. Your First Amendment rights are undamaged and intact.

[joshcryer]

33. I totally fucking agree! I said this during the protests!

When the "Peace Protestors" walked up to the "Freeper convention" or whatever and started yelling as loud as they could, "No Blood for Oil!"

What they should've done was go, SIT DOWN (put their signs down as was requested, and so on), ACT CIVIL, and LISTEN to what the Freeper had to say. When it was appropriate to applaude or boo, you do what you feel is appropriate. Had all those protesters done this, the police would've had no reason to escort them away. They wouldn't be inciting shit, and the Freepers would look like morons. (500 people to 15 is pretty funny, you realize.) It was especially good when the Freeper allowed one of the protesters to get their viewpoint across (the protester failed in my humble opinion, but mainly because of the insanity of a several hundred people screaming "No Blood for Oil!" in the background- if not beause he was an uninformed 16 year old), the perfect opportunity to make them crumble in their own failings.

The reason these people did this is twofold, first, and obviously, they weren't going to get any attention if they just booed from the audience (so you can't necessarily blame them for being idiots), and second, they felt as though this was infringing on some right they felt they had (ie, that they can voice their opinion in a non-public venue). I don't know the specifics, but I do feel that when you're a minority (which these people obviously were), you should wait until a public event to ensure that your voice is unilaterally heard. And you should do it peacefully. Instead of fucking standing up with a banner, have t-shirts on that say something and display them silently.

[DeathvadeR]

61. Like when we try to speak during protests????

<>

The Democracy You dream of no longer exists.

[KCS72000]

66. I agree that it is uncivil, but look at it this way;

Maybe it was HIS CHOICE to stop talking because no one could HEAR him,
he could have kept on talking.

Many of us keep on talking even when they don't hear us.

[janx]

18. Is this sort of like when the repubs bused in the thugs to disrupt

the vote count in Florida?

Nah. This pales in comparison.

But look at the freeper reaction: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/952874/posts

[ewagner]

19. Unbelieveable

They had to...I mean JUST HAD TO GET HILLARY INTO THIS!

[janx]

20. They have to get Hillary into EVERYTHING.

It's a psychosis.

[ChillEB]

23. That's partly because of Pig-boy...

2 and 1/2 years later, and Limpballs absolutely CANNOT do even ONE SINGLE SHOW wherein he doesn't talk shit about one or both Clintons. His paranoid obsession has rubbed off onto his minions (again), who are too fucking stupid to think for themselves.

[buckfush2]

58. that clinton is one powerful dude, huh?

controlling protestors all the way across the country from him. must use telepathy or something.

boy I'll be glad when he's not president anymore.... what??

oh, never mind

[RevolutionStartsNow]

26. Freeper Reaction: Too Funny

One who was there says that the disturbance was minor and that the crowd of 1,000 launched into chants of "We love Karl!" and "USA! USA! USA!" LOL. Their parents must be so proud.

[ChillEB]

29. You shoulda SEEN IT!

"Yeah, and after that? We launched into a chant of "Zieg Heil". Then we goose-stepped right on outta that place! It was the greatest day of my life!" </freep>

[ILeft]

22. Goebbels never had to put up with this kind of shit!

Come on Karl, this isn't in the Nazi playbook... whatcha gonna do? Huh???

[dArKeR]

25. Good news but FECES website. Ban drudge links on our forum!

Every click you make to Feces website get him more money, more sponsorsihp, more attention, more inventations on the media (because a busy website means he's popular.)

Let's start thinking and Take Back Our Country!

[tlb]

28. The protestors were acting like damn nazis.

Let this genie out of the bottle and it will be hard to put it back. Or do you really want to see Dean speeches shut down and anti war demonstrators overwhelmed by hostile crowds.

Some like the drama of complaining how the modern US is comparable to the Weimar Republic. Now many applaud it.

This is progressive ?

[ChillEB]

30. The Weimar Republic was just fine...

The problem was their economy, and a cat named Hitler (and Goebbels' propaganda).

Maybe if the good people of the Weimar Republic had started interrupting Goebbels' propaganda early in the days of the 3rd Reich, TENS of MILLIONS of people wouldn't have lost their lives.

There is always more than one way to look at things, tlb.

"anti war demonstrators overwhelmed by hostile crowds"

Bwahahahahahahahaha! Don't make me f***ing LAUGH...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/952373/posts

Yeah, watch out for THIS BAD MAMA!!!

[Aaron]

31. Repubs have already been doing it

They stormed the election offices in Florida
They use 'first-amendment' zones to supress our free speech
They put left-wing activists on lists to keep them off planes

I'm sure other people have more examples than I do. I think the saying goes "Do unto others as they do unto you" or something like that.

