Kane Watch: A Response to a Response

Earlier today, Casper wrote a post in response to Eugene Kane's blog about the Cindy Sheehan incident in the House of Representatives Chamber at the State of the Union Address.

It may just be coincidence, but it seems Kane was reading. His response:

My earlier post was my attempt to question why peaceful protest is somehow banned during the State of the Union speech and why so many Americans don't seem to have any problem with that.

Slippery slope, people.

I'd like to tackle this one, with the hopes that Casper doesn't mind.

My response:

"The President shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." Article II, Sec. 3, U.S. Constitution

Mr. Kane, the State of the Union Address is a time-honored and constitutionally protected tradition in which it is the President's turn to talk to the people. It is not, I emphasize, a time for the people to talk to the President. I don't watch the State of the Union because I care one iota about Cindy Sheehan's or any one else's view of the war, or anything else for that matter.

Rather, I watch the State of the Union because I want to hear, from the man in charge, just what's going on with this country, where it's headed and how he expects to get us there. The time for questions, and challenges and protests can come later.

The State of the Union is so protected by the constitution because it is also a time for the President take responsibility for his actions and accountability for the plan he has laid out for this country. In that way, it is less the right of the President to speak without hindrance than it is the right of every citizen to hear what he has to say.

As Americans, we are owed this explanation, and I'll be damned if I am going to have to tolerate "peaceful protests" in the Chamber, much less be upset that they are prohibited.

The State of the Union is a basic right that is guaranteed to every American citizen. To say that Americans should have a problem with guaranteeing that the President have his chance to speak is to completely deny one of our most powerful freedoms: The freedom to hold our President accountable.

Mr. Kane, this one is just plain ridiculous. Shameful, even.