Drake Locks Her Doors
This went on last week, but I'm just catching up today because of everything that went on in Richmond.
MoveOn.org had people take petitions into their local Congressional offices. I'm not a big fan of moveon, but there's nothing wrong with doing this. Here's a video of what happened in the 5th District- some annoying people for sure, but totally harmless. Plus, that is the reason the offices are there.
But in Virginia Beach it appears the staff of Congresswoman Thelma Drake locked the doors of the office. This was a terrible move on the part of an obviously very immature staff. Those offices are paid for by tax dollars, and you don't get to pick who comes in based on politics. Had they been disruptive, they could be asked to leave.
Instead one veteran of the Iraq War sat out front until they reopened the office. So what did the staffers being paid by our tax dollars do? They called the police and had the man waiting for them to reopen- arrested!
The guy who was arrested is fighting the charges in court, and threatening to subpoena Drake. Good for him. More important, Thelma needs to fire these staffers immediately. This would not be tolerated in any other taxpayer funded office at any level of government. If these staffers are not dismissed, this needs to be taken to the ethics committee in Congress for action.
Just to contrast- when these same activists came into Congressman Tom Davis office, he took the time to personally meet with them. Thelma should truly be embarrassed, and until she apologizes for this no one should let her forget it.
Yeah, sure she'll apologize. Right after Virgil Goode apologizes for his diarrhea of the mouth.
Posted by: phriendlyjaime | February 26, 2007 at 10:09 AM
It's a good thing we have a constitutionally protected right to petition our government, sheesh!
Posted by: Nate de la Piedra | February 26, 2007 at 10:48 AM
When does a large number of unannounced people with their own film crew cross from mere petitioners of government into disruptive dramatists? I have no way of knowing whether such a line was (or was not) crossed by those involved with Drake's office...indeed, if they were never admitted inside this analysis seems inapplicable to that situation.
But, still, where is the proper balance? Or, in other words, what meets NLS' definition of "disruptive"?
Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 11:46 AM
I think the larger qusetion, anon11:46, is what meets the Constitution of the United State's definition of "representative government?" I'm pretty sure in this case locking your constituents from your office and having an Iraq war veteran arrested is a breach of the very principles upon which our Founding Fathers built this democratic republic.
Clearly, Congresswoman Drake failed to learn anything her very-close re-election contest. I expect the citizens of VA02 will spend another two years grumbling about a Representative who doesn't pay attention to their needs and will face another bitter contest in 2008. Hopefully the Democrats will find a capable candidate to run against her.
Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 02:01 PM
Thank you for keeping this important issue alive. For the year Drake has run her office (funded by taxpayer dollars) as if it were a private office as far as I'm concerned.
I was not at the last move on rally but in prior move on rallies the staff is quick to call the landlord (who calls the police)to evict any constituents disagreeing with Drake's bushevik policies.
I plan to contact the house and ask that they investigate this matter of how Drake "welcomes" her constituents who don't agree with her.
buzz...buzz...
Posted by: mosquito | February 26, 2007 at 06:11 PM
On this diary in DKos, 2 elderly ladies were arrested for asking for a meeting with a staff member of their Representative. It became big news in the midWest -- tv and newpapers in addition to the Web. Can we make this big news here? http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/22/72341/7487
Posted by: Arrested Development | February 26, 2007 at 08:29 PM
Judging by this plethora of comments, it doesn't seem so.
Posted by: Brian Kirwin | February 27, 2007 at 05:31 AM
In the world where turnips don't so easily fall out trucks, Brian, we measure the "legs" of a story by its multiplicity.
As Mosquito points out, VB Dems, GOTV, Vivian Page, NLS, Raising Kaine, have all condemned Drake. The story is also on Democratic Underground, MyDD and soon on DailyKOS. In fact, there was an LTE in today's Virginian-Pilot also condemning Drake. There will be more coz what she did was outrageous.
Posted by: eileen | February 27, 2007 at 06:58 AM
Echoes don't make legs, Eileen.
Posted by: Brian Kirwin | February 27, 2007 at 08:49 AM
OMG! Drake must be quaking! A Letter to the Editor in the Virginian-Pilot! Heaven forbid that there are "bLetters" too!
Posted by: Jim Hoeft | February 27, 2007 at 09:44 AM
You mock me now. You just wait, deary. Ha!
Posted by: eileen | February 27, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Rep. Drake is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and she boasts about serving veterans on her web site: "I have always fought for the protection of veterans and the retired military community....When duty called, these brave men and women answered heroically to defend our freedom and values that we as Americans hold dear."
Rep. Drake has a strange way of showing her appreciation of the freedoms and values we hold dear. Any veteran attempting to deliver a petition with which she may not agree will be denied access to her Congressional office and arrested.
The Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee will be interested to learn how Rep. Drake treated Mr. Palumbo, a military veteran.
Posted by: nationcitizen | March 01, 2007 at 02:58 AM
May angry vet after angry vet beat down that bi$&%es door
Posted by: | March 01, 2007 at 11:44 AM