B
Bothrops Alticola
Guest
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/21/AR2007082101662.html?hpid=topnews
Not that they're worried or anything. But the White House evidently
leaves little to chance when it comes to protests within eyesight of
the president. As in, it doesn't want any.
A White House manual that came to light recently gives presidential
advance staffers extensive instructions in the art of "deterring
potential protestors" from President Bush's public appearances around
the country.
Among other things, any event must be open only to those with tickets
tightly controlled by organizers. Those entering must be screened in
case they are hiding secret signs. Any anti-Bush demonstrators who
manage to get in anyway should be shouted down by "rally squads"
stationed in strategic locations. And if that does not work, they
should be thrown out.
But that does not mean the White House is against dissent -- just so
long as the president does not see it. In fact, the manual outlines a
specific system for those who disagree with the president to voice
their views. It directs the White House advance staff to ask local
police "to designate a protest area where demonstrators can be placed,
preferably not in the view of the event site or motorcade route."
The "Presidential Advance Manual," dated October 2002 with the stamp
"Sensitive -- Do Not Copy," was released under subpoena to the
American Civil Liberties Union as part of a lawsuit filed on behalf of
two people arrested for refusing to cover their anti-Bush T-shirts at
a Fourth of July speech at the West Virginia State Capitol in 2004.
The techniques described have become familiar over the 6 1/2 years of
Bush's presidency, but the manual makes it clear how organized the
anti-protest policy really is.
The lawsuit was filed by Jeffery and Nicole Rank, who attended the
Charleston event wearing shirts with the word "Bush" crossed out on
the front; the back of his shirt said "Regime Change Starts at Home,"
while hers said "Love America, Hate Bush." Members of the White House
event staff told them to cover their shirts or leave, according to the
lawsuit. They refused and were arrested, handcuffed and briefly jailed
before local authorities dropped the charges and apologized. The
federal government settled the First Amendment case last week for
$80,000, but with no admission of wrongdoing.
The manual demonstrates "that the White House has a policy of
excluding and/or attempting to squelch dissenting viewpoints from
presidential events," said ACLU lawyer Jonathan Miller. "Individuals
should have the right to express their opinion to the president, even
if it's not a favorable one."
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said that he could not discuss the
manual because it is an issue in two other lawsuits.
The manual offers advance staffers and volunteers who help set up
presidential events guidelines for assembling crowds. Those invited
into a VIP section on or near the stage, for instance, must be "
extremely supportive of the Administration," it says. While the Secret
Service screens audiences only for possible threats, the manual says,
volunteers should examine people before they reach security
checkpoints and look out for signs. Make sure to look for "folded
cloth signs," it advises.
To counter any demonstrators who do get in, advance teams are told to
create "rally squads" of volunteers with large hand-held signs,
placards or banners with "favorable messages." Squads should be placed
in strategic locations and "at least one squad should be 'roaming'
throughout the perimeter of the event to look for potential problems,"
the manual says.
"These squads should be instructed always to look for demonstrators,"
it says. "The rally squad's task is to use their signs and banners as
shields between the demonstrators and the main press platform. If the
demonstrators are yelling, rally squads can begin and lead supportive
chants to drown out the protestors (USA!, USA!, USA!). As a last
resort, security should remove the demonstrators from the event site."
Advance teams are advised not to worry if protesters are not visible
to the president or cameras: "If it is determined that the media will
not see or hear them and that they pose no potential disruption to the
event, they can be ignored. On the other hand, if the group is
carrying signs, trying to shout down the President, or has the
potential to cause some greater disruption to the event, action needs
to be taken immediately to minimize the demonstrator's effect."
The manual adds in bold type: "Remember -- avoid physical contact with
demonstrators! Most often, the demonstrators want a physical
confrontation. Do not fall into their trap!" And it suggests that
advance staff should "decide if the solution would cause more negative
publicity than if the demonstrators were simply left alone."
