The Rise of the Obama Police State

A guest column by Robert Romano, senior editor at Americans for Limited Government.

The Rise of the Obama Police State — An Early Demonstration?

By Robert Romano

"We don't want interacting," said the police officer, to the shock of the conservative activist holding the camera. She was in Baton Rouge, LA, filming a demonstration by ACORN in favor of Barack Obama's proposed government-run health care. And what she had just witnessed, as the officer led the offending man away who had dared speak to the activist, was nothing short of the disruption of free speech, of the press, and of the right to assemble — by the police.

As reported by the Examiner, "Things took a surprising and dangerous turn when a police officer, clearly sympathetic to the ACORN rally, attempts to shut down the opposition. At one point, during a very civil discussion between an opponent and a supporter of the president's plan, the police officer returned and actually told the individuals opposing the president's plan they were not allowed to speak. The man in blue shirt, a supporter of the president's plan, later returns and attempts to defend the free speech rights of the counter protesters."

For all intents and purposes, she was reporting on the demonstration. And yet, every time she attempted to converse with opponents of ObamaCare, the police intervened. Not exactly what one would call the protection of unalienable rights. It looks more like a police state — in its infancy.

On Wikipedia, a police state is described, "The inhabitants of a police state experience restrictions on their mobility, and on their freedom to express or communicate political or other views, which are subject to police monitoring or enforcement." Exactly what was seen in Baton Rouge.

In this case, nobody was arrested. But it is troubling, to say the least, that the police were apparently ordered to disrupt any interaction between supporters and opponents of ObamaCare, even ones that were perfectly willing to debate.

"We disagree. We can have a civil conversation and talk while we walk. We disagree. It's fine," said one ObamaCare supporter, who too was disgusted by the police action.

Really, the ones who had obviously expressed a desire to avoid even civil discourse of their views were the ACORN demonstrators. Of course, there is no such thing as freedom from speech, or debate. But if one does not like what is being said, they can simply move to the other side of the street.

But since they were protesting, wasn't the point to defend their views? When they put themselves out there, as members of a self-described public interest organization, they actually are public figures — a part of the national political debate. That makes the views expressed by the organization subject to public scrutiny by press or citizen journalists alike.

Instead, in Omerica, apparently there is the stunning emergence of a political elite. They are beyond reproach and criticism. And the police will see to that, as can be seen in this appalling display.

Robert Romano is the ALG Senior News Editor. For more, visit GetLiberty.org