If I am able to "muster" up courage, I will try it next time the candidates come to TAMPA (even though I cannot vote)


This is from the WASH POST (Reliable Sources column)


The question: Which presidential campaign better tolerates dissent?

The experiment: A college professor wears a Kerry-Edwards shirt to a rally for President Bush, then a Bush for President shirt to a John Kerry rally.


Bush's security team didn't like John Prather's fashion statement. (Liz Prather)

Result: Bush people make the subject remove his shirt, then give him the boot. The Kerry people don't make a peep.

John Prather, a mild-mannered math prof at Ohio University's Eastern Campus, says he carried out this one-man study a couple of weeks ago, attending both rallies in one day. "It really was to satisfy my own curiosity," Prather, 38, told us. "It's been my opinion that George Bush has stifled dissent . . . I think John Kerry doesn't. In neither event was I a threat to anyone." Yet, he says, at the Bush rally, "I was tailed the whole time."

It turns out the Bush-Cheney campaign acts preemptively against what it regards as suspicious attendees. Spokesman Terry Holt told us yesterday: "Unfortunately, there have been a number of people who have sought to be disruptive, and unfortunately a small disruptive presence can ruin an event for the rest of the people who go to see the president and participate in the event."

Prather, who lives in Wheeling, W.Va., calls himself a "moderate Democrat" who voted for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He had a ticket to an afternoon Bush rally July 31 in Cambridge, Ohio. At the first ring of security, Prather says he was told to turn his Kerry shirt inside out. He did. At the second ring, he was told to remove the shirt. He did, then donned a soccer T-shirt. "I was in for 10 or 15 minutes," he recalls, when security escorted him out. It was before the president arrived. "I was so far away I couldn't have even heckled him," Prather notes.

A few hours later, he entered the Kerry rally, in Wheeling, wearing his Bush shirt. "Nobody said anything to me. I took the Bush shirt off after it was clear no one was watching me, and put on the Kerry shirt."

The professor realizes that this limited sample does not provide a sturdy conclusion, and offers an assignment: "I would encourage other people to carry out the experiment."

Civics class dismissed.

Its rather depressing that we are in such an era. I guess we are headed for an "AUTHORITARIAN DEMOCRACY".. (if there is such a thing)

Moderators, I meant to put this in the PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS column. I'd appreciate it being moved.

Thank You

As a conservative i agree that we should not stifle Free Speech HOWEVER, there are also limits to free speech.. but that is not what i am going to discuss in this thread.. instead i would like us to discuss this..

Knowing that i disagree with the actions of the Bush/Cheney campaign.. i would also assume you do... NOW, several years ago a NC tobacco farmer drove a tractor to Washington and parked it in protest... he was arrested.. do you agree with this?

or...

The klu Kulx Klan wanted to march and were told they could not.. the ACLU took their case and won it.. do you agree?

or..

AL Franken, a high school wrestler, attacked and physically subdued a Bush supporter who was heckling at a democratic speech... do you agree?

just wondering if any of those actions are agreeable to you...

Tractor farmer ??? I remember it, but can't remember why he was arrested.

THe ACLU protects our freedom, both yours and mine. They see the big picture. I imagine most if not all of the KKK folks were NOT liberals.

Franken was trying to keep a nutcase from hurting people.... lol. Not quite the same as "stifling free speech."
http://www.the-hamster.com/mtype/archives/000211.html

__________________
"What does a former president's son know about the Iraq war anyway?"
-- GW Bush when asked about Ron Reagan's negative comments, 6/25/2004.
www.BushZombie.com

1 - I believe the Tobacco farmer said he had "explosives". Excerpt below:

WASHINGTON, March 18 — A disgruntled tobacco farmer who claimed to have explosives kept scores of police at bay today for a second day from his tractor in a pond on the Mall, shutting down three federal buildings and snarling rush-hour traffic in the center of the capital.

Talks with the farmer, Dwight W. Watson, 50, of Whitakers, N.C., were under way as authorities said they were willing to wait him out, even as they scrambled to reroute traffic and enforce a 300-yard perimeter around his vehicles.

So he was violating the law.


2 -The KKK can march anywhere they want. And the ACLU did the right thing by protecting their right (I cannot believe I am saying this as a black guy )

3 - Franken - Should have been charged with at least a misdemeanor.. He was wrong to attack the guy. Should have allowed the authorities to do that.

Welcome to the Forum.. Hope you stay a while and engage in the "debate". You WILL be asked to prove you are a conservative..So beware!! But welcome..Good to have you

Hey! Thanks for the welcome!

I knew the farmer had stated he had explosives...

I knew that the KK had the right to march and the ACLU was correct in defending them...

I was hoping someone would say what you said about Franken and breaking the law... regardless of what is said, it still seemed like Mr. Franken(who has a history of phsyically attacking people) is a bit hot-headed and needs professional help. I do not believe he was protecting anyone from anything but the truth.

Also, i am definately a conservative.. just don't totally agree with the republican platform. i also am polite and well spoken(i hope) and you will rarely ever here me say derogatory things about a person... just derogatory things about their actions=)