CCI lead Gingrich "Mic Check" in DM today...
Frank Cordaro
http://www.kcci.com/the-iowa-caucus-extended-coverage/30046905/detail.html
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"Ruckus at the Iowa Capitol: Protesters heckle/chase Newt Gingrich out
of the building" Dec 21, 2011 DM Reg
http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/12/21/ruckus-at-the-iowa-capitol-protesters-hecklechase-newt-gingrich-out-of-the-building/
Occupy Des Moines protesters sidelined the endorsement of Newt
Gingrich from one of Iowa’s top political leaders.
“Mic Check,” Adam Mason of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
yelled and a few others from his group shouted as he quickly stood up
and security officials ushered to his direction and escorted him out.
A few minutes later after the commotion had subsided, a few others
began chanting, “Put people first.”
Gingrich’s response: “I was at the University of Iowa the other day
and that same 1/10th of one percent – all noise, no thought – tried to
drown out the conversation so I appreciate you all putting it in that
perspective,” said Gingrich, a former U.S. House speaker and 2012
Republican presidential candidate.
The endorsement came from Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha.
Soon after the press conference this morning at the Capitol finished,
several of the nine protesters from CCI or Occupy Des Moines attempted
to ask Gingrich questions about taxes and other issues but were either
held back from some of Gingrich’s staff or given only a slight answer
from Gingrich as he left the room.
The group – along with several dozen media employees – followed
Gingrich and his wife Callista down the stairs of the Capitol and to a
vehicle that was waiting to escort them.
They yelled at Gingrich as he walked away:
“You gave me 10 seconds, sir. What if I had a million dollars.
Would I get 10 minutes? How about an hour?”
“Speaker Gingrich, you can run but you can’t hide. We’re going to
come for you everywhere you go. You can’t show your face in public
without seeing us.”
“You say you don’t like super PACs. How much money are super PACs
spending on your campaign right now?”
Mason explained his group’s actions today by saying they have been
forced to result to disruptions since politicians won’t listen to
their concerns.
“Speaker Gingrich and politicians like him have had deaf ears towards
the concerns of everyday folks for too long,” Mason said. “That’s why
the tea party stood up and that’s why Occupy has stood up and that’s
why we continue to have to raise our voices to get them to listen.”
Paulsen was joined at the press New Hampshire House Speaker William
O’Brien and House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, who is a co-chair of
Gingrich’s Iowa campaign.
Upmeyer said Mason’s explanation for the group’s disruption based on a
false premise.
“They could go to any of the Gingrich events and raise their hand and
ask a question just like everybody else in that room so that is just
not true,” Upmeyer said. “If they are polite and respectful, they
would get the respect they would like and the response to their
questions.”
Paulsen walked with Gingrich out of the building.
“I wasn’t expecting it but I’m also not surprised,” Paulsen said as
Gingrich made his way into the vehicle.
Paulsen earlier told reporters he chose to endorse Gingrich because he
believes the former U.S. House Speaker – a person who spent 20 years
in Congress – is best suited to solve tough issues like reducing the
deficit and creating jobs. He called him a consistent conservative who
frightens the political elite and Washington insiders.
“He’s a Washington outsider with a knowledge of how government
operates,” Paulsen said.
For more info contact:
David Goodner at CCI
david.a...@gmail.com
515 282-0484
http://iowacci.org/