Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Testimony of National Park Director Regarding the Erection of Barricades at World War II Memorial
"The National Deficiency Act"
Hat tip The Blaze, Jason Howerton and Squid
We all now know the story of how the National Park Service attempted to block World War II vets from visiting the WW II Memorial. Here is the report from The Blaze of how National Park Director Johnathan Jarvis attempted to explain this action (in contrast to allowing Occupy protesters to demonstrate for 100 days against the law at Washington's McPherson Square) before the House of Representatives in answer to questions posed by Trey Gowdy (R-SC). The link has the actual video of the exchange. It is classic.
TREY GOWDY GOES OFF ON NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DIRECTOR FOR TREATING OCCUPY PROTESTERS BETTER THAN NATION’S VETERANS – HERE’S HIS CASE
Oct. 16, 2013 2:14pm Jason Howerton
During a U.S. House hearing concerning the closure of national parks and monuments during the partial government shutdown, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) scolded the director of the National Park Service for treating “pot-smoking” demonstrators in the Occupy movement with more respect than the nation’s war veterans.
Gowdy relentlessly challenged National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis to cite the federal regulation that prompted his department to put up barricades to keep veterans out of war memorials on the first day of the shutdown. He also pointed out that the Park Service failed to issue a single citation when Occupiers camped out at D.C.’s McPherson Square for 100 days — 100 days in “non-compliance” with federal regulations.

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., accused the National Park Service of treating Occupy demonstrators better than the nation’s military veterans. (AP)
“That was two years ago,” Jarvis explained.
“Well, I can cite you the regulation that you did not follow two years ago. Can you cite me the regulation that required you to erect barricades from accessing a monument that they built?” Gowdy pressed.
The Republican congressman repeatedly asked for a straight answer as to why Jarvis ignored a federal regulation for 100 straight days when dealing with protesters, but erected barricades on the first day of the government shutdown.
“On the very first day of the closure, I implemented a closure order for all 401 national parks in compliance with the Anti-Deficiency Act,” Jarvis replied. “And immediately, that day, also included, as a part of that order, that First Amendment activities would be permitted on the National Mall.”
Unimpressed, Gowdy snapped back: “Do you consider it First Amendment activity to walk to a monument that you helped build, or is it only just smoking pot at McPherson Square?”
“We are content-neutral on First Amendment on the National Mall,” Jarvis replied calmly.
“That wasn’t my question,” the South Carolina Republican pressed. “Do you consider it to be an exercise of your First Amendment rights to walk to a monument that you helped build?”
Jarvis then claimed that the veterans would have been permitted to enter the war memorials if they “declared” they were exercising their First Amendment rights.
“Who were they to declare it to? A barricade?” Gowdy responded sarcastically. “Mr. Chairman, I want the record to reflect that no statute or code of the federal regulation was cited to justify the erection of barricades.”
LINK:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/10/16/trey-gowdy-goes-off-on-national-park-service-director-for-treating-occupy-protesters-better-than-nations-veterans-heres-his-case/
At the time of the Occupy protest, the federal government was not shut down, so it could regulate and monitor events.
ReplyDeleteAt the time the veterans showed up, the federal government was shut down, and like any other citizens, the veterans found the national monuments closed.
Incidentally, McPherson Square is not a monument, just a shabby little park in a business district.
The hypocrisy of the Republicans knows no bounds.
Siarlys,
ReplyDeleteToo bad they didn't send you up their to testify instead of that boob. You can explain anything. He couldn't, and he was the director!
The video was great. The monument is open air, as most of them are, so it takes money to pay employees to put up barricades. I've never seen any park ranger or government employee man any look-out site in any public land so you have to TRY to make it impossible to enjoy it or even see it.
ReplyDeleteIt was a terrific video. I'm surprised that the Immigration rally in the same place was allowed to proceed.
Like all the other questions of why we have selective application of the law, it boils down to that is the way Obama and like minded people want it to be.
Obama doesn't have to tell them who to prosecute and who to leave alone. They already know. They don't call it "Suck up City" without reason.
It is the same circumstance with King Henry and Becket... "Oh, won't someone rid me of this troublesome priest" (Becket was murdered shortly thereafter.)
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Oh, I agree Gary. I can explain this much better than most of the boobs in government, or in any position in the Democratic Party. If I had been writing Kerry's speeches, he'd be retired from his second term as president now, instead of windsurfing around the world as Secretary of State.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with liberals is they take this Republican foaming at the mouth rage seriously, and become afraid of their own shadow. They need to grow a spine.
If I'd been in charge of the Walker Recall, he'd be working as a private secretary in one of the Koch firms rights now. I have a long list like that. But all I can do is post it on Fousesquawk.