Condoleezza Rice gets "Abu Ghraib'd"!

[paineinthearse]

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks to the Commonwealth Club at Davies Symphony Hall on Friday, May 27, 2005. Chronicle photo by John Storey


San Francisco police Capt. Dan McDonough watches over the crowd from the back of Davies Hall during a speech by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in San Francisco on Friday, May 27, 2005. Chronicle photo by John Storey


Police detain a demonstrator who disrupted a speech Friday by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club. Shortly after Rice started speaking, at least two protesters wearing black robes and black hoods stood up -- an apparent reference to U.S. abuse of detainees at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison. The crowd applauded as the protesters were taken away. Associated Press photo by Paul Sakuma


Protestors who interrupted a speech by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are led out of Davies Symphony Hall on Friday, May 27, 2005. Chronicle photo by John Storey

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronic...

Rice calls for Bolton's confirmation
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

Friday, May 27, 2005

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking Friday to a sold-out crowd in San Francisco, urged the Senate to confirm of John Bolton as U.N. ambassador, saying though he is "a pretty tough person ... and he can have rough edges," Bolton will provide "a strong voice for reform of the United Nations." Rice's comments about Bolton came after a 20-minute talk to an audience of 1,200 at the Commonwealth Club of California. The secretary offered a wide-ranging assessment of U.S. foreign policy and national security, which she said are intricately tied to "the spread of freedom and democracy in the world."

Rice defended Bolton a day after the Senate failed to end a Democratic filibuster against his nomination. The Senate is scheduled to resume its debate about President Bush's choice as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations after it returns in 10 days from its Memorial Day recess. Congressional opponents, including California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, have criticized Bolton's professionalism, accusing him of mistreating intelligence officers who did not agree with his foreign policy assessments. But Rice dismissed the criticism, saying "it is time" to approve Bolton's nomination, because he is "well-positioned" to push for change at the U.N.

"The U.S. believes that a strong and vibrant U.N. is key to its goals ... but there is no doubt in anyone's mind that the U.N. needs reform," she said. While Bolton has been criticized by some, she noted, there are also many who "would walk through a wall for him."
Rice said Bush's policies to encourage democracy in Afghanistan, Iraq and throughout the Middle East have "set a new course for America … one which summons the highest ideals of our nation."

Rice, 50, a former Stanford Provost, was interrupted by at least four protesters wearing black hoods and robes who, at the beginning of her speech, stood on their seats with hands outstretched in various parts of the audience, attempting to evoke imagery from the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. The protesters, chanting, "Stop the Torture, U.S. out of Iraq," were led from the audience by police without incident. Rice proceeded with her address, but received applause when she acknowledged the disruption, saying, "Isn't it wonderful that we live in a country where people are allowed to speak?"

E-mail Carla Marinucci at [e-mail]

Note: Watch the rebroadcast on CSPAN. It does not show the protesters, but Rice is visibly shaken when she sees the image of the tortured prisoner.

[iamjoy]

1. Hello Irony, My Old Friend (eom)

[paineinthearse]

2. Another use of art as a form of protest in a Ca high school

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Mnemosyne]

3. She needs shaken up.

She is vile as SOS. The Hague will have a shot at her too, god willing.

[jayctravis]

4. My favorite phrase in the first sentence is "sold out".

What, are they charging people for tickets to hear policy?

[paineinthearse]

7. Yes, this apparently was a "private" event

See post #5.

[paineinthearse]

5. The venue / the sponsors

The speech was held in Davies Hall, which, if my memory serves me, is the home of the SF symphony.

It was sponsored by the Commonwealth Club, which, again, if my memory serves me, is a rw rethug/corporatist/eletist group.

http://www.commonwealthclub.org/governors.html

Board Chair
Rose Guilbault
Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, California State Automobile Association
http://www.csaa.com/home /

President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Gloria Duffy
Commonwealth Club of California
http://www.commonwealthclub.org /

Chief Operating Officer
Greg Dalton
Commonwealth Club of California
http://www.commonwealthclub.org /

Vice Chair of the Board
Robert Saldich
President and CEO (Retired), Raychem Corporation
http://www.raychem.com /

Treasurer
Anna W.M. Mok
Partner, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Intl.
http://www.deloitte.com /

Secretary
William F. Adams
Attorney, William F. Adams Law Offices
http://www.wfalaw.com /

