Activists Attack Speaker's Residence

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Group targets Speaker Boehner’s (small-h) house

When did demonstrating at the private homes of politicians or corporate executives become an acceptable way to voice one’s political opinions?

Nearly two dozen activists from DC Vote swarmed House Speaker John Boehner’s Capitol Hill residence at 7:30 Thursday morning, chanting “Don’t tread of D.C.” and “No taxation without representation” to protest congressional “meddling” in the District’s local affairs, in particular a House continuing budget resolution that would cut $80 million in federal payments and prohibit the city from using local funds to pay for needle exchange programs and abortions.

“Speaker Boehner is coming to our home telling us how to spend our money,” Ilir Zherka, the group’s executive director, told his followers. “We decided to come to his house to tell him to leave D.C. alone.”

After Capitol Police officers blocked their way by using bikes to erect a makeshift barricade, the protestors remained outside Boehner’s home for more than an hour.

This is the same tactic used last month by protestors who don’t want Wal-Mart to open a new store in D.C. As DCist reported:

…Instead of demonstrating at one of the possible Walmart locations or making their opinions known to members of the D.C. Council, the protesters descended on the Woodley Park home of ####### Knapp, an executive at Foulger-Pratt, the company that is set to develop the Georgia Avenue Walmart.

Petworth resident Robby Diesu, who organized the Woodley Park protest, was quoted as saying:

"He's coming to our house. He's coming to my neighborhood. He's going to decimate my neighborhood. Why can't I come and stand outside his house for 30 minutes and ask him not to destroy my neighborhood?"

Why? Because such protests terrify people who have nothing to do with the issue, such as children and neighbors. And because assembling a mob in front of a person’s private residence is an inherently threatening action. It’s also unnecessary, as there are many public areas in D.C. where such demonstrations are allowed.

And it’s not just Republicans and Big Business executives who are being targeted for unwelcome house calls.

Last May, 500 screaming, placard-waving members of the Service Employees International Union descended on the home of Greg Baer, deputy general counsel for corporate law at Bank of America, and stood on his front porch to protest foreclosures, terrifying Baer’s 14-year-old son, who was home alone at the time. As Baer’s next-door neighbor, Fortune Magazine’s Nina Easton, pointed out, Baer is a lifelong Democrat who had worked for the Clinton Treasury Department. His wife, Shirley Sagawa, is a former adviser to Hillary Clinton.

Somebody better tell these yahoos that private homes are off-limits, and to stop making it personal.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/02/group-targets-speaker-boehner-s-small-h-house#ixzz1EQtOoyZZ

[Zero Sum 305]

Crazies. Reminds me of the Tea Nuts doing the same with Democrats.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Crazies. Reminds me of the Tea Nuts doing the same with Democrats.

The Tea nuts went to the Socialists private homes?

[Pooky 3,792]

The Tea nuts went to the Socialists private homes?

Don't let facts get in the way of a good spin cycle.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

This isn't really a partisan tactic.

[mawilson 2,133]

When did demonstrating at the private homes of politicians or corporate executives become an acceptable way to voice one’s political opinions?

2009, I think.

[slim 1,525]

2009, I think.

Back in 1774 there were reports of govt. officials being chased from their homes by mobs of angry Colonials outside of Boston. This isn't new.

I remember last year when our ex-Congressman was on TV talking about how it wasn't right for people to be outside his private residence protesting how he voted. "They shouldn't get involved in my private life just because they don't agree with my politics." What I couldn't understand was how he didn't see the connection between "his politics" and "their private lives." It was like the votes he casted had no effect on residents of his district. He failed to see the connection between what he did in Washington and what happened back here in Cincinnati.

- Could be why he's our ex-Congressman!

I've always wondered why govt. officials don't want people around them. The way I see it, if you're a "public" servant, your job is to be in public, even at home. I'm not saying folks should break into your house or keep you up all night, but if they want to peaceably assemble outside, isn't that their right?

[Zero Sum 305]

The Tea nuts went to the Socialists private homes?

Some did, yes.

Love your hyoerbolic use of Socialist, too. I'm sure you've been called out on this countless occasions with actual fact, to the detriment of your narrow POV. But cool nonetheless.

[Danno 1,228]

I have also heard of Anti-abortion folks targeting these Abotrtion doctors residences..... so their neighbors know exactly how the good doctor pays for his pool and golf club membership.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Some did, yes.

Love your hyoerbolic use of Socialist, too. I'm sure you've been called out on this countless occasions with actual fact, to the detriment of your narrow POV. But cool nonetheless.

Yes and kinda like the Tea nuts thing. It is how it has been done here for years.

So please post proof of the Tea nuts going to private homes and protesting please. I think you are blowing smoke on this.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Yes and kinda like the Tea nuts thing. It is how it has been done here for years.

So please post proof of the Tea nuts going to private homes and protesting please. I think you are blowing smoke on this.

I think steve driehaus had protests at his home a year ago.

[luckytxn 2,264]

I think steve driehaus had protests at his home a year ago.

You think? Oh that makes sense then. OK I was wrong as someone THINKS it happened. Apologize to all and please forgive me for being wrong.

[Zero Sum 305]

Yes and kinda like the Tea nuts thing. It is how it has been done here for years.

So please post proof of the Tea nuts going to private homes and protesting please. I think you are blowing smoke on this.

Not quite the claim that I am making. In fact, I am not making any specific claim about protests at peoples' homes. Please go back and read what I originally posted about what reminds me of something. Did you read it carefully?

Anyone that violates people's privacy (homes and in some cases, offices) in order to seed fear, harass, etc, is a nutcase and should be treated as such. On any political front. If you'd like to claim that Tea nutters *did nothing* to harass or seed fear into legislators' homes, I believe the burden of proof would be on you.

I wouldn't really expect someone that confuses Socialism with what is readily visible in American politics these days, though, to be able to draw up a *valid* line of logic on this unfortunately. Maybe I could be proven wrong and your use of such polarizing terminology is nothing but a ruse to draw more negative light on RWNs, and to that I say shame on you if its true.

[slim 1,525]

I think steve driehaus had protests at his home a year ago.

That's my ex-Congressman.

I don't think they actually protested though, I think they respected his wishes (and public whining) and cancelled a planned protest. I'm too lazy to google it, but it should be on wlwt.com or something.

Anyone that violates people's privacy (homes and in some cases, offices) in order to seed fear, harass, etc, is a nutcase and should be treated as such. On any political front. If you'd like to claim that Tea nutters *did nothing* to harass or seed fear into legislators' homes, I believe the burden of proof would be on you.

What I don't understand is how people standing in front of your house along the sidewalk holding signs can be construed as "harassing" or "seeding fear." Care to expand on that a little bit?

[Zero Sum 305]

That's my ex-Congressman.

I don't think they actually protested though, I think they respected his wishes (and public whining) and cancelled a planned protest. I'm too lazy to google it, but it should be on wlwt.com or something.

What I don't understand is how people standing in front of your house along the sidewalk holding signs can be construed as "harassing" or "seeding fear." Care to expand on that a little bit?

I'd equate it as a public nuisance. There is certainly a difference between feeling harassed by people specifically targeting a residence- which may or may not be loud (and law enforcement at that time can be called in) vs potentially violating public ordinances that may be in place to protect private property.

Then there's the whole can of worms with having a public figure's residence singled out for potential violence- political or not, which in this day and age, can't be ruled out.