RNC "USA!" Chant Was Code To Drown Out Protesters

CNN:

In response to early rumors that demonstrators might try to interrupt Republican presidential nominee John McCain's acceptance speech Thursday night, a number of delegations agreed to chant "U.S.A." in order to quell the sound of protesters.

"There's word of a possible demonstration coming. If it does, the chant is 'USA, USA'," a floor whip was overheard telling members in the New York delegation.

Similar whispers were heard from the Alaska delegation clear across to the Louisiana delegation on the other side of the hall only moments before McCain began speaking.

Read the whole story: CNN

Comments

[Mark99]

11:22 PM on 09/05/2008

This is all just target practice. Obama and Biden are both skilled & sharp; McCain and Palin are idiots, and they'll likely go down in flames during the debates. McCain might even blow his top on camera -- a real popcorn moment I'm looking forward to. I'm not saying we should be complacent, but the idea that the convention helped these losers draw uncomitted voters is wrongheaded. The jackboots were already set to vote for McCain, and Palin's arrival will add only a few knuckledraggers who want to see cleavage. Her main targeted demographic (moderate women and the Clintonistas) will mostly dismiss her, since she's the most anti-woman woman imaginable.

Some progressive organizations are circulating shock-and-alarm emails implying Palin's ascent is an absolute calamity, and the tone of these messages implies they barely expected the RNC to happen at all, let alone conclude with a roar. Please. McCain's gang is indeed vermin, but they have money and motivation, so what were we expecting -- a belching contest?

Lashing out at the Rethugs in this forum is preaching to the converted. Our energy needs to go to the people who can beat them.

[freebird67]

01:02 PM on 09/05/2008

Yeah it was funny seeing this one guy wearing an Iraq Vets against War shirt, and a banner saying how McCain doesn't support Vets. Some Fat Ass republican was trying to reach across and yank the banner from his hands but wasn't able to do it. I laughed like crazy. Try as they might, Republican's can't stop the truth from getting out.

[dzymzlzy]

12:09 PM on 09/05/2008

Well, drowning out protesters with chants of USA makes sense since the USA wants to force their beliefs on the rest of the world.

[Totto]

12:07 PM on 09/05/2008

Precisely why are authoritarians so angry? They've held power for eight years and STILL aren't happy. Disagree with them and you get shouted down or beaten. When in history did this last happen? Could it be thirties Germany and Italy?

[Ramirez]

12:09 PM on 09/05/2008

No one was beaten or abused in any way. The protesters even spoke with the media after the convention.

[MajorKong]

12:51 PM on 09/05/2008

They're pretty much always angry. They were angry when they had all 3 branches of government plus most of the federal judiciary. Anger is mostly what gets them out of bed in the morning.

[Ashall]

12:05 PM on 09/05/2008

It's amazing that Barack Obama's acceptance speech in front of almost 85,000 people went beautifully with no interrruptions. After the democratic convention the mood was positive and upbeat and now that the GOP convention has ended, all that's in the news is negative. I'll take hope anytime over fear.

[Ramirez]

12:10 PM on 09/05/2008

Republicans support the right of peaceful assembly. The idea of heckling or disrupting an Obama speech is anathema to Republican principles.

[tmcitizen64]

12:25 PM on 09/05/2008

Ramirez,

The hecklers were Republican delegates heckling the RIWO Nominee - Republican in War Only - John McCain. I was a GOP delegate to my state convention. And, at that earlier event and it seems now at the RNC, the well organized McCain Black Hats are in full repression mode of any discenting views.

"Republicans support the right of peaceful assembly..." not in my experience this year within the GOP.

[Eric8869]

12:51 PM on 09/05/2008

Ever heard of the Boston Tea Party?

[TrevorAlan]

12:26 PM on 09/05/2008

Yes, and wasn't it done with mostly public ticket sales. Am I wrong in thinking most seats didn't need special credentials to get in?

How did protesters get into the RNC convention FLOOR? Don't you need special pre-approved credentials to do that? These are the people who want to keep us safe from terrorists and they can't keep party-poopers out of their own convention? They can't control their own convention floor, after police raids on the houses of demonstration organizers?

Once again, the only heartening thing about authoritarians is how incompetent they actually are.

[Ramirez]

12:50 PM on 09/05/2008

The crowd can be screened for weapons, but humans cannot be screened for intent.

According to the Paulian he got in on a "guest pass" given to him by another Paulian.

The CodePinkers are highly motivated protesters and they are very good at this. They can spend thousands of dollars and days of preparation and subterfuge to set up a ten-second screaming fit. All you can really do is sort them out when they go off.

[DebbieinPhx]

12:02 PM on 09/05/2008

This tells you all you need to know about this candidate and the GOP right here. McCain the POW.. McCain the war hero....

McCain the D- voting record on veterans issues.
McCain who throws poretesting veterans out his town halls...

Why doesn't John McCain talk about the increasing number of U.S. troops committing suicide? Hard to "spin" that stat, eh?

[redsongia]

11:52 AM on 09/05/2008

Pretty sad when they spend the convention drowning out dissent in their own base. There probably would have been more dissenters present, if they weren't all across the street, rallying for Ron Paul.

[Ramirez]

11:53 AM on 09/05/2008

The Paulians are not part of the Republican base.

[roninracer]

12:19 PM on 09/05/2008

They have more energy though.

[jerryfromcalifornia]

11:49 AM on 09/05/2008

THEY CAN'T GET A DECENT SINGING GROUP TO REPRESENT THEM IN SONG, AND HAVE TO RESORT TO OBSCURE CHRISTIAN GROUPS.

EVERYTIME THEY USE A SONG THE ARTIST TELLS THEM TO STOP.

[Eric8869]

12:52 PM on 09/05/2008

Almost as bad as if they type all in caps

[BigLib]

11:48 AM on 09/05/2008

Why do the protesters always look like Cindy Sheehan in drag?

Fugly.

[dzymzlzy]

12:08 PM on 09/05/2008

That's oh-so-clever of you.

[RThM]

12:18 PM on 09/05/2008

Because if she looked like a former beauty queen McCain would have been chasing her around the stage calling her his little soulmate. Now do be real. Fed up voters come in all shapes and sizes. It's only the pretty ones we should let protest?

[wolf58]

11:42 AM on 09/05/2008

Oh come on now the Republicans support free speech....well as long as you agree with what they say and think the way they think...do as they do.... just don't forget your flag pin

[JimR]

11:39 AM on 09/05/2008

At one point during the speech, the "U-S-A!" chant came as McCain was speaking about the many families who are struggling, and finding it harder to put food on the table. Awkward timing there. It came across as: "Struggles! Yes! U-S-A! Poor peo-ple! Tough e-cono-my! YEAH!"

[Smirk]

05:13 AM on 09/06/2008

I noticed that, too, and wondered why on earth they'd chant "USA" in response. Hearing that it was a means to drown out protesters makes sense.

[beanchihuahua]

11:25 AM on 09/05/2008

The chants didn't stop the cameras from finding them though.

[sleek]

11:22 AM on 09/05/2008

Good to see that Republican "security" works so well. But then again 9/11 happened on their watch too.

[ComnCents]

11:19 AM on 09/05/2008

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

SSDD: Same song different day

Yes, they kill a lot of people but it is for their own good.

[DaOne]

11:14 AM on 09/05/2008

That dude with the USA shirt isn't fooling me. Where's his pin?