[study_war_no_more]

32. Buckets of Tar and bags of feathers

Give me that old timey religion, time for a little down by the river revival.

[joshcryer]

34. We are better than that!

God, didn't anyone learn anything from people like Ghandi?

[Mountainman]

39. Ghandi did things to get public attention

Ghandi knew that the papers in England and the world would report what was happening to him if he resisted the English. He knew the power of public opinion. So do these demonstrators.

[joshcryer]

42. Yeah, that's why I consider those kinds of protesters...

...fake.

[BuckeFushe]

69. Here's the archive link to the page Saturday afternoon on Drudge

http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2003/07/26/20030726_031650.htm

[PaDUer]

37. tlb...

tlbshow??

[Maru]

43. you caught that too?

that was my first thought!

[PaDUer]

46. Caught it..

Interesting..no comment from freeper as yet? I did read that freepville was giving tlbshow a bit of a hard time..maybe he/she finally saw the light..there's quite a few unhappy freepers and am not surprised they're coming one by one..

[janx]

51. If you are referring to tlbshow from FR, he got kicked out

by some "Bushbots" because he changed his mind and he doesn't like Chimpy. It was a collection of women who like to drool over Chimpy's pictures who did it.

But I'm not sure that the tlb posting here is tlbshow--it could be a coincidence. If it is the same guy, I hope he doesn't get instantly thrown out of here.

[PaDUer]

53. Saw that...

it's about time the freeps get their acts together and admit they've been lied to because there's a lot of them who've woken up and came here..Oh what a mess it will be when they've all realize what's been going on!

[tlb]

56. "Interesting..no comment from freeper as yet?"

Alphafemale you raise a point I hadn't considered, the report may indeed by sensational exaggeration. Still I can only go by the report as issued. Certainly nobody has corrected it.

Several people cite " free speech zones " as justification for violence and the threat of violence now to suppress the speech of others. Am I the only one here to recall how " free speech zones " came to be in the first place ?

The Clinton DoJ wanted a means to suppress abortion clinic demonstrators and developed the concept that it was constitutionally justifiable to place limits on where those demonstrators could exercise their right of free speech. The left thought this was a lovely idea, the right said it was dictatorial intrusion on the rights of a free citizen. The left won the argument.

Skip forward to the current administration and we see the law of unintended consequences in action. What was used yesterday to suppress the rights of the right now comes back and bites the left on the ass.

If to respect and defend the right of even Karl Rove to make a speech in a hotel defines me a freeper, so be it. I would however think this is an issue that goes beyond simplistic labeling.

I'll stand by my original thought. Such intimidation is corrosive to democracy. Keep in mind the lesson of the " free speech zones". Don't try to tell me it is good progressive democratic politis to harken back to storm trooper tactics.

As for tlbshow, no. Sorry to disappoint, but that is another individual.

[RapidCreek]

60. WRONG. Try again...

If you'd like to learn a little about free speech zones and when they originated check the links below. Sorry man you're just engaging in free speech right? You're certainly free to lie...just like Karl and just like Karl I'll knock you down for trying.

here, here, here and http://www.legaled.com/techsued.htm">here,

Good to see a representative of the party of personal responsibility once again spreading truth via revisionist history, tlb.

RC

[tlb]

63. I'm rather unsure what you think you proved.

Your first two links worked, the second two didn't. Interesting to see the Reno DoJ got its inspiration from the universities, but "free speech zones " weren't federal policy until used against the abortion protestors. Now it's used against anti war protestors.

My point remains these are always double edged weapons.

Maybe we should keep our eye on the ball instead of pounding our chest how we will "knock people down" or trying to play "gotcha " games.

[RapidCreek]

73. Ok let me clear it up for you...

You stated:

Several people cite " free speech zones " as justification for violence and the threat of violence now to suppress the speech of others.

Who in this thread made any such citation? In that you assert there were several....let's have the names of the posters or at the very least the number of the posts that they made. You reframed some posters opinions in your own terms and argued against that which was never said. Your approach smacks of Freeperville and defuses logical debate. Then again, maybe that was your intention.

Next you state:

The Clinton DoJ wanted a means to suppress abortion clinic demonstrators and developed the concept that it was constitutionally justifiable to place limits on where those demonstrators could exercise their right of free speech. The left thought this was a lovely idea, the right said it was dictatorial intrusion on the rights of a free citizen. The left won the argument.

The Clinton DoJ didn't develop the concept that it was constitutionally justifiable to place limits on where demonstrators could exercise their right to free speech, as the links I posted make effusively clear. In addition, the department of Justice does not have the power to legislate law or determine constitutionally justifiable practices....It is the responsibility of respective State and federal legislators to put into law, policies regarding the establishment of "free speech zones". The constitutionality of these laws has and is being decided by the chain of supreme courts when and if they are challenged. I would invite you to supply a US congressional resolution which sets forth a blanket, law, supporting the establishment of DoJ mandated "free speech zones" and a SCOTUS decision which affirms the constitutional legitimacy of such a law and renders moot any challenges it might incur. Good luck... Further, I would appreciate it if you would supply a link to the Reno DoJ "policy" for which you insist, she and DLC Bill deserve credit.

