CODE PINK or SOLDIERS: Who would you rather have defend America ?

Code Pink has blocked recruitment efforts, interfered with military events, and protests against US military actions.

WOULD THEY DO A BETTER JOB OF DEFENDING AMERICA ?




MORE ABOUT CODE PINK:

Code Pink: Women for Peace is an anti-war group that is mainly composed of women. It has regional offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, and Washington DC, and many more U.S. chapters as well as several worldwide.[1] Code Pink describes itself as a "grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect [government] resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities."[2] With members wearing the group's signature pink color,[3] Code Pink has conducted marches, protests, and high-visibility publicity stunts in order to achieve its goals. Although women initiated and lead the group, men are welcome to participate at both the local and national level.[4]

Criticism
[edit] Demonstrations at Walter Reed Medical Center
Code Pink has been criticized for actions at demonstrations at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. The criticism has centered on the use of tactics such as displaying coffins and chanting aggressive slogans. Speaking about the display of coffins, Kevin Pannell, an amputee and former patient at the hospital, said it "was probably the most distasteful thing I had ever seen. Ever. We went by there one day and I drove by and [the anti-war protesters] had a bunch of flag-draped coffins laid out on the sidewalk. You know that 95 percent of the guys in the hospital bed lost guys whenever they got hurt and survivors' guilt is the worst thing you can deal with."[28] To those that faulted aggressive chants and signs, Code Pink responded that certain of the disruptive protesters are not part of their group and that they have asked them to be respectful.[31] Code Pink describes the demonstrations as "vigils not protests" and says their purpose is to highlight the lack of care for veterans. They believe they have helped spur improvements in that care.[31][32]

[edit] Comment by George W. Bush
In a speech on November 1, 2007, President Bush criticized Code Pink, among other antiwar groups, saying "When it comes to funding our troops, some in Washington should spend more time responding to the warnings of terrorists like Osama bin Laden and the requests of our commanders on the ground and less time responding to the demands of MoveOn.org bloggers and Code Pink protesters." [33]

[edit] Stunt during Plame hearing
In March 2007, there were US Senate hearings about the disclosure of the classified role of Valerie Plame Wilson, for which a member of Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby was convicted of obstruction of justice, perjury, and making false statements to federal investigators. During the hearings, a Code Pink activist, Midge Potts, constantly maneuvered to be in the camera views of the witness. Potts wore a pink T-shirt emblazoned "Impeach Bush". She said she was in the Judiciary Committee hearing room not to add anything to the proceedings there, but "...I switched it to the impeach during the Valerie Plame hearing mainly because it seems like that the Democrats or -- are going to push the supplemental through."[34] This action was criticized by the Capitol Hill Blue political news website on the grounds that it gave ammunition to Administration political workers to portray any complaints about the President or the occupation of Iraq as being from extremists.[35]

[edit] Tucker Carlson interview
Conservative talk-show host Tucker Carlson criticized Pink leader Medea Benjamin for her support of Hugo Chávez. She was quoted as saying that the charge in sections of the US media that Chavez had cracked down on free speech and civil rights in Venezuela was a "myth."[36] In an interview on his MSNBC show, Benjamin was asked, "Do you want to revise that given the news that Hugo Chavez has closed the last nationally broadcast opposition television station for criticizing him?" Benjamin replied that it was not true and that Chavez simply did not renew the license because the station "participated in a coup against a democratically elected government, his [Chavez's] government." Benjamin also said "Peru recently did not renew a license. Uruguay didn‘t renew a license. Why do you hold Venezuela to a different standard?"[36] Carlson responded that a 360-page Venezuelan government-published book accused RCTV of showing lack of respect for authorities and institutions. Carlson asked Benjamin, "I would think, as a self-described liberal, you would stand up for the right of people to 'challenge authorities and institutions.' And yet you are apologizing for the squelching of minority views. Why could that be?" Benjamin replied that, "They [RCTV] falsified information. They got people out on the street. They falsified footage that showed pro-Chavez supporters killing people, which did not happen. They refuse to cover any of the pro-Chavez demonstrations."[36]

[edit] Halloween 2009 White House protest
On October 31st, 2009, Code Pink organized a protest rally outside the White House to coincide with President and Mrs. Obama's official Halloween party. As many of the guests were family members of military members, the Code Pink press release encouraged attendees to dress as "zombie soldiers"[37]. The event gained some notoriety when complaints surfaced about Reuters' characterization of their protest as "taunting" children, a characterization that Reuters stood by.[38]