'Birther' interrupts House reading of Constitution

[sc281]

Gotta give it to the Lady, good timing! Lol

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0111/Birther_ejected_from_Constitution_reading_.html

A woman was arrested in the House gallery Thursday after interrupting a reading of the Constitution by yelling out her belief that President Barack Obama is not a natural born citizen of the United States.

When Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) read the part of Article II, Section 1 mandating that only a "natural-born citizen" may be president, the woman, seated in the front row of the public gallery, screamed "Except Obama, except Obama. Help us Jesus."

An officer removed her from the gallery as she yelled out "My name is Theresa."

"You're under arrest," the officer could be heard telling her as he led her through double doors at the back of the chamber.

Members are rotating by party as they read short passages from the amended version of the founding document. Speaker of the House John Boehner kicked off the reading, followed by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Other than high attendance on the House floor and participation by leaders and rank-and-file members of both parties, the early part of what was expected to be a roughly two-hour reading was unremarkable until the outburst.

[bcoop]

So why was she arrested? Besides the obvious speaking out against Obama (which isn't illegal)...

[GhostTX]

So why was she arrested? Besides the obvious speaking out against Obama (which isn't illegal)...

House rules. People that make interruptions are made to leave.

[bcoop]

House rules. People that make interruptions are made to leave.

Made to leave, I can understand. He didn't say "I'm escorting you out" though, he said "You're under arrest" per the article....

[Geor!]

House rules. People that make interruptions are made to leave.

So out first amendment only applicable when you're not in the presence of the house who "swears to uphold it?"

I don't troll this forum too often, and I certainly don't seek people out, but that's two things you've said that were beyond ridiculous that I can recall. The first time I called you names, without realizing you are a veteran, and I felt like an asshole, so I'll not resort to those tactics this time. Thank you for your service, sincerely.

But this was a stupid statement.

[GhostTX]

So out first amendment only applicable when you're not in the presence of the house who "swears to uphold it?"

I don't troll this forum too often, and I certainly don't seek people out, but that's two things you've said that were beyond ridiculous that I can recall. The first time I called you names, without realizing you are a veteran, and I felt like an asshole, so I'll not resort to those tactics this time. Thank you for your service, sincerely.

But this was a stupid statement.

Got me confused with someone else. That said, just because of the 1st Amendment doesn't mean you can speak out whenever you feel like it, ergo the example of yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater. I'll agree being arrested is a bit much, but if you don't have rules of conduct, especially in a formal setting, you'll just have a ton of people yelling.

Update on the article:

Update: Capitol Police confirmed Thursday evening that 48-year-old Theresa Cao of New York was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct, disruption of Congress, processed and released.

[BERNIE MOSFET]

So out first amendment only applicable when you're not in the presence of the house who "swears to uphold it?"

I don't troll this forum too often, and I certainly don't seek people out, but that's two things you've said that were beyond ridiculous that I can recall. The first time I called you names, without realizing you are a veteran, and I felt like an asshole, so I'll not resort to those tactics this time. Thank you for your service, sincerely.

But this was a stupid statement.

Do you think the first amendment gives everyone the right to say what they want, when they want, and to whom they want under any circumstances?

She was charged with disrupting congress because that's what she did. GhostTx didn't say anything stupid, he stated what happened.

[Geor!]

Got me confused with someone else. That said, just because of the 1st Amendment doesn't mean you can speak out whenever you feel like it, ergo the example of yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater. I'll agree being arrested is a bit much, but if you don't have rules of conduct, especially in a formal setting, you'll just have a ton of people yelling.

Update on the article:

Yes, I do. I am sorry. Did a bit (not much, but enough I guess) of drinking this afternoon.

forever_frost is who I was directing that last part to though.

[Geor!]

Do you think the first amendment gives everyone the right to say what they want, when they want, and to whom they want under any circumstances?

She was charged with disrupting congress because that's what she did. GhostTx didn't say anything stupid, he stated what happened.

Being arrested for voicing your first amendment right in front of the people who are sworn to uphold the constitution seems extremely wrong to me.

That being said, I suppose the Congressman who yelled "You lie!" to our President while he was giving his State of the Union address last year should also have been arrested, according to your (flawed) logic?

[exlude]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

So no, she did not break any constitutional allows therefor should not be arrested. However, she can be escorted out for being disruptive and left at the front steps.

[bcoop]

Being arrested for voicing your first amendment right in front of the people who are sworn to uphold the constitution seems extremely wrong to me.

That being said, I suppose the Congressman who yelled "You lie!" to our President while he was giving his State of the Union address last year should also have been arrested, according to your (flawed) logic?

Again.... This isn't his logic. He is just stating what happened. You wan to point the finger at flawed logic, point at the dumbass that made this a law.

[BERNIE MOSFET]

Being arrested for voicing your first amendment right in front of the people who are sworn to uphold the constitution seems extremely wrong to me.

That being said, I suppose the Congressman who yelled "You lie!" to our President while he was giving his State of the Union address last year should also have been arrested, according to your (flawed) logic?

In principal I agree with you. There's a certain irony in the woman being arrested for speaking out against a violation of the U.S. Constitution while it was being read aloud in the House. I'll maintain that she, arguably, wasn't arrested for what she said, but for where and when she said it. There is a law prohibiting what she did, she violated it, and the unlawful conduct charge is the consequence she faces.

The point I'm speaking to in my earlier post is that certain venues and decorum are more appropriate for exercising our right to speak freely. This is a matter of civility and orderliness that most Congressman exercise themselves while in session. Yes, by my logic, Joe Wilson should have been charged with the same unlawful conduct but we all know they get preferential treatment.

It shouldn't be illegal to speak out, but I don't think that the unlawful conduct, disrupting congress law is designed to usurp freedoms expressly protected by the first amendment, either. I imagine that the intent is to maintain order in the confluence of emotionally charged people arguing for their beliefs on Capital Hill.

[krazy kris]

if your going to go through all the trouble and waste your breath just to get thrown in jail, do us all a favor and walk into the room and just start blazing

[SMEGMA STENCH]

I can see why they threw her out. I totally agree with her, but I can see why they threw her out. It doesn't matter if that jackoff was born on the forest moon of endor. He's sworn in now. Watch it will somehow be proven that he wasn't born here after he is out of office. And the liberals will just be so happy and gloat about it forever.

[GhostTX]

I can see why they threw her out. I totally agree with her, but I can see why they threw her out. It doesn't matter if that jackoff was born on the forest moon of endor. He's sworn in now. Watch it will somehow be proven that he wasn't born here after he is out of office. And the liberals will just be so happy and gloat about it forever.

I wonder what the legal windfall of that would be? IMO, that would mean EVERYTHING he signed is not a binding document, since he wasn't a legitimate president.