Disabled Arrested At McCain Office

20 Protestors, Many In Wheelchairs, Seek Senator's Support Of Expanded In-Home Care For Medicaid Recipients

(AP)  At least 20 disabled activists, most of them in wheelchairs, were arrested outside Sen. John McCain's offices Tuesday after being refused a meeting with the GOP presidential nominee-to-be over a bill to expand Medicaid coverage to more people who want in-home care.

"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.

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.

McCain'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."

McCain is his own man. And he is going beat the *** out of the democratic nominee.

[ramos937]

If McCain does not want this to be a campaign issue, he had best meet with this group ASAP.

[it_oldtimer]

We should have treated McCain exactly the same way when he was released from the NVA POW camp.

McCain is an incompassionate ***.

[veteran72]

McBushcain told his security staff:

"Get these feebs outta here"!!!,...."I''m tryin'' to do President stuff in here, dammit"!!!...."Now where did I put those "Nuke Iran Now" buttons I was gonna hand out"????......dammit ta he11,......(unintelligible)...
GggFFFtttt,....ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

[mcvet]

McCain is his own man. And he is going beat the *** out of the democratic nominee.


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Posted by KEITHGARDNER at 04:11 AM : May 01, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL Yeah right! So he starts warming up on a bunch of people in Wheel Chairs? He''s just Bush Warmed over and you know it! Sieg Heil Bush

[sleepyric]

Dear John McWhitehair....this is not a good photo op,,,not good...not good at all..but typical...

[xraytwonine]

more power to the people, but its obviously hopeless.

[pollroller1]

When I look at those vets and see that McCain don''t seem to give a s-h-i-t. Well I for one will NOT be voting for him.

[afmca]

Hey .. if you totally believe in Republican theory .. it is their fault they are disabled, they are probably illegal aliens, and they are probably not christians .. no need to bother!

[usbrit-2009]

Compassionate conservatism wherefore art thou?

[mbcsmith]

Apparently they were mentally challenged as well. They thought they were on the bus to Florida where McCain was all day.

[homespunlady]

McCain to staff:

They''re not wealthy? Throw them out.

NO, wait...let''s have some FUN with them!

Call in the police and have them arrested. Always wondered how we could load that many wheelchairs up if my mentor George declared Martial Law before the election.

McCain''s staff are the Brain dead ones if they think THIS kind of action looks good and "reflects well" on their candidate.

THANKS james12341 and mbcsmith for showing us all what irresponsible, tyranny loving Slimeballs sound like.

[jn122736]

"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."

This is doublespeak for: These disabled people are welcome to attend public meetings, but McCain WILL NOT meet with them as a group because he doesn%u2019t want have to to explain why he is against the bill.

At least now the issue is being aired. It will be interesting to see if any reporters question McCain about the issue and/or his refusal to meat with the group.
I suspect the damage to his image will be more severe because he refuses to meet with this group of disabled folks, than it would if he were to address the issue

[ov442]

wow, doesnt that look like a great photograph - a pile of disabled people sent to jail for ''illegal assembly'' trying to meet with a McCain representative about a bill McCain doesnt support that would make life a little easier on both the disabled and the family trying to care for them.
More Conservative Christian values pushin disabled out of the home, - get rid of them - put them in institutions so they dont have to look at them.... GOP=Anyone not part of the Republican Aryan race, must be eliminated!! thats their motto.

[ov442]

If Republicans made all laws and legislation in this country we would be:
A- not able to tout any American Humanity,
B- not taking care of anyone in need
C- being run by despots worse than any 3rd world dictators or communist nations
D- have slavery back as a way of life in America and E- send all the poor people to war all year every year as long as they''d be in power to keep those in power there.

[bozworth4]

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.

This is the good ole USA? Please explain how a group such as this can unlawfully assemble????? King George II at it again????

[texanforlogi]

Hillary supporters: THIS is who your gonna vote for if your candidate isn''t able to steal the nomination. How do you face yourself in the mirror in the morning?

[antoniof123]

This is real nice nut cases now you see why America is moving away from the compasionate conservative. Maybe is should be the Barberistic Conservative.

It is just going to be a blood bath come November for the neo con party.

Talk big boys we know you realize what is going to take palce.

[forthepeopl1]

The Number represents oil imports in the month of December 2007

CANADA 2,326
SAUDI ARABIA 1,686
VENEZUELA 1,382
MEXICO 1,322
NIGERIA 1,271
ALGERIA 600
ANGOLA 439

IRAQ 378

VIRGIN ISLANDS 369
RUSSIA 287
ECUADOR 201
UNITED KINGDOM 179
BRAZIL 178
KUWAIT 158
LIBYA 138

[mbcsmith]

What a bedwetting LIB. This was nothing more than a staged event. The disabled claim they want to be seen as capable people, so they break the law, go to jail. Here''s the difference between you and me. I''m in favor for assistance for those truly in need, you are in favor of socialism.

