Lets hear it for Ralph Nader and Code Pink!

[Error]

They may have done more harm than good, but at least they stood up for themselves honestly.

So what if Code Pink negated any effect of the Plame testimony by giving media a pink brush to paint the whole thing with? Yes the coverage looked like the Terri Schaivo media circus - all that was missing was the chicken wearing a hat.

My belief is that our dissidence helps, but Bush and his minions are greatly responsible for their own demise.

[11 Bravo]

1. If Nader didn't exist, Al Gore would be in the midst of his second term, and ...

Code Pink would have no reason to exist. Screw Nader!

[iamjoy]

2. Bravo 11 Bravo

That's just what I was thinking.

[hippiechick]

3. oh here we go again ...

la la la la la laaaaaa ...... :spank: :eyes:

[11 Bravo]

4. That is much more effective if you put your fingers in your ears at the same time.

Ask any three year old.

[Venus Dog]

5. Where were they when they crowned Rev Moon in the Dirksen Senate Bldg.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61932-2004Jun22.html

and that's just one example. Seems like they have their priorities mixed up.:eyes:

[Error]

16. very interesting observation

one has to guess that there would have been no point for the media to cover them at that event.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. I have a question.

If Nader didn't exist, who would be your boogyman?

Just askin'

[ulysses]

7. they'd have to invent him.

:D :hi:

[Error]

9. Lynden B. LaRouche

because he had loads of data on republican conspiracies, but seems to only brainwash his followers with it to no positive end.

[liberalnurse]

11. This week....

I want to adress that "person" Pinky Midge. The Code Pink Mascot at the Plame Hearing.

[liberalnurse]

8. Agreed.

I am really angry at Code Pink. They need to apologize.

[dogday]

10. Let's hear for yet another divisive Code Pink thread

too obvious what is happening here....

[Error]

13. Please explain your implication.

[EFerrari]

24. So, are you marching today, Error?

:hi:

[bobbolink]

45. I'm disappointed in you for questioning the "loyalty" of others

Would you like to blast me, also?

I have marched my feet off for MANY years----who knows, maybe even more than you?

I've written, called and yelled.

Hell, I've even given many HOURS to locally working on the election fraud issue, even though my own circumstances should have told me to mind my own business, and take care of ME.

The only thing I haven't done is been arrested--have you?

Yet, because I'm with others on disagreeing with the "action" at the hearing, I, also, will be vilified and accused of being a peace slacker?

It's really too bad you don't see the difference between a march and grabbing attention at a hearing that IS ALL TO OUR BENEFIT!

You can now put me on your shit pile, also (even though I've "marched") because I disagree with what I see as a very unproductive act.

I shouldn't have to "state my credentials", and neither should Error. Howard Dean is completely correct... listen first before jumping in to condemn. That's the first rule of PEACEMAKING.

Since you so aggressively "challenged" the "loyalty" and "service" of someone who disagrees with the action, I'll aggressively question you:

Do you *REALLY* not understand the difference between a march and a formal hearing????

Do you *REALLY* not understand the difference between "the right" to protest, and the *WISDOM* of doing so in certain circumstances?

Do you really think you are building peace by being confrontive of those who disagree with this action?

You know, as someone herself who has hard very difficult things in her life, and may very well have not been able to participate in protests or other actions because of that, I would think that you, of all people, would understand that EVERYONE has their own circumstances, and therefore their own ability or not to be able to participate in whatever actions are happening at a given time. To even hint that someone who isn't marching this weekend is out of your loop is just ..... sad.

Putting a little wave at the end of your post didn't make it not aggressive.

Joan Baez taught this ever so many years ago. Maybe it's time for a refresher course?

[EFerrari]

46. My question was directed to Error, bobbolink, and for a reason. n/t

[mondo joe]

14. Looks like the result of a divisive action.

Too many people worked for and waited a long time for Plame to testify. It was stupid to disrespect her moment.

[Error]

17. bingo

code pink (unwittingly) gave the media the giant cloak to blot everything out with, but we're to blame for noting the mistake so that it is not repeated? :crazy:

[countingbluecars]

12. The media

didn't need this little pink brush. They have been whitewashing this administration's crimes all along.

[Old and In the Way]

15. Do we know who that person was?

I agree...it really detracted from the hearings. There's a place for Code Pink in the political universe, but I question their judgment to use this hearing to further their political agenda.

