Karl Rove and John McCain, On the Lam from CODEPINK: women for peace!

By Sally Newman
Photos Jes Richardson

I arrived In DC last night, and was up early this morning to track down Karl Rove and bring him to justice - the great thing about DC is that all these crazy war criminals are just walking around, for anyone to talk to. Rove got to Fox an hour early, so we just caught him entering the building and presented him with a large poster-sized warrant for his arrest on charges of perjury, contempt of Congress and general war crimes.Ellen Taylor, Desiree Fairooz, Leslie Angeline, Liz Arizona, and me, Sally Newman outside Fox Studios Sunday December 2, 2007

As a cameraman followed the whole crew (Rove+ five pink policewomen attempting arrest), Karl twirled his finger around his ear in a "they're crazy" motion. This from the man who now claims the Democrats rushed Bush into war (yes, really), and famously "forgot" that he revealed a CIA operative's identity.

Ex CIA Agent Valerie Plame

Unfortunately, after his interview he didn't come back out. He skipped the planned press conference and had his town car pick him up in the indoor garage, and probably went home to make sure the rest of his week's schedule doesn't include exposure to dangerous public forums like sidewalks.


So we went on over to CBS, where Liz was excited to talk to her Senator John McCain again about his delusional insistence how well everything is going in Iraq. She had warmed up her voice already and her megaphone at Fox, so when we arrived as McCain was about to come out and get interviewed by assembled cameramen outside, the whole street plus the guests at the hotel across the street listened.

Unfortunately McCain got skittish, and turned right around just before walking out the door. We spent the next hour and a half playing tag with the camera dudes. They'd set up in one place, then an aide would come out and huddle with them and they'd go around to the back and set up next to the dumpsters, and we'd follow them, and they'd move things around to the front again. His town car was driving around and around the block, and Pink Police chasing it. Reality show worthy. In fact, the cameramen were getting sick of being dragged around - one of them finally asked if they could just run behind us on the next lap.


Apparently McCain hates Code Pink more than he loves publicity because at some point his town car peeled out, tires squealing, and that was the end of that. (Incidentally, CP is very respectful of reporters, and we always let them conduct their interviews. They might get a spine and start asking worthwhile questions, so it'd be a shame to interrupt that. There was no reason for the elaborate hide-the-senator game)

One of the funny things about direct action is that passersby are SO awkward with you, sort of like they might act toward a mentally challenged or a homeless person: "Get a JOB!" yelled one nicely dressed young woman at the Fox news studio. Well, jeez, I'm an Ivy League graduate, halfway through law school, and I look nice in a suit too. It's not like I'm out here yelling at Karl Rove with my toes freezing off for my health. It's just that having been failed by the media, the justice department, Congress, and the courts, I figure if I want him held accountable I have to do it myself. It's like signing a petition, but more emphatic. Don't be scared!


Liz last week outside of ABC. See, he survived to tell the story!



Outside CBS, a grumpy man scuttled by blowing cigar smoke and muttering. "Oh, so we're supposed to just turn tail and run, huh..." "Excuse me sir," I said, "I'm not running anywhere, I'm right here participating in my democracy. Where are you going?" He gave me a frightened look and ducked into the building.

Well, well. That's all for now! Youtube video coming soon!