# Cindy Sheehan is a toolbag. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 1, 2006, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454 "2006-02-01T02:24:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/21 "2006-02-01T02:58:41Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > How about disturbing the peace? That’s as good as any to get her the hell out of the rostrum. I don’t think you know what this really means. By the legal definition, I think the disruption needs to be potentially violent, or sufficiently acute so as to deprive citizens the reasonable expectation of order. If you get too sloppy with your definition of what is reasonable, most of congress ends up arrested as well. I also think it is more than a little constrained by the primacy of first amendment rights ---
**Author:** ![booklyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@booklyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklyn)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/22 "2006-02-01T02:59:12Z")
Bush etal. interupted my illusion of democracy. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/23 "2006-02-01T03:03:46Z")
> [@Waverly](#): > > I don’t think you know what this really means. By the legal definition, I think the disruption needs to be potentially violent, or sufficiently acute so as to deprive citizens the reasonable expectation of order. If you get too sloppy with your definition of what is reasonable, most of congress ends up arrested as well. I also think it is more than a little constrained by the primacy of first amendment rights No, I do know what it means. However, when getting someone disruptive out of the way, you do what you have to. It’s not like they were planning to charge her with anything. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/24 "2006-02-01T03:08:44Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > [This](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060201/ap_on_go_pr_wh/state_of_the_union_sheehan) link says she was arrested for demonstrating in the Capitol building – a misdemeanor. It was not a banner, but a tshirt that she was wearing. Sounds like she was asked to stop and refused. Is wearing a t-shirt demonstrating? They really should have forcibly stripped her of the offensive clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/25 "2006-02-01T03:11:09Z")
> [@Waverly](#): > > I don’t think you know what this really means. By the legal definition, I think the disruption needs to be potentially violent, or sufficiently acute so as to deprive citizens the reasonable expectation of order. If you get too sloppy with your definition of what is reasonable, most of congress ends up arrested as well. I also think it is more than a little constrained by the primacy of first amendment rights Well the point is moot as an above link seems to suggest that demonstrating in the capitol building is a misdemeanor. This isn’t surprising, many public buildings where official business is being conducted you aren’t allowed to come INSIDE and start problems. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/26 "2006-02-01T03:12:18Z")
> [@Waverly](#): > > Is wearing a t-shirt demonstrating? They really should have forcibly stripped her of the offensive clothing. Whether it is demonstrating or not is up for debate, however it certainly is cause enough for the Capitol Police to apprehend her, it’s not the job of the police to try and convict someone, only to apprehend those they believe may have committed a crime. The real point of them arresting her was to remove her from the room, and they were fully within their legal rights in doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/27 "2006-02-01T03:12:30Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > NHowever, when getting someone disruptive out of the way, you do what you have to. It’s not like they were planning to charge her with anything. Wow. “You do what you have to,” the law be damned. You are a fine American, Komrad. Do you know they didn’t plan to charge her? I assume they phoned you and let you know this as they were cuffing her. I’m glad they are checking in with someone who has common sense. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/28 "2006-02-01T03:13:14Z")
That’s why it’s good to have a “war protester” around. She can do stuff just on principal, and not pretend she respects the President. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/29 "2006-02-01T03:15:29Z")
There’s a “party conversation” book out there called “Would You Rather?” that pits two silly possibilities against each other. One of the questions is: “Would you rather spike Judge Wapner’s water with acid OR install The Clapper at the State of the Union Address?” Oh man, if ONLY. BTW, Lynn Woolsey is very possibly the most left-wing member of Congress. I grew up in her district and I’ve voted for her. They’re probably going to love this stunt back in the North Bay. (The district includes all of Marin County, where the permissive atmosphere encourages its kids to grow up to join the Taliban, according to George Bush Sr.) ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/30 "2006-02-01T03:15:52Z")
> [@Waverly](#): > > Wow. “You do what you have to,” the law be damned. You are a fine American, Komrad. > > Do you know they didn’t plan to charge her? I assume they phoned you and let you know this as they were cuffing her. I’m glad they are checking in with someone who has common sense. It happened an hour before the speech, and they said pointedly that they weren’t charging her with anything. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/31 "2006-02-01T03:21:08Z")
The Congressperson who invited her showed bad judgement. As soon as I heard she was going to be there, I thought, “Uh oh, there’s going to be a scene”. I’ll bet that congressperson was hoping for exactly that - knowing Sheehan would stand up and start shouting in the middle of the speech or something similar. But Cindy blew it by playing her cards too early. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/32 "2006-02-01T03:23:32Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > No matter how much they hate each other, the Democrats at least allow the President to speak without much interruption or ado. They are respectful of the significance of the Address. Shame on them! ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/33 "2006-02-01T03:34:00Z")