But I really am interested in who this person was...if I were Karl Rove, I'd probably get some college Republican to dress in pink and make a spectacle of themselves....reading the FR live thread, they certainly had much more to say about the Code Pink person than the actual testimony from Plame.

If it was a Code Pinker, I'd suggest that they stop drawing attention to themselves in hearings like this...I really don't think they accomplish much but reduce the seriousness of the issues. Will we see 'Clowns Against Bush' next?

[Error]

18. I'm not sure

I think it was a bona fide code pink member. It seemed like people recognized the person.

Obviously Code Pink didn't intend this to backfire, but hopefully they'll think harder about being used as smear fodder at our important events.

It's fine when the show up at repub events, but at ours - we have to remember that it can be used against us.

[Eric J in MN]

23. Midge Potts

Here is the MySpace page:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=19150445

[Pyrzqxgl]

43. How about we all dress up like Bozo next time?

We're all Bozos on this Bus. Maybe we could get a couple of Senators to dress up too.

[herbbrown]

19. Ralph Nader is a Genuine American Hero

Think about that the next your noggin doesn't fly into your dashboard on a fender bender! If Hillary's the candidate I'll vote for Ralph before another Clinton, I'm not alone. Now go down to Walmart and buy some slave goods and pretend you're a democrat again.

[natrat]

27. so if your a nader fan wtf are you doing here cuz hes no democrat

[herbbrown]

30. Oh ok

Ralph is the truest of Democrats. He will save this party by stopping Hillary, and I'll help!

[peacetalksforall]

20. These Pinksters conducted themselves in a juvenile way

It was totally orchestrated to grab all the attention, detract from the seriousness of the hearing, and simply deflect the eye and mind of the listener who (if like myself was trying fo figure out who they were and what they were - male, female, pretend Code Pink, real Code Pink) - AND the distraction included wanting to know HOW THEY FOUND OUT WHERE TO SIT AND WHEN TO STAND TO TAKE THE EYE OFF OF PLAME WILSON.

I've read all the threads on this subject and have not been convinced that this was a wise or clever move. It was extremely unfortunate and selfish, imo.

[TahitiNut]

21. Some seem to desire a monopoly in opposition to the extreme right.

Indeed, some seem to think they're ENTITLED to a political monopoly on the 'left'. Perhaps needless to say, I find that kind of thinking itself as politically self-destructive. Personally, I applaud almost any liberal opposition to the extreme fascism being demonstrated by the Republican Party - including their lockstep supression of dissent and desire for one-party rule. I support every citizen's right to vote for whomever they wish - as well as every citizen's right to speak out on the issues and candidates.

[BayCityProgressive]

22. Sorry I missed this completely

what did Code Pink do?

[JackRiddler]

25. You missed it completely...

because it was nothing whatsoever worth knowing. The media did not particularly focus on it. This is an attack thread showing "the party is always right" mentality against imagined heretics and deviants of all stripes, using the imaginary Code Pink "debacle" (some loud t-shirt at the Plame hearings) as an occasion to do the usual rant-by-rote about Nader. No matter when or where, it's always time to rant and blame Ralph Nader.

Never mind that Gore won the vote in 2000, including in Florida, which was stolen. It's all about Ralph.

--
ON EDIT: to correct "loudmouth" to "loud t-shirt." This "event" was so utterly trivial - someone's t-shirt at a press conference! - that I confounded the details myself, thinking (due to the rabid reaction) that something must have actually happened. But nothing happened at all. A completely made up hysteria.

[TahitiNut]

28. It's always best to point the finger of blame in a way that rationalizes ...

... inaction. God forbid the 'left' do anything that's not tasteful and approved. :eyes:

[ulysses]

31. precisely so.

:thumbsup:

[EFerrari]

29. Bingo.

Nicely done, JackRiddler. :)

[Error]

33. I think your assertions are not genuine, JR

1. nobody saw code pink. - "The media did not particularly focus on it."
2. "This is an attack thread..."
3. "rant against Ralph Nader"

1. I saw the code pink person all over the coverage of the hearing on the talk shows.
People have rightly pointed out that this person was used as a "Dean Scream" to drown out the event.

2. & 3. The thread was intended to draw a comparison between two acts of "doing the right thing" and having it not work to your advantage.

