Posted on 09/26/2004 9:09:10 PM PDT by kristinn
Honor Roll for today: Trueblackman, Doctor Raoul, tgslTakoma, BillF, BufordP and kristinn.
The Pajamahadeen of the D.C. Chapter of Free Republic held a RatherGate freep of CBS News today outside their D.C. bureau where Face the Nation is broadcast from.
BufordP, BillF, tgslTakoma and I were first on the scene, arriving around 9:15 a.m. There were a couple guys out front setting up the mic stand for the customary press availability after the show.
Dressed in pajamas and bathrobes (except BillF,) we set up our signs and waited for Doctor Raoul and Trueblackman to join us. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) arrived about quarter-of as I was walking back from McDonald's. We crossed paths at the entrance to CBS. He said hello to the pajama-clad man on the sidewalk wearing a Rather Biased t-shirt.
Trueblackman arrived awhile later, dressed in pajamas and carrying a CBS Special laptop with Office '73 so he could create Bush guard documents for CBS on the spot.
Foot traffic was pretty light, but we did get into a few discussions with folks. One man started out by saying the Bush bumperstickers on one of our cars hurt our credibility criticizing CBS. He then asked who sent us out here to protest. The conversation never really got much better, but it went on for a long time.
A man who agreed with us about CBS stopped and talked with us after the other guy left.
When Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) arrived to do the show, tgslTakoma asked him if his recent campaign appearance for John Kerry in Nanticoke, Pa. was cancelled because it was near the hometown of Mary Jo Kopechne. Kennedy ignored the question and went in the building.
While we were setting up for a group photo one of the cameramen told us we were doing it wrong--we should be standing in front of the CBS building. We thanked him for his professional suggestion and brought our signs over to the other side of the sidewalk. He said he'd be fired if he took a photo for us, but we had a good laugh.
Doctor Raoul finally arrived and donned his Richard Nixon mask. He held Watergate themed signs to go along with the mask.
Sen. Kennedy came out from the building around 10:45 and went right to the mic stand. He took a few questions from the press. All I could make out from where I stood was "quagmire."
We didn't interrupt him except for BufordP who blurted out "Democrats" when a point was raised about who's harming national security.
When Kennedy was done tgslTakoma asked her question about the cancelled campaign stop again. Again, he didn't answer.
I asked Kennedy a question as he walked toward his chauffer-driven courtesy car from CBS, "Senator, being that the rhetoric about the Iraq war by you, John Kerry and the DNC is virtually indistinguishable from Zarqawi and Moqtada al-Sadr, is it reasoanble for the American people to question whose side of the war you're on?"
He didn't answer that question either. The news cameras followed him as we asked our questions and then swung over to us after he got in his car. The AP photographer took some pictures of us for her scrapbook.
Sen. Graham came out next and also stood at the mic stand to talk to the press. He was also hard to hear. When he was done we started to ask him a question but he told us he needed to go back inside.
The news crews were breaking down their equipment when Karen Tumulty from Time magazine came out and walked by us, checking out our signs. She smiled when I told her to be grateful it wasn't Time that had done the forged document story or we'd be at Time's door instead.
Sen. Graham came out with Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer. They split up--Graham went to his chauffer-driven CBS courtesy car and Schieffer walked by us. He smiled as he looked at our signs. I asked him if thought anybody watched the show this morning. He said something but I couldn't make it out clearly. It was a good natured response, though.
Bill from INDCJournal.com who was talking with us broke off to seek an interview with Schieffer. Schieffer graciously spoke with him for a few minutes. The exclusive interview can be found at the aforementioned link. Afterward, Bill returned to finish his interviews with us. When he was done, we packed it in and headed off to Luigi's.
I should mention that a CBS employee stood inside their door and took pictures of us. We saw him at Tuesday's freep also.
Our pictures to follow soon.
Bill thanks for the ping to your great pix.. looks like you folks had a good time while shaking them up a bit..Wish I could have been there with you..
bump
Thanks, all of us local groups want to grow and be like the DC Freepers. I am taking notes!
Thanks for the ping so I could listen to the sound files!
BUMPEROO!
How did you guess? (I am in my PJ's now!!!)
When Kennedy was asked about his views on Iraq I'm surprised he didn't say "Allah Akbar."
Thanks for the Ping!
Great graphic. CBS: "Lying about the news for 70 years."
The pajamahadeen aren't paid, and they ask the tough questions for free. Regular reporters are paid NOT to ask certain questions.
Thanks for the photos and links. You put a lot of work into that.
Pajamahadeen of the World, ARISE!
True American patriots: Trueblackman, Doctor Raoul, tgslTakoma, BillF, BufordP and kristinn. Love the humor, might want to tell CBS to get an upgrade on their Office ='73, lol.
Check also www.webnewsroom.blogspot.com for a good report on the FReep.
Bump
Where is it there? I don't see anything more recent than Sept 17.
Hurray for the Pajama Republic!
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