Thursday, October 02, 2008



VA: Obama succeeds at squashing free speech this time

We read:
"Not all countries guarantee their citizens the right to virtually unbridled freedom of speech. The United States does. Would someone please tell the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama? And the dozing guardians of liberty at the University of Mary Washington?

Mr. Obama, the Democratic nominee for president, is scheduled to speak at a rally at the university today. The public is invited to this forum, on property it, the public, owns. However, signs and banners will not be allowed, according to the organizers and compliant campus officials. Suddenly, UMW is a First Amendment-Free, or at least a First Amendment-Crippled, Zone, subject to the self-serving preferences of politicos. Why does an Obama rally--or a McCain rally or a Nader rally--justify taking a little off the top of Americans' most fundamental rights?

A UMW spokeswoman says that the Obama campaign required the sign-and-banner ban. That campaign tells us that the ban is for "security" reasons. But a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting presidential candidates, says that the service has no objection to signs at rallies, provided that no "part of the sign could be used as a weapon"--e.g., a heavy metal pole or a sharpened stick. Finally, the McCain campaign tells us, "We encourage people to make signs at our events."....

The First Amendment guarantees the freedoms of religion, speech, the press, peaceable assembly, petition of the government. Will one who aspires to the title Defender of the Constitution begin inhibiting these First Freedoms even before he is in office--at a public university?

Source

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

The simple answer: Yes.
The complicated answer: Yes.

Anonymous said...

don't question our Dear Leader Obama,
only He knows what is best for us

Anonymous said...

Obviously they didn't want signs reading 'communist' or 'marx rules' in the background.

...not like the media would show those clips anyway.

Anonymous said...

Pay attention, people. No where did the people say that you couldn't make signs and banners speaking out against Obama or for McCain. They say ALL banners, even those supporting Obama aren't allowed. This is not a free speech issue. Maybe they're overdoing it a bit, but this is a valid security issue.

Anonymous said...

No it is not a valid security issue. The secret service says it is OK and they are the ones in charge of security. It is for other reasons, I suspect it is because they don't want anti Obama or Pro McCain signs in the pictures with the messiah.

Anonymous said...

Pay attention annon-4, to carry a sign at a political rally is considered "political speech" and is therefor PROTECTED SPEECH! Only an idiot (ie: a liberal) would use the security excuse.

This is simply the far-left's way of banning any opposing views for fear of the truth sneaking in, as usual. Just try telling leftists they can't hold a banner at a McCain rally. The ACLU and the leftist media would be all over it in a second! Apparently, they're both off today!

Anonymous said...

"They say ALL banners, even those supporting Obama aren't allowed."

Of course banners distributed by the organisers will be allowed. And guess what those will say?

Anonymous said...

Just another reason to not vote for the man.