WASHINGTON, May 1, 2008
Disabled Arrested At McCain Office
20 Protestors, Many In Wheelchairs, Seek Senator's Support Of Expanded In-Home Care For Medicaid Recipients
-
A group disabled activists, most in wheelchairs, from the group ADAPT wait to be processed after they were arrested in Washington, April 29, 2008, in Washington, by Capitol Hill police outside Sen. John McCain's offices. The activists were refused a meeting with McCain over a bill to expand Medicaid coverage to more people who want in-home care. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
-
Photo Essay John McCain Some call him a hero, some a maverick. Will Americans call him Mr. President?
"If he should be president, it would be ironic that he comes from a party that talks a lot about family values," said Bob Kafka, national organizer for ADAPT, a group advocating for passage of the bill. Without the legislation, many disabled and elderly people don't have the choice to apply coverage to anything other than institutional care, he said.
"Families are devastated because they don't have a choice to keep people at home," Kafka said.
McCain was not in his office during the protest. He was campaigning Tuesday in Florida on his health care plan.
The bill, S. 799, stuck in committee since last year, would amend the Social Security Act to allow people who are eligible for Medicaid coverage of nursing home costs to spend it instead on home-based, or community care.
Sponsored by Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., it also would grant extra money to states that participate in the program, according to a summary of the bill.
Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, are co-sponsors of the bill, but McCain is not.
Quote
Capitol Police Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said about 20 people from the group were arrested outside McCain's office in the Russell Senate Office Building on Tuesday and charged with unlawful assembly.If he should be president, it would be ironic that he comes from a party that talks a lot about family values. Families are devastated because they don't have a choice to keep people at home.
Bob KafkaMcCain's Senate chief of staff said the protesters turned down an offer to meet immediately with McCain's aides. Mark Busey said he didn't know McCain's position on the legislation but would ask. The chances are slim, however, that the senator himself would be meeting with members of the group.
"We are more than happy to let them know when he will be back in the Washington area at public events, town halls and the like," Busey said in a telephone interview. "Right now we do not know when he's going to be here for a meeting."
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From Politics
The secrets of tennis legend 
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- next
See all 63 CommentsPosted by MichelleM99 at 05:31 PM : May 02, 2008
+ report abuse
************************
do you ever re-read some of your bullsh*t?
Instead, McCain''s staff provided additional evidence that HE and the GOP are a bunch of no-good, heartless, hate-mongering jerks! It shows extreme poor judgment! The actions of staff reflect on the ''boss''.
People are not quite so quick to vote for a guy---or his staff---who has wheelchair-bound people arrested!
Posted by USBrit at 11:29 AM : May 01, 2008
"At least 20 disabled activists, most of them in wheelchairs, were arrested ...."
Am I missing something here? Where does it say disabled Vietnam Vets??
MOst people know that you can''t just show up at Capital Hill and expect to meet with someone. How did these activists get to Capital Hill? Where were the people who transported them there? Why didn''t they escort them out after the offer was turned down to meet with staff members?
Of course he wouldn''t want to sign something like that! Afterall, his "buddies" Swiss bank accounts need more stuffing, which is far more important than the quality of these human''s lives! NOT!(McCain is acting like a jerk!)
Posted by USBrit at 11:29 AM : May 01, 2008"
That has become the only way they can get politicians attention. They try to make appointments and get blown off, they try to present their grievances in a civil manner and get ignored. Sometimes you have to make it in the politicians interest to listen, like publicly shaming them.
Posted by LibH8er at 02:33 PM : May 01, 2008"
Typical Repub response, don''t have anything intelligent to say so just ridicule. Can''t develop a reasoned argument so lie. Can''t defend a point so insult and attack. You act like selfish arrogant spoiled children.
boo-hoo , sniff, sniff
Posted by blondbeotch
Well you certainly picked your screen-name appropriately.
The Wheelchair Brigade. Where are your raspberry berets? Ever thought of picking up the phone and making an appointment....like us non handicapped people have to do?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by USBrit
But that isn''t what happened. They were invited in, remember?
Anyone loitering in the halls would be arrested. I''m sure the police warned them to leave. It wasn''t the Senator''s staff that called the police. The police are already there.
Seriously though, what''''s wrong with "The senator is in Florida right now but I can get him on the speaker phone in 20 minutes if your representative would care to wait." Good press, no arrests, everyone''''s happy. Even "I''''ll make you an appointment for when the senator''''s back in town" would be better press than "Bugger off or I''''ll have you arrested" like it sounds now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by USBrit
Obviously I wouldn''t blame Clinton. That''s just stupid.
And what''s wrong with them making an appointment before going somewhere they KNOW they will be arrested?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- next
See all 63 Comments