[mbcsmith]

MBICILESMITH you and plntsndrgns are clearly on the same meds


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Posted by makeitso928 at 09:57 AM : May 01, 2008


What''s your point LIB.

[parrot123-2009]

How do you arrest DISABLED people on wheel chairs for Unlawful Assembly ??? I would love to encourage them to get out more and assemble under whatever guise - These folks are Disabled and their only crime, it seems, is just trying to get heard and must have made the mistake of expecting some support from their Repug Candidate. The Repug party just lost some more loyal party members and we''ll be very glad to have as many Disabled Vets and people that want to assemble to get their voices heard. This is still AMERICA. McCain seems to have forgotten that, in his search for money at his many fundraisers. Cheers!

[smiley676]

parrot123

Use your brain. The police decided to arrest the protestors, not McCain or anyone else in the Republican party. If you had actually read the story, you would know he wasn''t even there.

[usbrit-2009]

McCain had a choice of two headlines today;

"Senator Mc.Cain cut short his Florida trip and flew back to Washington to meet with disabled veterans at his office."

"Senator Mc.Cain and his staff had 20 disabled veterans arrested yesterday for blocking the corridor outside his office."

I guess he didn''t have any choice - if he''d used the first the GOPigs would have accused him of being liberal.

[usbrit-2009]

What a bedwetting LIB. This was nothing more than a staged event. The disabled claim they want to be seen as capable people, so they break the law, go to jail. Here''''s the difference between you and me. I''''m in favor for assistance for those truly in need, you are in favor of socialism.

Posted by mbcsmith

I''m so glad that I''m not like you - it must take practice to be that much of an a$$hole and sleep at night.

[zerato-2009]

Waiting in the russell office building, in wheelchairs, in the hub of american democracy and they arrest them. I am stunned. I guess this is Mcbush''s new health care plan.

[wakeup60]

" Shame on McCain " ...!!! Just one more reason why he should not be President ... what harm would it have been to answer questions from this group? Give his views, an open discussion to them ... and send them on ... have them arrested!!! Bad Politics ... Mr. McBush! On second thought...keep it up/so everyone can really see how you work. How soon one forgets...how one is treated themselves!!!

[smiley676]

They would have arrested them no matter who they were waiting to see. Seriously, don''t post unless you have thought about what actually happened.

You did note in the story that the protesters were invited to meet with staff members right. You should also realize that everyone knew he was in Florida.

Why, unless you were trying to make headlines, would you go to meet with someone you knew wasn''t there? HMMM?

No answer? Just going to blame McCain for being where he said he was going to be?

Seriously, if this is the worst dirt you can find on him, the Dems are in big trouble. Because this had nothing to do with him at all.

[chad55555]

I guess this gives us a good idea how he will treat Americans if elected. It''s ashame he still the best of the others,the best of the three evils I guess,don''t expect any help for American''s in the near future. You got a black Muslim that hates whites and Christians,a woman that can''t tell the truth and a 70 year old man that HAS been brain washed by the CHINA, RUSSIA AND VIETNAM WHEN HE WAS A POW. if that''s the best we have in america we are in deep trouble. JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT could it be any worse then what we have had in past, *** RIGHT IT COULD.

[usbrit-2009]

Use your brain. The police decided to arrest the protestors, not McCain or anyone else in the Republican party. If you had actually read the story, you would know he wasn''''t even there.

Posted by smiley676

Who called the police then. The GOPigs in the office maybe?

[smiley676]

Who called the police then. The GOPigs in the office maybe?


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Posted by USBrit

No, smarty, the police patrol that area.

[smiley676]

chad55555
Read the story before you post. If you don''t know any of the facts your opinion means nothing.

McCain wasn''t there. This wasn''t his decision.

NO ONE can just go sit/stand in the halls on capital hill and not expect to be arrested.

[usbrit-2009]

Seriously, if this is the worst dirt you can find on him, the Dems are in big trouble. Because this had nothing to do with him at all.

Posted by smiley676

The guy (well his wife) owns a plane - it''s around 2 hours to fly from anywhere in FLA to DC. For that amount of good press I would have thought it was a no-brainer to fly back and meet with these unfortunate people (who would be labelled war heroes if they''d been wounded in Bush''s war). So instead he proved conclusively that either he''s the no-brainer or he just doesn''t give $h1t (or both).

