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From Dan Froomkin of the Washington Post.
"It is flatly un-American for people to be hauled out of a public event with the president of the United States because of, say, a political bumper sticker on their car.
"But is it too much to ask the White House to say so?
"Apparently.
"The latest incident of audience screening at President Bush's public events is making quite a splash in the media today. Three people at a Bush event in Denver last week were told by a man dressed like a Secret Service agent that they were being ejected because someone spotted a 'No Blood for Oil' bumper sticker on their car in the parking lot."
"Press secretary Scott McClellan, in yesterday's press briefing, was asked about the incident.
"But rather than express any condemnation -- or remorse -- McClellan chose to make an assertion that is not supported by the facts: 'We welcome a diversity of views at the events,' he said.
"Later, McClellan told The Washington Post that it was neither the Secret Service nor a White House aide, but a volunteer who asked the three to leave 'out of concern they might try to disrupt the event.' The White House also blamed a volunteer for a similar incident in North Dakota last month.
"But the energetic screening of dissenters has become an established pattern for Bush events. It started during the campaign, when the events were private and paid for with campaign funds. And it continues to this day, even though the events are now paid for with taxpayer funds."
"It is flatly un-American for people to be hauled out of a public event with the president of the United States because of, say, a political bumper sticker on their car.
"But is it too much to ask the White House to say so?
"Apparently.
"The latest incident of audience screening at President Bush's public events is making quite a splash in the media today. Three people at a Bush event in Denver last week were told by a man dressed like a Secret Service agent that they were being ejected because someone spotted a 'No Blood for Oil' bumper sticker on their car in the parking lot."
"Press secretary Scott McClellan, in yesterday's press briefing, was asked about the incident.
"But rather than express any condemnation -- or remorse -- McClellan chose to make an assertion that is not supported by the facts: 'We welcome a diversity of views at the events,' he said.
"Later, McClellan told The Washington Post that it was neither the Secret Service nor a White House aide, but a volunteer who asked the three to leave 'out of concern they might try to disrupt the event.' The White House also blamed a volunteer for a similar incident in North Dakota last month.
"But the energetic screening of dissenters has become an established pattern for Bush events. It started during the campaign, when the events were private and paid for with campaign funds. And it continues to this day, even though the events are now paid for with taxpayer funds."
