Code Pink Targets Congressman Gary Ackerman's Boat

This is a rush transcript from "Hannity & Colmes," July 9, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

ALAN COLMES, CO-HOST: Early this morning members from anti-war group Code Pink protested at the Washington, D.C., Marina outside the house boat of New York Democratic congressman Gary Ackerman. Self-described as the Code Pink armada, the group gathered on canoes and rafts to stage their protest against the congressman for his efforts to impose sanctions against Iran.

Our own Griff Jenkins was there, and he caught all the action.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

• Video: Watch Sean and Alan's interview with Griff Jenkins

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is what we're hoping for! No more sanctions, no more war! This is what we're hoping for! No more sanctions, no more war!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's practice a little diplomacy, Ackerman. Sanctions are not the answer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No sanctions on Iran. No sanctions on Iran. No sanctions on Iran. No sanctions on Iran. No sanctions on Iran. No sanctions on Iran.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No sanctions on Iran. No sanctions on Iran. No sanctions on Iran. No sanctions on Iran. No sanctions on Iran. No sanctions on Iran.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're here to wake him up and say the American people are sick and tired of war. We want direct talks with Iran just like they did with North Korea, and that's what we expect our elected officials to do.

GRIFF JENKINS, FOX NEW CORRESPONDENT: You'd be willing to meet without preconditions with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?

REP. GARY ACKERMAN (D), NEW YORK: I would. I don't know that it would be a good idea for our president, whoever he might be, to do that. But that's a decision not made at my level. I've had meetings with Fidel Castro. I've had meetings with Kim Il-Sung. I've had meetings with other dictators. I've met with the Butcher of Beijing. You know, I think it's important to hear, you know, each other's perspective.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLMES: FOX News correspondent Griff Jenkins joins us now. Here again, I don't understand this, Griff, because Gary is a liberal Democrat. He is somebody who, as you just heard, has no problem talking, and I agree with him on those policy positions. But Code Pink probably has those same policy positions. Why aren't they protesting at the homes of right-wingers' who are totally opposite positions?

JENKINS: Well, let's just back up for one second, Alan. I don't think I've ever seen a peace flotilla armada, waking that congressman up before 7 a.m. It was unbelievable. I've seen a lot of things in Washington, too, and I've got to tell you, brother, I've never seen that. It was the most — in fact, Congressman Ackerman called it, quote, "The most creative thing ever seen," which you have an exactly appropriate point on that to this.

They're going after Democrats, and they're trying to get him to talk with dictators and the like. And clearly he came out — obviously he saw that. And he was willing to meet their demands.

And certainly — excuse me — I think in the larger picture, Alan, this is a problem for Obama. As Obama tends to move toward the middle, and a lot of people think he is, don't think for a second Code Pink isn't going to go after them at the DNC Convention.

COLMES: But Gary Ackerman, as he pointed out, is a congressman. He's at a different level than a president. He would not have that position as a president. And at other levels of government perhaps meetings would be perhaps more acceptable.

And Code Pink is, you know, on him for what, wanting sanctions? They should be after people who want war with Iran.

JENKINS: That's right. What they're upset — Code Pink is upset about a little resolution that's not going to get voted on any time soon, but it's in the pipes. It's co-authored by Mike Pitts, House resolution 362. It is — basically mirrors the U.N. sanctions.

SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: Hey, Griff, good to see you.

First of all, how did the neighbors react to this? And it seemed like Gary just went out there amongst the Code Pinkers and shook their hands and even with a carnation on at 7 a.m.?

JENKINS: Well, you know, he probably could have put the flames out a little earlier because we were out there for a good 45 minutes before he got out there all dressed up ready to go to work.

There was one woman walking her dog that was absolutely livid. And, you know, I can tell you that it was about as much racket as I've ever heard in the Washington marina in my life.

HANNITY: Yes. Where did he get the carnation so early?

But in all seriousness, I — I've got to tell you, he's right on this. He's right on national security. But it seems that, you know, all the daily kook crowd, they're now trying to — there's a group trying to get Joe Lieberman out of the Democratic Caucus. You can't be a Democrat with a different opinion, it seems.

JENKINS: Not at all. Look, the one thing that Code Pink will accomplish is George Bush will eventually go back to Texas, and Code Pink is here to stay. They have a house now, they were telling me. They bought a house on Capitol Hill. Anybody is fair game. And, you know, at the end of the day, they're not much more than a nuisance — they'll go after anyone.

HANNITY: And by the way, I saw your segment where you were eating ribs all day. This is a real tough assignment you've got.

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