[smiley676]

I would have thought it was a no-brainer to fly back and meet with these unfortunate people (who would be labelled war heroes if they''''d been wounded in Bush''''s war). So instead he proved conclusively that either he''''s the no-brainer or he just doesn''''t give $h1t (or both).


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Posted by USBrit

I would have thought it a no-brainer to go meet with him on a day he was actually in his office.

I also would have thought it a no-brainer to get a permit before assembling in the halls of the capitol.

[usbrit-2009]

"McCain''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."

Two things here; how come Mc.Cain''s chief of satff does not know his boss''s position on this bill, when his disapproval of it has been in the news for days.

Also the second half implies he wouldn''t meet with them even if he wasn''t in Florida.

Nice guy all around.

[mbcsmith]

Who called the police then. The GOPigs in the office maybe?


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Posted by USBrit at 10:20 AM : May 01, 2008

Typical LIB.

[smiley676]

Also the second half implies he wouldn''''t meet with them even if he wasn''''t in Florida.

Nice guy all around.



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Posted by USBrit

The second half implies that the chief of staff isn''t sure what McCain would do. It also implies that McCain doesn''t meet with groups who just show up unannounced.

It is clear that these people knew he wasn''t there. They knew they would be arrested. They had a chance to go meet with someone and get out of the hallway, which they turned down.

It is clear that they wanted to "be arrested outside of McCain''s office." Because they knew that a number of people would only read the headlines and assume it was his fault.

[mbcsmith]

Nice guy all around.



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Posted by USBrit at 10:29 AM : May 01, 2008


Do you pay taxes in this country?

[parrot123-2009]

parrot123

Use your brain. The police decided to arrest the protestors, not McCain or anyone else in the Republican party. If you had actually read the story, you would know he wasn''''t even there.
Posted by smiley676 at 10:06 AM : May 01, 2008

Why don''t you ever hear stuff like this from the Dems ? Some Repugs would say it''s cuz they''re Liberal - besides what harm is there, in accomodating these folks, ensuring they''re not harrassed by the police and setting up a meeting with McCain. A simple conference call to schedule a meeting directly by McCain could have taken him just 2mins - and to imagine that these were Repugs that tried to be heard by their own party nominee otherwise they could have been at Obamas or Hillarys'' - and you know they would have been catered to and heard out. Being Lib is actually looking very good. Cheers!

[parrot123-2009]

It is clear that these people knew he wasn''''t there. They knew they would be arrested. They had a chance to go meet with someone and get out of the hallway, which they turned down.

It is clear that they wanted to "be arrested outside of McCain''''s office." Because they knew that a number of people would only read the headlines and assume it was his fault.
Posted by smiley676 at 10:32 AM : May 01, 2008


You obviously don''t know ..... But McCain doesn''t have to be physically present to meet with this group - He could have been placed on a conference call, if there''s no way to use a live video feed. Remember, this senile 72yr old is trying to be POTUS and obviously has no time for these disabled that are just looking for a chance. Cheers!

[usbrit-2009]

Posted by USBrit at 10:29 AM : May 01, 2008

Do you pay taxes in this country?

Posted by mbcsmith

Yes I do and you know what - I can even vote!! - scary huh?

Actually I''ve lived in this country since 1979 and have been a dual citizen since 1993.

[smiley676]

A simple call to schedule an appointment would have stopped this entire mess from happening. This was clearly a set up.

You don''t just go to Capitol Hill and expect to meet with someone. Especially when you know that person isn''t there.

[usbrit-2009]

A simple call to schedule an appointment would have stopped this entire mess from happening. This was clearly a set up.

Posted by smiley676

I can''t believe you haven''t blamed a Clinton yet. Actually they probably wish they''d thought of it, but it takes a GOPig to be that devious.

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.

[usbrit-2009]

Hey cool - CBS doesn''t censor bugger!!!

[smiley676]

I can''''t believe you haven''''t blamed a Clinton yet. Actually they probably wish they''''d thought of it, but it takes a GOPig to be that devious.

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.


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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?

[smiley676]

would be better press than "Bugger off or I''''ll have you arrested" like it sounds now.


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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.

[usbrit-2009]

I do get your point - they should have made an appointment. I do not blame them for not wanting to talk to an underling. I''m basically saying that Mc.Cain et al missed an opportunity to do some good and make some good headlines Now, headlines being headlines, to most of the world his staff had a bunch of disabled Viet-Nam vets arrested.

[libh8er]

Once you make a handicapped chick climax, you''ll never get rid of her!

[allamr18]

lol question, whay are the security gaurds there? is it really necessary

[blondbeotch]

usbrit---if you are really a Brit---Go back where you came from----you don''t belong here`