Board of Governors

Karin Bauer
Retired, Director of International Marketing, eBay
Mary G.F. Bitterman
Executive Director, Osher Foundation
http://www.osherlli.org /
Dennise M. Carter
President, Carter/McNulty
Maryles Casto
President, Casto Travel
http://www.casto.com /
Jeff Clarke
President & CEO, KQED
http://www.kqed.org /
Angela M. Coffee
Senior VP and Managing Director, Greater Bay Bank, Contra Costa
http://www.gbbk.com /
Mary B. Cranston
Chair, Pillsbury Winthrop LLP
http://www.pillsburywinthrop.com /
Joe Epstein
President, Sierra Steel Trading LLC
Rolando Esteverena
Serial Entrepreneur
Steven B. Falk
former Publisher and President, San Francisco Chronicle
Dr. Joseph R. Fink
President, Dominican University
http://www.dominican.edu /
Carol Fleming
Principal, The Sound of Your Voice
http://www.speechtraining.com
Charles Geschke
Chairman, Adobe Software, Inc.
http://www.adobe.com /
Richard N. Goldman
Chairman, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Foundation
http://www.goldmanfund.org /
Ken Hausman
Managing Director, Mirador Capital
http://www.miradorcap.com /
James Hormel
Former Ambassador to Luxembourg; founder and Chairman, Equidex, Inc.
Mary Huss
Publisher, San Francisco Business Times
http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco /
Heather Kitchen
Managing Director, American Conservatory Theater
http://www.act-sfbay.org /
Lata Krishnan
President, American India Foundation
http://aifoundation.org /
CFO, Shah Management
http://www.shahcap.com /
Hon. L. W. Lane Jr.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Australia
Retired Publisher, Sunset Publishing
http://www.sunsetmagazine.com /
Amy McCombs
CEO, Heald College
Don J. McGrath
President and CEO, Bank of the West
http://www.bankofthewest.com /
Marcela Medina
Vice President and General Manager, Univision, KDTV-14
http://www.univision.com /
Barbara Z. Otto
Civic Leader and former Group Executive Vice President, Bank of America
http://www.bankofamerica.com /
Barbara Pivnicka
Honorary Consul, Slovak Republic
Richard Pivnicka
Honorary Consul General, Czech Republic
Legal Advisor to the Board, Board Member, Gerson Bakar & Associates
Father Stephen Privett
President, University of San Francisco
http://www.usfca.edu /
Toni Rembe
Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop, LLP
http://pillsburywinthrop.com /
Skip Rhodes
Corporate Community Engagement Manager, ChevronTexaco Corporation
http://www.chevrontexaco.com /
George W. Rowe
Senior Advisor, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
http://www.jpmorgan.com /
Connie Shapiro
Principal, Connie Shapiro & Associates
Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall
Senior Research Scholar, Stanford University
http://cisac.stanford.edu /
Tiffany Shlain
Director and Founder, Webby Awards
http://www.webbyawards.com /
Charlotte Shultz
Chief Protocol Officer and Director of Special Events, City of San Francisco
http://www.ci.sf.ca.us
James Strother
Executive VP and General Counsel, Wells Fargo & Company
http://www.wellsfargo.com /
G. Craig Sullivan
Former Chairman, President and CEO, Clorox Company
http://www.clorox.com
Ray Taliaferro
Talk Show Host, KGO Radio
http://www.kgoam810.com /
Tad Taube
Director, Taube Investments
L. Jay Tenenbaum
Partner (Retired), Goldman Sachs & Co.
http://www.gs.com /
Nancy Thompson
Community Volunteer
Robert Walker
Executive Director, The Buck Foundation

[Cleita]

6. I watched a bit of it but couldn't handle the propaganda

talking points, bringing freedom and democracy to other countries who have problems that need to be fixed. Whatever happened to the we aren't in nation building speech?

Oh, I forgot, they are into nation wrecking, so far Afghanistan and Iraq. Now they want Bolton to go "fix the problems" in the UN by bring them freedom and democracy. Gimme a break! The only problems they are going to fix are going to be the ones they make for someone else to fix.

[Just Me]

8. The protestor pictured is a persistent Code Pink operative!!!

She is a hero for peace, humanity and democracy. I'll bet she has been dragged out a couple of dozen times as she always manages to get into places where the neocon players are giving some form of address.

I salute her

[autorank]

9. What a great set of pics to tell the story!

Now I'm ready for Memorial Day. I thread skewering my least favorite * cartel member, Condi the Malignant.

I'd gladly have the protester in the last picture replace Condi this very moment.

Wow, if the life hooded man bothered her, just imagine her nightmares; especially if she believes in a final judgment. She will have a lot to explain.

RECOMMEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEW LEADERS FOR A NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY!

