Political Hotsheet
By

Stephanie Condon /

CBS News/ June 8, 2010, 3:05 PM

Pelosi Heckled at Liberal Conference

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, arguably the left's best ally in Washington, was greeted by angry liberal hecklers this morning at a Washington conference for progressive activists.

A group of protesters donned in orange shirts, some in wheelchairs, started shouting minutes after Pelosi began speaking at the America's Future Now conference, according to reports. The conference is hosted by the liberal group Campaign for America's Future.

Pelosi was forced to yell her entire 28-minute speech, the Washington Post reports, as the protesters yelled, "Our homes, not nursing homes." The demonstrators reportedly belonged to the disability group ADAPT and were protesting in support of the Community Choice Act, a bill that would give those eligible for nursing home care the choice of in-home, community-assisted support.

"We supported Obama. We supported you," one protester shouted, the Post reports. "We supported the campaign... but we don't want to be taken from our homes."

Pelosi addressed their concerns, according to liberal blog FireDogLake, suggesting that a measure included in the Democrats' health care reforms -- the CLASS Act -- would lead to better long-term care. The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act is supposed to create a new government fund to insure people in the event they become disabled. The new, nationwide insurance program would be financed through payroll deductions with opt-out enrollment.

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Another group of protesters was also present, to demonstrate against U.S. policy toward Israel. This video shows the group holding up a large banner next to the stage that read, "Stop funding Israel terror." FireDogLake reports the protesters were part of the anti-war group Code Pink.

Pelosi's security detail offered to remove the protesters, the Post reports, but two conference organizers on stage with the speaker said she opted to let them stay because she believes in free speech. The speaker said to the audience, "Thank you for your impatience as advocates for change," according to FireDogLake.

Both the attendees and the presenters at the liberal conference have expressed anger and impatience with President Obama and the Democratic majority for failing to seemingly live up to their expectations and for failing to respond to progressives' growing resentment. But the protest against Pelosi could still be considered surprising, given that presenters at the conference noted yesterday that she has been one of the left's strongest allies in Congress and that the House has managed to deliver on campaign promises -- such as passing climate change legislation -- where the Senate has so far failed.

© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Robert_Norwood says:
Check out the mouth on that heckler. I love hecklers, they always look so crazy.

Anyway, I don't agree with ADAPT. Tons of money gets spent on disabled people, most of which goes to the corporations working them and I don't see the value. Disabled people, from my view, get terrible community care and are often at the mercy of low paid aids from really poor countries like Jamaica. I see them pushing around the elderly like they are being inconvenienced and they are so phony nice. you know they're skimming somewhere. The truth is you would have to spend incredible sums just to achieve a level of care and life quality that wouldn't be shameful. Can we afford $50.00 an hour for nursing, $75,000 motorized wheel chairs and $150,000 vans just a disabled person can have what life has denied them? I mean hand me $275,000, I want a boat.
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contesa659 says:
Code Pink should be dropped off at the nearest mental health clinic to get psychoanalyzed. These people are completely and absolutely loco, off their rocker, unpatriotic and do nothing but cause discontent wherever they go. No one likes this group and I can't understand why any media source puts up with even reporting anything about them.

Also, these people who are for changing our country into a socialized/nanny state need to go to their beloved communist countries to live and leave the great country of America alone. The tea partiers are taking back the government which this administration, with the help of leftist liberal kooks have tried to grab all power they can while making the government bigger. I wish people would actually read our constitutional, our Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and understand that this government was created to be limited in what it can do. It's most important job is to protect our borders from those wishing to do harm to us. This administration has failed miserably and I'm looking foward to watching these unethical, corrupt politicans from both sides of the isle get booted out in November. This isn't the government's country to decide what they want to do, it is the citizens of the United States who decide what we want and so far in 18 months we have been ignored and we're not taking it anymore.
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Robert_Norwood replies:
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Yeah, code pink is filled with some really strange agents. But I think that's where the little loonies go these days, to groups where they can yell and get all hoarse, stretch those eye sockets a bit. Do any of them have jobs or are they all on disability?

I much prefer the people that go to Star Trek conventions and dress up, feel safer around them.
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iamproteus says:
I've read many comments here and previously over the last year or so and am continually appalled be the plethora of unsubstantiated statements, accusations, thinly veiled threats, and just plain stupid remarks made by all sides of the political spectrum. I was raised by a father that believed that one should treat others with respect until they proved that they didn't deserve it. I'm finding it more and more difficult to find people that I can respect. If Dad were still alive, he would surely find it so as well. Please folks, try to conduct yourselves in a more respectful manner.
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sevenwordz replies:
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I understand completely. I had a similar upbringing. The details of my life are quite inconsequential... very well, where do I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a fifteen year old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds- pretty standard really. At the age of twelve I received my first scribe. At the age of fourteen a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritualistically shaved my testicles. There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum... it's breathtaking- I highly suggest you try it.
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Biker-N-OH1 says:
Nancy Pelosi is a genuine example of a social disease.
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bankersvox says:
I have contributed via songs and art, which others have enjoyed. Money is not the only way to deserve being taken care of in the time of need. As an artist, I have made my contributions just as much as the wealthy senator.
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bankersvox says:
She and her husbands have millions in real estate and cash. ISn't it time they spread the wealth around to people who really need it ? I am sick of hypocritical so called "liberals" , spending their time on the golf corse while the rest of us suffer in silence. I have never worked for a living, and do not expect to, the world owes me a living, just the same.
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ScottAOlsonLTC says:
The CLASS Act's $50 per day "average benefit" will only cover a small portion of the $75,000+ per year most Americans pay for in-home care. Most people who want to protect their savings will still need to purchase long-term care insurance.

