Further and further toward the left.

[m5lange1]

This is not from some site. This is someone I know who did a group e-mail to friends. I have deleted the name and address since this posting is not where he directed this letter.

[quote]I am a registered Democrat and voting for John Kerry but I
thought it would be educational for my daughters and me to go see
President Bush speak at the Davenport, Iowa riverfront today
(08/04/04), I wanted them to see that in America the president was
suppose to be working for all Americans and even if I didn't agree
with his policies that at least I could still show my children how
elections and politics work. I waited in line, picked up my Bush
tickets for me and my kids and rode down to the speech with some of
my Republican friends and children, waited in line some more to enter
the park to hear the President. When I got up to the front of the
line and was going through I was grabbed by the security, pushed to
the side (in front of my children and Republican friends) and my
ticket was ripped and they said " we don't like your pin, so get out
of here". I was wearing a small pin that said "John Kerry 2004". The
worst part is that the security team did this in front of my
children; I want my daughters to understand that in America we have
the right to free speech and that we have the first amendment, but
that was blatantly violated. I wasn't making a scene; I didn't even
say anything, just a little pin. My daughters don't understand why
this happened they thought in America people could express themselves
with out repression. What is the problem with this picture? I feel
that someone owes me my friends and daughters an apology and that
someone needs to reinforce my rights as an American. President Bush
is still my president and works for me as a taxpayer, even if I did
not vote for him. I might be just an average guy, but I am still an
American citizen.

[Nono]

Appalling. But why on earth does this episode appear under the heading "Further and further toward the left"?!

[m5lange1]

Sorry,
That was not clear. I was a republican who became indipendent about 4 years ago. I have been undecided on Bush/Kerry but as I see the negativeness of the Bush machine I am moving "Further and further to the left".
My embarrassment and apologies for the title with no explanation. If one of the powers that be would like to change the title I would be appriciative.

M5

[Compugasm]

Poor kids. My dad took me to Disneyland.

[Bigkhan]

You do have the freedom of speech. However you were about to enter private property. And who ever owns, or was in this case renting the building that the rally was being held in has the right th say what you can or can't wear or bring into the building. A side from that it is pretty safe to assume that if you have the nerve to wear a Kerry pin to a Bush rally that you might begin to heckle during the speach. And these rallies are for supporters not for people to come and cause trouble. You say you were not causing trouble but agin Security does not know that nor do they want to chance it, By the way why didn't your friend go to the Kerry rally 3 blocks away?

[kharmajunkie]

Khan, yes they have a right to deny them entry, it could've been handled better though. The other side does let the competition into their events though. How come Kerry (and Teresa for that matter) isn't afraid to face the competition but our incumbant can't handle even one guy with a button see him speak? Not a lot of spine for a war president.

[Bigkhan]

I'll agree it could of been handled better IF it was as bad as the guy says it was. And if I recall in Boston at the DNC convention all the protesters were put a couple of blocks away in a cage with a roof on it.

[kharmajunkie]

That was handled pitifully in Boston. I bet Seattle's WTO problems scared them. I'm curious to see how NY handles things with the GOP;
I think they'll at least learn that the protester concentration camp might not be the way to go.

[gr8fuldaniel]

A) I figured out your title before you explained it
B) They could have told you when you bought the tickets and before you waited in line, that you were not welcome.
C) Its getting worse, they are starting to make you pledge in writing that you will vote Bush, before they let you in to hear his lies, (heard on radio this morning)
D) This should be illegal since we pay his wages. Dems and Reps paid for Air Force One to fly the idiot all over the country on our dime, we have a right to hear the smirking chimp bumble and flop like a fish on the dock. /Rant

[Scribbler1]

I truly hope no one in America still believes these events are open to the general public. They are annoying photo ops and sound bite mines used by BOTH sides to show the TV audience how popular they are.
It IS true that they can exclude anyone they want but it is disingenuous to pawn these things off on the public as anything other than scripted, staged, partisan political rallys. But as long as the ingnorant fall for it, they will keep putting on these dog and pony shows.

