Posted on 08/18/2004 9:37:16 PM PDT by Lexinom
BY IAN C. STOREY
Record-Eagle staff writer
TRAVERSE CITY - Kathryn Mead wanted to see her first sitting president when George W. Bush visited the city.
Instead, Bush campaign staffers tore up the 55-year-old social studies teacher's ticket and refused her admission because she sported a small sticker on her blouse that touted the Democratic ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards.
"I had my ticket and photo identification, but they would not let me in because of this sticker," said Mead, a teacher at Traverse City West Senior High, who said she has seen Queen Elizabeth and Pope John Paul in person.
"I have never found this kind of screening anywhere in my travels around the world. I can't imagine being denied access to hearing the president of the United States speak."
Several people outside the campaign event tried to console Mead, who was visibly upset.
"It really is comedic," said a man holding a Kerry/Edwards sign. "What absolute nonsense."
Kate Stephan, chair of the Grand Traverse Republican Party, could not be reached for comment after the rally.
But Ralph Soffredine, a Traverse City commissioner, school board member and former police chief who worked security at the front gate, said it is part of the Bush campaign policy.
"We were told that anyone with stickers or shirts would not be let in if they would not take them off," he said. "(Mead) came to me after her ticket was torn up, but I told her there was nothing I could do.
"I know her and it was really too bad, but I would say that we had very few instances of that. I thought it went very well."
Lynn Larson, chair of the Grand Traverse Democratic Party, said the move is typical of other Bush rallies that only allow Republican supporters to see the president.
"The very reason that we are here protesting is to protect our First Amendment rights," she said. "When the Secret Service rips somebody's sticker off and takes their ticket away, it makes me even more determined to march to protect our rights."
Mead, who has taught for two decades, instead stood on the sidewalks with other John Kerry supporters, listening to Bush from behind a fence.
"I really, truly wanted to have the experience of having seen the president and hear him speak, which is very important to me as a social studies teacher," she said. "How can anyone in the United States deny someone entry? Isn't this a democracy?"
Ah, a public school teacher. No Ms. Mead, it's a Constitutional Republic... Not a Democracy.And you got off pretty easy.
I think these folks should be welcomed and escorted right to the midle of the crowd.
Cry me a river.
Maybe you should turn your house into a raft and float to Cuba.
They're working overtime to keep Nader off the ballot, they are smearing the Swifties and tried to bride Admiral Huffman to shit him up---and the press is interested in these manufactured stories?
I think it's bad policy to prevent these people from hearing the President. The perception is bad, which is something he needs to minimize. If they act up, then make them leave, but they should have the opportunity to hear him. However unlikely, there's always a chance the President might sway them.
bride--should be briBe..
I'm dubious. Why would the Secret Service rip up her ticket? They just told her she couldn't wear that button. Why didn't she just turn it over to the Secret Service if it was so important for her to see the President?
No, its a rally for President Bush... duh
HAHA!
"It really is comedic," said a man holding a Kerry/Edwards sign. "
My sentiments exactly. Typical of so many teachers today. They think that they are entitled to break any rule they don't agree with and this is the kind of rhetoric that they teach their students. This country is really going to suffer down the road when these students grow up to be voters.
Sh-t yo mouf! :-)
The democrats do the SAME THING. Try getting into a Kerry rally with a Bush-Cheney button.
I have some co-workers who couldn't get into the Kerry "townhall meeting" because they didn't have any democrat connections.
1. Is anybody really surprised that a government-school social studies teacher doesn't know the difference between a democracy and a constitutional republic?
2. How rude do you have to be to attend a political event and flaunt your support for the speaker's opponents on your shirt? What a moron.
This is a campaign rally. It's paid for by the Bush campaign. Why should Kerry supporters be permitted to use a Bush campaign rally to spread a pro-Kerry message at the Bush campaign's expense?
As far as I understand, these events aren't for the general public. They aren't townhall meetings. They are for the party faithful. I was invited to the Cheney event because I donated to Bush/Cheney. She could have went in had she taken off that sticker. Obviously she refused. She shouldn't have worn it to the event if she really wanted to hear the President speak.
Of course, the cynic in me says this was a setup from the get-go.
Oh dear--it shut be SHUT him up--it's late...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.