Your assertion about the origins of free speech zones was intentionally pernicious....It is not your declaration that Mr. Rove should enjoy his right to speak uninterrupted at a private venue, which would lead one to assume you are a freeper...no, it is your rhetorical methodology which gives that impression.

Indeed...maybe we should keep our eye on the ball...It was you playing the gotcha game....rather poorly, I might add, and it was I who called you on it....and I'll do it again. If you want to pontificate, get your facts straight. In absence of that, please refrain from spreading Drudge's right wing disinformation and propaganda in an attempt to validate your points...it stinks up the place.

RC

[janx]

50. Hi tlb. About protests...

This next presidential election is going to have them regardless. From what I read of this episode on several sites, it was hardly the "frenzy" that the typical Drudge tabloid made it out to be.

I would not be at all surprised to see protests or disturbances during the primaries.

A lot of people are angry with Chimpy and want him gone, and a lot of people follow him BLINDLY.

[markus]

64. The genie is already out of the bottle

The only question is are we going to march willingly into the cattle cars or resist.

[nannygoat]

65. That stuff has already happened to protestors and pro-democracy

speakers. Don't you remember the pro-war people who aimed their cars at anti-war protestors and what happened at that liberal arts college in Illinois? Not to mention all of the ordinary Americans who lost their jobs or were threatened or arrested for exercising their rights to free speech? I'd link to the DU thread that lists some of these called "Keeping track of the brown shirts" but it's not in my bookmarks anymore since the advent of DU2 and I couldn't find it when searching.

[alphafemale]

36. As an experienced protestor, I'd bet the "storm the stage bit" is a RW lie

The RW'ers will lie at every turn. They will call the cops for on simple roadside protests, or polite leafletting.

They will say you are screaming or frightening people when you are not, they will say you are endangering people when you are not.

RW MW's will also lie about your actions. EXPECT to be slandered on the mic monkees morning shows.

I'd especially not take Drudge's word for an accurate account of the event.

Please.

[Suspicious]

40. The deceit these people engage in

is so utterly transparent at times, I have to wonder how many of their own even believe it.

I was listening to a story on NPR yesterday about Brett Bursey, the man arrested in South Carolina for welcoming Bush at the airport with a "No Blood for Oil" sign, who had the audacity </sarcasm> to stand outside the "Free Speech Zone" with his sign. A spokesman (and I can't remember his name, or his title) in support of the "Free Speech Zones" articulated the idea that the Zones are actually enforced solely for the safety of the protesters, because, you know, they get so riled up and so focused on their protesting, they might walk out in the midst of the motorcade and be injured or killed.

He actually said that. :eyes:

The idea of a group of protesters "hiding" and waiting for the opportune moment to "storm the stage" is a bit much for me. It seems more than a bit out of character.

[alphafemale]

49. It's gotten to where I EXPECT the cops to show up.

The only ? is how soon and how outrageous the lie will be.

Their initial attitude (police) has been everything from:

-a guy who looked half scared of us.
(One of the most dangerous things in the world is a nervous cop.)
-barely concealed contempt.
-to detacted boredom...(I had to check on it...yawn.)
-to implied support.

It can get interesting.

It is best to be in full knowledge about what the rights are in your area.

Locally you can protest on public property, which includes easements along streets.

[kayell]

59. Safety of the protesters

:eyes: Reminds me of how the nazis used the excuse of "protecting" the jews to seal up the ghettos.

[diamond14]

48. reTHUGlicans called the cops on Democrats in CONGRESS

just the other day...

it's time to stand up....

reTHUGlicans called the whole FEDERAL HOMELAND SECURITY police on the Texas legislators...

reTHUGlicans have beat protestors, killed protestors, run them over with cars and terrorized them with a semi-truck...

reTHUGlicans shut down the vote counts in Florida with a paid-for mob..

reTHUGlicans have tormented musicians, radio talk show hosts, movie stars, calling them traitors and causing them to be fired or given no venues, destroying their careers...McCarthism at it's best...

reTHUGlicans have stolen the airwaves....

and just the other day, reTHUGlicans ordered a political assassination and triumphally displayed their bloated trophy human heads, ordering their media to stimulate public CHEERING and acceptance of their new policy (EVIL, EVIL, EVIL...so they must DIE at reTHUGlicans desire, and we must obey and enjoy it)

we need to take America back...if you won't stand up as a Patriot, encourage all who will, and support dissent...then you are indeed a traitor to America....

