Democrats poised to take control of Congress today were given a lesson in the burdens of power as anti-war protesters on Wednesday disrupted a news conference the House leaders called to discuss plans for fighting corruption.
Chants led by protester Cindy Sheehan drowned out Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel as he attempted to describe the Democrats’ ethics proposal to “change the relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers.”
“De-escalate. Investigate. Troops home now,” chanted more than a dozen protesters outside a room where Democrats were meeting.
Emanuel, chairman of the House Democratic caucus, and Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the new majority leader, retreated to the closed meeting room after cutting short their news conference. Capitol Police took no action against the protesters, who halted their chanting after a few minutes. The Democratic leaders later resumed the news conference.
Sheehan, who kept vigil near President Bush’s ranch in Texas following the death of her soldier son in Iraq, said the protesters are demanding that Congress cut off funds for the Iraq war.
“We are the ones who put them in power,” Sheehan said. “Our brothers and sisters or children are being killed for lies. Congress can stop this nightmare.”
