News and Politics | November 22, 2011 | 63 comments

"Mic check:" Occupy protesters interrupt Obama

source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57329652-503544/mic-check-occupy-protesters-interrupt...

JanforGore
A group of protesters seemingly affiliated with the "Occupy" movement interrupted President Obama's speech in Manchester, New Hampshire on Tuesday, engaging in a call-and-response protest for about 20 seconds before being drowned out by Mr. Obama's supporters.

"Mic check!" yelled a voice from the crowd as Mr. Obama was giving a speech calling on Congress to pass and extend a payroll tax cut. Other protesters repeated "mic check," in the style of the Occupy protests, as Mr. Obama halted his speech and looked out into the crowd.

"Mr. President, over 4,000 peaceful protesters," the lead protester began, his words then repeated by the other protesters. They then made reference to those protesters being arrested, though their words became difficult to hear.

At this point those in the crowd began booing and chanting "Fired up, ready to go," prompting Mr. Obama to say, "no, no, no, it's ok. It's ok."

"All right, OK guys," he continued, trying to calm the crowd as supporters started chanting "Obama" over the protesters.

"I'm going to be talking about a whole range of things today, and I appreciate you guys making your point, let me go ahead and make mine," he said. "All right? And I'll listen to you, you listen to me." The comment prompted applause from the audience.

He went on to reference the movement twice more in his remarks.

"A lot of the folks who've been down in New York and all across the country in the 'Occupy' movement, there is a profound sense of frustration, there's a profound sense of frustration about the fact that the essence of the American dream, which is that if you work hard, if you stick to it that you can make it, feels like that's slipping away," said the president. "And that's not the way things are supposed to be, not here, not in America. This is a place where your hard work and your responsibility's supposed to pay off, it's supposed to be a big, compassionate country where everybody who works hard should have a chance to get ahead, not just the person who owns the factory, but then men and women who work on the factory floor."

The protesters handed out their full message on paper to the assembled press.

"Mr. President, over 4000 peaceful protesters have been arrested while bankers continue to destroy the American economy," it said. "You must stop the assault on our 1st Amendment rights. Your silence sends a message that police brutality is acceptable. Banks got bailed out. We got sold out."

*You may have to go to the link to watch the video.
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    News and Politics,   Citizen Journalism
  2. tags:
    Politics,  Obama,  Police,  occupy wall street,  4 more
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63 comments // "Mic check:" Occupy protesters interrupt Obama

  • inspirationseeker
  • ibrake4rappers13
  • ProgressThruProtest
  • RaceBannon
    • +1
      RaceBannon  

    • I'm glad the occupiers managed to pull this off because many had begun to feel the democrats where just going to sit back and attempt to absorb this movement in their usual "don't let the republicans win or else" campaigns. Until the national guard is out to the protect those protestors from the police Obama is still just another politician looking to stand in front of a riot before declaring it a parade.

    • 6 months ago
  • ecoalex
  • Foot_Soldier_Of_Hope
    • -4
      Foot_Soldier_Of_Hope  

    • OWLS has become a movement of immature, obnoxious, little brats who are just looking to cause a ruckess. Obama has done more to ensure the future of the American Dream than any President since JFK.

      These people are just opportunists looking for a rowdy outing at the expense of President Obama, the man who helped them the most. They need to grow up.

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • AJILIVIZION
    • +4
      AJILIVIZION  
    • Image

    • The artist, Shepard Fairey, that created the original Obama campaign poster has come back with support of the Occupy Movement. The poster reads, "MISTER PRESIDENT, WE *HOPE* YOU'RE ON OUR SIDE."

    • 6 months ago
  • letsliveinpeace
  • NeverTheSameColor
  • bailey78
  • SageRockandRoll
  • JamesS12
    • -2
      JamesS12  

    • I think the worst thing President Obama could do is fully endorse this movement. That would be the kiss of death for OWS. Obama, seen by many, has ties to Wall Street corporations and the very corruption OWS is protesting.

      The appeal of OWS is that they are seen has being nonpartisan. A representation of the 99% if you will. If they become closely related to any party, they would be tarred as being part of a broken system.

      My information about the movement and current political landscape is limited, BUT if the movement's numbers grow throughout the winter, you will see the government, including Eric Holders Justice department, crack down on the protests. Wall-Street and DC are banking on the cold weather withering the crowds. Just my prognostications.

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  
    • JamesS12:

      I don't see these people asking for a full endorsement. I believe any president who sees the constitutional rights of the citizens of the country he swore to serve being abused he/she has a duty to speak out on principle. I guess I'm just not up on the "political" aspects of true leadership where that isn't allowed.

