What "Democracy" Looks Like

Officially, the Secret Service does not concern itself with unarmed, peaceful demonstrators who pose no danger to the commander in chief. But that policy was inoperative Thursday when seven AIDS activists who heckled President Bush were shoved and pulled from the room -- some by their hair, one by her bra straps -- and then arrested for disorderly conduct and detained for an hour.

After Bush campaign bouncers handled the evictions, Secret Service agents, accompanied by Bush's personal aide, supervised the arrests and detention of the activists, and blocked the media from access to the hecklers.

Some will no doubt argue that the hecklers got what they deserved for their lack of decorum. But if the Bush Administration would stoop to, you know, allowing the public to attend and participate in its "public events" (including holding an open Q&A session), then such tactics would not be necessary.

Posted by Eddie Tews at September 11, 2004 05:07 PM