Contact the DNC and Give 'em Hell About NOT Acting on Election Fraud

[proud patriot]

10. Medea Benjinman Rocks

[paineinthearse]

11. You are so right, I hadn't noticed!!!!!!

[Just Me]

12. I remember when she dropped the "blood for oil" banner at Rummie's,...

,...speech.

She just has an infinite well of courage and *LOL* skill!!!

[Erika]

13. Condi's one hard globalist

while saying goodby to American rights. I hope she is protested everywhere she speaks. I can still remember her lying face telling us that the Iraqi drones could produce mushroom clouds over our cities in 45 minutes. She is a GOP whore.

[bumblebee1]

14. I saw the highlights or lowlights on Olbermann

The only thing missing was an Abu Graib pile.

[paineinthearse]

15. details!!!!

Did KO have video of MD in her cover / being dragged away?

[lonestarnot]

16. Oh thanks brave ones! From the bottom of my heart....she need that!

[tech3149]

17. That last pix tells it all

So many "peace officers" for one Little lady.

[lala_rawraw]

18. Go Code Pink!!! n/t

[Just Me]

30. They are such an impressive buncha' ladies!!!

I know of no other group which has managed to pull off the covert protest ops like these ladies.

They RRRRRRRRRRAWK!!!!

[mogster]

19. Kick! And recommended

Good post!

[mopaul]

20. fukkk kkkondi

gotta love the code pink lady!

[rodeodance]

22. they applauded Condi when she said "isn't it wonderful........

This is the same line Bush once used. They are all so on message (sickening).

........Rice proceeded with her address, but received applause when she acknowledged the disruption, saying, "Isn't it wonderful that we live in a country where people are allowed to speak?"

[stpalm]

23. I bet the bastards at that speech

Felt obligated to appluad at that point but deep down knew they wished the protestors couldn't protest at all. Half-hearted appluse, just because they need to reinforce all the BS they say about freedom.

[MadisonProgressive]

24. I'm allowed to murder too, right before they haul me off to jail.

[paineinthearse]

25. .

self-deleted

[Bluerthanblue]

28. ... allowed?.... then

..why were the police taking them away???-

stupid, stupid, stupid-

Like saying, 'isn't it wonderful that we live in a country where people are allowed to murder each other?"....as a person is being hand-cuffed and led away after shooting the person next to them-

ALLOWED?

[althecat]

21. Nominated...

[paineinthearse]

26. Could use some DU assistance

Has anyone seen any coporate media coverage of this event, identifying the protesters as Code Pink? Please post link(s) here or PM. thanks

[proud patriot]

29. Local Bay Area News did not identify as code pink

[paineinthearse]

27. CODEPINK Protests Condoleezza Rice

http://www.codepink4peace.org /

CODEPINK Tackles Condoleezza Rice

Contact: Medea Benjamin (415-235-6517)
Andrea Buffa (510-325-3653)
Nancy Mancias (415.342.6409)
Dan Hatch (513-315-5029)
May 27th, 2005

While Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was speaking in San Francisco at the Davis Symphony Hall today about freedom, democracy and American diplomacy, four people associated with the peace group CODEPINK and the human rights group Global Exchange stood up on chairs dressed in the black hoods and capes that have come to symbolize US torture of prisoners in Iraq. They were protesting the abuse of prisoners in Guantanamo, Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as on the on-going occupation of Iraq. “We hold Condoleeza Rice responsible for dragging our country into this illegal war that has led to the death of over 1600 US soldiers and many thousands of Iraqis, and has sparked anti-US sentiment around the world,” said Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK.

"I am appalled by the recent reports of detainees being killed by US troops in Afghanistan. Torture and death have nothing to do with the Bush administration’s so-called policy of 'freedom and democracy,'" said Andrea Buffa of Global Exchange

As they were being led away by security guards, the activists chanted "Stop the Torture, Stop the Killing, US Out of Iraq." They were held for questioning.

The activists are Medea Benjamin, founding director of CODEPINK; Andrea Buffa, communications director of Global Exchange; Nancy Mancias of CODEPINK; and Dan Hatch of Global Exchange, All are available for interviews at the numbers above.

You can also call Global Exchange at 415-255-7296 and speak to Executive Director Kirsten Moller.

[DistressedAmerican]

31. Awesome Move!!!

[jazzjunkysue]

32. She was so free, they gave her a free ride to jail.

That kind of free, I don't need. Thank you, Condi, you ratfink lying neocon whore.

By the way, Condi, when do all the 100,000 dead iraqis get to speak their mind?