After reading a few papers regarding the crowd of people boo’ing the president at Martin Luther King’s grave I got thinking…
If security wasn’t so tight around the president and those protesters “got through” would the crowd actually kill/harm him?
I’m talking about your regular joe american protester. Would they harm the pres? What would you do if you “faced” the president? (I’m aware of some sort of law restricting threatening the president, so lets leave out anything like that). Would you scream at him and his idiotic policies? Just simply tell him he’s doing a good/bad/medocre job? Swear at him? Shake his hand?
For myself, I’m not a fan of his policies but as a fellow human (he is human right? ) I wouldn’t harm him. I would simply tell him “you suck” and walk away.
I want to point out this is not a debate on his politics. Just want to know what some of you guys would do if you met the president face to face and had his complete attention.
No Presidents were harmed in the making of this post.
If I met him and the opportunity presented itself, I’d ask him a question regarding one of his policies; probably about stem cell research. After he responded with A.) a blank look, or B.) a canned response that wouldn’t actually explain anything or facilitate further discussion (so he wouldn’t have to think any more). I would respond, “That’s what I thought.” and go on my way.
I don’t think the Average Protestor would do much of anything. They’d probably be shocked and smile and make nice. You can hate his policies all you want, but he’s still the President of the U.S. and the inner six-year-old is going to go “Wow! I’m talking to the President!” Some of the more radical ones might yell at him, spit at him, but attack him? I doubt it. Honestly, I’d say the best thing you could do would be come out some from behind the security cordon and engage them.
I doubt that the average protest crowd would hurt him. Imagining a scenario similar to Bob Dole falling of the stage during the '96 campaign, I think most people would probably retreat away from him if something like that happened. That’s a typical response in the face of something unexpected.
I’ve protested the current president (on February 15, 2003…did you?), but if I met him in person I’d shake his hand and be polite. Of course, I’d go out of my way to avoid meeting him in person.
I don’t wish him personal injury. But I hope with all my heart he won’t be president much longer.
Presidents in the past have plunged into crowds to shake hands. This one doesn’t want to be around anyone who doesn’t think exactly like him. Or should I say his handlers don’t want him to see anything negative like protesters or dead soldiers.
He is apparently very comfortable around soldiers who, as we all know, never die. It is also very convenient that he is their boss.
I’d have to say that as disappointed as I am at the road he’s he’s chosen to lead the US down, I’m far more disappointed at the American people for following him there.
The appearance at the MLK shrine was unusual for Mr. Bush. For most of his appearances, apparent opponents are shunted off into a “free speech zone” out of sight of Bush’s photo-op. At the MLK event, the King family was there, and folks who had worked with Dr. King. So, the GWB group was sorta outranked. NPR’s report said Bush wasn’t even invited. It’s rare for Bush to work an unfriendly venue, at least in the US. Outside the US, he can smile and say, “I love free speech.” There was no report of him saying that at the MLK event.
I myself don’t know anyone who would try to attack Bush.
MHO: the physical security that worked for Clinton and priors would work for Bush.
This “Free Speech Area” out of sight of Bush and the media has been happening for some time. I first became aware of it when I heard of the “Turn Your Back on Bush” graduation.
My take is that the neocons are highly aware of public relations, and make them a huge priority. You have been hearing propaganda for ten years now, on subjects like: Social Security is going away; depend on market forces to cure what ails you; the law isn’t your protection from bullies, or fraud; media exposure is bad; government ultimately rests on force; noticing any resemblance between might-makes-right philosophy and fascism is to be firmly discouraged; the rich are helplessly being picked on; there is no such thing as too much punishment.
The public relations people want Bush’s message (in a speech or appearance) to appear, and they don’t want any contrary facts or opinions aired if it can be avoided.
If I could have Bush’s attention for an hour, maybe I could get somewhere. In a minute, I don’t know. Maybe I’d just say, “Stop listening to Rove and Cheney and Ashcroft. Spend a whole day listening to people who tell you things you don’t want to hear. I know you’re not stupid, but you’re intellectually lazy, and you’ve got to do some hard brainwork here.”
“Wow, it is such an honor to get to tell you in person how I think you’re heading the most unashamedly corrupt presidential administration since McKinley!”
–as the Secret Service drags me away, still smiling and enthusiastic–
“Jesus hates what you do! Remember that when you look in the mirror!”
I figure if I get a shot, it won’t last very long, so I’d have to make the most of it…
The earliest mention I can find of a “free speech zone” was during a political convention. In Atlanta during the Democratic National Convention of 1988, a free speech zone was created for racist and supremacist protesters so the convention would not be disrupted. Their permits were revoked when fears of a violent clash with counter-protesters developed.
And liberals would never work public relations or spread their own propaganda, and certainly not on the SDMB. :rolleyes:
Considering that I hear contrary facts and opinions all the time, they’ve completely failed. So your point is what, exactly?
If I met former president Clinton:
–big smile–
–pumping handshake–
–enthusiastic tone of voice–
“Now I know what it’s like to shake the hand of a perjurer!”
–release handshake, take out tissue and wipe hand, drop tissue on the floor and step on it–
–as security drags me away, still smiling and enthusiastic–
“Jesus hates what you do! Remember that when you look in the mirror!”
) I wouldn’t harm him. I would simply tell him “you suck” and walk away.