Should the Senate strengthen security for the Sotomayor hearing?

[ck4829]

Knowing what "pro-lifers" are capable of after all...

"You just had to know it was going to happen again after three interruptions on Monday. The hearing had barely resumed after lunch today when the first protester of the day disrupted an exchange between Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sonia Sotomayor.

The anti-abortion protester bellowed something about "baby killer" as Capitol police led him away. Outside the room, the man said: "The GOP will no longer get the pro-life vote. They have betrayed us all."

Inside the room, Chairman Patrick Leahy condemned the interruption -- and the room broke out in tense chuckling.

Then, Grassley deadpanned: "People always say I have the ability to turn people on." And the room cracked up at the elderly Iowa farmer, including Sotomayor.

After the laughter died down, Sotomayor quipped: "I hope I remember where we were.""

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20090714/pl_ynews/ynews_pl635

[BlooInBloo]

1. More generally, the FBI should go after all domestic terrorist groups.

[BOSSHOG]

2. I think

the networks should set up an area near the hearing building and allow the "pro-lifers" access to microphones and encourage them rant and rave very loudly.

[el_bryanto]

3. Now that's not a bad idea.

Bryant

[Robb]

4. +1. nt

[BOSSHOG]

7. Love the bumper sticker

[BlooInBloo]

6. hahahah! Like Idol!

[sarge43]

8. +1 n/t

[blogslut]

5. No

Until one of them actually does something violent, they have to right to act up in Senate hearings and as a result be arrested - the same as the folks from Code Pink.

[Dumak]

9. It looked like one of them was fighting with police

which is a violent act. This has nothing to do with freedom of speech. So it wouldn't bother me if they kept the general public out and let them watch it on TV like the rest of us. I don't see the advantage of putting a handful of the general public in there when they can't even ask questions - it becomes just a token gesture. On the other hand, it should be okay for them to demonstrate peacefully outside.