Several reports, including from CNN, are saying that she was merely wearing a t-shirt – the T-shirt she was wearing all day, which isn’t a surprise since she’d been invited at the last minute – that had the number of soldiers killed in Iraq. She was asked to cover it up, refused, and was arrested. End of story. Not exactly “unfurling a banner” in the middle of the chamber. (Why would she unfurl anything before the speech started, anyway?) God forbid the dead soldiers get to be “seen” at the SOTU. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/34 "2006-02-01T03:39:10Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > It was not a banner, but a tshirt that she was wearing. Sounds like she was asked to stop and refused. She was asked to _stop wearing her shirt???_ Hot dog! Now that’s a Bush policy I can get behind. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/35 "2006-02-01T03:40:06Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Several reports, including from CNN, are saying that she was merely wearing a t-shirt – the T-shirt she was wearing all day, which isn’t a surprise since she’d been invited at the last minute – that had the number of soldiers killed in Iraq. > > She was asked to cover it up, refused, and was arrested. End of story. > > Not exactly “unfurling a banner” in the middle of the chamber. (Why would she unfurl anything before the speech started, anyway?) > > God forbid the dead soldiers get to be “seen” at the SOTU. Maybe she just should have taken her t-shirt off, that would have made everybody happy. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/36 "2006-02-01T03:40:18Z")
> [@choie](#): > > God forbid the dead soldiers get to be “seen” at the SOTU. You must not have watched. We did see one (at least his picture), hear his written words, and was introduced to his family. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/37 "2006-02-01T03:41:04Z")
Why can’t she use her status to oppose the war while Bush uses others’ sacrifices to promote it? [From the State of the Union address:](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11115162/page/2/) > [@](#): > > Marine Staff Sergeant Dan Clay was killed last month fighting in Fallujah. He left behind a letter to his family, but his words could just as well be addressed to every American. Here is what Dan wrote: “I know what honor is. It has been an honor to protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the secure knowledge that you would not have to… Never falter! Don’t hesitate to honor and support those of us who have the honor of protecting that which is worth protecting.” > > Staff Sergeant Dan Clay’s wife, Lisa, and his mom and dad, Sara Jo and Bud, are with us this evening. Welcome. Our Nation is grateful to the fallen, who live in the memory of our country. We are grateful to all who volunteer to wear our Nation’s uniform – and as we honor our brave troops, let us never forget the sacrifices of America’s military families. It seems to me that Sheehan is being criticized for doing nearly the same thing as Bush. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/38 "2006-02-01T03:45:27Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > The Congressperson who invited her showed bad judgement. As soon as I heard she was going to be there, I thought, “Uh oh, there’s going to be a scene”. I’ll bet that congressperson was hoping for exactly that - knowing Sheehan would stand up and start shouting in the middle of the speech or something similar. But Cindy blew it by playing her cards too early. Personally, I think it would have been great theatre if a few discrete security people had been waiting near her seat, and if she stood up during the President’s Address BAM! 50,000 volts of TAZER baby! Just watching her twitch and wail on the floor would have been priceless. Admittedly, President Bush would have been very confused for a moment or two as to what was happening. But then, an aide would have explained to him “Mr President, that was the mad woman who was camped out the front of your ranch.” I imagine from that point on, it would have been the most delightful, upbeat SOTU address in history! (smile) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/39 "2006-02-01T03:50:28Z")
[http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/31/sheehan.arrest/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/31/sheehan.arrest/index.html) > [@](#): > > Peace activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Tuesday in the House gallery after refusing to cover up a T-shirt bearing an anti-war slogan before President Bush’s State of the Union address. > > “She was asked to cover it up. She did not,” said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman, adding that Sheehan was arrested for unlawful conduct, a misdemeanor. > > The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail, Schneider said. > [@](#): > > An early report from a senior House official indicated that Sheehan was arrested for unfurling an anti-war banner, but that was later found not to be the case. Schneider said she didn’t know what Sheehan’s T-shirt said. Does anybody here think a person should be charged for wearing t-shirt with an anti-war slogan? That seems pretty excessive to me, not to mention against the spirit of freedom of speech, if not actually unconstitutional. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454/40 "2006-02-01T04:01:18Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > [CNN.com - Activist Sheehan arrested in House gallery - Feb 1, 2006](http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/31/sheehan.arrest/index.html) > > Does anybody here think a person should be charged for wearing t-shirt with an anti-war slogan? That seems pretty excessive to me, not to mention against the spirit of freedom of speech, if not actually unconstitutional. I’m sure it falls under the House rules for not allowing any type of protest from the gallery. It’s not a freedom of speech issue, it’s a following the rules issue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cindy-sheehan-is-a-toolbag/342454.md?page=3)