The staff at the West Virginia event may have missed that line.
Not that they're worried or anything. But the White House evidently
leaves little to chance when it comes to protests within eyesight of
the president. As in, it doesn't want any.
A White House manual that came to light recently gives presidential
advance staffers extensive instructions in the art of "deterring
potential protestors" from President Bush's public appearances around
the country.
Among other things, any event must be open only to those with tickets
tightly controlled by organizers. Those entering must be screened in
case they are hiding secret signs. Any anti-Bush demonstrators who
manage to get in anyway should be shouted down by "rally squads"
stationed in strategic locations. And if that does not work, they
should be thrown out.
But that does not mean the White House is against dissent -- just so
long as the president does not see it. In fact, the manual outlines a
specific system for those who disagree with the president to voice
their views. It directs the White House advance staff to ask local
police "to designate a protest area where demonstrators can be placed,
preferably not in the view of the event site or motorcade route."
The "Presidential Advance Manual," dated October 2002 with the stamp
"Sensitive -- Do Not Copy," was released under subpoena to the
American Civil Liberties Union as part of a lawsuit filed on behalf of
two people arrested for refusing to cover their anti-Bush T-shirts at
a Fourth of July speech at the West Virginia State Capitol in 2004.
The techniques described have become familiar over the 6 1/2 years of
Bush's presidency, but the manual makes it clear how organized the
anti-protest policy really is.
The lawsuit was filed by Jeffery and Nicole Rank, who attended the
Charleston event wearing shirts with the word "Bush" crossed out on
the front; the back of his shirt said "Regime Change Starts at Home,"
while hers said "Love America, Hate Bush." Members of the White House
event staff told them to cover their shirts or leave, according to the
lawsuit. They refused and were arrested, handcuffed and briefly jailed
before local authorities dropped the charges and apologized. The
federal government settled the First Amendment case last week for
$80,000, but with no admission of wrongdoing.
The manual demonstrates "that the White House has a policy of
excluding and/or attempting to squelch dissenting viewpoints from
presidential events," said ACLU lawyer Jonathan Miller. "Individuals
should have the right to express their opinion to the president, even
if it's not a favorable one."
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said that he could not discuss the
manual because it is an issue in two other lawsuits.
The manual offers advance staffers and volunteers who help set up
presidential events guidelines for assembling crowds. Those invited
into a VIP section on or near the stage, for instance, must be "
extremely supportive of the Administration," it says. While the Secret
Service screens audiences only for possible threats, the manual says,
volunteers should examine people before they reach security
checkpoints and look out for signs. Make sure to look for "folded
cloth signs," it advises.
To counter any demonstrators who do get in, advance teams are told to
create "rally squads" of volunteers with large hand-held signs,
placards or banners with "favorable messages." Squads should be placed
in strategic locations and "at least one squad should be 'roaming'
throughout the perimeter of the event to look for potential problems,"
the manual says.
"These squads should be instructed always to look for demonstrators,"
it says. "The rally squad's task is to use their signs and banners as
shields between the demonstrators and the main press platform. If the
demonstrators are yelling, rally squads can begin and lead supportive
chants to drown out the protestors (USA!, USA!, USA!). As a last
resort, security should remove the demonstrators from the event site."
Advance teams are advised not to worry if protesters are not visible
to the president or cameras: "If it is determined that the media will
not see or hear them and that they pose no potential disruption to the
event, they can be ignored. On the other hand, if the group is
carrying signs, trying to shout down the President, or has the
potential to cause some greater disruption to the event, action needs
to be taken immediately to minimize the demonstrator's effect."
The manual adds in bold type: "Remember -- avoid physical contact with
demonstrators! Most often, the demonstrators want a physical
confrontation. Do not fall into their trap!" And it suggests that
advance staff should "decide if the solution would cause more negative
publicity than if the demonstrators were simply left alone."
The staff at the West Virginia event may have missed that line.