[gr8fuldaniel]

Originally posted by Bigkhan, And if I recall in Boston at the DNC convention all the protesters were put a couple of blocks away in a cage with a roof on it.

Michael Moore couldnt get in until someone from the Carter family got him in. They had right wing pundits allowed in.

[bishop]

spot on scribbler... it's nothing but a big charade.

i wonder if kerry's campaign would've done the same thing..

[kharmajunkie]

Originally posted by bishop, i wonder if kerry's campaign would've done the same thing..

Apparently not since his wife got heckled the other day.

[gr8fuldaniel]

I bet they would have let you in with honors if you had a Nader pin on.

[Bigkhan]

"C) Its getting worse, they are starting to make you pledge in writing that you will vote Bush, before they let you in to hear his lies, (heard on radio this morning)"


No there not. I was at the rally in Pittsburgh on Saturday. And they did nothing of the kind. However maybe someone misunderstood when they were asked to sign up to be a volunteer which they do at every Bush rally.

"D) This should be illegal since we pay his wages. Dems and Reps paid for Air Force One to fly the idiot all over the country on our dime, we have a right to hear the smirking chimp bumble and flop like a fish on the dock. /Rant "

You do have the right to hear him speak. They put all his speaches weather work related or for the campagin on TV. Most of them get aired several times. But of chorce they want supporters in the crowd. Because as someone else had said they want to show how popular they are. That goes for all parties.

SCRIBBLER1: Yes some are closed to the public and others are not. Most speaches are only for the important people. But Most rallys are for the regular guy who supports that candidate. The ones in Pittsburgh and Iowa this past week were rallys. For the re-election.

"Michael Moore couldnt get in until someone from the Carter family got him in. They had right wing pundits allowed in."

Well the Dem's are not stupid they know thet Every time Michael Moore opens his mouth he makes there party look worse. Most intelligent people know he's crazy. So of chores they would want him to stay away. There were alot of meida and talk radio people there. They didn't want him getting interviewed. But I'm happy he did get in and do a couple of interviews.

"Apparently not since his wife got heckled the other day."

Well I'm sure who ever was heckling him was not stupid enough to show up with a Bush pin on. At the Rally on July 4th with Dick Cheney there was a woman in the crowd who was also heckling. So it goes both ways.

[gr8fuldaniel]

Yahoo from AP Wade, a Democrat, and at least one other man were asked a number of questions Thursday and then told they must sign a pledge of support for President Bush (news - web sites) before receiving tickets. Wade signed the petition and got the tickets, but then promptly returned them and took back the petition. <snip> Rio Rancho resident Jim Brown, a registered Democrat, said he's angry. "I resent the school that my taxes paid for being used for an event that's restricted to people who sign a pledge to the Republican Party," Brown, a Democrat, said.

[gr8fuldaniel]

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=13810
Same event different writer, I like this one better

[bishop]

yeah... i don't think kerry would do the same thing either. at least, not if solitary bush supporters dropped by. his people might stop a group of them though - although that's more understandable imo.

there's definitely going to be a different, MUCH more friendly, mood when he's president. bush smells more and more fascist every passing day.

[Zeebadee]

"there's definitely going to be a different, MUCH more friendly, mood when he's president."

You must be joking. The traditional elitist democratic party has moved just as far to an extreme position as the traditional republican conservative agenda has become liberal. A Kerry victory would merely validate the two society concept - a beneficial (in their own minds) ruling party that knows what's best for the second society, namely, all the rest of us, and is willing to tax us whatever it takes to impose it. If ever there was an election that depended on the lesser of two evils winning, this is it. The choices we have been presented with make me sick to my stomach.

[m5lange1]

Zeebadee Posted on 08-05-2004 08:41 PM The choices we have been presented with make me sick to my stomach.

I will second that.