One of the biggest problems we face is that most Americans still think that Medicare or their medical insurance covers the cost of long term care.

The CLASS Act addresses this problem by making a very clear statement: You have to pay for your own long term care. You either have to pay for your own long term care by using your savings, the $50 per day CLASS Act benefit, long term care insurance, or a combination of these.

Most of the ten million Americans who own long term care insurance, own it because they've seen friends or family have to spend down their assets before qualifying for Medicaid. The CLASS Act will help alert the rest of the country to the fact that they need to financially plan for their future long term care needs.

There are 2 reasons the projected premiums for the CLASS Act are much higher than a comparable long term care insurance policy.

1) Anyone who is working (even just part-time) can enroll in the CLASS Act regardless of their health history. Enrollees with severe diabetes or crippling arthritis will pay the same amount for the CLASS Act benefit as those who are in perfect health.

2) Those who earn less than the federal poverty level will be automatically enrolled in the CLASS Act for only $5 per month (unless they opt-out). Their premiums are being subsidized by the rest of the enrollees.

Many of the leading long-term care insurance policies today can pay family caregivers. And many even offer a refund of premiums paid upon death.

Scott A. Olson
<a href="http://www.LTCInsuranceShopper.com">www.LTCInsuranceShopper.com</a>
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stn_sage says:
Nancy Pelosi DESERVES to be heckled!

And, she can hardly complain about it too loudly, because it's coming from HER own supporters!

But, what does that tell us about the public's opinion on the job she's done so far?

Well, she better stop representing 'big business' and 'special interest' and START representing the public, or the public is going to give her the 'pink slip' and send her back to California!
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dmans321 says:
Well, that pretty much sums up this administration. Citizens ticked off, and Pelosi smiling, and talking right over them without listening or acknowledging them.
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brianbwb2011 replies:
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Reading is fundamental.

"Pelosi addressed their concerns, according to liberal blog FireDogLake, suggesting that a measure included in the Democrats' health care reforms -- the CLASS Act -- would lead to better long-term care. The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act is supposed to create a new government fund to insure people in the event they become disabled."

Check the first four words? Perhaps too many letters?
RochesterBruce replies:
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Brian, read FURTHER.

"Pelosi addressed their concerns, ACCORDING TO LIBERAL BLOG FIREDOGLAKE"

Maybe that was too many letters for you.

FireDogLake doesn't know what it's talking about. The CLASS ACt was a Kennedy project. It does NOT address the institutional bias. In fact, it sets up a system where people with mopre money and less disability may be able to stay at home, while others STILL get forced into nursing facilities and institutions.

CLASS does NOTHING for those who are already disabled and not able to work. In short, it's classist.
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brianbwb2011 says:
When Pelosi first refused to help us bring Bush to justice, she revealed her true position, a cowardly camouflaged neocon who knew she would never be elected if she were to openly associate with the repudiated, dead mentality of the right.

Since then, her half-hearted support of progressive causes has been quite evident, and if, as the article states, she is "arguably the left's best ally in Washington," then I say, with such allies, who needs enemies?

She is of the Lieberman persuasion, posing as a populist, while voting fascist.

Funny thing is the right should be in love with her, but they don't possess the intelligence to see past the "D" behind her name.
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nojoy01 replies:
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by brianbwb2011 June 8, 2010 11:52 PM EDT

When Pelosi first refused to help us bring Bush to justice, she revealed her true position, a cowardly camouflaged neocon who knew she would never be elected if she were to openly associate with the repudiated, dead mentality of the right.

Since then, her half-hearted support of progressive causes has been quite evident, and if, as the article states, she is "arguably the left's best ally in Washington," then I say, with such allies, who needs enemies?

She is of the Lieberman persuasion, posing as a populist, while voting fascist.

Funny thing is the right should be in love with her, but they don't possess the intelligence to see past the "D" behind her name.
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Geez, how far past the "Left Wing Fringe" ARE you? Or maybe you just can't understand why all of us lesser mortals don't agree with the conclusions that are so obvious to you because of your obviously superior intellect. (P.S. Just in case your intellect is so superior that you don't recognize it, or possibly you have no sense of humor, that's called "sarcasam")(P.P.S. Are you sure you aren't skyk2009 with 2 logon names?)
Robert_Norwood replies:
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Dead mentality of the Right? I'm still trying to find one in the Left.
Nancy's problem is she's too wealthy and removed to know what's going on, it's not like her private jets have lines to get on or a broad mix of people. She only relates to illegals so well because she's got them picking grapes on her vineyard in Modesto or wherever it is.

But I'm worried. Pretty soon the deficit is gonna get so large it won't even fit inside all that empty space in Pelosi's head; hell of a place to hide it.
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