Dean Disarms Hecklers with National Anthem

[Spirochete]

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=FF-RTO-roptz&idq=/ff/story/0002%2F20040120%2F1805294550.htm&sc=roptz&photoid=20040120PCS114




When a rally at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord was interrupted for a second time, the former Vermont governor led his supporters in a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner to drown them out.

Earlier, Dean had called for security to remove a couple of protesters who were shouting and waving the Confederate flag, a divisive symbol of racism and slavery in the South. As they were hustled out, Dean requested they not be "manhandled."



Well, if he sings nearly as bad as me, he can clear the room pretty quickly, all right

[DarkSim]

1. songs?

What next? I guess it was rather funny...

[lebkuchen]

2. The confederate flag wavers are the ones who want "freedom" in Iraq

"Freedom of speech" isn't included in the package, nor thought.

[farmbo]

3. The Man has seen "Slapshot" (My favorite hockey movie)

When all else failed to stop a bench- clearing brawl on the ice, they played the National Anthem.

:bounce:

[Robb]

7. They felt shame

but then they go free. ;)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. Scouts?

[FredScuttle]

13. I get sick, puke all the time!

[0007]

12. If ya remember Clinton did the same thing to the media,

Clinton had the Marine Marching Band start play when reporters were dogging him about Monica Lewinsky.

[MGKrebs]

4. I saw that clip, and I'm pretty sure it was

America The Beautiful, not the Star Spangled Banner. Am I delusional?

[Dhalgren]

5. Actually, that was a good tactic.

I think he did a smart and poignant thing. It tended to focus the group (including the hecklers) and maybe made everyone think about what they were doing.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

6. It worked for Serge Gainsbourg

Serge was playing a concert in Strasbourg, around 1979, just after he'd done a reggae version of the Marseillaise, which a lot of people considered sacriledge. A big crowd of angry off-duty paratroopers were in the hall baying for Gainsbourg's blood, throwing whatever they could get their hands on. So Serge stops the song, starts singing the Marseillaise acapella and starts to march towards the doors of the hall. By the foyer, he's got all the soldiers marching behind him, chanting along.

[Terwilliger]

9. I believe I saw another story that said these are LaRouchites

the same people that kept interrupting at the Faux debate last year

[TheBlob]

10. Didn't Joan Jett do the

Star Spangled Banner bit in response to angry opposition just a few days ago?

[prolesunited]

14. Yes, she did

That would be interesting if it became a trend. I think it's an excellent way of controlling the situation while conveying a sense of patriotism. The GOP does not own that value.

[Bandit]

16. "The GOP does not own that value."

They not only don't own it they don't even possess it. Otherwise they would be clamoring for the person who outed a CIA agent and for the riddance of Bush*

[mistertrickster]

11. Another example of Dean's angry truculence, he sang so loudly!

<sarcasm off>

[GiovanniC]

15. Let's Find Out

"Well, if he sings nearly as bad as me, he can clear the room pretty quickly, all right"

When you sing, does it sound like someone shaved a cat and then tried to take its skin off with a rusty potato peeler? If so, he sings nearly as bad as you.

I suppose that's why he got into the presidential race, rather than American Idol, though.

[David__77]

17. Good for Dean!

Smart and symbolically important.

[Voltaire99]

18. Yep, nice way to handle this one. (n/t)

[pacifictiger]

19. unfortunately

the "news" media only showed the singing, implying he was still waaaay out there, once again omitting context. Shameful tactics.

[demdave]

20. Dean should learn the words to the song first.

If he is going to use a song as part of his defense against hecklers, he should know the words. I am quickly falling out of favor for Dean and I am going to hold that against him also. I waited what I thought was a long time before making a decision on who to back. Then after only about two weeks having made up my mind, he turns spaz.

Back to square one.