Hecklers Banned At Bush Rallies

[DLR'sCock]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/13/eveningnews/main635966.shtml

Hecklers Banned At Bush Rallies
CBS News

Friday 13 August 2004

There was a full-throated roar of support for President Bush at a New Mexico rally -- adoring crowds and a beaming candidate -- the stuff great political theater is made of -- and it's no accident, reports CBS New White House Correspondent Bill Plante.

Said a rally organizer, "I wanna hear lots of cheering in there for the president!"

The event tickets went to busloads of pre-screened party faithful -- who poured in hours in advance -- to be greeted and organized by Bush campaign staffers.

"We don't want anybody with a dry throat. We want you yelling for the president!" they were told.

The art of TV-friendly political stagecraft reaches new levels in this campaign. At "Ask President Bush" events, even the president makes no bones about the fact that he's speaking to invited guests.

"Okay, I've asked some citizens to come and help me make my points," he said.

As relaxed and affable as a talk show host, the president answers friendly questions -- which are often not questions at all.

"Mr. President, I don't have a question. I've got three thank-yous," said one supporter.

He also helps his handpicked guests to make a point.

"I don't know, Linda, if you're in a position to say this. But most people who go back to school with the new jobs end up making more money."

Linda: "Absolutely."

Mr. Bush: "Yeah, she was. That's good."

This tight control means that hecklers like those who greeted Kerry and Edwards in Missouri are almost never seen at Bush events.

And that doesn't seem to bother the president's supporters.

"I think it was more of a rally to get the supporters rallied up, so I think it served its purpose," said a guest.

But what about inviting some voters who haven't yet made up their minds?

"You mean the people who don't support Bush? They're only gonna sit and chat and you won't get to hear anything," said a backer.

It's all about getting out the message without any distractions, and making sure that there's no public argument to spoil the party.

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[Satan]

These aren't even rallys. They're staged propaganda events. Oh sure, there might be everyday Busheep in attendance, but the "questions" are obviously scripted, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that they drag the same operatives from city to city just like their phony televangelical faith healer phonies do.

[Big Train]

Like the DNC operate any different?

[Satan]

Originally posted by Big Train
Like the DNC operate any different?

I don't believe you ever saw Bill Clinton try to script an entire "press conference" or "rally".

He was able to take questions from both the media AND the public. (Just not from Kenny $tarr, but nobody's perfect)

[WolfStar999]

I have a few questions I'd like to ask our beloved President Shrub...and a few obscenities to launch.

[Big Train]

Yea, Satan you should know. Clinton was a smooth, on the spot type liar...

[Warham]

Clinton was as crooked as they come. Not as crooked as Nixon, but pretty damn close.

[WolfStar999]

At least any crookedness in Clinton's administration was fairly benign...and pretty much out in the open. If you got rooked by him, then you deserved every bit of it. I'd rather deal with that then the mickey mouse bull-shit being perpetrated by this administration. 'course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

[JCOOK]

Benign -- who are you kidding