White House Manual Details How to Deal With Protesters – By Peter Baker, Washington Post Staff Writer

Not that they’re worried or anything. But the White House evidently leaves little to chance when it comes to protests within eyesight of the president. As in, it doesn’t want any.

A White House manual that came to light recently gives presidential advance staffers extensive instructions in the art of “deterring potential protestors” from President Bush’s public appearances around the country.

Among other things, any event must be open only to those with tickets tightly controlled by organizers. Those entering must be screened in case they are hiding secret signs. Any anti-Bush demonstrators who manage to get in anyway should be shouted down by “rally squads” stationed in strategic locations. And if that does not work, they should be thrown out.

But that does not mean the White House is against dissent — just so long as the president does not see it. In fact, the manual outlines a specific system for those who disagree with the president to voice their views. It directs the White House advance staff to ask local police “to designate a protest area where demonstrators can be placed, preferably not in the view of the event site or motorcade route.” [mjh: ALL of America is a “Free Speech Zone.”]

Not bragging, but I may have gotten closer to Bush with a protest sign than anyone else in America. I stepped out into the street with my hastily made sign and thrust it towards his car that passed within 10 feet. Granted, the sign was small. Read the whole excellent adventure: mjh’s blog — Send Bush to Mars!. mjh