[JNelson6563]

68. off topic here but

I like your username. Reminds me of a delivery service here in my little city named AlphaMail. Owned by a woman. ;-)

Julie

[LiberalLibra]

38. Hell Yes!! Let's hear it for Dem protestors!!!!!

:dem:

[meow2u3]

41. I don't care how Dredge reports it!

This alone just matters..........

.....how's that for a taste of your own medicine, Rove?! :kick::kick:

[Khephra]

44. For those who think that this is going against Rove's Free Speech

Well, I'll care about Rove's free speech when his administration guarantees that they'll drop the First Amendment zones and allow the protestors their rights to protest Bush, without being a mile away from his site.

[mefoolonhill]

47. new york

The Republicans are coming to New York in September for their convention. Imagine the security forces that will be deployed for that lovefest. I expect Shrub will bring the 3rd Infantry Division back from Iraq...

[Christian73]

52. I don't care who Bush brings with him...

I will be outside the convention center, protesting my little ass off.

[diamond14]

54. perhaps a little "inside reTHUGlican convention" theatre would

be appropriate...how does one get to be "inside" as opposed to "outside"...

in 1968, the YIPPIES were 'inside' and nominated their PIG as the candidate...it created a crisis as a naked woman brought the PIG into the convention on a silver platter....it was a real show-stopper....these creative protestors were working from the "inside" and they changed the world and created careers for themselves....

this recent rove protest was from the 'inside'....they bought tickets to the dinner/conference...the giant "PINK SLIP for bush*" banner in LA was from the 'inside', they just went over to the hotel and RENTED a couple of rooms....

we need all the high powered creative-thinking protestors...the reTHUGlicans are just lock-step nazi followers without real brain-power...it is our brain-power than can RE-Defeat bush*...

[protect freedom impeach bush now]

57. dcindymedia: AIDS activists disrupt Karl Rove's speech

http://dc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=77990&group=webcast


AIDS activists disrupt Karl Rove's speech at black tie College Republican soirée

ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2003
Contact: on site: Micah Sucherman (303) xxxxxxx
off site: Asia Russell (267) xxxxxxx

AIDS activists disrupt Karl Rove's speech at black tie College
Republican soirée

Rove's White House lies about global AIDS funding and access to
generic medicines, while millions die

(Washington, D.C.) Chanting and holding signs reading "Dying for AIDS
drugs? Karl says drop dead" and "Bush's lies kill, generic medicines
now!", angry AIDS activists staged a noisy disruption of an
appearance by top White House advisor Karl Rove at the National
Conference of the College Republican National Committee, at the
Washington Hilton.

"President Bush is breaking his promise to fully fund a $3 billion
global AIDS bill signed into law in June. Bush is breaking his
promise that countries can put access to medicines and public health
ahead of the patent rights of greedy drug companies. The deadly
global AIDS fraud perpetrated by this White House has gone far
enough," said Sean Barry, a protester.

"Rove pulls the strings in this Administration, and Rove has the
blood of people with HIV on his hands."

Two days ago, lawmakers in the House of Representatives, under the
direction of Rove's White House, opposed efforts to fully fund the
bill President Bush signed into law in June that would provide $3
billion in global AIDS funding in 2004, with $1 billion for the
nearly bankrupt Global Fund, the only multilateral program spending
money on treatment for dying people with AIDS.

Experts point out that life saving programs in the hardest hit
countries around the world could readily absorb the $3 billion
promised by Bush; the White House, on the other hand, claims funding
the Global Fund with $1 billion in 2004 would be profligate.

"President Bush just went to Africa, ground zero of the AIDS
catastrophe, and is immediately breaking his promise to fund the
Global Fund with $1 billion in 2004. The White House wants to 'go
slow' on fighting a threat to humanity Secretary of State Colin
Powell calls worse than terrorism. That's criminal," said Danae
McElroy, a protester.

The disruption of Rove's speech comes on the heels of the global AIDS
funding vote in Congress, and on the lead up to crucial talks at the
WTO, at the Cancun Ministerial (Sept 10-14), where US and drug
company intransigence has blocked a deal on access to medicines in
poor countries that lack capacity for efficient domestic
manufacturing. Karl Rove has been linked to intense negotiations with
US drug companies in determining White House policy on what is
considered a make-or-break issue for the Cancun Ministerial. "While
Bush lies about life saving AIDS funding, he's preventing countries
from implementing policy that assures they can maximize medicines
access by purchasing low cost generics," said Sasha Post, a
protester. "The US promised they would permit countries to put public
health before patent rights--for killer Karl, that's just one more
promise to walk away from."

[bozo299]

67. screw free speach

Ever wonder why people try to silence the other guys? If you don't have any brains, you can always resort to force.