U.S. House members break Gallery rules and use Alinsky tactics to silence opposition

HEALTH CARE PROTEST RALLY ATTENDEE SAYS BEHAVIOR OF DEMOCRAT HOUSE MEMBERS “MAKES ME SICK AND DISGUSTED”

by Sharon Rondeau

(Mar. 24, 2010) — Miki Booth, candidate for Congress from the second district of Oklahoma, drove all night last Friday to be in the nation’s capital over the weekend for a final rally against socialized medicine, which one poll says 59% of Americans oppose but the Obama regime has now pushed through anyway.

Ms. Booth reports that the capitol police were less than cordial.  When she and several other anti-health-care-reform protesters were standing together in a small group, the police told them to move, stating, “The other group has a permit.”  Miki told them that she was there as a private citizen, and the police’s response was “If you’re standing here together, you’re a crowd, so you’ll have to move.  I’ll give you three warnings and then I’ll arrest you.”  With the exception of a capitol policewoman named Janice, pictured above, Miki reports that the group of seven from Oklahoma of which she was a part was constantly told to “Get off the sidewalk!”  They were then told to get off the road.

At one point, when Miki asked the police where they could go if neither the sidewalk nor the road was allowed, she was told to “go over there behind that tree.”  She said she observed a capitol policeman carrying a shotgun, and others had assault rifles. She also reported a stark difference in the way black capitol policemen treated black and non-black demonstrators.

Miki said she observed no police harassment of those who supported illegal immigration and the health care bill.

Miki estimates that there were 50,000 people demonstrating on Saturday against health reform.  On the north side of the Capitol on Saturday night, thousands were chanting “Kill the Bill!” and “We will remember in November!” when Congressman Steve King (R-IA) emerged with a bull horn.  He spoke to the crowd, thanked them for their support and stated that congressional Republicans “were inspired.”  He added, “You’re so loud they can’t hear themselves in there!”  King then shook hands with many of the health care bill protesters as he made his way across the street.

On Sunday, the pro-illegal-immigration group, La Raza, which had not been there Saturday, set up a stage complete with a sound system and entertainment.  Miki said that some of the members supporting La Raza began taunting  members of her group, and at one point a fight almost broke out.  She said for the most part, those supporting the U.S. Constitution’s limits on congressional power “did not take the bait.”  In some instances, the constitutionalists presented a “calm, rational plan” to those who supported the health care bill rather than succumb to the taunting.

Miki reports that no one from the “mainstream media” reported on those protesting the health care bill; however, they were spotted at the La Raza activities on Sunday.  Miki saw only internet reporters covering the protests in which  she and approximately 50,000 others against health care reform were involved.

Early on Sunday afternoon, having noticed the prominent brown and yellow flag of the Tulsa (OK) 912 Project, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) asked the capitol police to move the barricade to the congressional members’-only entrance of the House Gallery and invited Miki’s group to observe the pre-vote proceedings.  Miki handed the congresswoman a brochure  and a “PUSH” card detailing her campaign for Congress for Oklahoma, and Ms. Foxx reportedly replied, “This is providential.”

Miki observed a statue of Father Damian in the long hallway that led to the House chamber. She said that “there were guards everywhere.”

Once in the House Gallery, Miki said that the rules of that chamber were enforced strictly, but only for some.

Seated in front of her group were four men who were the object of Congressman Barney Frank’s attention throughout the entire time that they were there.  The rules of the House chamber were clear:  no leaning over the railing, no talking while someone was speaking on the House floor, and guests had to remain seated during the presentations.  Miki reported that the men sitting in front of her were exchanging conversation and greetings with Barney Frank (D-MA) constantly throughout the House proceedings as well as leaning over the railing, something that was clearly posted as not permitted.  Miki observed no guard attempting to bring them to order despite the rules.

However, Miki saw that when a Republican House member spoke, many of the guests in the gallery applauded, but because the chamber rules prohibit applause, guards swooped down “like ducks on a June bug,” telling them to stop clapping.  No such discipline was imposed on Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Louise Slaughter (D-NY), who reportedly maintained their own conversations and social interactions while Republicans were trying to speak on the floor.  Booth feels that “this is part of their whole battle plan – using Alinsky tactics” to marginalize the opposition.  She also said that Congresswoman Slaughter could not put a coherent sentence together when it was time for her to speak.

Republicans repeatedly asked for order to be restored in the chamber as Democrats laughed and waved to people up in the balcony of the gallery.  Miki reports that the Democrats were so loud that at one point, the House secretary had to bang his gavel three times so that the person trying to speak could be heard.  As a Republican from California was addressing the House members, the four men seated in front of Miki’s group had their own conversation amongst themselves.  Booth said she was especially appalled at the behavior of Congressman Anthony Wiener, whom she said was “the biggest offender” by his entrance to the House during the proceedings, making “big gestures” to people, and never sitting down.   She said that while the Republicans were “respectful” when others were speaking, the Democrats were loud and disrespectful as they were seen “fleeting around” within the chamber of  the U.S. House of Representatives.

Miki heard some Republicans mention the U.S. Constitution in their addresses, but she said she did not hear one Democrat do so.

As the final vote came late, Miki and some of her Oklahoma delegation had already begun the 1300-mile trip home.  During that time, she received a call from one of the Oklahomans who had remained in Washington and was told that the bill had passed.  In response, Miki said, “I felt terrible about it.  I knew they were going to do it.  But I detest them for what they’re doing to us, and it makes me sick and disgusted. I’m not going to let them get away with this.”