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?"
Nah, most of these scumbags like this alleged teacher Mead show up only to cause trouble.
I got a NARAL/ProChoice America email (I get all the lefty emails by choice) and they are touting a woman who was carrying a NARAL shirt into a Bush event, and her family was told to leave. I think she was a plant for sure, as NARAL is following-up with a "buy the shirt that will get you thrown out" super-promotion to raise cash. But I also feel that the Bushies should lighten up on this stuff. 1 or 2 Kerry-heads can't destroy a good rally.
So it went from the guy at the door ripping up Mead's ticket, to the SECRET SERVICE RIPPING her sticker off her shirt and taking her ticket away. If the chick wanted to show respect to the elected leader of the free world, maybe she could have left the Kerry/Edwards campaign crap at home.
The article is misleading (surprise!) Kerry supporters are welcome to attend Bush rallies. The requirement has been that they not display items which promote Kerry's candidacy.
I'm guessing that if I were wearing a Bush 2004 shirt, I would not be allowed into a private function for Kerry/Edwards. And that's their right.
Maybe Ms. Mead can lead by example and tell us how local Freepers "have the right" to sit in on her classes in order to see how she teaches.
She was not at the Clinton Memorial Day Ceremony when all the vets were kept hundreds of feet away and the other side of a chain link fence. It was only Clinton supporters that were around the stage.
How stupid is this women. And she is teaching children? No wonder they are graduating kids with such poor scholastic abilities. Incredible ditz.
She was clearly trolling.
I agree. They appear too stiff. "Bring it on!"
Yes, these "democracy" bleaters are a sure sign that we are headed for a socialist mobocracy. May God help us.
enterance = entrance
I like campaign stickers...it's good to identify the Communists amongst us in our communities...
This story has a bad odor to it.
I think it's a lot of B.S.
Well .. I just cannot understand why people insist on wearing a Kerry/Edwards sticker and carry a Kerry sign, if they are going to attend a Bush/Cheney rally.
It would never occur to me to do that unless I was going to specifically protest outside the rally.
Hey, lawdog, you know what the definition of a 'Pure Democracy' is don't you?
It's 3 wolves and 1 sheep setting down to vote on what's for dinner...
Which is why America is a Representative Republic...but then, I wouldn't expect anyone coming from the NEA to know what that means...
Calling all Michigan FReepers! :-)
This is talking points. In Mn. all the media is reporting the same things. They got the memos and they are acting.
I don't have cable TV.
On "free TV" the only MSM access I have to MY CHOSEN PRESIDENT is minimal, and obviously distorted/disjointed reporting.
I am able to adapt to rapidly changing "facts" because I have made a concerted effort to do so.
Political and/or News Junkies such as us, do our "thing" just because we want too.
We, "the people" are not an abstract concept.
Sorry, lady (not you, Texas Eagle), there is NO "First Amendment Right" to admission to an event. You want to protest, you take it outside.
Meanwhile WE will protect OUR First Amendment Right of Freedom of Association. Inside.
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