    • 6 months ago
  • JamesS12
  • Ambill94
    • +2
      Ambill94  
    • JanforGore:

      He is proving to be cold; apparently cowardly; somewhat calculating; and totally aloof from the realities that surround him...he is bland to the point of seeming completely devoid of passion on any level...I'm glad they "mic checked" him today..

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  
    • Ambill94:

      I have to agree. He was so full of life when he was schmoozing those same young people in 2008 for their votes. Now it seems he "thinks" he doesn't need them. But again, regardless of that, he should as the president decry these unconstitutional abuses against citizens protesting peacefully.

    • 6 months ago
  • alovejoy
    • -3
      alovejoy  

    • OWS should go to one of the Republican Candidate campaign speeches. Trying to shout down the guy who is on your side is foolish. You guys voted for was the Tea Party - President Obama is just trying to keep his head above water until the 2012 election when the Tea party is voted out of office. C'mon man!!

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • Leen61
    • +3
      Leen61  

    • It's about time Obama paid attention to the OWS movement. They wanted him to acknowledge that many people in this country are being left out of his agenda and that his silence about police brutality sends a dangerous message.

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • Leen61
  • wolfess
  • ibrake4rappers13
  • JanforGore
  • artemis6
  • wolfess
    • +4
      wolfess  

    • It's not enough that he was civil to those protesters, he needs to make a public statement that if the police don't STOP abusing the protesters HE will stop them one way or the other! He NEEDS to sic Homeland Security and Eric Holder on those fucking banksters and their paid prostitutes (the fuzz)! I don't care if he "puts on a comfortable pair of shoes and walks with them" or not, but he needs to openly, and LOUDLY SUPPORT them!
      Pwr 2 the 99%! Dismember the oligarchs and their political whores (including Obama)!

    • 6 months ago
  • Leen61
  • coolplanet
  • wolfess
  • coolplanet
    • +2
      coolplanet  
    • wolfess:

      General Robert E. Lee promised when he lost the Civil War that "the south shall rise again!"
      Indeed we saw this in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 presidential elections with the red and blue states.
      We liberals don't take this enormous threat seriously enough. We have been taken hostage by a bunch of stupid rednecks!
      You know as well as I that the reason rethuglicans hate Obama is because he is black, right?
      Sorry for being so unclear.

    • 6 months ago
  • wolfess
    • +2
      wolfess  
    • coolplanet:

      We have been taken hostage by a bunch of stupid rednecks!
      Okay, I see what you mean -- I remember the teahadists the summer of the healthcare debates; they wanted nothing more than ANY reason to go ballistic all over Obama. And the 2010 elections just made it worse b/c now those idiots are in congress.
      So are you saying he can't publicly support the movement, or are you saying he can't sic Homeland Security and the Justice Dep't on the banksters and the cops?

    • 6 months ago
  • coolplanet
    • 0
      coolplanet  
    • wolfess:

      My dream is that Obama would pull an anti-Nixon and embrace the protesters.
      Stranger things have happened!
      It could happen.
      But i wouldn't advise betting on it.
      The United States is a very conservative country.
      That is the reality we face.

    • 6 months ago
  • wolfess
    • 0
      wolfess  
    • coolplanet:

      My dream is that Obama would pull an anti-Nixon and embrace the protesters. ---- Dreams are good and should always be hoped for :-), while concomitantly keeping at least one foot in reality/on firm ground :-). Thank you.

    • 6 months ago
  • unimatrix0
    • 0
      unimatrix0  

    • Newt Gingrich told protesters to take a bath and get a job - Obama said you people are the reason I got into politics.
      The choice is clear - Obama in 2012!

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • coolplanet
  • Paratus
    • -3
      Paratus  

    • As much as I like seeing Obummer hoisted on his own petard I still think it is very rude to do this. I can't agree with doing this.

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +5
      JanforGore  
    • Paratus:

      We must hold our "leaders" accountable. I loved it. I want them all in both parties to be mic checked. It's about damn time. Especially since he decided to go golfing the day people were at the White House to speak to him. Dismissing the people who hired you is imo the height of rudeness.

    • 6 months ago
  • lazloman
  • maasanova
  • dinm76
  • Paratus
    • -1
      Paratus  
    • JanforGore:

      Oh I agree that he deserves it it is just that I am not in favor of that behavior. If people want their rights respected they must respect the other persons rights. I have never been a fan of disrupting a speech out of disagreement.

    • 6 months ago
  • Cruzankenny
    • +3
      Cruzankenny  

    • Thanks for posting what the chanters were trying to say. Maybe it will bring some pause to think, if Dems knew they weren't immune to being mic checked.

