What exactly is this Upper Visitor's Gallery at the Capitol Building, stocked with special guests during State of the Union addresses? You know-- the President talks a bunch of trash all through the speech and you're groaning and wondering how any of these ideas could ever have made it past the first strategy meeting. Then the President points up to the visitors gallery and tells a few special stories of individuals who represent hope, courage, and all that. Here's this portion of the 2007 State of the Union:
"When America serves others in this way, we show the strength and generosity of our country. These deeds reflect the character of our people. The greatest strength we have is the heroic kindness, courage, and self-sacrifice of the American people. You see this spirit often if you know where to look -- and tonight we need only look above to the gallery.
Dikembe Mutombo grew up in Africa, amid great poverty and disease. He came to Georgetown University on a scholarship to study medicine -- but Coach John Thompson got a look at Dikembe and had a different idea. (Laughter.) Dikembe became a star in the NBA, and a citizen of the United States. But he never forgot the land of his birth, or the duty to share his blessings with others. He built a brand new hospital in his old hometown. A friend has said of this good-hearted man: "Mutombo believes that God has given him this opportunity to do great things." And we are proud to call this son of the Congo a citizen of the United States of America. (Applause.)
After her daughter was born, Julie Aigner-Clark searched for ways to share her love of music and art with her child. So she borrowed some equipment, and began filming children's videos in her basement. The Baby Einstein Company was born, and in just five years her business grew to more than $20 million in sales. In November 2001, Julie sold Baby Einstein to the Walt Disney Company, and with her help Baby Einstein has grown into a $200 million business. Julie represents the great enterprising spirit of America. And she is using her success to help others -- producing child safety videos with John Walsh of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Julie says of her new project: "I believe it's the most important thing that I have ever done. I believe that children have the right to live in a world that is safe." And so tonight, we are pleased to welcome this talented business entrepreneur and generous social entrepreneur -- Julie Aigner-Clark. (Applause.)
Three weeks ago, Wesley Autrey was waiting at a Harlem subway station with his two little girls, when he saw a man fall into the path of a train. With seconds to act, Wesley jumped onto the tracks, pulled the man into the space between the rails, and held him as the train passed right above their heads. He insists he's not a hero. He says: "We got guys and girls overseas dying for us to have our freedoms. We have got to show each other some love." There is something wonderful about a country that produces a brave and humble man like Wesley Autrey. (Applause.)
Tommy Rieman was a teenager pumping gas in Independence, Kentucky, when he enlisted in the United States Army. In December 2003, he was on a reconnaissance mission in Iraq when his team came under heavy enemy fire. From his Humvee, Sergeant Rieman returned fire; he used his body as a shield to protect his gunner. He was shot in the chest and arm, and received shrapnel wounds to his legs -- yet he refused medical attention, and stayed in the fight. He helped to repel a second attack, firing grenades at the enemy's position. For his exceptional courage, Sergeant Rieman was awarded the Silver Star. And like so many other Americans who have volunteered to defend us, he has earned the respect and the gratitude of our entire country. (Applause.)
In such courage and compassion, ladies and gentlemen, we see the spirit and character of America -- and these qualities are not in short supply. This is a decent and honorable country -- and resilient, too. We've been through a lot together. We've met challenges and faced dangers, and we know that more lie ahead. Yet we can go forward with confidence -- because the State of our Union is strong, our cause in the world is right, and tonight that cause goes on. God bless. (Applause.)
See you next year. Thank you for your prayers. "
I have to say, I practically teared up during these stories, against my better judgement. And then Bush is OUT. Good night, America. Thanks for all the fish. It's quite a closing tactic, helping to erase all the bad news we just got fed in the rest of the speech. I wish I knew how long this Visitor's Gallery had been appearing in state of the Union addresses. It kind of smells of Karl Rove, but who knows. I'll have to look into this...
What wasn't broadcast was that not all the guests in the visitors gallery were so welcome. Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq--who's been hounding Bush as a war protester for years now--had been invited to the speech and given a ticket by Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif. But both Sheehan and Beverly Young, wife of Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young, R-Fla., were removed from the visitors gallery before the State of the Union began. Here's info from AP:
"Sheehan was taken away in handcuffs before Bush’s arrival at the Capitol and charged with a misdemeanor, while Young left the gallery and therefore was not arrested, Gainer said.
[...]
Sheehan’s T-shirt alluded to the number of soldiers killed in Iraq: '2245 Dead. How many more?' Capitol Police charged her with a misdemeanor for violating the District of Columbia’s code against unlawful or disruptive conduct on any part of the Capitol grounds, a law enforcement official said. She was released from custody and flew home Wednesday to Los Angeles."
Young’s shirt had a message with a different tone: “Support the Troops — Defending Our Freedom.”
“They said I was protesting,” Young told the St. Petersburg Times. “I said, ‘Read my shirt, it is not a protest.’ They said, ‘We consider that a protest.’ I said, ‘Then you are an idiot.”’
[...]
Capitol Police dropped a charge of unlawful conduct against antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan on Wednesday and apologized for ejecting her and a congressman’s wife from President Bush’s State of the Union address for wearing T-shirts with war messages.
“The officers made a good faith, but mistaken effort to enforce an old unwritten interpretation of the prohibitions about demonstrating in the Capitol,” Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said in a statement late Wednesday.
“The policy and procedures were too vague,” he added. “The failure to adequately prepare the officers is mine.”
(-Associated Press. Updated: 5:18 p.m. PT Feb 1, 2006. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11120353/)
Interesting to note is that during last year's State of the Union, President Bush motioned for a visitor in the gallery to stand up and show off a purple ink stain on her thumb-- a mark representing the thumbprint required to vote in the first elections under representative democracy in Iraq. That falls under the interpretation of a 'device designed to draw attention to a third party' mentioned in the Capitol guidelines referenced to eject 2007's protesters.
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