I think the point is that politics is like a chess game and just because you can take with a pawn doesn't always mean you should. Timing is relevant. I was happy when CP unfurled the big pink slip in NY during the a GOP event, but when I see the shows talking about the code pink person instead of what valerie said, it seemes they unintentionally defeated their own purpose by calling attention AWAY from what people should have seen.

So there you are. In your imagination I have purposefully attacked Code Pink to a negative end. In my imagination, Code Pink gave fodder to a conservative media spin that has drawn attention away from Valeries testimony, or tinted it in an unbeneficial light.

[EFerrari]

34. As if the wingnut media can't invent fodder on its own.

lol

[TahitiNut]

37. GMTA

Like ... I'm gonna lay awake nights worrying about doing something the right-wing criticizes?

Riiiiight. :eyes:

[Error]

41. I guess you guys and gals are right...

Now I see the light. Code Pink made Valeries testimony RAWK!

I'm just sad the folks from Loose Change weren't there to get in a little plug for the truth about the 911 conspiracy.

[EFerrari]

42. Good! That was easy. n/t

[TahitiNut]

26. A member of Code Pink with 'Impeach Bush' on her blouse stood behind Plame ...

... and in the background of the on-camera views of Plame during her testimony. She behaved strictly within the parameters permitted, relying almost solely on her attire and the message on her blouse/t-shirt.

DUers, in our infinite keyboard warrior wisdom, have been sitting in judgment of her.

Quite frankly, I'm tempted to suspect it's easier for some to criticize her when it's 'discovered' that she was once a male enlisted sailor in the Navy. (But that'd be wrong of me, right?)

[BayCityProgressive]

32. so what's the big deal?

The majority of Americans want Bush impeached. it is the spineless congress that won't even discuss it. If some of the people in our Democratic congress or on this board think things are "radical" now..just wait until this summer when nothing is done to fix any of the US's major problems...immigrant mass rallies, anti-war marches, anti-apartheid in Palestine marches by UFPJ, school & economic strikes, civil disobedience, and encampments in the capitol are all in the works...can't wait to see what supposed progressives say this summer.

[mondo joe]

35. The deal is just that a lot of people have waited a long time to have Valerie

Plame testify this way, and consider it an important moment worth focus and support.

Some did not appreciate Pink Tutu mugging and clowning and distracting from Plame.

[TahitiNut]

36. Basically ...

... it's not the SIZE of the 'deal,' it's the absolute certitude that some bring to the table on something that requires absolutely no empirical or academic expertise or research of any kind. It takes nothing to have an opinion on something of this kind - so everyone has one.

The only 'logic' I've seen is the question of whether the Code Pink protestor distracted people from Valerie Plame's testimony - and the ages-old faux 'concern' about offending political opponents with the 'style' of one's activism. I think both are in the eye of the beholder - and it's easy to sneer at those who actually invest the time and effort to protest and risk speinding time in jail.

I've heard the same ol' tired rhetoric since the 50s and school desegregation.

[BayCityProgressive]

38. well if

people are that easily distracted..then they are too stupid to understand the case anyhow.

[TahitiNut]

39. I agree. Furthermore ...

... the more I see "Impeach Bush" the better I like it.

As opposition grows in a DIVERSE nation then the more variety we'll see in the activism and protests. It's a total waste of time and attention to engage in circular firing squads. The fascist right is the enemy to working people and diverse people ... NOT some Code Pink protestor.

[MadHound]

40. LOL yeehaw, the Dems have another scapegoat

Now that they can no longer concievably blame Nader for all the Dem's woes on, up pops Midge, just in time. Let me guess, pretty soon Midge will be blamed for why the Dems can't get us out of Iraq, and all manner of horrible things.

Pathetic, absolutely pathetic. If the Dems would actually put as much energy into actually getting us out of Iraq as they have finding a scapegoat, guess what, we would be out of Iraq.

But I suppose it's easier to find a scapegoat rather than actually dealing with the multitude of real problems that the Democratic party has to address. Sad, people, really really sad.

[LWolf]

44. Okay, if that's where you're at today.

Here's to Nader and Code Pink:

:toast:

While I'm not a Nader fan, I don't think he's a demon, either. I am a Code Pink fan. I don't mind including Nader in the toast if you insist. :shrug:

[Sydnie]

47. Welcome to DU

Now, get over yourself, m'kay? :hi:

[omega minimo]

48. This OP is a chicken wearing a hat - FLAMEBAIT

"So what if Code Pink negated any effect of the Plame testimony"

and that's bullshit