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • ilikeike
  • JanforGore
    • +4
      JanforGore  
    • ilikeike:

      If Democrats are panicking over that bloviated fake, then they do have a problem. Perhaps not alienating their own base to kiss the a$$ of the other side and growing a spine might help them not be so panicked.

    • 6 months ago
  • dinm76
  • noxidereus
  • JanforGore
    • +5
      JanforGore  

    • And he still said nothing about the arrests or brutality. Matter of fact, his response sounded a lot like Bush...

      "it's supposed to be a big, compassionate country where everybody who works hard should have a chance to get ahead, not just the person who owns the factory, but then men and women who work on the factory floor."

      Tired of these trite, careful, parsed responses. He is the president now and should say that this brutality is unconstitutional. But he won't. Because he has to campaign, and that appears to be more important.

    • 6 months ago
  • noxidereus
  • Anonmaly
  • JanforGore
    • +4
      JanforGore  
    • noxidereus:

      You're welcome. At least others do understand how much having a president who really cares would mean to us. I found this to be dismissive regarding speaking up about the abuse when he had the chance because he is more concerned about his poll numbers. I expect that from Republicans. Sad to see it across the board.

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • Cruzankenny
    • +1
      Cruzankenny  
    • JanforGore:

      I've been concerned about the President's silence, but I also realize he has no control over where this movement is going and what is going to happen.
      He can't step in and give carte blanche to the movement that can't control the Anarchists.
      He can't be held responsible for the actions of either side right now.
      If I'm him, I look at the movement and wonder where the hell all these people were the midterm election, when they allowed all these Teabaggers to get elected.
      I say, first look at your own house, clean it up and don't demand more from the President because it took 3 years to wake up and discover that wasn't rain running down your back.

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • Cruzankenny
    • 0
      Cruzankenny  
    • JanforGore:

      I'm not arguing with you, but why are people in such a hurry for him to throw down with a movement that is organic and can go in any direction and some of those directions are not good.
      I know rights are being trampled, but as people say, every time there's an obvious oppression, the movement grows in strength.
      In reality, the risks are too great for him to align with the movement in its existing form and he actually has very little power when it comes to law enforcement in the separate States.
      I would be much more incensed over your Senators and Congress, they are the ones with State influence and power.

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +1
      JanforGore  
    • Cruzankenny:

      You don't have to either support nor align with a movement yet still speak out for the abuses taking place based on principle. But it's par for the course. Wilson did the same thing regarding the women being tortured and abused in seeking the right to vote. Bush literally gave us the finger and said, " I don't care" to someone who approached him. That's the reason why I'm not in politics. It warps your priorities. And I am also incensed with Senators and Congress and remind them of it whenever I can. But I also hold the president accountable as well. It was perfectly OK to do so under Bush, was it not?

    • 6 months ago
  • Cruzankenny
    • 0
      Cruzankenny  
    • JanforGore:

      Are you really relating relating President Obama's actions to Bush?
      I admire your thought processes on many levels and don't mean to call them into question.
      That being said, I have found President Obama to be a master at political judo, a fighting art and technique that allows your opponents force against you to be co-opted and allow the defender to add it to their force and increase their effectiveness and resultant actions exponentially.
      Given the fact that President Obama can only voice displeasure at the actions of the police at this point, what would you have him say. "Stand Back", "Hold off, you don't need riot gear". Don't underestimate the depths the opposition will go to discredit the movement and now the President. The next time an 'anarchist' brick is thrown, it results in a cop being paralyzed and the Presidents position is the cause. And to you and I, what are the chances the 'anarchist' is not a plant, placed there by the opposition?
      I say give him a chance, one that allows the endgame to be one of the superior position.
      I can't say more, but I believe there is going to be a victorious resolution, but we need to have some faith.
      If I'm wrong, I am going to sink into the greatest depression known to mankind, because our hope is over and true revolution may happen. And as a participant in bloody conflicts, the only ones who succeed are those standing in the rear and cheering with the most bloody imprecations.

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • Cruzankenny:

      In regards to dismissing citizen's voices, yes. Isn't it great we live in a country where I can do that without being beaten? Oh wait, do we? ...And it is clear some refuse to see this on the level of the principle of it rather than the personal. And I don't know what you mean by give "him" a chance. He is our employee and I am tired of having to feel guilty because I don't treat presidents like royalty. This is a democratic republic supposedly not a monarchy. This is about the office, not him personally. And I would have him say, that he supports the 1st amendment and is not supportive of the abuses he has seen taking place across the country against American citizens. Is that really so hard?

    • 6 months ago
  • AJILIVIZION
  • AJILIVIZION
  • JanforGore
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