Capitol Hill gone to the dogs

Anti-Bush protester Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, was invited to attend yesterday's State of the Union address by a California congresswoman.

She was wearing a t-shirt that read "2,245 - How many more?"

I'm sure Sheehan did this to get attention and, instead of ignoring her, the authorities graciously obliged.

She was ordered to remove the shirt and when she refused, she was arrested and later changed to unlawful conduct.

(I imagine she would've been charged with lewd conduct if she HAD removed her t-shirt)

Her protest violated Congressional rules. Of course, if such rules were applied universally, then most of the audience would have joined Sheehan in handcuffs since, as The Miami Herald noted, Congressional rules prohibit any type of demonstration, even applause, in the House gallery, although the applause rule is ignored on State of the Union night.

But while Sheehan was evicted for wearing a t-shirt, a German Shepherd was allowed in the audience.

I realize that Sheehan is good at getting media attention, like any well-organized protester. And that her arrest probably gained her more attention than if she'd been allowed into the hall; claiming martydom makes for good PR. And unlike other anti-war folks, I've never canonized her or put her on a pedestal or given her words any special weight. And I don't like her schmoozing with Venezuela's populist dictator.

But there's something symbolic about letting a canine "listen" to this speech and evicting a citizen for simply wearing a t-shirt. Maybe if Sheehan had been an obedient animal, well-trained to follow orders unquestioningly, she would've been able to stay too.

I'm glad she didn't. Imperfect as she may be, she's performed an invaluable service: helping expose this closed-minded, secretive, hyperdefensive administration for what it is.


Update: I've been informed that the wife of a Republican Congressman was also denied entry to the speech for the same heinous crime of wearing a t-shirt. Her shirt's message: Support Our Troops.


Further update: the charges against both Sheehan and the Congressman's wife have reportedly been dropped