The president's speech at the rally in Bridgeport was interrupted at least four times by hecklers

From: David Boyer [mailto:dboyer@washingtontimes.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2014 04:19 PM
To: Cunnane, Pat; Hankins, Hannah R.
Subject: Travel pool 4 -- hecklers and remarks, crowd count

The president's speech at the rally in Bridgeport was interrupted at least four times by hecklers, most if not all of whom apparenty were yelling about immigration reform. It was difficult to hear their comments.

Some of the president's comments:

"I can't vote in Connecticut, but I'll tell you who I'd vote for. I want Dan Malloy leading us."

"You gotta grab your girlfriends, you gotta grab your classmates…. You've got to take everybody you know to cast their ballot for Dan Malloy."

The president was interrupted early on by a woman who shouted that she's a "dreamer" demanding immigration reform.

Mr. Obama responded, "The Republicans are blocking immigration reform. That's one more reason we need a Democratic senate."

He went back to his speech, saying "There is progress here in Connecticut to be proud of."

Then two young men protesting immigration policies shouted down the president for several minutes near the stage. Pool couldn't hear what they were yelling but one was wearing a t-shirt that said "Obama Deports Parents."

They were led away by law enforcement officers as the crowd chanted "Four more years! Four more years!"

Your pooler asked both men their names as they were led past us, but they didn't respond.

After they were led away, Mr. Obama said, "Let's try again."

and a few moments later, there was another such disturbance, with a woman screaming at the president.

"I am sympathetic" to people complaining about immigration, Mr. Obama said.

"That's why we fought for immigration reform. It's the other party that's blocking. Unfortunately folks get frustrated, and they yell at everybody."

"Republicans are patriots, they love their country," he said at another point.

"No, they don't!" a man in the crowd shouted.

"Listen, just because folks are good folks doesn't mean they've got good ideas," Mr. Obama replied.

Later, he said, "You need somebody to fight for you," he said. "But none of that happens unless you go vote."

Gov. Malloy said the rally with the president was taking place "just a couple of days after the most important person in the country joined us -- Michelle."

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy of Connecticut were in the house.

Malloy said the state responded as "the first in the nation" to raise the minimum wage after the president called for it.

"We cannot afford to lose this election," the governor said. 

"We know that this is not Tom Foley's Connecticut, this is our Connecticut," Mr. Malloy said.

The governor recalled the school shootings in Newtown, and the day he went there to console people. He received a phone call from the president that day.

The governor said of Mr. Obama, "He came to our state just a few days later. And he gave one of the most compelling speeches about who we are and what we are. He cared about us."

He said anyone who says the shooting was not about guns "does not deserve to be governor."

Crowd Count: 1,900, 

from

Len Bonaventura

Senior Fire Inspector

Bridgeport Fire Department

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Dave Boyer

White House correspondent

The Washington Times

202-604-0998 (c)