dan2304k

iTrader: (2)

On July 4, Jeff and Nicole Rank went to hear George W. Bush speak in Charleston, West Virginia. Tickets in hand, they found seats ten or 15 rows from the stage. There they sat, quietly, wearing t-shirts that read love america, hate bush and regime change starts at home. Forty-five minutes before the president took the podium, event staffers approached the couple and said, "You need to either take those shirts off or leave." According to The San Antonio Express-News, Jeff Rank replied, "People around us have Bush-Cheney t-shirts, pro-Bush t-shirts. Why can't we express our views?" The staffers left, but a few minutes later, two police officers arrived and told the couple to "cover up, take them [the t-shirts] off or leave completely." The Ranks refused, at which point they were handcuffed, expelled from the event, and briefly thrown in prison. With the Ranks safely off the premises, Bush addressed the crowd, declaring that "on the Fourth of July, we confirm our love of freedom, the freedom for people to speak their minds, the freedom for people to worship as they so choose. Free thought and free expression, that's what we believe." Two days later, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Nicole Rank's employer, told her that, as a result of the incident, she was being dismissed from her assignment in West Virginia.

[...]

The policy at Bush campaign rallies, in other words, reveals a deep truth about this president. He hates being challenged. He uses his office to insulate himself from questions and criticism. His handlers sweep meddlesome realities aside so he can appear certain, confident, and in command. Pundits may be puzzled that this White House brushed off internal objections about Saddam Hussein's weapons programs before the Iraq war. But I suspect Nicole Rank isn't surprised at all.

More:
http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?pt=cPb8...17i5CQ6x%3D%3D

HellaDumb

iTrader: (3)

More propaganda. Do you think any such action should be tolerated at any pro-politician rally? Of course we should have freedom of speech, but that and doesn't and shouldn't allow KKK members to burn crosses at Jesse Jackson's political events. The KKK has a hard time even getting permits to hold events, so is that Bush's fault?

So it's just fine and dandy for one, five, or 100 people to shout opposing views at anything they don't agree with? If you want to join the civilized world just shut your pie hole and do what's within reason. Get a permit, hold up protest signs, stay behind the line, and STFU.

I guess you like anarchy.(?)

Salty

iTrader: (14)

Would you like me to probe the depths of hypocrisy by giving you similar scenarios from liberal and democrats? I can cover the last month of stories and make you feel foolish.

Should I start with the vandalism at certain GOP headquarters -or- how a decorated soldier was beaten at an Columbus, Ohio concert because of what was printed on his T-shirt?!

This strikes me as funny because I remember talking to a few liberal friends of mine that said, “they walked into the lion’s den” when that mob attacked that little girl’s pro-Bush sign with her father in the last few weeks. But when the tables turn Bush is Hilter!!!1111!!!

I even found the this topic being discussed by our sister forum not too long ago: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...ight=lions+den Keep in mind that Nasioc has a much higher concentration of Democrats and liberals then this entire forum combined.

These people are the instruments of everything anti-Bush in the same respect as that those officers are for Bush. Even if event staffers gave the order to escort said people from the convention to prevent a future problem doesn't mean the order directly came from the Bush -or- the GOP. Assuming we have the entire story... if the officers knew the rights of these people then they could have told the staffers to bite their tongue--that's why their instruments of Bush.

Sounds like the officers escorted the people from the premises on the owners behalf to prevent any problem. It mentions a auditorium -or arena style building but fails to mention that it's probably private property that belongs to a Bush supporter.

HellaDumb

iTrader: (3)

I second that. As one of the few conservatives over at Nasioc, it took me about two weeks to get banned.

Funny how the liberals will ban anything they don't agree with..... sure doesn't sound very tolerant.

BlingBlingBlue

How about we drop this partisan pissing contest and address the real issue: Citizens are being denied their freedom of speech. Not liberals, not conservatives, not Republicans, not Democrats...citizens.
This is not a partisan issue. This is an American issue which I find extremely disturbing.

SilverScoober02

The same thing would happen at ANY political rally if you had anti-(insert candidate here) shirts or placards with you. It would be bad for "said politician's" facetime if there was a guy 4 rows back with a shirt and picket sign that was slamming "said politicians" views

For once (and frankly I can't believe I am saying this) I agree with HellaDumb on this one.

SilverScoober02

Good point....The right to peacefully protest is being slowly taken away bit by bit....By all politicians on all sides....

Salty

iTrader: (14)

The "partisan pissing contest" is exactly the point here! I find this extremely disturbing too but alas, both sides are guilty of the same thing.

Don't play stupid either... of course it's an American issue because it happened on American soil. The fact I asked for ketchup at the McDonald’s drive thru and didn't get it is just as much an American issue as me not being able to get an assault rifle in CA or being denied free speech. This is a partisan issue because it was politically motivated on both sides of the spectrum.

What makes this story more important and "American" than the other incidents I mentioned? Are those not worth mentioning because they discredit the initial article? The point is all sides are guilty of hypocrisy!

HellaDumb

iTrader: (3)

Is it really any different now than it was 5, 10, or more years ago?

Do you know that you need a permit to picket or protest in most places?

This isn't anything new. There is much public interest in keeping social order, to make it so the majority of folks can go about their lives without having their rights infringed upon by those who wish to express their views.

Where I draw the line is the additional limits that categorize said speech and actions, i.e. hate speech and the categorizing of assaults and batteries as hate crimes.

Overall, this country has struck a reasonable balance for the freedom of expression. If you push the limits here, you'll probably get locked up for the night. If you pushed those same limits in MANY other countries, you'd likely get a long-term sentence or merely "disappear."

SilverScoober02

So you're saying that wearing an anti-(any candidate here) tshirt at said-candidates political rally is pushing the limits? I will use the story above as an example and only that: Those two people did nothing but wear an anti-bush shirt at a pro-bush rally. They didn't even get the chance to heckle or make a scene. If they made some sort of ridiculous scene then I can understand them getting the boot but for just wearing the shirt that is an infringement of rights by any stretch of the imagination.

HellaDumb

iTrader: (3)

Yes, that is sufficient grounds for expulsion, IMO.

SilverScoober02

Wow! I disagree.....

njc200

iTrader: (6)

... and apparently in Bushies opinion too.

Salty

iTrader: (14)

Here's the way I see this...

Although that person has freedom to wear said t-shirt in the middle of the lions den, it doesn't necessarily make it right. Why would you knowingly wear a t-shirt of that kind in that particular type of environment? Seriously ask yourself that question. Besides creating a ruckass, trouble and being a complete attention *****, what could these people possibly have to prove to a arena full of dedicated Bush supporters?

It's sorta of the same thing when a person wears an "I aborted" -or- "**** the world" t-shirt in a public area. Even though that person has a right to free speech it doesn't make it acceptable or respectable.

BlingBlingBlue

That was my point. It is NOT a partisan issue in that one side does it and the other does not. Both sides are doing it, and it sucks.