GOP protesters disrupt Pelosi energy rally

DENVER — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s energy pep rally Tuesday turned into a shout-fest when Republican protesters showed up to heckle with cries of “Drill here, drill now.”

Pelosi (D-Calif.) seemed alternately irritated and amused by the noisy attempt to disrupt her photo opportunity.

{mosads}“Right here?” Pelosi asked, standing on the concrete drive in front of Denver’s Union Station, which sits roughly in the middle of the city. “What you see before you are the handmaidens of Big Oil.”

The half-dozen protesters in McCain T-shirts gathered behind the bank of television cameras that had assembled to watch Pelosi and more than 20 Democratic House members extol their own energy efforts in front of a hybrid-powered commuter bus. They waved signs and periodically broke into chants demanding a vote.

In Washington, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) released a statement renewing Republicans’ complaint that Pelosi would not allow a vote on the GOP “all of the above” energy plan. The protesters echoed that by chanting, “Vote, vote, vote.” Though the Republican legislation includes broader policy changes, the GOP protesters seemed focused on “drill here, drill now.”

The rest of the largely Democratic crowd baking under the late-morning sun occasionally responded with counter-chants. And the lawmakers trotted out their own bumper-sticker applause lines, such as “Two oilmen in the White House, plus two terms in the White House, equals $4 gas.”

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) walked around to confront the protesters, asking them to stop disrupting the press conference. There were no chants while Cleaver argued with the lead protester, in plaid pants and a golf shirt, but they resumed when Cleaver gave up and re-joined his fellow lawmakers.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) took the microphone and upbraided them.

“Sophomoric chanting will not make us more energy-independent,” he said.

The protesters responded by adopting McCain’s strategy of exploiting the Democratic Party’s family squabbling. They chanted “Hill-a-ry, Hill-a-ry.”

Pelosi recently relented on her opposition to holding a vote on lifting the ban on offshore drilling.

Republicans, who think they’ve found a winning issue amid record-high gasoline prices, had goaded her for weeks. Democratic members facing tough elections asked her to reconsider.

But she said it would have to be folded into a package that includes many other Democratic priorities, like requiring utilities to use more renewable energy. She has also indicated that more drilling would still not be allowed off the coast of California.

Republicans reacted warily, unhappy with elements of her plan and demanding a quick vote on their own plan. Republicans have said their plan is broader than drilling, but Democrats have accused them of ignoring other solutions.

“I thank our drill-only folks,” Pelosi said, “for focusing on the differences between us and them.”

As she ended the press conference and walked into Union Station, an aide stood between Pelosi and the media pack, repeating, “The Speaker will take no questions.”