US Capitol: Health care vote prompts slurs, spitting from protesters
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the U.S. Capitol and in congressional office buildings Saturday, shouting against proposed health care legislation.
Two African American congressmen, Andre Carson of Indiana and John Lewis from Georgia, were subjected to racial epithets from protesters as they left the Capitol after hearing President Barack Obama deliver a last-minute address promoting the health care bill.
Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina, who is the highest-ranking African American official in Congress, told The Washington Post that he heard things from Saturday's demonstrators that he had not heard "since March 15, 1960" when he was - as he put it - "marching to get off the back of the bus."
Another black congressman, Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, said he was spat on by protesters.
Barney Frank, a congressman from Massachusetts who is openly homosexual, was badgered with anti-gay remarks from the demonstrators.
A spokesman for Cleaver said the congressman is "disappointed that in the 21st century (the) national discourse has devolved to the point of name-calling and spitting."
VOA News
-
Related News
- Fresh air for conservatives in U.S. - Rick Santorum wins huge in MN, MO, CO
- Moldova and the United States assess their 20 years of diplomatic relations
- Moldovan officials participate at the Munich security conference
- Moldova and the USA have strong educational partnerships
- Bitter statement of the US Ambassador to Romania
- Hillary Clinton will travel to Europe for official meetings
- Moldova's civil society asks the international community for help in solving the Transnistria conflict
- Germany and the USA want a better conflict management in Moldova
- Hungarians rally against their new consitution
- The Situation in the West Kazakhstan Is Still Tense
- 10 most important world events of 2005
- The rise and fall of Saddam Hussein
- Iraq: Saddam Hussein and another ex-senior officials sentenced to death by hanging
- Analysis: Black Sea Rivalry
- Report: Saddam Hussein has been executed
- On 31 August Moldova celebrates the Language Day
- Sexual humiliation and torture of female protesters reported
- Saddam Hussein handed over to Iraqi authorities, say lawyers
- Saddam Hussein's execution could be within next 48-36 hours
- Deadly blast at checkpoint near Peshawar